Lawyers Work to Combat Zimbabwe’s Sex Assault

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

In Pretoria, South Africa, Lewis Conwell sat in a room interviewing the women who were attacked and raped by militia members remaining loyal to the regime of Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe. Conwell is an American lawyer and one of the partners of a law firm named DLA Piper.

Nine lawyers were assigned to assist the nonprofit AFW (Aids-Free World) in documenting close to 50 rape cases during Zimbabwe’s 2008 presidential election campaign. These victims were kidnapped and raped because they were loyal to the opposition party called “Movement for Democratic Change.”

Conwell was one of them because of his experience in domestic violence work when he was doing pro bono project in Tampa, Florida. About 50 American lawyers from DLA Piper applied for this AFW project but only nine were chosen based on their prior experience in preparing affidavits or working with trauma victims.

One of the victims constantly shifted her gaze while talking to the lawyers. She stared at the wall, the floor, and finally, covered her face with her two hands while detailing the actual rape. Conwell said that this is a difficult situation. They’re trying to let the women relive the horrific experiences that they had. “I would do it again if it needs to be done, but if you ask me, I would prefer someone else to do it,” he concluded.

Tags: American lawyer, DLA Piper, Lewis Conwell, Zimbabwe
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Be Careful of your Text Messages

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

It’s very obvious that Ruth Carter has not foreseen her text messages to be put on public display. Now the Court Judge for 36^th District of Detroit, the texts were sent when she was still the top lawyer in Kilpatrick administration. Based on the messages, you will see how she provided questionable legal advice, castigated co-workers, hammered foes, and even raked friends.

Some messages include calling Sharon McPhail (Detroit City Councilwoman at the time) “evil and must be destroyed.” She also said Kym Worthy (Wayne County Prosecutor) “resembled a cracked Easter Egg!”

The texts were made public by another judge and so far, Carter still declined to comment on these messages. However, she hired Darci McConnell, a crisis consultant who was also a former reporter.

According to Judith Kallos, author of books on e-mail etiquette, “Professionals should not communicate that way. Her messages suggest core immaturity.”

In addition, a Michigan veteran political observer said that the texts would hurt Carter if ever she would run for any career advancement or a higher court seat. However, a pop culture expert and Syracuse University professor, Robert Thompson, said that Carter’s messages are just the same as everyone else when you think about it.

Tags: Detroit, Ruth Carter, text messages
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The Debate on Gay Marriages Continues

Sunday, April 12th, 2009

Vermont and Iowa recently allowed same-sex union in their states. As a result, this move affected the running legal battle in California.

According to a vote in November 2008, about 52% of California voters approved a gay marriage ban. But today, gay marriage supporters are very interested in the ruling of Iowa Supreme Court. They still hope that it would sway California Supreme Court to overturn the result of the ballot poll.

Shannon Minter, legal director of National Center Lesbian Rights led the oral arguments to challenge this proposition before California courts. The news that Vermont joined Iowa, Connecticut, and Massachusetts to allow gay marriage is indeed very good for their campaign.

Their opponents, on the other hand, are saying that the decision in Iowa should not have a bearing on this issue. Besides, there are 29 other states banning gay marriage. Also, $83 million was already poured into the campaigns of either side. Truly, this “California’s Proposition 8” as they call it, was the nation’s most expensive ballot measure.

During the 4 ½ months that it was legal, some 18,000 lesbian and gay couples were wed in California. The highly anticipated Proposition 8 ruling should come on or before June 3.

Tags: California Supreme Court, debate, gay marriage, Iowa, Vermont
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Dropping Stevens Case might give Cold Feet to U.S. Attorneys

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

If prosecutors in the U.S. will drop charges against Ted Stevens (former Alaska senator convicted with seven felonies) good government activists are afraid that U.S. attorneys may get cold feet to pursue other cases of politicians suspected of crimes.

Consequently, the lawyer of Don Siegelman (former governor of Alabama) already urged Eric Holder, the attorney general of the case, to dismiss all charges. Siegelman was convicted of mail fraud and robbery and his lawyer cited accusations of “far ranging misconduct” during the case.

