Case

Judge Overrides Previous Ruling, Approves Plea Deal in Fatal Police Chase Case Amidst Family Outcry and Legal Controversy

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Dublin, Calif. — A controversial plea deal terms concluded a tragic case that had stirred community unrest and legal challenges over the settlement of a fatal police chase incident. Sekou Brandon, a 22-year-old resident of Oakley, was sentenced last month to seven years and eight months in prison following a fatal car crash that ended the life of 73-year-old Linda Susan Woodward during a high-speed pursuit by police in Livermore last year. The adjudication by Judge Clifford Blakely marks the latest chapter in a highly contentious legal journey that saw an initial rejection of the … Read more

Jury Clears Parish Officials in First Amendment Case, Activist Joy Banner Vows to Continue Fight for Transparency

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NEW ORLEANS — A federal jury in New Orleans has ruled in favor of St. John the Baptist Parish leaders in a First Amendment lawsuit brought by environmental justice activist Joy Banner. The verdict, delivered in the U.S. Eastern District of Louisiana, concluded that Parish President Jaclyn Hotard, Council President Michael Wright, and the parish itself did not infringe upon Banner’s freedom of speech or engage in retaliation against her. During the trial, jurors deliberated for over three hours before determining that the officials did not impede Banner’s speech nor violate Louisiana’s Open Meetings Law … Read more

Jury Rules on Daycare Property Dispute, Awards Plaintiff $57K in Breach of Contract Case

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Jefferson County, MO – A recent legal battle involving a daycare property ended with a jury award in Jefferson County Circuit Court. Plaintiff William Wunderlich had sued Giggle Buggs Child Care and Learning Center LLC, along with individuals Orson Guyton and Sandra Hatchell, for multiple claims including breach of lease and contract fraud. However, the award given was significantly less than Wunderlich had originally sought. In 2016, Wunderlich initiated the lawsuit alleging that the defendants failed to adhere to the terms of a property lease and a promissory note intended for property enhancements. Additional allegations … Read more

Jury Deadlocked in High-Profile Harassment Case Against Former UNI Student

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A hung jury led to a mistrial this Monday in the case against Aisha Nyala, a former student at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), who was accused of making threats against the university’s Dean of Students Allyson Rafanello. The trial, which commenced last Wednesday, deliberated over charges that included intimidation with a deadly weapon among other serious allegations. Nyala faced multiple charges, notably intimidation with a deadly weapon and stalking using technological devices, both classified as Class C felonies. Authorities say Nyala operated several social media accounts to launch a harassment campaign against Rafanello … Read more