Legal Bugle

In the 1990s, a whole nation was entranced by a new kind of reality TV show – the live murder trial. Brought to television screens across the country courtesy of O.J. Simpson and the state of California, the Simpson murder trial captured the attention of tens of millions of Americans who were enraptured on a daily basis by the real-life drama of witness testimony, forensic evidence, and dueling games of logical inference.

In 2011, once again tens of millions of Americans were glued to their televisions following all the ins and outs of the latest smash hit episode of this ongoing reality television series: The State of Florida v. Casey Marie Anthony. Ms. Anthony was charged with the murder of her two year old daughter Caylee, and the various elements of this case conspired to make it the perfect made-for-TV soap opera – just as the O.J Simpson trial had been less than two decades earlier. And the surprise ending was also repeated, as once again a defendant that most of the public believed was clearly guilty was released back into society following a stunning ‘not guilty’ verdict. (more…)

There are many ways to create a will, but the most important step in the process is actually deciding to do it. People of all ages make the mistake of thinking that they have time to make one, because they are young, healthy, and sure that they will have time to do it later. Not to be morbid, but that’s simply not true. Literally anything can happen, and when you have loved ones you want to take care of, especially, it is crucial to write up a last will and testament or a living will as early as possible, and then keep it updated. (more…)

Many people in the United States decide to file for bankruptcy when they have too much debt to pay off anytime in the near future. Bankruptcy can eliminate some types of debt, prevent vehicle repossession and help stop the foreclosure process on a home. (more…)

If you’ve found yourself struggling with tax debt and considering filing bankruptcy to find some relief, you need to be aware of how the new bankruptcy law affects you. Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, there are some new rules regarding tax debts that could keep you from discharging the debts that are causing you to struggle.

Tax debts cannot be current in order to be eligible for discharge under bankruptcy. First, the tax debt must be associated with a tax return that was supposed to be filed at least three years prior to the date you file for bankruptcy. The tax return associated with the debt must also have been filed a minimum of two years ago, and the IRS must have assessed the tax debt at least 240 days prior to the filing of a bankruptcy. (more…)

There are many different reasons for which people attend law school, whether it is the pursuit of money, good will, prestige, power or simply an interest in practicing law. Regardless of why you want to become a lawyer, making the choice to go to law school is a big decision that requires much thought and consideration. The path to law school is one marked with difficulty and a great deal hard work, requiring dedication and tenacity on your part. Despite the difficulty involved, it can also be an extremely rewarding endeavor that pays off with dividends throughout the rest of your life. (more…)

It’s been in the headlines. You’ve seen the made-for-TV movies (or at least the teasers for them). But you never thought cyber bullying would find its way into your home.

Unfortunately, incidents in which children bully their classmates via Facebook, Twitter, or other forms of social networking are not isolated to a few solitary cases. It has become a pervasive pastime for kids across the globe and even if it has not affected your child directly, there are likely plenty of kids in your district that have become targets for this type of harassment (a reported 1 in 3 teens have suffered from some form of cyber bullying). Although you might think that there is little you can do to police this activity, either within your own home or on a grander scale, it is important that parents support laws that protect kids from cyber bullying. Here are just a few good reasons to get on board with this important legislation and write to your local officials and state congressmen to insist that such laws be drafted, passed, and upheld. (more…)

You may be overwhelmed by the options after being charged with Driving Under the Influence (DUI). With countless specializing attorneys listed in advertisements, newspapers and even the yellow pages, uncovering the best method of choosing a qualified attorney for your case can seem tricky. The best way you can reveal the best professional for your situation is by researching available candidates, options and what you will need from an attorney. In addition, comparing, calling and asking plenty of questions can reveal a professional that you are more comfortable with and has the greatest amount of experience. (more…)

These days it’s much more difficult to get away with discrimination in the workplace. With companies wary of lawsuits, sexual harassment training is now mandatory for most businesses (and all employees must participate). And with fewer people willing to put up with discrimination (or turn a blind eye when they see it happening), the corporate world is slowly but surely becoming a place where people of all stripes can feel safe. However, this doesn’t mean that discrimination in the workplace has been completely expunged. People tend to be biased by nature, and there are still those who think that they are better than others (and that they have a right to act on these feelings). Whether they are ignorant, belligerent, or both, their behavior must be called out and stopped. Here are just a few types of workplace discrimination that you should be on the lookout for. (more…)

It is important to have a good credit rating for anyone who wants to apply for a credit card, bank loan, insurance or mortgage. Many people do not realize that there are laws that are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that protect the consumer when they want to apply for and use credit. These laws do not guarantee that the consumer will get the credit they want, but they do guarantee that the consumer must receive fair and equal treatment. (more…)

Benefit fraud has been prevalent in the UK for many years, with costs to the government reaching around £1.5bn in 2010. Stories of fraudulent claimants who cheated their way to hefty sums appear almost every week in national newspapers. In order to reduce budget deficit, the government announced last year they were using credit firms they could to identify benefit thieves and significantly slash the excessive loss on claimant fraud. This tightening of the system threatens to expose and shame those who are claiming money they aren’t entitled to. (more…)