Lawyers USA Your Business Partner

Virginia 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

The City of Virginia Beach must pay $12,500 in attorney fees to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA filed suit to force the city to disclose documents related to a museum expansion project.

The city was forced to turn over 40,000 pages of documents about its plans to
» Continue Reading.

Washington 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

Following a record year in costly settlements and verdicts, the state is looking for ways to limit its liability.

The state paid $85 million in settlements and court-ordered verdicts last year, more than three times what it had paid in any other single year.

This prompted Governor Gary Locke and
» Continue Reading.

West Virginia 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

A federal judge refused to remove himself from the bench for the trial of two former First National Bank of Keystone executives, despite claims that he had a political and personal relationship with the former president of the bank.

Former bank executives Billie Cherry and Terry Church, are charged with
» Continue Reading.

Wisconsin 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

Drugs and weapons charges against two men must be dropped because the state trooper who stopped them for speeding improperly searched their car, a state court of appeals has ruled.

Lawrence Williams was stopped for speeding by State Trooper James Fetherston.

Fetherston called for assistance, saying that he had “a
» Continue Reading.

Wyoming 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

People arrested for drunk driving have no right to consult a lawyer before being tested for alcohol in their blood, the state supreme court has ruled.

Bennie Mogard was stopped for suspected DUI. He asked to speak to an attorney before submitting to a blood alcohol test. His request was
» Continue Reading.

Alabama: Out-Of-State Wine Can't Be Taxed At Higher Rate 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

Where a state taxes wine produced outside the state at a rate 33 times higher than wine produced in the state, this is unconstitutional, a trial court has ruled.

Wine produced outside the state is taxed at 45 cents per liter, or about $1.70 per gallon. A separate state law,
» Continue Reading.

Colorado: Companies' Scattered Property Is Not Tax-Exempt 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

Companies with property in several different locations aren’t exempt from paying personal property taxes, the state supreme court has ruled.

A state law exempts companies from personal property taxes on items worth less than $2,500.

Under the prior interpretation of the law, companies like Coca-Cola, with vending machines in
» Continue Reading.

Indiana: Lawyers In Military Can Waive CLE Requirements 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

Attorneys who are called to military service can postpone or waive their CLE requirements, the state supreme court has announced.

Attorneys must ordinarily complete 36 hours of classes over a three-year period in order to retain a license to practice in the state.

Following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, many
» Continue Reading.

Iowa: Neighbors Can Sue Hog Farm For Creating Nuisance 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

A state law that prohibits nuisance suits against livestock-feeding operations is unconstitutional, a trial court has ruled.

Homeowners Joseph and Linda Gacke filed suit against Pork Xtra, a 4,000-hog confinement operation. The ACLU joined the suit, arguing that state laws that protect livestock-feeding farms from litigation are unconstitutional.

The suit
» Continue Reading.

Maryland: New Laws Targeting Drunk Drivers Take Effect 

By: dmc-admin
Published: October 15, 2001

Several new laws targeting drunk drivers took effect as of Oct. 1, 2001.

One change lowers the blood-alcohol content limit for DUI from .10 percent to .08 percent.

Another measure authorizes the Motor Vehicle Administration to issue restricted licenses to people who participate in the state’s Ignition Interlock Program after
» Continue Reading.