Author Archives: Lawyer Team

About Lawyer Team

This blog scans breaking news to find significant and interesting legal settlements. Lawyer.com is a directory website for lawyers. Featuring the best search in its field, lawyer.com connects people who need legal advice to the most qualified professionals who can provide it.

The End of the Secondary Marketplace?

“Supreme” Court?

It’s that time of year again when the United States Supreme Court unveils its agenda for the year season. One interesting case to make sure to watch for is Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons.  The case deals with the first-sale doctrine.  A precedent established by the Supreme Court since 1908 that acknowledges compete ownership of a product by the consumer after the first purchase.  This case all started with college textbooks, an expense all college students are aware of. An international student, Supap Kirstaeng, told his family back in Thailand to buy his textbooks on the international market.  He got them for a huge discount and shipped them to him privately.  Currently, international textbooks are not allowed to be sold in the United States.  After Mr. Kirstaeng read the books, he sold them in the US.  The textbook company filed suit and the controversy has made its way up to the Supreme Court.

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UGI, You Ain’t Got No Alibi

Black background for a cool effect

Pennsylvania-based utilities company, UGI, and the Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement have submitted a joint settlement regarding a deadly 2011 Allentown natural gas explosion.  UGI has agreed to pay $386,000, the maximum fine possible.  They also need to increase their efforts to replace cast-iron pipeline that played a role in the tragic incident.  The natural gas explosion killed five people, injured dozens, and destroyed numerous homes.  The investigation following the event alleged that UGI had ignored warning signs for the explosion.  Had they been addressed the catastrophe could have been prevented.

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Sex and the “Motor City”

Let me reiterate, “Welcome to Detroit.”

The “Motor City” has seen yet again another scandal in its Police Department.  Looks like they will be moving on to its 5th Police Chief in the past 4 years.  Ralph Godbee has resigned from his position as Detroit Police Chief after news of an affair with a subordinate.  Angelica Robinson, an internal affairs officer, and Godbee had been in a relationship for a year before she tried ending it with the former Police Chief.  He apparently was upset by the breakup and went to a conference in California with another woman.  Oh yeah, he’s also married.  Ms. Robinson must have been angry because she posted a picture of herself on Twitter with her weapon in her mouth threatening to end her life.  Authorities tracked her cell phone and have had surveillance on her since.  Mayor Dave Bing got wind of the incident and suspended Godbee for 30 days.  He decided to overrule the Board of Police Commissioners and discipline Godbee on his own, since he appointed him to Police Chief just two years ago.

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Hospital Whistleblower Files Organ Donation Lawsuit

Donors beware

Are you an organ donor?  If so, you may want to pay attention.  A lawsuit was recently filed against the New York Organ Donor network.  Whistleblower Patrick McMahon alleged that the Donor Network harvested organs prematurely.  Inside the lawsuit, McMahon explains how he witnessed a case where a patient was classified as brain dead, about to have their organs harvested, and then needed tranquilizer medication because they were not immobile.  Doctors are pressured to declare patients brain-dead when there still may have been a means to save the patient.  At the same time, families of patients were pressured give consent to the donor network if the patient was not already a donor.

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Terror Alert in Phoenix! Code: Baby Blue

Mock Terrorism? Who knows anymore.

 Mock Terrorism.  It sounds dumber when spoken than it does written here.  But I kid you not, this is something our country needs to look out for.  Michael Turley from Phoenix, Arizona, decided to make terrorism watch his job after the shooting at the Auora, Colorado movie theater. The 39 year old cinematographer and photographer filmed a short video with his 16 year old nephew to “test” the Phoenix police.  He first dressed his nephew in a blue sheet made to look like a toga.  Put a ski mask on him and armed him with a fake grenade/rocket launcher.  They then, paraded around the busiest streets in Phoneix pointing their weapon at citizens passing by.  The point was to stir up some emotions in the people walking by and to time how long it would take for Phoenix police to come to the scene.  Passersby called police to inform them of the situation even though they assumed it was a joke and were not really threatened.  When asked what they were doing with a fake grenade/rocket launcher they said they were making a movie.  Um?

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