Most Americans hadn’t heard of civil forfeiture before John Oliver did a deep dive on the practice two years ago. And it seems like his critique and others like it have gotten not just the attention of citizens, but of judges as well. After the rampant expansion of law enforcement entities seizing assets in criminal cases, largely with judicial support, the Supreme Court looks like it may be finally reigning in the practice....
This week is officially National Consumer Protection Week, according to the Federal Trade Commission. But here at FindLaw’s Common Law blog, we do consumer protection every day, year-round. So, we’ve rounded up some of our best posts on avoiding online scams and staying safe on the internet. Here you go: For whatever reason, the normal alarm bells that go off when you hear something that’s too good to be true don’t always apply to the internet....
It seems that this star is under huge Waterfalls of debt. Tionne Watkins, better known as TLC’s T-Boz, has filed for bankruptcy for the second time. She and the rest of TLC previously filed for bankruptcy in 1995 during the success of their CrazySexyCool album which sold millions of copies nationwide. In her new filing, T-Boz is hoping to get rid of around $768,643 in debt to creditors. Most of her debt stems from mortgage payments on her million-dollar home....
Society may not be on the brink of destruction after all. At least not according to a recent crime report by the FBI, which shows that property crime and violent crime are generally on the decline. According to an FBI press release, violent crimes in the United States decreased 4.4 percent between 2012 and 2013 (the most recent year for which statistics are available), while property crimes decreased 4.1 percent. Also uplifting news: Property crimes have been steadily on the decline for the last 11 years....
In criminal cases, criminal offenders are sometimes ordered to perform community service in exchange for a reduction of fines or term of imprisonment. But the exact nature of this community service is not always specified by the court. This can lead to disputes regarding what actually suffices for community service by a criminal offender. In one recent example, actress Lindsay Lohan may be facing jail time after she tried to count socializing with fans toward the 80 hours of community service she was ordered to perform for a reckless driving charge in 2012, reports Time....
Since a Federal District Court ruling last December, a certain type of whistleblower suit has surged with more than 130 filed in the last four months. The court’s decision has allowed the fines for companies found guilty of “false marking” patent claims on product labels to increase from the previously set $500 per offence, to thousands or millions, depending on the number of units sold. The National Law Journal reports false marking is the practice of labeling a product with a patent number that is expired, or does not apply to the product label it is on....
The attorneys have wrapped up closing arguments and now a six-woman jury will decide the fate of George Zimmerman. As they deliberate, the jury must follow Judge Debra Nelson’s specific jury instructions attached below. The Zimmerman jury instructions are in the box below and you can also click on the blue link “Zimmerman Jury Instructions” to read a larger version. Every line of the jury instructions was fought over by the attorneys, until a final draft was agreed upon and read aloud to jurors by Judge Nelson....
Black Keys frontman Dan Auerbach has finalized his divorce, leaving his ex with millions of dollars… and an asset listed as “Bob Dylan hair.” The reference to the highly coveted coif of 72-year-old folk star Bob Dylan was included in Auerbach’s settlement with his ex-wife Stephanie Gonis, ending a fairly heated divorce battle between the two, reports The Huffington Post. While it’s not clear what Gonis will do with the “Bob Dylan hair,” the settlement shows that all property can be considered for a divorce....
Was Joe Francis arrested again? It may not be surprising that the half-baked brain behind pseudo-porn Girls Gone Wild has found himself in more legal trouble, but what is surprising is that, this time, it has nothing to do with underage girls. Francis, along with his bodyguard Vagram Gegdzhyan, is accused of kidnapping and physically assaulting a group of three women during a January incident that culminated at his home....
After a break-in, what first steps should you take? Unfortunately, home break-ins happen often, and while there is no surefire way to stop them, there are crucial steps you can take if your home has been broken into. Your home should ideally be the safest place for you and your family, and it is often very traumatic and devastating when it’s burglarized. Not only is there often property damage to deal with, but there’s also the stress of being a victim of crime....
American Airlines has announced the safety-related cancellation of about 600 flights scheduled for Friday. More than 3,o00 American Airlines flights have been cancelled since the airline – the world’s largest air carrier – started grounding and inspecting its MD-80 aircraft on Tuesday. An American Airlines announcement states that “additional inspections of our MD-80 fleet are being conducted to ensure precise and complete compliance with the FAA’s directive related to wiring in the aircraft’s wheel wells....
New studies have discovered more autism risks. A recent study has shown that there may be a connection between antidepressants and autism. In a study involving more than 1,800 children and their mothers, researchers found that women who were taking antidepressants when they were pregnant were more likely to give birth to children with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, according to Time. Women who were taking antidepressants during their first trimester had four times the risk....
Every year, people in federal and state parks end up in cuffs because they didn’t realize that park rangers, or park police, are real law enforcement officers. Park rangers, park police, and even game wardens and other officials, not only have the authority to arrest you themselves, but they can also refer your matter to local law enforcement as well. However, it is important to note a distinction between official officers and security guards....
It’s almost May, meaning that many high school and college students are tracking down summer employment. And if you haven’t found your summer job yet, you might be feeling a little desperate. But don’t let that desperation cloud your better judgment. Scammers are looking to take advantage of online job seekers, especially via Google Hangout interviews. The summer job scam, in one form or another, has been around for a few years, so here are a few tips and tricks to make sure you don’t get scammed this summer....
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld California’s ban on the sale of foie gras, a product that is made by force-feeding birds. For those who lack a fine (and cruel) palate for the delicacy, foie gras is a dish made from the fatty liver of a goose or duck. To enlarge their livers, birds are force-fed. But on what grounds are producers challenging the foie gras ban? To produce their foie gras, producers (who were plaintiffs in this case) fed their ducks through a tube inserted directly in the ducks’ esophagi....
Citigroup’s extra fees for add-on services is now costing the company $770 million. In an agreement with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Citigroup will pay $70 million in fines and refund $700 million to consumers for illegal and deceptive credit card practices. Here is what you need to know: Illegal and Deceptive Practices The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), created by the Dodd-Frank Act after the 2008 financial crisis, is responsible for regulating the credit industry and investigating illegal and deceptive practices....
Ben Affleck’s flick The Town and series of NYC robberies have a few things in common. Well, more than few things. The robberies were inspired by the film. The series of thefts in New York targeted corner stores, discount stores and pizzerias. The robbers took off with a total of around $217,000. The crimes were dubbed the “splash and dash” robberies because the culprits doused cash registers and drawers with bleach....
A Fort Lauderdale couple has been charged with running a $13 million Nigerian scam using Craigslist for over a year in a rather complicated money scheme. MSNBC reports that Plenord and Sandra St. Fort were connected to the Nigerian mob. MSNBC adds some key details to how the operation worked: Here’s where it gets tricky – the rent to the landlord was actually money being wired to the St. Forts (through a Nigerian bank account) and other members of the scam....
When it comes to Facebook harassment, knowing when to get the cops involved can be a tricky matter. Generally, the line in the sand should be the point when the communication becomes threatening and causes you to fear for your safety. Here are a few tips on when to call the cops to report Facebook harassment, and when it may be best to resolve the matter without the help of law enforcement:...
Billionaire John Goodman, who legally adopted his girlfriend to allegedly protect his assets as he stood trial for a deadly drunken-driving crash, has been found guilty at his criminal trial. A Florida jury convicted Goodman, 48, of DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and leaving the scene of an accident, the New York Post reports. Goodman faces up to 30 years in prison when he is sentenced. Goodman’s DUI-manslaughter crash happened in February 2010 in Wellington, Fla....
