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Northern Territory And Coca-Cola In Legal Row

The row between the Northern Territory in Australia and corporate giants Coca-Cola Amatil is due to continue after the global company left open the possibility of seeking legal action against the proposed scheme to offer cash for used bottles and cans.

Continue reading 01.10.2011. 09:10

Former Attorney General Files Suit Against Law School

Former North Dakota Attorney General, Nicholos Spaeth, has filed a suit against Michigan State University College of Law alleging he was not considered for a teaching position due to his age. According to the complaint, Spaeth had applied for a teaching position at the school and was not even given an interview slot at the Faculty Recruitment Conference.

Continue reading 30.07.2011. 11:32

National Tobacco Sues The District of Columbia

After city officials in the District of Columbia passed a law that would prevent underage children from getting rolling papers, cigars and other tobacco products that could be used to smoke marijuana, National Tobacco filed suit. The company manufacturers rolling paper and loose tobacco, and their lawyers feel that the wording used in the new law would make it impossible for smokers over the age 18 to get access to tobacco products.

If the District of Columbia is successful, all 'cigar wrappers' will be banned in the city. Lawmakers believe that cigar wrappers are only used to roll and smoke marijuana, while National Tobacco has supplied has supplied the courts with evidence to the contrary. National Tobacco's lawyers have filed an injunction that would stop the law from going into effect.

In urban areas such as Washington, D.C., convenience stores sell massive quantities of cigar wrappers. Police often find these cigar wrappers filled with marijuana and other illegal substances during the course of stops, seizures and arrests. Although there are still some smokers that use cigar wrappers to roll their own tobacco products, authorities believe that the vast majority of purchasers actually use them in the course of illegal activities.

Banning the sale of cigar wrappers and cigarette rolling papers would make it more difficult for underage marijuana users to make use of contraband. A hearing has not yet been scheduled, but National Tobacco will likely take its arguments against the cigar wrapper ban all the way up to the Supreme Court if necessary.

08.07.2011. 18:24

Man Accused In 1994 Shooting Denies Allegations

James Rosemond, the man that police say might be involved in the killing of Tupac Shakur outside of a Las Vegas hotel in 1996 had adamantly proclaimed his innocence. Lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman says that authorities have identified and named his client as the perpetrator wrongly, and goes further to say that only circumstantial evidence exists. In short, after the crime was committed, an anonymous source identified Rosemond as the killer on an online message board. Police only became aware of the information after news outlets began covering the website.

According to Dexter Isaac, Rosemond also played a part in the 1994 shooting of Shakur. Because Isaac is currently incarcerated and serving a life sentence, it is possible that he has fabricated the entire story. Rosemond, who is a hip hop producer, has a history of weapons and drugs charges. As Tupac Shakur was heavily involved in the rap industry at the time of his death, it is entirely possible that Rosemond had a motive.

Rosemond is currently waiting to answer changes of conspiracy, robbery and aggravated assault in NYC. Police believe that Rosemond is involved in organized crime, so the prosecutor has asked for no bail. Rosemond's lawyer argues that his client would suffer financially if he were not able to work with his music artists. Rosemond, aka 'Jimmy the henchman' has also appeared on the albums of several rap artists making braggadocios claims about his involvement with crimes. Authorities have the right to use these recordings as evidence against him in court.

16.06.2011. 16:37

Criminal Charges For Graphic Texts Sent Between Teens Reviewed

When lawmakers in several states began to upgrade the charges for sexting between teens to felony offenses, parents protested. Many teens who sent or received sexually explicit text messages were branded as sex offenders, and frequently went to jail. After reviewing the requirements for felony charges, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Louisiana lawmakers have downgraded the charges for teen sex text messaging. In many cases, the graphic written and picture messages are forwarded from the intended receiver to several recipients. Some of the teens that received these text messages had no way of knowing who the original party was, but lawmakers have urged them to turn them in so that they can be investigated. Unfortunately, some of the innocent parties involved actually end up being prosecuted anyways.

The main problem with charging teens with felony charges comes when they are logged as sex offenders and child pornographers. Although it is possible for a teen to target and exploit a younger child, most sexually charged text messaging goes on between teens that are the same age. Furthermore, many teens charged with felony offenses become ineligible for federally funded financial aid. Some of them are unable to attend the universities that they have been accepted to or live in student housing.

With several lawsuits pending, more states may follow suit. Not only is prosecuting a teen for sending or receiving sex messages difficult and inexpensive, it may just be skirting the law. It seems that many lawmakers believe that US law has not fully caught up with the changes in technology.

12.06.2011. 02:06