State Court News
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Hawai'i Supreme Court educates students through community outreach program
The Hawaiʻi Supreme Court held a session at Mililani High School on December 10, allowing nearly 400 students to witness oral arguments in the case SCAP-23-0000540, Bell vs. Hawaiʻi Public Housing Authority.
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Flying mattresses aren't a 'dangerous condition,' court rules in casino case
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A jury doesn’t need to decide whether day-bed cushions that took to the air during a squall and “popped” a casino customer in the back of the head represented a dangerous condition, a Mississippi appeals court ruled, upholding a trial court’s dismissal.
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Florida man files class action against Netflix over Paul-Tyson fight buffering issues
Netflix is facing a potential class action lawsuit after a Hillsborough County man said he was upset by the “unwatchable” livestream of last week’s Jake Paul-Mike Tyson fight.
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Judge Laubach receives meritorious service award from Hawaiʻi County Bar Association
Third Circuit Deputy Chief Judge M. Kanani Laubach has been recognized by the Hawaiʻi County Bar Association with the Meritorious Service Award.
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Discussion explores queer justice history in Hawaii
A virtual discussion titled "Kaulike No Nā Mea A Pau: Toward Queer Justice in Hawaiʻi" is scheduled for Monday, November 25, 2024, from noon to 1 p.m. (HST) via Zoom.
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$1.7B Georgia verdict reversed; Ford can now present proper defense
ATLANTA (Legal Newslne) - Trial judges went too far when they stripped Ford Motor Co. of nearly all its defenses in a truck-rollover lawsuit that ended with a $1.7 billion jury verdict, a Georgia appeals court ruled.
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Chief Justice receives Spirit of Justice Award from Hawaii foundation
Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald was honored with the Spirit of Justice Award by the Hawaii Justice Foundation (HJF) during its annual meeting on October 29.
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Hawai'i celebrates volunteer attorneys at 2024 pro bono event
Attorneys and law firms were recognized for their pro bono contributions at the Hawaiʻi Access to Justice Commission’s 2024 Pro Bono Celebration on October 30.
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Louisiana Supreme Court shuts down claim of injured worker using fake name
The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled an injured worker can’t pursue his civil lawsuit filed under a fake name.
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Hilo courthouse warns public about phone number spoofing scam
The public in Hawaiʻi is being alerted to a scam involving the spoofing of phone numbers from the Hilo Courthouse, also known as Hale Kaulike.
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Justice McKenna contributes as volunteer justice pro tem in CNMI
Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Associate Justice Sabrina S. McKenna recently visited Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), and Guam.
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Louisiana high court overturns state law allowing lawyers in Legislature to delay their legal cases
The Louisiana Supreme Court has overturned a law allowing state legislators who are also attorneys to delay court proceedings when those schedules conflict with their legislative duties.
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Elderly woman says Greyhound left her stranded in 'middle of nowhere'
CHARLESTON – An 89-year-old Kanawha County woman says a Greyhound bus driver left her stranded “in the middle of nowhere” in Oklahoma.
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Hilo hosts first law & justice academy engaging high school students
HILO, Hawaiʻi – Over the recent fall break, 20 high school students from various schools on Hawaiʻi Island participated in the first Hilo Law & Justice Academy. The three-day program was held at Hale Kaulike (Hilo courthouse) and ended with a mock trial exercise.
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Chief Judge DeWeese receives award from Going Home Hawaiʻi
Third Circuit Chief Judge Wendy M. DeWeese has been recognized with the Ka Lehua Kea Hiwahiawa Award by Going Home Hawaiʻi for her significant contributions to the community on Hawaiʻi island. The organization, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, focuses on helping individuals reintegrate into society through employment, education, housing, and other services.
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Bench warrant recall clinic aids over 100 in Waiʻanae
Hawaiʻi State Judiciary judges and staff gathered at the Waiʻanae Public Library to assist individuals with bench warrant and penal summons recalls related to traffic and petty misdemeanor cases. The event, held on a Saturday afternoon, saw the processing of 46 ex-parte motions prepared by the Office of the Public Defender. These motions were assigned new hearing dates for those seeking assistance.
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First Circuit hosts conference for newly appointed Oʻahu probation officers
Sixty-one new probation officers were sworn in by Chief Judge Jeannette Castagnetti at the First Circuit Probation Conference held in Honolulu. Chief Court Administrator Lori Okita and Deputy Chief Court Administrator Dwight Sakai presented the officers with lei and certificates of appointment.
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New judges sworn in at first circuit court ceremony
Rebecca A. Copeland, Brian A. Costa, Dyan M. Medeiros, and Steven R. Nichols have officially taken their positions as Circuit Court Judges for the First Circuit in Honolulu. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by colleagues, special guests, family, and friends.
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Energy Transfer has no plans to end case against Greenpeace over pipeline protests
DALLAS (Legal Newsline) – The lead partner in the Dakota Access Pipeline won't give up on a lawsuit against Greenpeace over violent protests, announcing recently that it will “stand in opposition to [Greenpeace]’s repeated attempts to avoid accountability for breaking the law.”
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Greenpeace attempts to use new European Union directive to sideline Energy Transfer lawsuit
A new legal tactic that Greenpeace International has deployed to sideline Energy Transfer’s lawsuit to recover damages stemming from the 2016-2017 Dakota Access Pipeline protests has yet to gain much traction in North Dakota.