Activists are alarmed that U.S. attorneys are holding back towards these cases, especially pre-trial ones. According to Tom Fitton, Judicial Watch president, “This has a chilling effect. The dismissal of these cases and the subsequent investigation against the case prosecutors sends a very strong signal to the U.S. attorneys. They might think that it will not be worth it to go after big-name politicians.”

Washington’s “Citizens for Responsibility & Ethics” director, Melanie Sloan, said that future cases will most likely be affected by Stevens’ dismissal. She said that people should not lose sight of solid evidence against him wherein he lied with the motive of hiding gifts.

Sloan further hopes that there will be a turn of events around this case. She obviously thinks that the Justice Department needs some shakeup in public integrity.

Tags: Fitton, Siegelman, Sloan, Stevens, U.S. attorneys
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When do you file a Car Accident Lawsuit?

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

Car accidents are still common although there are numerous safety aspects implemented in roads and cars. Research proves that everybody will be involved in at least one car accident throughout their lifetime.

However, not all car accidents lead to litigation. Some accidents only involve minor injuries and some people don’t even sustain any injury at all. These little claims can be resolved through the insurance company o f the driver.

Lawsuits happen only when serious damage to property or serious injury occurs. Here are several cases where litigation proceedings can unfold:

Accidents involving buses – the size and sheer mass of buses attract great attention and make this accident quite serious. Moreover, victims suffer more injuries because bus passengers are often unrestrained.

Accidents involving a motorcycle and car – this collision usually leave the motorcycle with more severe injuries.

Accidents involving a pedestrian and car – the pedestrian will usually suffer more catastrophic injuries. However, it may be difficult for them to make a claim instantly since their action or conduct is taken into consideration too.

Accidents involving a hit-and-run – this will result to a lawsuit since the victim may find it difficult to pinpoint or identify the liable driver.

In addition, government agencies can be sued for car accidents if they failed to maintain the intersection or roadway properly. Ultimately, a lawyer experienced in car accidents can advise you on the right lawsuit to file.

Tags: car accident lawsuits
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How can you make a Claim for Injury?

Saturday, April 11th, 2009

Various types of injuries involve a different procedure for claim. The types of injuries are:

• Warehouse-based injuries
• Retail-based injuries
• Office-based injuries
• Heavy equipment/machinery-based injuries
• Driving-based (work related) injuries
• Factory-based injuries

Whatever injury you have, you can make a successful claim through an American lawyer who is a specialist in injury claims. They can help you solve your problem and get suitable compensation for your injury.

The most common type of injury is tripping. It can happen anywhere – at work, at home, or at any other pavement while walking.

Victims can suffer head injuries, broken bones, back injuries, or even paralysis. It can even be fatal at times. And if you can prove that your injury is caused by somebody else, you can claim for compensation.

For example, your co-worker left some object in an open place and you accidentally tripped over it, you can make a claim. And many times, slip and fall accidents can happen due to the negligence of your employer. Since their duty is to provide a secure and safe working environment for you, you can contact a lawyer to help you make a personal injury claim. All it takes is to prove that your accident occurred due to unsafe working conditions.

Tags: injury claim
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Find Lawyers Fast Online

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Lawyers are people who can save you from possible physical or financial losses. In other words, they are qualified to give you legal advice on matters concerning criminal defense, bankruptcy, divorce and child support, purchase of property, and many more. As a result, they relieve your stress and give you hope to face your current situation.

There are many ways for you to find lawyers. In the past, people choose their lawyers through the yellow pages or through word of mouth. Today, however, things are much simpler. All you need to do is consult a website with lawyer listings and you can find them. If you specifically search within your region, you can have a more detailed result.

Not all lawyers can help you with your problem. Some of them specialize in only one area of work. Remember that it’s critical for you to choose someone with extensive experience in your case. When you do this, the lawyer that you choose will be efficient and fast in solving your case.

Then, just copy their address and contact numbers so you can schedule a face-to-face appointment with them. Some lawyer listings even specify their experiences and client feedbacks to make sure that you can select the best one.

Tags: find lawyers fast
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Lawyer Listings Help you find the Best Attorney

Friday, April 10th, 2009

You need a competent lawyer for major circumstances in your life. But sometimes, you might find it hard to look for the right lawyer near your residence or office.

Searching for an attorney may be time consuming and tedious. However, if you use online lawyer listings, obtaining a list of lawyer names and law firms will be quick and easy.

