publiclawlibrary.org

Sumner County Man Found Guilty on 21 Counts of Child Sexual Abuse, Faces Over 200 Years in Prison

by

SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. — A jury has found Christopher Howard Alessio guilty on 21 charges connected to sexual abuse involving multiple children over a period spanning 16 years. The verdict was reached following a trial that unveiled disturbing accounts of abuse dating back to 2005. Alessio, 46, was taken into custody in 2022 after a 13-year-old child reported repeated instances of molestation and rape during the summer of that year. Following his arrest in Hendersonville, additional victims came forward, revealing that they had also experienced abuse at his hands. By the conclusion of the investigation, … Read more

Dynamic Duo Joins Norton Rose Fulbright: Talented Litigators Step Up as Co-Heads of Chicago Office’s Disputes Team

by

CHICAGO — Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has announced the addition of prominent litigators Joshua Lee and Edward Casmere to its Chicago office as partners. They will co-lead the office’s Litigation and Disputes team, addressing various legal challenges in product liability, consumer disputes, and environmental and mass tort litigation. Lee and Casmere come from Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, a litigation firm based in Chicago that they helped establish. Both possess extensive experience in managing high-stakes issues for clients, focusing on strategy development, regulatory affairs, and the negotiation of complex transactions. Their combined decades … Read more

Oregon Law Schools Set to Expand Criminal Defense Clinics with New $3.4M Fund

by

EUGENE, Ore. — A new initiative promises to bolster criminal defense clinics at law schools across Oregon, reflecting a growing commitment to legal representation for vulnerable populations. This funding effort comes in response to the pressing need for public defenders in the state, where thousands of individuals lack legal counsel. The Oregon legislature has recently authorized a significant allocation of $3.4 million to enhance these programs, following a prior one-time funding of $2.1 million in 2024. With this backing, law schools in Salem, Portland, and Eugene anticipate expanding their clinical offerings, designed to provide hands-on … Read more

Star-Studded International Jury Announced for the 82nd Venice Film Festival, Led by Alexander Payne

by

Venice, Italy — Renowned filmmaker Alexander Payne will lead an esteemed international jury at the 82nd Venice Film Festival, set to unfold from August 27 to September 6, 2025. In a recent announcement by the Board of Directors of La Biennale, additional jury members join Payne, following a recommendation from artistic director Alberto Barb. Joining Payne on the jury are six notable figures from various cinematic backgrounds: actress Fernanda Torres, recognized for her recent Academy Award nomination for “I’m Still Here,” Iranian director and writer Mohammad Rasoulof, French director Stéphane Brizé, Italian director Maura Delpero, … Read more