Legal Commentary

Ewing on Civil Forfeiture Laws
Bob Ewing of the Institute for Justice has a compelling op-ed in the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the Hicks case and the scandal of civil forfeiture laws in this country. The Hicks case, you may recall, involved Luther Hicks of Lima, Ohio, who had his entire life savings - more than $400,000 - seized by the police after they found a small amount of marijuana in his house after responding to a break-in...

"Feds give customs agents free hand to seize travelers' documents"
"Feds give customs agents free hand to seize travelers' documents": Bob Egelko has this article today in The San Francisco Chronicle.

Same-Sex Couples Can File Joint Returns in Five States & D.C.
Interesting article on Kiplinger: Tax Savings for Domestic Partners: Five States and the District of Columbia Now Allow Same-Sex Couples to File Joint Returns, by Kevin McCormally: In the be-careful-what-you-ask-for realm, many gay and lesbian couples around the country may...

Can the IRS seize your property
Yes, the IRS can seize your property, but, certain guidelines and restrictions are more stringent today than when first implemented.  It used to be quite a common practice for the IRS to seize your property and sell it, without so much as a court order...

Feds Seek Home Forfeiture From Alleged Scam Artist; Two Victims Say They Refinanced Their Homes To Invest In Phony Fund

Padron: Criminal Forfeiture of Money Applies to Fraud
In U.S. v. Padron, No. 07-11228 (May 13, 2008), the Court affirmed the conviction and sentence of a defendant convicted of a mail fraud scheme arising out of a personal injury clinic that obtained money from insurance companies by submitting false claims...

State Will Statutes
State Differences in Last Will and Testament Checklist

Florida State Settles with Feds over Disclosure of Personal Driver Info
Florida State Settles with Feds over Disclosure of Personal Driver Info

Lehman Brothers
allegedly breached ERISA duties for employee savings plan participants.

Stephen J. Hyland
alleging fraudulent operations in offering expertise in same gender couples' issues.

Oscar Winner Sues Production Company
Ascendant pays Kevin Costner undisclosed amount in settlement.

FenPhen
Serious Heart Problems Found In Ex-Users

Paxil
Found to Damage Sperm and Inhibit Fertility