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DUI Life Sentence Stirs Debate About Alcoholism
Lawyer Media News |
2010/08/17 12:25
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pNobody disputes that driving under the influence of alcohol is dangerous. In fact, it's one of the most deadly crimes. You won't get any serious arguments from anybody that people should be allowed to drive while impaired. Nobody would dispute that you are far more likely to die at the hands of a DUI driver than at the hands of a serial killer or by gang violence./ppThe dispute is not about the problem of impaired driving, but rather about what to do about it. Every year, many states increase the jail time, fines and other penalties for DUI offenders. There is little evidence that increased punishment deters impaired driving. In fact, there's no conclusive evidence that suggests that the average would-be drunk driver even considers the penalties before turning on the ignition and hitting the road./ppMost state lawmakers increase the penalties because it is politically popular to do so, and it’s the only thing they can think of doing. In most states, the average DUI convict spends no more than a day or two in jail for a first offense, and no longer than a year for a third offense. After that, the states have a tremendous range./ppIt seems for most offenders, a first, second or third DUI arrest is the wake-up call they need, and very few people get caught more than three times in their lifetime. In states such as Washington that have systems that treat and educate for alcohol and drug issues, there is a ray of hope that recidivism may be reduced. In states such as Arizona, where the focus is on punishment rather than treatment, DWI convictions often do little for a would-be repeat offender than take them off the road temprarily while they are incarcerated./pp- a href=http://www.attorney-webdesign.comattorney webdesign/a
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Lynberg Watkins - Careers
Legal Marketing News |
2010/08/17 07:22
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a href=http://www.lynberg.com/careershttp://www.lynberg.com/careers/a
At Lynberg amp; Watkins, we let our principles guide us, and our commitment to these principles is evident in the opportunities we provide our team members. We successfully blend a supportive, collegial work environment with extensive knowledge and resources to represent our clients’ interests completely. Our success in all of our practice areas gives us the stability and courtroom credibility which ensures our continued success. nbsp;
We are first and foremost a litigation firm which focuses on attorney talent and development.nbsp; Our dedication to cultivating outstanding leadership and excellence provides ample opportunity for our lawyers to thrive. We are constantly working to maintain Lynberg amp; Watkins’ strong reputation in the legal community through our development programs, which are as varied as the work we do.
To ensure the success of our attorneys, we routinely assess and implement innovative strategies to enhance both the professional and personal experience of practicing law at Lynberg amp; Watkins.nbsp; This empowers our attorneys to reach their maximum potential.nbsp; Attorneys at Lynberg amp; Watkins experience ongoing collaboration with firm partners as well as advisory committees comprised of representatives from every career level.
While Lynberg amp; Watkins continues to experience considerable success in the legal arena, we know that our strength and ongoing success starts with our summer associate program. nbsp; Our summer associate program allows second and third year law students to work alongside and under the direct supervision of partners and senior associates.nbsp; Our summer associates are given a variety of legal assignments designed to complement their legal education while giving them a practical view of life as a practicing attorney and a Lynberg amp; Watkins associate.nbsp; nbsp;
If you are interested in pursuing a career, or summer |
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BP Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over Release of Benzene
Headline Legal News |
2010/08/09 07:52
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pA $10 billion toxic tort class action lawsuit has been filed against BP over alleged emissions from its troubled Texas City oil refinery, alleging that workers and residents in the area were exposed to benzene and other chemicals. nbsp;
More than 2,200 workers at the refinery and residents from the surrounding area filed the BP class action lawsuit on August 3 in the Galveston Division of the Southern District of Texas. The complaint alleges that for 40 days earlier this year, the company illegally released the chemical benzene into the atmosphere./ppThe benzene lawsuit comes just as BP, formerly known as British Petroleum, was finally able to stop the flow of oil from a well a mile under the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, which has caused a massive oil spill that is expected to cost the company tens of billions of dollars in oil spill lawsuits and clean up costs. /ppPlaintiffs in the BP Texas City refinery class action lawsuit say the company has been releasing benzene into the atmosphere at the plant due to a hydrogen compressor that broke down on April 6. The 2,212 plaintiffs allege that they suffered serious injuries and illnesses from benzene exposure./ppBenzene is an industrial chemical that has been linked to the development of cancer, leukemia and other life-threatening health problems. It is a known carcinogen used as an industrial solvent in the production of plastic and synthetic rubber, as well as drugs and dyes./ppBP’s Texas City Refinery is the third-largest oil refinery in the United States, and has been the subject of several major safety incidents. As recently as September, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration hit BP with an $87.4 million fine for not complying with a safety agreement made after a March 23, 2005 explosion and fire that killed 15 workers and injured more than 170 others./p |
