Everyone has heard of the Stambovsky v. Ackley case, where the court found that, as a matter of law, a house was haunted. Stambovsky v. Ackley, 169 A.D.2d 254 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991). Other strange and spooky case law includes personal injuries from corn mazes or haunted houses, flammable costumes, and other supernatural and sordid tales.
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While the media is embroiled in the controversy surrounding the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby decision, the Supreme Court also made a significant Fourth Amendment ruling in People v. Riley, 2014 U.S. LEXIS 44997 (2014). The case creates a bright line rule against warrantless searches of cell phones under the search incident to arrest doctrine (SITA). […]
Read More…Read 5 milestones, updates, and ways to get involved in supporting our service members this Veterans Day. Veterans Day became a federal holiday in 1954 under President Eisenhower’s administration. The purpose of Veterans Day is to honor all veterans for their service, sacrifice, and patriotism during times of peace and conflict. Lawyers have and continue […]
Read More…The WA Supreme Court weighs in on the use of comfort dogs in court. Man’s best friend has taken on an important role in today’s society, far surpassing what Lassie began. We’re familiar with dogs being used in certain capacities: seeing Eye dogs, drug sniff dogs, and even seizure dogs. Law school libraries have even kept dogs on […]
Read More…Review the Court’s reasoning and learn what comes next for the parties in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl. Remember that your children are not your own, but are lent to you by the Creator. — Native American Proverb The story of 4-year-old Baby Veronica in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl, 2013 WL 3184627 was lost […]
Read More…Learn how the ruling in Hillman v. Maretta affects Washington law. Recently, the Supreme Court in Hillman v. Maretta, 569 U. S. ____ (2013), re-affirmed an important tenet of trust and estate law: keep your information current. Otherwise, your (or your clients’) wishes might not be effectuated as envisioned. Trust and estate attorneys should carefully inventory […]
Read More…SCOTUS explores the intersection of state adoption law and the Indian Child Welfare Act. UPDATE: On June 25, 2013, in a 5-4 opinion, SCOTUS ruled that under these facts, ICWA did not block the adoption of Baby Girl by a non-Indian couple. Read the opinion in Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl. — How is “Parent” […]
Read More…Be a more effective advocate with these tips. I have the opportunity to witness many great and not-so-great attorneys in court. As a new lawyer, I endeavor to watch as many hearings as possible to take notes on what works and what doesn’t. I never took trial advocacy in law school because I never really planned on doing much […]
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