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Jury Awards $116 Million in Tragic NYC Helicopter Crash That Claimed Five Lives

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New York — In a staggering judgment, a Manhattan jury awarded $116 million to a grieving family for the tragic death of Trevor Cadigan, one of five passengers killed when a “doors-off” helicopter plunged into the East River in March 2018. The 26-year-old journalist was on board the flight designed for aerial photography which ended fatally due to a series of safety failures. The verdict marks a profound statement about the accountability of companies involved in the helicopter’s operation and crash. According to the family’s attorney, Gary C. Robb, the harness system used during the … Read more

Sikeston Lawyer Joseph C. Blanton, Jr. Honored with Prestigious Fellowship at National Legal Event

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Nashville, TN — In a prestigious nod to his professional excellence, Missouri attorney Joseph C. Blanton, Jr. has been inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the legal profession’s most respected associations comprising the top one percent of lawyers in the United States. The induction ceremony took place at the college’s annual meeting on September 28 in Nashville, Tennessee, underscoring a milestone achievement in Blanton’s distinguished career. Blanton, a partner at the law firm of Blanton, Nickell, Collins, Douglas, Hanschen & Peters LLC, has been practicing law across Southeast … Read more

Colorado Voters Navigate Judicial Retention Decisions Amid Complex Ballot Questions

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DENVER, Colo. — As Colorado gears up for its Nov. 5 elections, voters are confronted with an essential, albeit daunting, choice: deciding whether state and county judges should stay on the bench. In this unique judicial approach, judges are not elected but instead appointed and later placed on the ballot for retention, making Colorado’s system a blend of appointment and public accountability. Colorado operates under a distinct judicial system where judges across various courts are appointed rather than elected. Later, these judges face retention elections, which allow citizens to vote on whether they should continue … Read more

Governor Youngkin Vows to Defend Virginia’s Voter Roll Purge Amid DOJ Legal Challenge Over Election Laws

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RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia’s Governor, Glenn Youngkin, has openly criticized a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice, which alleges that the Commonwealth violated federal election laws by purging voter rolls too close to an election. This legal action underscores a contentious debate over voter registration practices and their timing. The lawsuit followed Youngkin’s executive order that mandates daily updates to the voter list by the Department of Elections in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles. These updates are intended to remove individuals who cannot confirm their citizenship. The legal action by the DOJ … Read more