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Lake Charles Lawyer Voluntarily Surrenders Law License to Avoid Disbarment

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BATON ROUGE, La. – Lake Charles attorney Benji J. Istre has chosen to give up his law license rather than face disbarment, as confirmed by the Louisiana Supreme Court. The court approved Istre’s request for permanent resignation instead of disciplinary action. Istre made this decision in response to charges of serious attorney misconduct, including neglecting client matters, failure to communicate with clients, and refusal to cooperate in a disciplinary investigation. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board was handling the investigation. As a result of the court’s decision, Istre is permanently … Read more

Judge Denies Trump’s Request to Speak in New York Fraud Trial, Closing Arguments Proceed Without Former President’s Statement

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NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump is not expected to speak during closing arguments in the New York civil fraud trial against him, according to Judge Arthur Engoron. In a letter to attorneys for Trump and the New York Attorney General, the judge stated that Trump had not agreed to the conditions he had set for giving a statement. The judge assumed that Trump would not agree to the limits imposed and therefore would not be speaking in court. The possibility of Trump participating in the closing arguments had been under discussion since last … Read more

Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Former Sheriff’s Deputy in Parkland School Massacre to Proceed

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – A judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by families of the victims of the Parkland school massacre can proceed against former sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson, who failed to intervene during the attack. Circuit Judge Carol-Lisa Phillips denied Peterson’s motion to dismiss the case before trial, stating that a jury should determine whether Peterson showed a “wanton and willful disregard” for the safety of the students and teachers during the six-minute shooting. Although Peterson was acquitted of criminal charges last year, the standard of proof is lower in a civil lawsuit. … Read more

Beware! Scammers Posing as Law Enforcement and Court Officials Demand Payments for Missed Jury Duty and Court Dates

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GRETNA, La. – Residents of Jefferson Parish and other parishes in Louisiana have been targeted by a phone scam where individuals posing as law enforcement or court personnel demand payments for missed jury duty service or court appearances. The Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court has issued a warning about this prevalent scam. The scammers use tactics to make their calls appear legitimate, including displaying numbers that seem to be from law enforcement or court agencies and using the names of actual officers or court personnel. They demand immediate payment through various methods, such as prepaid … Read more