Appellate Law

Ninth Circuit certifies another question to the California Supreme Court: Klein v. United States
On July 30, 2008, the Ninth Circuit certified another question to the California Supreme Court under Rule of Court 8.548: Does California Civil Code § 846, California?s recreational land use statute, immunize a landowner from liability for acts of vehicular...

Class Action Defense Cases–Anthony v. AIG: Eleventh Circuit Certifies Questions To Georgia Supreme Court Following Dismissal Of Class Action Complaint Challenging Excessive Notary Fees Charged In Connection With Refinance
Propriety of Dismissal of Class Action Challenging Notary Fees Charged by Lender in Connection with Refinance of Home Loan that were in Excess of Maximum Allowed by Georgia State Law Turned on Issues not yet Clearly Resolved by Georgia Courts Eleventh Circuit Holds, thereby Warranting Certification of Questions to Georgia Supreme Court Plaintiff filed a putative class action against American General Financial Services, with whom they had refinanced their home loan, alleging violations of various Georgia-state laws; each of the claims in the class action complaint were premised on a charge for notarial fees allegedly “in excess of the statutory maximum established by OCGA § 45-17-11(b)...

6th. Circuit Court of Appeals certifies abortion question to Ohio Supreme Court
The 6th. Circuit Court of Appeals, last Monday, certified an almost 4-year old Planned Parenthood case centering around RU-486, a drug used to induced abortions, and the Ohio statute passed in June 2004 specifically prohibiting its use, to the Supreme Court...

"Eleventh Circuit to review en banc below-guideline sentence in 'utterly gruesome' sex offense case"
"Eleventh Circuit to review en banc below-guideline sentence in 'utterly gruesome' sex offense case": Law professor Doug Berman has this post at his "Sentencing Law and Policy" blog...

Is an Alabama execution possible this week after Eleventh Circuit lifts a stay
It has been a long time since any lower court has generated serious execution news over the last three months as the Baze lethal injection de facto moratorium settled in. However, as detailed in this brief AP piece from Alabama,...

"11th Circuit lifts stay of execution for Alabama inmate"
"11th Circuit lifts stay of execution for Alabama inmate": The AP provides a report that begins, "A federal appeals court has lifted a stay of execution for James Harvey Callahan, who is scheduled to be executed Thursday, but it could be delayed again by the U...

Selection of State Supreme Court Judges
How State Court Judges are Selected

California Supreme Court Proposition 8 Decision
Court Rejects Challenges to Proposition 8, but Finds Marriages Valid

Is Barack Obama a Natural Born Citizen?
Wrotnowski v. Bysiewicz (Supreme Court): Does Obama meet the constitutional requirements to be President

Unwed Fathers' Rights in Adoption
Landmark Cases in Adoption Law Shape Law with respect to Unwed Fathers

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Career Choices
Descriptions of law enforcement occupations

Heart of Atlanta v United States
Supreme Court Decision: Civil Rights Act Protected by Interstate Commerce Clause

Specialty Lamp International
Recalls Counterfeit Circuit Breakers

Alabama Restaurant Association Hires Legal Council to Help Members Damaged by BP Oil Spill
Alabama Restaurant Association Hires Legal Council to Help Members Damaged by BP Oil Spill>

Alabama Suzuki Dealer
Faces Class Action

FDA Issues Update on Safety Review Orlistat
Orlistat FDA Issues Update on Safety Review

Aurora Loan Faces Class Action over Mortgage Review Services
Aurora Loan Faces Class Action over Mortgage Review Services

Ebay Fined
French Court Sets Fine at $61 Million