April, 2022

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Busting myths about bankruptcy and private student loans

Diane Drain

Education Loans Can Be Discharged in Bankruptcy. Busting myths about bankruptcy and private student loans. By Robert G. Cameron – APR 12, 2022 (Reprint from Consumer Financial Protection Bureau “www.CFPB.gov” The following is an excerpt from Mr. Cameron’s article.). What is behind the perception that student loans cannot be discharged in bankruptcy?

Bar Exam 211
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Georgia Judge Grants Joey Watkins's Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

EvidenceProf Blog

Today, Judge Don W. Thompson of the Superior Court of Walker County granted Joey Watkins's petition for writ of habeas corpus, meaning that Joey's conviction for murdering Isaac Dawkins has been tossed. Here is Judge Thompson's opinion. The State now.

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New report reveals press freedom nearly eradicated in Hong Kong

JURIST

A new report released Tuesday warns that press freedom in Hong Kong has been almost entirely curtailed by a government crackdown, creating a space for pro-Beijing, pro-government media. The report, from UK-based advocacy group Hong Kong Watch, is based on interviews with journalists currently in exile and reports by Hong Kong press associations. The crackdown, which began in 2019, has led to almost all independent and pro-democracy media outlets to close.

Freelance 291
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Mobile Notary (Signing Agent) Work As A Paralegal

Paralegal Bootcamp

As a Paralegal, there are an exciting number of opportunities available to make extra income, or even start your very own business as a mobile notary! I came from a background of 20 years in the medical field only to decide I wanted a change. I went back to school, became a Certified Paralegal, and started my own freelance business. Having learned a lot along the way, I have had some unexpected success that I would like to share!

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Trial Prep: What Attorneys Really Want (And How to Deliver It)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Get ready to uncover what attorneys really need from you when it comes to trial prep in this new webinar! Attorney and law professor, Joe Stephens, J.D., will share proven techniques for anticipating attorney needs, organizing critical documents, and transforming complex information into compelling case presentations. Key Learning Objectives: Organization That Makes Sense 🎯 Learn how to structure and organize case materials in ways that align with how attorneys actually work and think.

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Russian Oligarch’s $90M Yacht Seized by DOJ Order

The Crime Report

‘Tango’ yacht owned by Viktor Vekselberg. Photo via Superyacht. A 255-foot luxury yacht owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg was seized by Spanish authorities under a request from the Justice Department in the first seizure connected with Ukraine war sanctions. The $90 million yacht, named The Tango, was expropriated under the DOJ’s “Operation Klepto,” aimed at Russian individuals closely associated with the Kremlin.

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More Trending

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ARIZONA IS ONE OF 2 STATES THAT WILL TAKE YOUR TAX REFUND IN BANKRUPTCY.  SHOULD THE LAW CHANGE?

Diane Drain

ARIZONA IS ONE OF 2 STATES THAT WILL TAKE YOUR TAX REFUND IF THIS HAPPENS. SHOULD THE LAW CHANGE? By RUSS WILES, Arizona Republic (reprinted for educational purposes only). Tens of millions of Americans look forward to income-tax refunds as a way to pay down debt, buy necessities and otherwise get their finances back in order. For many people, refunds represent the largest one-time payment they will receive all year. ‘We’d use it to buy clothing, shoes and stuff the kids might need

Laws 211
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Enablement at the USPTO

Patently O

by Dennis Crouch. I was reading recent PTAB ex parte cases looking to see how the Office is handling enablement questions. The first three cases I read all involved the same setup: The examiner made a rejection that that the PTAB suggests might have been better suited as an enablement rejection. For example, in Ex Parte Sugimoto (PTAB 2022), the PTAB explained that “the Examiner conflates enablement with indefiniteness.” The PTAB then noted similar sentiment in Ex parte Nunes (PTAB

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Top EU court allows consumer body to challenge Meta over data protection violation

JURIST

The European Union’s top court Thursday ruled that the consumer protection association may bring representative action against Big Tech over infringements of laws protecting personal data. The ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) allows the German Federal Union of Consumer Organisations and Associations to seek an injunction against Meta Platforms Ireland in a German court.

