News

News

Decades-Old Cold Case Heats Up: Jury Selection Begins in 1988 Lake Charles Rape Trial

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Lake Charles, LA – Jury selection has commenced in the trial of a man accused in a decades-old case that shocked the local community. The suspect is charged with a 1988 assault in which he allegedly raped a woman in Lake Charles. The case has lingered in the public memory as a haunting unsolved mystery, with recent breakthroughs in DNA technology finally leading to an arrest last year. After years of dead ends, the DNA sample from the crime scene was reanalyzed, pointing investigators in the direction of the current defendant, whose identity has been … Read more

King & Spalding Bolsters Legal Team with New High-Profile ‘Forever Chemicals’ Specialist

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New York — Expanding its expertise in handling complex legal matters, King & Spalding LLP has announced the addition of a high-profile product liability and environmental law expert to its mass torts team. The new hire, formerly a leading specialist at Mayer Brown LLP, joins as a partner in the firm’s New York office, bolstering its capabilities in litigations involving “forever chemicals,” a term commonly used for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known for their persistence in the environment. The recent recruitment underscores King & Spalding’s strategic initiative to enhance its litigation prowess amid growing environmental … Read more

Texas Senate Debates Amending Morton Act Amid Claims of Misuse and Defense Concerns

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AUSTIN, Texas – A significant alteration to the Michael Morton Act, a piece of legislation designed to prevent misconduct by prosecutors, is currently being considered by the Texas Senate. Introduced in 2013, the original act was named after Michael Morton, a man wrongfully convicted of his wife’s murder due, in part, to the withholding of critical evidence by prosecutors. This act mandates that prosecutors disclose all pertinent evidence to the defense automatically, a requirement meant to enhance transparency and fairness in the judicial process. Recently proposed Senate Bill 1124, authored by Sen. Joan Huffman of … Read more

Georgia Jury Awards $4.2 Million to Elderly Woman After Neighbor’s Dog Attack, Rejects Insurer’s $150,000 Offer

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Jonesboro, Georgia — A Clayton County State Court jury awarded more than $4.2 million to an 82-year-old woman who endured severe injuries following a dog attack in 2020. The substantial compensation was awarded last week after the insurance company involved initially offered only $150,000 for her pain and suffering, and future medical treatments. Earnestine Shaw, the plaintiff, suffered the attack by a 130-pound mastiff belonging to her neighbor, Aaron Smith. She was on her own property in Jonesboro when the unrestrained and unleashed dog entered her yard. The mastiff’s forceful interaction led to Shaw being … Read more