SettlementBoard.com News, Articles and Information for Legal Junkies

18Jan/120

New Jersey Civil Rights Lawsuit Awards Ramapo Family $2.1 Million

As citizens of the United States, we have certain rights. New Jersey civil rights law also governs many of these rights. Violation of these valued rights and freedoms can result in a significant monetary judgment against the offending party or parties. In certain cases, both criminal and civil charges can be brought against offenders of basic human rights. A New Jersey civil rights lawyer can explain how the civil rights law may apply to each situation.

Overview of case

A recent civil case involving a Ramapo town worker who was killed by a New Jersey park police officer awarded the family of the deceased $2.1 million. The jury in the civil case found that the police officer used unnecessary force when he shot and killed the worker who was attending a barbecue along with other members of the Ramapough Lenape Indian tribe. The killing of the man occurred during a confrontation with park police who were attempting to enforce a law prohibiting the use of ATVs in the park. The death resulted in criminal charges, and eventually relatives of the dead man also filed a racial discrimination lawsuit.

Verdict of criminal trial

Criminal charges were brought against the officer who shot and killed the victim at the confrontation outside Ringwood State Park where the victim and other tribe members had gathered to celebrate. At the criminal trial, the police officer claimed he shot the victim in self-defense. The jury acquitted the officer of the criminal charges.

The family of the deceased then brought a lawsuit under New Jersey civil rights law against New Jersey and the park police. In a civil trial, the standard of evidence is less than that of a criminal trial. The outcome of this trial was in favor of the victim’s relatives and the civil court jury awarded damages.

If you have questions about civil rights in New Jersey, or if you believe you have been the victim of discrimination, speak to a skilled New Jersey civil rights attorney.

20Oct/110

Consulting a Law Firm Can Mean Smoother Business Operations

In the business world of today, businesses that can adapt quickly to changing conditions are the ones that survive. Whenever possible, you should consult with a law firm that has the expertise to handle the legal issues surrounding new products, production plants, methods of financing, employee agreements, mergers, acquisitions, and reorganizations so that you can focus on using your expertise to improve your business.

Employing a particular lawyer in the long run for all your legal needs can come in handy when there is a commercial litigation against you. Such a lawyer is likely to know your business dynamics and be aware of your way of seeing problems. Accordingly, your lawyer can defend you when the need arises.

Over a period of time during expansion or the development of new products and services, your Cincinnati lawyer can take care of all the legal details in your new business operations. And if need be, your attorney can refer you to the right attorney in a specific geography if you are starting a new operation elsewhere. Given the fact that business laws in U.S states vary, it is important that your lawyer be familiar with both Ohio and federal laws, while also having the resources to investigate the laws of other states when necessary.

Having a general practice attorney by your side can help you with other legal needs such as:

• Wills and testaments
• Estates and trusts
• Insurance bad faith
• Employment law

For your business and personal needs, a general practice attorney with a strong business law background can smooth the way.

Information in this post gathered in association with Nassau county divorce lawyers

20Oct/110

Law Firms That Handle International Law: An Overview

International law involves the legal relationship established between nations. It can involve a wide range of issues, including visas, immigration, flight paths, trade, banking, the law of the sea, and cooperation in criminal investigations, just to name a few. As the world becomes increasingly globalized, business and commerce often require that lawyers for major corporations either have their own capacity for dealing with international law cases or have a working relationship with a law firm that specializes in international law and related services.

In addition to handling cases, some of the services an international law firm can provide include general counsel on international law, counsel on specific laws of different countries, procedures for gathering evidence (illegal in some countries, so knowledge of what can legally be done is essential), and the effective and legal arrangement for process servers.

It is not easy to bring an out-of-country defendant into court, nor is it easy to notify such a defendant about the case filed. Hence it is an intelligent move to retain experienced international process servers, who are knowledgeable about foreign civil procedures.

The Hague convention and the Inter-American convention are the primary ways under which international process services can operate. It is under the discretion of the individual countries to adapt one of these conventions, both, or none. Other than these recognized conventions, there are countries like the U.S. that allow private process servers. But this can require a court-appointed attorney to fulfill the legal proceedings.

It can make a difference if an attorney is appreciative of the conventions appropriate for the countries involved and their legal cultures. The attorney must also establish if the matter is governed by treaty and statute, or requires a custom-designed solution.

 

20Oct/111

Fight to Punish Discrimination Legally

Workplace discrimination is punishable by both state and federal laws. It is important that an individual not keep quiet about harassment or discrimination in the workplace. If you do not know how to proceed, legal help is always available.

In New York, discrimination laws are well-tailored to both employers and employees. A person with such a complaint is advised to take this up with a NY discrimination attorney.  Be sure that the attorney you retain is well aware of the respective state and federal laws regarding discrimination.

Discrimination issues are governed by the “Division of Human Rights” in New York. Following are the types of discrimination covered by the law:

• Age
• Color
• Creed
• Disability
• Domestic violence
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Marital status
• Military status
• Predisposing genetic characteristics
• Pregnancy
• Sexual orientation

Sometimes other workplace issues are related to discrimination, including:

• Defamation, libel, and slander
• FMLA
• Wrongful termination
• Religious discrimination and harassment by coworkers

Any legal action you take need not be against your employer—it can be against any individual in your company. Of course, your employer can also be involved in such cases if they had failed to take an action against the wrongdoer or in any way supported the actions of that person. If you suffer from discrimination in the workplace, the sooner you contact a discrimination lawyer, the sooner you can deal with the problem.