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Last week, one more Microsoft class action lawsuit settled, this time with all state and local governmental agencies in Arizona. Judge J. Frederick Motz, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, signed the $4 million plus judgment on December 11th. The state’s agencies, represented by named plaintiff Daisy Mountain Fire District, alleged Microsoft’s conduct broke Arizona state antitrust law and caused monetary damage to the governmental entities that purchased the company’s products....

Rocker Bret Michaels has settled his lawsuit against organizers of the Tony Awards. The Poison frontman filed the suit after being hit by a piece of scenery during the 2009 awards show, the Los Angeles Times reports. Michaels had just finished performing and claims he was told to exit the stage towards the hazard. So what’s the “Rock of Love” reality star getting for his troubles? Michaels originally claimed four causes of actions in his complaint....

The U.S. Census Bureau has released a comprehensive study examining trends in marriage and fertility – including state-by-state figures on the average age of first marriage for men and women, and analysis of factors related to birth rates nationwide. The links below include more information on the study, as well as tips and resources on marriage from FindLaw for the Public’s Family Law Center. U.S. Census Bureau Press Release on Study Read the U....

It’s been over four years since Christopher Vaughn allegedly killed his wife and their three kids on an interstate outside of Chicago. Still, little is known about his potential motives. But new court documents released last week by Will County Judge Daniel Rozak demonstrate that investigators have known more than they were legally able to let on. And that Vaughn may have been researching how to stage a murder so that it looks like a suicide....

As W-2s arrive in the mail and individuals get ready to file their income tax returns, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminds taxpayers of the benefits of filing their returns electronically (“e-filing”). In another in a series of 2008 Tax Tips, the IRS tells filers that whether they use a professional tax preparer authorized by the IRS or do it themselves from a home computer, E-Filing is faster, more accurate, easier, offers more payment options, and gets your return to you faster....

Actor Eric Dane is suing Smashing Pumpkins lead singer Billy Corgan over a fallen tree that smashed into Dane’s house. Dane and Corgan are apparently neighbors in Beverly Hills, Calif. During a storm in December, a giant tree on Corgan’s property toppled onto Dane’s house. The “McSteamy” actor claims the tree almost killed his very pregnant wife, actress Rebecca Geyheart, reports ABC News. The fallen tree set off a sprinkler system that allegedly flooded the house....

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has decided to require that the agency’s strongest health warning be added to labeling for the diabetes drugs Avandia and Actos, according to a New York Times article. According to the Times, due to concerns over heart risks associated with the diabetes medications, “the agency was asking the makers of Actos and Avandia to carry a more prominent warning of its heart risks because ‘despite existing warnings, these drugs were being prescribed to patients with significant heart failure....

A Harry Potter font lawsuit is the last thing anyone expected to see just days before the series’ final installment hits the theaters, but just that has happened. P22 Type Foundry, the creator of the typeface Cezanne Regular, has filed a lawsuit against NBC Universal, arguing that the company infringed upon its copyright by using the font on Potter merchandise connected to a new ride at Orlando’s Universal Studios. Wait, since when are fonts copyrightable?...

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is offering helpful tips on tax preparation and early filing, for taxpayers who want to file their taxes and receive any refunds well before the April deadline. The IRS is advising filers to gather all necessary records in advance – including W-2s and 1099s – and to save a copy for their own files. Tax filers should double-check their returns carefully for common errors like incorrect math and misprinted Social Security numbers....

Trial started Tuesday in the case of 17-year-old Brandon McInerney, who is accused of killing gay classmate Lawrence King three years ago after becoming fed up with the 8th grader’s open displays of homosexuality. While prosecutors painted McInerney as an anti-gay white supremacist, the defense told the jury that the then-14-year-old boy acted out of humiliation, no longer able to withstand the embarrassment brought on by King’s alleged flirting. In 2008, Lawrence King began wearing jewelry, high-heeled boots, and makeup to school, reports CNN....

