DecadesLong

Decades-Long Battle for Justice: Lawyer Exposes Deep Flaws in System through 1981 Murder Case Exoneration Effort

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Trenton, NJ – Nearly four decades after a 1981 murder case resulted in a conviction that has been contested ever since, recent efforts to reexamine the evidence point to what supporters say are major systemic failures in the judicial process. At the heart of the battle for exoneration is an increasing awareness of the complexities and potential pitfalls of the American legal system, especially concerning older cases where forensic technologies were less developed. Legal experts emphasize that the reevaluation of such cases is critical, not just for the individuals involved, but for the integrity of … Read more

Decades-Long Legal Battle Nears End as Baltimore Judge Reduces Sentence in High-Profile 1999 Strangulation Case

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BALTIMORE, Md. — The fate of Adnan Syed, whose conviction in the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee was a central point for a popular podcast, is again under judicial scrutiny. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer indicated she will soon rule on whether Syed’s life sentence should be reduced to time served, after a lengthy and emotionally charged hearing held on Feb. 26. Syed, now 43, was originally convicted for the murder of his former girlfriend, Lee, who disappeared on Jan. 13, 1999. Her body was found weeks later in Leakin Park, … Read more

Victory for Public Retirees: President Biden Signs HR82, Ending Decades-Long Battle Over Social Security Offsets

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Washington, D.C. – A significant legislative change has been achieved as President Joe Biden recently signed HR82, leading to the repeal of the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) laws. This development concludes years of determined advocacy led by Mass Retirees, an organization representing retired public employees in Massachusetts. The WEP and GPO laws, first enacted in 1983, were intended to balance Social Security benefits but have long been criticized for unfairly penalizing public servants in their retirement. The impact of these laws reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits … Read more

Jury Awards $3.45 Million to Family of Man Who Died from Asbestos-Related Cancer After Decades-Long Exposure

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Newport News, VA — A Virginia jury has awarded $3.45 million to the relatives of a Chesterfield County man who succumbed to a rare cancer linked to asbestos, holding the manufacturer of the asbestos products accountable decades after the exposure. James Campbell “Jim” Katcham, a former millwright who passed away at 80 in early 2022, suffered from mesothelioma, a malignant cancer affecting the lung’s lining. The condition has been directly associated with his long-term exposure to asbestos at the DuPont Spruance plant where he worked from 1961 to 1979. During the 11-day trial at Newport … Read more