Recent Updates
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NY judge prefers open records in Sept. 11 cases
U.S. Court News 04/18/2010A federal judge who rejected a Sept. 11 health settlement says he would prefer more open records in litigation stemming from the World Trade Center attack and might consider unsealing all records.Judge Alvin Hellerstein commented Thursday after heari...
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Ex-NJ lawmaker pleads guilty in child porn case
U.S. Court News 04/12/2010A former New Jersey lawmaker who championed legislation fighting child pornography pleaded guilty Monday to distributing nude images of underage girls.Neil Cohen, 59, acknowledged viewing and printing images meant for sexual gratification from a comp...
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Oklahoma City hires private law firm for union talks
U.S. Court News 02/25/2010Oklahoma City Council members hired a private law firm Tuesday to lead upcoming contract negotiations with the city’s police and firefighter unions. The firm, McAfee and Taft, was hired in part because negotiations with the unions have gone poorly in...
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New SEC-Bank of America settlement proposal faulted
U.S. Court News 02/09/2010A federal judge who rejected the government's first bid to settle civil charges against Bank of America Corp. showed little enthusiasm Monday for a new proposed settlement.U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff sharply questioned the merits of the latest pro...
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WaMu shareholders get their voice in bankruptcy
U.S. Court News 01/30/2010Shareholders of Washington Mutual Inc will have a voice in the company's bankruptcy after a judge refused on Thursday to disband their committee, which Washington Mutual said would complicate the case.The U.S. Trustee, who plays an oversight role in ...
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NM Supreme Court orders arrest records expunged
U.S. Court News 01/06/2010The New Mexico Supreme Court has unanimously ordered arrest records expunged for 32 people who were jailed overnight because a state judge said they were screaming during a hearing for a convicted rapist.Chief Justice Edward Chavez said Tuesday that ...
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NYC victim's mom: EMTs were 'inhuman' not to help
U.S. Court News 12/28/2009Two emergency medical technicians accused of refusing to help a dying pregnant woman are "inhuman," her mother said Tuesday as a lawyer for the EMTs argued his clients are being vilified in a rush to judgment.Cynthia Rennix, the mother of 25-year-old...
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Hedge fund operator Rajaratnam pleads not guilty
U.S. Court News 12/28/2009Wealthy hedge fund operator Raj Rajaratnam and a codefendant pleaded not guilty Monday to charges they were major players in a scheme that used inside information to make stock trades that generated millions of dollars in profits.Prosecutors, who hav...
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Kansas gov to propose tobacco tax increase in 2010
U.S. Court News 12/23/2009Gov. Mark Parkinson will propose increasing Kansas' tobacco taxes next year, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.The Democratic governor's plan is likely to face strong opposition in the Republican-controlled Legislature, although the Senate's top leader sa...
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Lingle: Use hotel tax money for state budget
U.S. Court News 12/22/2009Faced with a $1.2 billion budget gap, Gov. Linda Lingle on Monday proposed the state take about $100 million in hotel taxes from Hawaii's four counties next year and delay the payment of some personal and corporate income tax refunds.The governor's s...
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Pittsburgh won't tax tuition; nonprofits to donate
U.S. Court News 12/21/2009Pittsburgh officials shelved an idea for a first-of-its-kind tax on college tuition after two universities and a nonprofit health insurer agreed on Monday to make large contributions to the city.Mayor Luke Ravenstahl hopes the contributions from the ...
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Bill would give undocumented legal status
U.S. Court News 12/15/2009Hispanic, black, Asian and other House lawmakers backing immigration overhaul called Tuesday for legalizing illegal immigrants in the U.S., despite a weakened economy and joblessness.The coalition of lawmakers said Tuesday immigration reform can prot...