Court 288
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An argument over suing police officers contains a warning about the future of Miranda rights

SCOTUSBlog

Share On Wednesday, the Supreme Court considered whether a violation of Miranda v. Arizona allows a plaintiff to sue for money damages under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Stated thusly? The issue is deceptive, reading as a mere mundanity. Be warned: It is not. In fact, Wednesday’s oral argument revealed that Vega v. Tekoh may create a seismic shift in American constitutional criminal procedure, as the court’s resolution of the lawsuit here could take an axe to the legal and cultural oak known as Miranda war

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Less Stress, More Success: Accounting Best Practices & Processes for 2025

Speaker: Amanda Adams, Fractional CFO, CPA

Are you ready to elevate your accounting processes for 2025? 🚀 Join us for an exclusive webinar led by Amanda Adams, a seasoned fractional CFO and CPA passionate about transforming back-office operations for finance teams. This session will cover critical best practices and process improvements tailored specifically for accounting professionals.

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Georgia Officials Tied to $200M Human Trafficking Scheme

The Crime Report

Photo by datacameraguy on Unsplash. Brett Donovan Bussey and Jorge Gomez, who worked for the Georgia Department of Labor, have been linked to one of the largest U.S. human trafficking cases ever prosecuted involving foreign agricultural laborers brought here on seasonal visas, reports Yahoo! News via USA Today. Bussey, who left government service in 2018, has been indicted along with 23 others for conspiring to engage in forced labor and other related crimes, while the sister and nephew of Gomez

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Trumpland Superlawyer John Eastman Calls Supreme Court Cowards, Gets Remedial Lesson In Document Prep, Will Never Shut Up

Above The Law

This f-in' guy! The post Trumpland Superlawyer John Eastman Calls Supreme Court Cowards, Gets Remedial Lesson In Document Prep, Will Never Shut Up appeared first on Above the Law.

Court 138
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How to Take a Vacation

Attorney at Work

I recently took a two-week vacation: 11 days in Hawaii. It was amazing. It was the perfect balance of activity, relaxation and adventure. What struck me most, though, was when I returned home. On the night before returning to work and clients, I thought: “I am so excited to go to work tomorrow, to meet with clients!” It made me realize that it had been a really long time since I felt excited about going to work the next day.

Lawyer 135
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Standing in Trademark Opposition and Cancellation Proceedings

Patently O

by Dennis Crouch. In a recent filing, Brooklyn Brewery (Brewery) indicated plans to take its trademark opposition/cancellation case to the US Supreme Court. The key constitutional question involves when a TM challenger has Article III standing to appeal an adverse TTAB decision. The issues are parallel to those faced on the patent side by unsuccessful Inter Partes Review (IPR) petitioners who attempt to appeal that loss.

Court 128
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Paralegal Power Move: Your Guide to Getting the Tech Tools That Maximize Your Time

Your time is valuable—and you know the right technology could help you do even more. From document management to client communication, modern tools can transform how you track deadlines, manage cases, and support your legal team. This practical playbook shows you how to: Compare and evaluate technology vendors Understand all costs and ROI potential Build a compelling presentation Handle common objections Pitch your solution like a pro Created by legal technology experts who understand how pivota

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SCOTUS hears oral arguments in bankruptcy amendment, Washington workers’ compensation law cases

JURIST

The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Monday in Siegle v. Fitzgerald and United States v. Washington. In Siegle , the Court is considering whether the 2017 Amendment to the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act, which increased quarterly fees for Chapter 11 cases in the Trustee program but not the Bankruptcy Administrator program, violates the uniformity requirement of the Constitution’s Bankruptcy Clause.

Laws 270
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The independent-state-legislature theory for congressional maps and liability for cities under the ADA

SCOTUSBlog

Share This week we highlight cert petitions that ask the Supreme Court to consider, among other things, whether the Constitution permits state courts to play a role in congressional redistricting and whether plaintiffs can hold cities liable when city employees violate federal protections for people with disabilities. North Carolina legislators asks justices to hear independent-state-legislature theory on the merits.

Court 131
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CA Police Data Shows ‘Tough-on-Crime’ Counties Experience Higher Crime

The Crime Report

California has been in the spotlight in recent weeks for its battle handling crime spikes, and most recently their Sacramento battle recovering from a devastating mass shooting. W ith that, a debate regarding policing strategy rages on — and new police data shows California counties with tough-on-crime policies actually have a greater crime increase compared to counties with progressive policies, Davis Vanguard reports.