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Children in Dependency Proceedings Need Lawyers
Lawyer Media News |
2010/08/09 06:52
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| pLawyers who represent children in dependency proceedings say it’s time for these children – regardless of which state they live – to have a right to legal counsel./ppMeeting yesterday at the 2010 American Bar Association Annual Meeting in San Francisco, a panel of children’s rights advocates discussed eliminating the barriers that prevent lawyers from representing these children in life-impacting legal proceedings. nbsp; /ppAccording to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services there are more than half a million children in foster care and under the jurisdiction of family courts.nbsp; These are children who have been, for example, removed from their homes, placed in temporary shelters and possibly separated from siblings. /ppWhen it comes down to who is looking out for the rights and interests of the children in the courtroom – a lawyer, a guardian ad litem or an attorney ad litem -- there is no clear-cut, uniform answer./pp“Every state has a different model,” says Hilarie Bass, a Miami commercial litigator who does pro bono work representing foster kids. /ppShe points out the obvious — that there are too many children who need help, without enough money in the system to serve them.nbsp; Despite those hurdles, Bass, who is also incoming chair of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation, says she expects the section to make a recommendation on the right to counsel for children that should come up for debate before the ABA’s policymaking body in 2011. /pp“It would be a recommendation to provide for counsel and representation of children in delinquency and dependency proceedings,” says Bass.nbsp; /ppABA President Carolyn Lamm says the ABA is an association interested in promoting the best interest of children and finding solutions “before we have a crisis situation.”/ppLamm adds, “These citizens are the most vulnerable of course, in terms of no one to defend their legal rights.nbsp; The ABA does so much work in the public interest.nbsp; This is a segment of the public that needs us and we are strong and forceful advocates for children and the rights of children to be represented. nbsp; /ppSo far, the U.S. Supreme Court has not spoken on the issue of whether children have a constitutional right to counsel in dependency proceedings. /ppGeorgia attorney Trenny Stovall directs the DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center and represents children in dependency proceedings every day.nbsp; She says children who don’t have their own lawyer do not have a voice. /pp“When children don’t have a lawyer, their ability to be considered a living being with rights is vastly diminished.nbsp; Without representation, they become a widget in the eyes of the court,” says Stovall./ppChildren like 16-year-old Trevor Wade — who has been through the dependency court system — will tell you that having a lawyer makes a difference.nbsp; He says his lawyer fought against a system that would have placed him back with an abusive father.nbsp; These days he’s an intern in a public defender’s office, helping kids who are going through the court system. /ppWade hopes to go to law school and is zealous in his advocacy on this issue. /ppHe says that when states and courts make decisions not to provide lawyers for children, the question that needs to be asked is, “What is the price of a child’s success?”/p |
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Nun's death rallies anti-immigration forces
Headline Legal News |
2010/08/09 03:53
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pIn Arizona, the shooting death of a rancher blew the lid off simmering anger over border security and helped solidify support for a tough new immigration law. A similar eruption threatens in Virginia following the death of a Catholic nun in a car accident involving a man in the country illegally and accused of drunken driving./ppThe Benedictine Sisters of Virginia tried to discourage using the death of Sister Denise Mosier as a forum of the illegal immigration agenda and pleaded for a focus on Christ's command to forgive./ppThe sisters' mission is peace and love, said Corey Stewart, chairman of Prince William County's Board of Supervisors. My mission is law enforcement and the protection of public safety./ppPrince William County, about 25 miles southwest of Washington, D.C., stepped up its immigration enforcement in 2007 amid explosive growth of its Hispanic and immigrant populations. Under Stewart's leadership, the county implemented a local policy requiring police to determine the immigration status of all people arrested on suspicion of violating state or local laws.
/p |
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Lynberg Watkins
Law Firm News/California |
2010/08/07 07:21
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Since its inception, Lynberg amp; Watkins has grown to represent clients on a local, regional and national basis. The firm maintains two California offices: one in the center of the Los Angeles financial district and one in the heart of Orange County.
Built upon a foundation of skilled professionals who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, Lynberg amp; Watkins has developed to meet the ever-growing needs of our clients. We consistently and successfully resolve matters to the satisfaction of our clients in each of our practice areas.
lia href=http://www.lynberg.com/http://www.lynberg.com//a/li |
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