Sleeping

Tenant Files Federal Lawsuit Against Columbia Apartment Complex After Being Shot While Sleeping

by

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A federal lawsuit has been filed against a Columbia apartment complex by a tenant claiming he was shot in the arm while sleeping in 2021. The lawsuit cites negligence and security failures on the part of the owners and management of The Rowan on Southern Drive. The plaintiff argues that the complex failed to provide a safe and habitable environment. Despite marketing itself as a secure place for students with exceptional amenities, attorney John Mobley, representing the plaintiff, alleges that the complex ignores the prevalent culture of violence and crime, which ultimately … Read more

Supreme Court to Determine Legality of Punishing Homeless for Sleeping Outside Without Shelter

by

Grants Pass, Oregon – The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that will determine whether local governments can penalize homeless individuals for sleeping or camping in public when shelter beds are not available. This raises the question of whether such laws violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. The case stems from a complaint filed by three homeless individuals in Grants Pass, an Oregon city with a higher number of homeless people than available shelter beds. The city has ordinances that prohibit individuals from sleeping on the streets or … Read more

Supreme Court to Review Rulings on Homelessness and Sleeping on Streets in Western US Cities

by

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to review lower-court decisions that make it more difficult for cities in the western United States to regulate homelessness. The court’s decision to hear the appeal comes after recent rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that blocked anti-camping ordinances in San Francisco and restricted the enforcement of local ordinances in Grants Pass, Oregon. Grants Pass, with the support of California Governor Gavin Newsom and other elected officials, has sought to address the issue of homelessness caused by rising housing costs and income inequality. Meanwhile, … Read more

Drowsy Defense: Massachusetts Court Grants New Trial for Murder Defendant as Lawyer Caught Sleeping in Courtroom

by

BOSTON – In a startling turn of events, a murder defendant in Massachusetts is now looking at a new trial after his defense lawyer was found asleep during crucial parts of the proceedings. The state’s top court made the ruling on Monday, stating that the lawyer’s behavior constituted a violation of the defendant’s constitutional right to counsel. The defendant, who was convicted of first-degree murder, appealed his conviction, arguing that his lawyer’s inadequate representation had deprived him of a fair trial. The lawyer, who has not been named publicly, was observed sleeping multiple times during … Read more