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The Civic Duty Of Lawyers To Speak Out When The Supreme Court Dupes The Public

Above The Law

Check out the stellar transitions in this one! The post The Civic Duty Of Lawyers To Speak Out When The Supreme Court Dupes The Public appeared first on Above the Law.

Lawyer 143
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Case Study: Maximize Client Compensation by Unlocking the Power of Diminished Value

Your auto accident clients don’t realize that they have lost value in their vehicle because the insurance company covered their repairs and gave them a rental to drive until their vehicle was “brand new.” When they realize that loss in value is when they go to trade or sell their car.

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Disability Lawsuits: From on the Streets to Online

LegalReader

No matter what type of accessibility lawsuit it is, many defendants choose to fix the compliance problem and settle out of court, since it’s the less costly option.

Court 124
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Doctrine of Equivalents in Patent Litigation

Patently O

15 years ago, several studies announced the “death of the doctrine of equivalents” post Festo. The chart below shows that courts have continued to write opinions about the DOE, and there have been several major cases where the doctrine was an important element of the patentee’s win.

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US Supreme Court rules Puerto Ricans can be excluded from federal benefits program

JURIST

In an 8-1 decision, the US Supreme Court Thursday ruled that Congress does not have to provide Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits to residents of Puerto Rico. The decision impacts the residents of Puerto Rico and other US territories who are applying for government benefits. In United States v. Vaello-Madero , Jose Luis Vaello-Madero, a US citizen who lives in Puerto Rico, argued that the law violated his right to equal protection.

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In the case of the praying football coach, both sides invoke religious freedom

SCOTUSBlog

Share Joseph Kennedy had never coached football when Bremerton High School, a public school near Seattle, Washington, hired him in 2008. He was too small to play in high school, and his football experience was limited to playing for two years while he was in Hawaii serving in the Marines. Kennedy describes the school district’s decision to hire him to coach the school’s junior varsity team and to serve as an assistant for the varsity team as a “fluke”: His wife worked for the school district, an

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Enhance Your Legal Document Translations with The Ultimate Comprehensive Checklist

Are you a paralegal professional aiming to elevate your practice and ensure impeccable translation of every legal document you handle? Cesco’s Legal Document Translation Checklist is your ultimate guide to achieving excellence. Learn how to prepare for translation by identifying your audience and selecting qualified translators. Simplify and review documents to ensure clarity and consistency.

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Injustice With Impunity: A Texas Tale

The Crime Report

Photo by Clyde Robinson via Flickr. Now-retired prosecutor Ralph Petty earned a living at the Midland County District Attorney’s Office in West Texas. But that wasn’t his only job. He also moonlighted as a law clerk for the same judges who presided over his cases. By day he prosecuted criminal suspects and opposed prisoner appeals. By night he drafted court documents for judges to sign.

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Alex Jones Pays Himself $18M, Declares Bankruptcy, Offers Sandy Hook Plaintiffs Change He Found In Couch At Infowars Studio

Above The Law

Subtle. The post Alex Jones Pays Himself $18M, Declares Bankruptcy, Offers Sandy Hook Plaintiffs Change He Found In Couch At Infowars Studio appeared first on Above the Law.

Laws 138
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Twitter Presents Musk with Poison Pill

Intelligize Blog

Elon Musk is exhausting. Absolutely exhausting. Driven by an apparently insatiable need for public attention, the latest in an interminable series of headline-grabbing stunts from the CEO (sorry, “Technoking”) of Tesla involves a bid for the social media platform Twitter. As Bloomberg columnist Matt Levine wrote last week, the idea of Musk even cobbling together […].

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SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF GOD

Patently O

In re Glascoe (Fed. Cir. 2022). The USPTO refused to register Glascoe’s mark SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF GOD for use as a service mark when “analyzing the process of creating a human being, the earth, the universe and its environment.” I know what you are thinking–deceptively misdescriptive. The TTAB did not go there, but instead refused registration after concluding that the mark was “merely descriptive.” “A term is merely descriptive if it immediately conveys

Legal 124
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Transforming eDiscovery: Document Summarization, Sentiment Analysis, And Chatbots Take Center Stage

A Synergistic Approach to eDiscovery In the space of eDiscovery, the convergence of document summarization, sentiment analysis, and chatbots represents a significant change in how legal professionals navigate and manage electronic information. These technologies not only expedite the review process but also empower legal teams with deeper insights into the emotional context and key information within electronic documents.