Last November, Florida voters voted to expand the rights of crime victims. Provisions of the law include requirements crime victims be informed of their rights and the services available to them, an entitlement to updates on criminal proceedings, a right to know about meetings between the accused and state attorneys before plea deals agreed to, […]
Yes, you read the title correctly. Rapists, believe it or not, have legal rights when it comes to the seeking custody of the child born from the sexual assault. In 31 states, a rapist can sue the victim for custodial rights but in none of those states does the victim have a right to sue
Rapist Rights in Child Custody Cases Read More »
Here we go again. Another battle over prayer in the public square is really a battle about the meaning and scope of the First Amendment to the Constitution. The First Amendment text reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech,
Football Coach Fired After Praying After a Game, Supremes Decline to Get Involved Read More »
As someone who knows how to market a product or frame a debate on his terms, there is probably no one better than President Donald Trump. After all, isn’t he the one who started the “fake news” craze? Wasn’t he the one who separated himself from a crowded field of Republican candidates (16) by poking
“Fake News” and Our Present Situation Read More »
Entrapment is used in criminal proceedings when the accused has been induced by law enforcement to commit a crime that he/she was not predisposed to commit. It is based on the idea that is it is fundamentally unjust for law enforcement or other government agents to originate a criminal design, implant in an innocent person’s
Entrapment Defense in Florida Read More »
The US Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit filed on behalf of sick and disabled military veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars who were debilitated by burn pits which contained tires, batteries, medical waste and other hazardous materials. Plaintiffs allege that KBR, formerly owned by Halliburton Corporation, and other companies dumped tires, batteries, medical
No Justice for Military Vets Supreme Court Says Read More »
The Tampa Bay Times published an editorial concerning suicide prevention and the Skyway Bridge. It applauded the state’s Department of Transportation for attempting to lower the suicide rate on the bridge-it’s been climbing for years now and ranks as one of the deadliest bridges in terms of suicides in the country. Eighteen people jumped to
Suicide and Our Skyway Bridge Read More »
Sound like a crazy question? It’s not. Presently, Florida divorce law holds that a pet is property and part of an equitable distribution settlement at the finalization of a divorce. Why do I bring this up? On January 1st, California introduced a new law that places pets in the people category subject to visitation rights,
In Florida Divorce Are Pets People or Property? Read More »
A state judge in Connecticut has dismissed a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma and two dozen other opioid manufacturers. Judge Thomas Moukawsher in Hartford Superior Court ruled Tuesday that the lawsuits were not allowed because they were not government enforcement actions, such as those filed under consumer protection and public health laws. Instead, the judge said
Opioid Lawsuit Dismissed in Connecticut Read More »
The recent release of Showtime’s documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” is good television and, if true, a horror show for the women who were sexually abused. The documentary revives and compiles in one place old allegations against the R&B singer. In 2002, Kelly was charged with 21 counts of child pornography for a videotape that allegedly
R. Kelly and the Difficulty of Prevailing in Sex Abuse Cases Read More »