Attorneys practice law in a specific state where they are licensed. They have a responsibility to understand your case very well, do extensive research on the laws concerning your case, and argue for you in front of a jury or judge. They are called trial lawyers.

Moreover, there are other attorneys that do not typically go to a courtroom. They are the ones who can help you write business contracts, register a trademark or patent, or help you prepare trusts and wills.

Due to this, it’s best to find attorneys with great listening skills. To make sure that you will get a good one, find lawyer listings that have referral programs. So when attorneys have good feedback from their clients, you will know that they come highly recommended. Truly, you can easily find the best attorney near your area when you use lawyer listings.

Tags: lawyer listings, trial lawyers
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Lawyers guide you through Bankruptcy

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Bankruptcy can be scary because you are facing legal terms and actions that you don’t understand. But don’t worry, all you need is a bankruptcy lawyer who can prevent your fiscal disaster as well as fix your credit problem.

These lawyers can save you from drastic fall of your credit rating, auctioning of your assets, or even from imprisonment. They do charge a certain commission amount. However, you can pay them bit by bit if you can’t afford it yet at this point in time. When you are out of your crisis, then you can start your financial life once again and build your credit rating.

It’s now very easy to find bankruptcy lawyers. Simply use websites with lawyer listings according to your particular area. You will definitely save a lot of time and effort when seeking legal advice. Most of the time, the lawyers included in the list are the best ones in that region.

Of course you can also find bankruptcy lawyers based from referrals. Just ask people you know if they can recommend one. But why would you risk your reputation and let the world know that you’re looking for a bankruptcy lawyer?

It’s still best to hire a lawyer discretely through online lawyer listings. Through this, you can work secretly and avoid giving stress to your loved ones.

Tags: bankruptcy lawyers
Posted in Lawyer Refferal, Lawyers Online | 1 Comment »

It’s Easy to Find Lawyers Online

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

A lawyer can be very helpful when we face multiple challenges in our lives. But most of the time, people don’t really pay attention to lawyers until they come across legal issues. And the most efficient and convenient way for you to search for them is through the internet.

Going through the process of finding lawyers is very easy to do. Don’t be scared of lawyers. Not all of them have expensive and tedious litigation. In fact, they are indispensable individuals with knowledge and skills to help you in many ways.

First of all, you need to understand why you need to hire a lawyer. Whether you’re beginning a divorce or establishing a small business, there are numerous professionals who could help your legal needs. There are lawyers in the field of Family Law, Immigration Law, Will and Probate, Business Law, Consumer Law, Taxation, Social Security, Labor and Employment Law, Bankruptcy, Civil Rights, Intellectual Property, Insurance Law, and many others.

So when your specific need is now clear on your mind, open your favorite search engine and type “lawyer listings” or “lawyer directory.” You will find a lot of websites that can help you. Remember that more specific searches (such as “bankruptcy lawyers in Idaho”) bring more relevant results.

Tags: find a lawyer, find lawyers
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Tips in Selecting the Right Lawyer

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

How do you know what to look for in a lawyer? Here are a few tips for you to consider.

Find a lawyer before you need one. This may seem silly, but having your personal lawyer on call would be very convenient when the right time comes. For example, if you’ve had a car accident resulting to a personal injury, you might experience too much pain and avoid going through the process of searching for a lawyer.

Find an available lawyer. Large firms sometimes block you to speak to the lawyers themselves. Usually, you can only see the legal secretary or paralegal. This may be a case to case basis but it’s still best to hire an accommodating lawyer.

Select a lawyer with a specific experience. You wouldn’t want to hire a plumber to set up your kitchen cabinets, would you? Same thing should be considered when picking out lawyers. If you’ve been accused of drunk driving, make sure that your lawyer already had experience on such cases. Similarly, divorce proceedings require a lawyer with practice in child support, custody, or even paternity. That is why many law firms hire several associates with specialties in different areas.

Discuss fees upfront. This is very critical before you accept the services of your chosen lawyer. Understand his fee structure and make sure that he charges reasonable rates. Ideally, find a lawyer who can offer free initial consultation. This way, you can assess his abilities first before giving him your confidence and loyalty.

Tags: find a lawyer, find lawyer
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