By now, one would think judges are familiar with the process of transgender children changing their name, and that, absent some improper motive, judges must grant these petitions. And yet … Three mothers have filed a federal lawsuit against Juvenile Court Judge Joseph W. Kirby in Ohio, claiming he “has a pattern and practice of treating name change requests from transgender adolescents differently than other name change requests,” and denying every request he hears....

Just days after police announced they are re-investigating Lindsay Lohan’s role in a car crash, prosecutors announced they will not pursue Lohan on theft charges in an unrelated incident. Someone would need one of Lindsay Lohan’s personal assistants just to keep track of all the legal troubles the 26-year-old actress is involved in. Still, this most recent news is good news. Similar to the car accident incident, Lohan could have gone to jail if the theft allegations were true....

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled yesterday that public employers in the state cannot provide health-insurance benefits to their employees’ same-sex domestic partners, because the provision of such benefits violates a Michigan Constitution amendment defining marriage and “similar unions.” In a 5-2 decision, the court ruled that the marriage amendment – which was approved by Michigan voters in November 2004 and took effect one month later – prohibits same-sex domestic partnerships from being recognized as unions “similar to marriage....

Better safe than sorry is a popular phrase that should apply to every car maker when there are concerns about their cars. Luckily, Nissan is taking this approach. Nissan is recalling 747,000 trucks, SUV’s in the U.S. over concerns that the vehicles have a possible stalling problem, The New York Times reports. The Times quotes a Nissan statement: “We discovered that on some of the potentially affected vehicles, silicon vapor may form inside the electrical relay that supplies voltage to the Engine Control Module....

A suspended driver’s license isn’t a good thing. Neither is driving on a suspended license. But when you drive drunk on a suspended license, well, you’re just asking for it. It being jail time, of course. Kurt Knoernschild, 53, was arrested early Thursday morning after running a red light in Long Island, NY. When cops ran his license, they realized that it had been suspended. And that this wasn’t the first time....

Police dashcams are tiny eyes on almost all law enforcement encounters, and they may be key to winning your criminal case. In the past, police misconduct might go unreported because there was no evidence – like the classic “your taillight is busted” scenario. Now officers who act illegally are being caught by their own dashcams, and defendants are using them to dismiss cases. How can a dashcam video affect your defense?...

Red and blue lights flashing in the background. A siren whoop. Looks like you have to pull over. What did you do? Are you been pulled over for no reason? Traffic stops may be a daily occurrence for police officers. However, cops can be jumpy during stops because they’re dangerous. Just a few days ago, an officer from Hayward, California was shot and killed only 45 seconds into a routine traffic stop....

Rumors, innuendo, and criminal charges regarding sexual misconduct have swirled around R. Kelly for almost two decades. He allegedly married Aaliyah when she was underage in 1994; in 2002, a video surfaced depicting him engaging in sex with, and urinating on, an underage girl; and he was found not guilty of child pornography in 2008. Now, a new set of charges have been levied against the disgraced R&B singer. Cook County, Illinois prosecutors have charged R....

The epic legal saga surrounding Theranos has come closer to reaching a final conclusion as the company announced a settlement between it and Walgreens. Walgreens was among Theranos’s largest partners. Their case sought to get back the $140 million that was agreed to as part of the joint venture. Theranos is a blood testing company that promised to revolutionize the industry with their one drop blood tests. Basically, it promised to do what is currently not possible: perform a myriad of the standard blood tests using only a single drop....

Being a witness and giving testimony at a trial, or in a deposition, can be stressful. Generally, a witness only needs to answer the questions asked. However, it is rather common, especially in depositions, for witnesses to be asked questions they can’t answer. Fortunately, there are three magic words that witnesses can use: “I don’t recall.” However, the catch is that your failure to recall must be truthful. Though, like most legal matters, a person’s recollection can be a nuanced thing that hinges upon semantics....