procedural guides

The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks May Set Another Precedent – A Legal One

Image of the Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks

The now posthumously-famous Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman treated at the John Hopkins Hospital for cervical cancer in the 1950’s. Researchers had been working unsuccessfully for 30 years to find human cells that could survive outside the body. Then along came Ms. Lacks and her particularly aggressive form of cervical cancer. Little did researchers … Read Article

Predatory Attorney Resigns Avoiding Disciplinary Action

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An Ohio lawyer accused of whole spectrum of inappropriate behaviors has resigned, saving himself from disciplinary action. Even though Richard Federle admitted to every allegation that was documented, the Ohio Supreme Court accepted his resignation with one judge adamantly disagreeing with this decision. Justice Patrick Fischer expressed concerns that these sealed cases keep the public … Read Article

The Courts Are Updating Their Rules, Again

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With another summer upon us, our courts are as busy as ever. Updating Local Rules and procedures is necessary to keep up with the ever-changing world. And subscribing to SmartRules is necessary to keep up with ever-changing court requirements. We do the work to ensure that you always have the most current information. Here are … Read Article

Supreme Court Rules In Favor of Cheerleader in Off-Campus Free Speech Case

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The perfect victory cheer is underway for a former high school cheerleader, now 18, whose case reached the Supreme Court – and the only justice who wasn’t on her team was lone dissenter, Justice Thomas. The majority opinion, led by Justice Breyer, clarified that while public schools indeed have the right to object to, and … Read Article

Motion to Dismiss in Florida Circuit Court – At A Glance

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Courts frequently change rules and requirements, sometimes without warning. Rely on SmartRules and our extensive network of court resources to keep you constantly informed of the latest rules and requirements. Note: For up-to-date information always use SmartRules Guides. Florida Circuit Court Motion to Dismiss This post gives an introduction to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure related … Read Article

Should Vaccinated Witnesses be Forced to Appear in Person?

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Before the Southern District of New York is the issue of whether Columbia University mismanaged employee retirement funds. But before the court can go forward with that issue, one thing must be decided – should vaccinated witnesses be forced to testify in person? 15 witnesses set to appear in Columbia University’s retirement plan lawsuit have … Read Article

Defamation — Slander vs Libel

Causing harm through written and spoken word can and does lead to civil lawsuits. But what are the different ways one can face civil action when it comes to this type of harm? Defamation is simply making false statements that harm someone’s reputation. Defamation can be in either spoken or written form. Slander is when … Read Article