General Litigation Newsletters

Gag Orders

Trials involving celebrities or particularly gruesome crimes are considered high-profile cases because of the media attention that follows such cases. With so much publicity, it becomes a challenge to guarantee a person's constitutional right to a fair trial.

Removal of Cases from State Court to Federal Court

Jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear and decide a case. A federal court has subject matter jurisdiction in two broad categories of cases. The federal court has federal question jurisdiction, which is the authority to hear legal disputes involving the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, and treaties. The federal court also has diversity jurisdiction, which means lawsuits between two states or between citizens of two different states in a case in which at least $75,000 of damages is sought.

Technology in the Courtroom

Courts are increasingly using technology to enhance the quality and the effectiveness of court proceedings. New York, Florida, Arizona, Minnesota, and Delaware all have state-of-the-art courtrooms. Technology is being used to increase the trier of fact's understanding of the evidence while reducing the length of trials and their cost. Information related to the case is stored and presented electronically. A CD-ROM will hold a transcript, an audio and a video recording of the trial and all evidence that was presented at trial, making a multi-media trial record. This article discusses how technology is being used in today's state-of-the art courtroom.

The Effect of a Judgment in a Civil Lawsuit

When a court of competent jurisdiction renders a final judgment on the merits of a case, the judgment is conclusive between the parties as to the claims, facts, and issues litigated in the case.

Traffic Court

Traffic courts are responsible for trying all cases involving violations of traffic rules and regulations. Generally, traffic offenses are divided into two categories: parking violations and moving violations.