NEW CASE: Statutory Benefits for Firefighters With Cancer Do Not Apply Retroactively A Florida appellate court ruled that a firefighter diagnosed with cancer before the effective date of Florida Statutes Section 112.1816 is not entitled to the benefits provided by the law, Weaver v. Volusia County, No. 5D21-1620, 10/21/2022. Kathleen Weaver was a trailblazer for…

New Child Welfare Laws Legislative Update: HB7065 was signed into law today, codifying a large child welfare package bill, which includes the following actions:

Why You Have a Right to an Attorney Did you know that prior to 1963 no one had a right to a criminal attorney? Only those who could afford to hire their own criminal defense attorney received representation. Fifty-five years ago this month, Clarence Earl Gideon’s case was decided by the United States Supreme Court.…

Man who claimed girlfriend accidentally choked during oral sex found not guilty of murder Richard Patterson acquitted by jury hours after hearing closing arguments By Peter Burke – Local10.com Managing Editor, Michael Seiden – Reporter FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A South Florida man who was on trial in the 2015 choking death of his girlfriend has been found not guilty…

Supreme Court rules in veteran’s favor in closely watched divorce settlement case By: Shawn Snow   The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Monday, in the case of Howell v. Howell, that a state court cannot offset the loss of a divorced spouse’s portion of a veteran’s retirement benefits when that veteran waives retirement pay in favor…

This is something we’ve been discussing with a lot of our criminal defense clients over the past few months. Miami-Dade judge rules holding inmates for ICE is unconstitutionalThe judge’s ruling centers on the case of James Lacroix, a Haitian national who pleaded guilty to a felony charge of driving on a suspended license. More info…