Nigeria: NHRC Decries Assault On Lady Uzoma
The National Human Rights Commission yesterday condemned in strong terms the inhuman and degrading treatment meted out to Miss Uzoma Okere in Lagos by some Naval Staff on the convoy of the Flag Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Rear Admiral Olufemi Arogundade. More »
Nigeria: Three Traders Docked for Selling Fake Tooth Brushes
The trial has started in Lagos of three Balogun traders who were alleged to have specialized in selling fake Jordan tooth brushes to unsuspecting members of the public. More »
Gambia: 10 Nigerians Killed
Even as efforts to tackle human rights violation gets support across the world, 10 Nigerians have been reported killed in The Gambia alongside others from various African countries. More »
Namibia: Cable Thieves Cost Telecom Millions
Telecom Namibia has spent over N$6 million for the replacement of copper cables plundered by thieves this year alone. More »
Nigeria: Nafdac Closes Fake Drugs Companies
In its renewed and drastic efforts to curb the use of illicit drugs and chemicals in the country, especially in Benue State , the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has closed five fake ethanol and locally manufactured gin 'ogogoro' dispensing premises and seized over 6,800 litres of the products. More »
South Africa: Cop Takes Stand Again in Child-Killing Case
A police director is to testify in the Cape High Court this morning in the trial of Marius Van Der Westhuizen, a senior police official at Claremont police station, who allegedly shot dead his three children in July 2006. More »
Uganda: Roads Official Grilled Over Contracts
A TOP official of the Uganda National Roads Authority has been interrogated over claims that bid documents for road works in Masaka were tampered with to reflect a higher cost. More »
Uganda: Three Held Over Attempted
THREE men have been arrested over attempting to bribe a Police commissioner. More »
Namibia: High Court Rules in Alexander's Favour
Government has complied with the High Court ruling, in effect concurring with fugitive Jacob Kobi Alexander's legal team, that a chief of Lower Court is a public ser-vant and not a magi-strate, hence a person occupying that office could not hear cases such as Alexander's extradition case. More »
South Africa: We are Soft on Criminals, Says Zuma
ANC President Jacob Zuma told thousands of party supporters who gathered in Langa how happy he was to see that the ANC was still intact in the province. More »
Somalia: Inmates in Merca Town Jail Freed
The entire prisoners in the central jail of Merca town have been freed by unknown gunmen later on Tuesday, according to residents. More »
Nigeria: Illegal Detention - Court to Decide N150 Million Suit Against EFCC
An Abuja High Court has fixed November 19 for judgment in the case filed by Dr Sylvester Odigie against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging that the Commission detained him "illegally and oppresively" for 53 days. More »
Nigeria: AC Cdemns Brutal Attack On Lady By Naval Ratings
The Action Congress (AC) has described as barbaric, appalling and unacceptable, the recent brutal attack on a lady, Miss Uzoma Okere, by some naval ratings in traffic in Lagos, saying everything must be done to ensure that the attack will be the last time of its kind in the country. More »
White & Case Lays Off 70 Associates
White & Case said on Tuesday that it will lay off about 3 percent of its global legal and staff head count as part of a review of firm operations in light of the economic downturn. The layoffs will affect about 70 associates and 90 staffers, spokesman Nicholas Clarke says. The firm insisted in its statement that it "anticipates a strong 2008," but is "exercising prudent business judgment" in anticipation of a weakened global economy in 2009. More »
Storm in U.K.'s Legal Market Still Gathering Strength?
Just over six months into the current fiscal year for most English firms -- most of which operate on a May 1 to April 30 fiscal year -- a steady trickle of them already are reporting first half revenues. And after a spectacular 2007-08 that saw some firms report revenue increases of up to 25 percent, current gains are modest but still notable given the turmoil in world markets. More »
Saudi Arabia Sues Cigarette Importers for $34 Billion
Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry has filed a $34 billion lawsuit against importers of cigarettes from international tobacco companies, including U.S. firms, for costs of medical treatment of smoking-related illnesses, the first such action in the Arab world and one of the world's biggest damage claims. The health and economic costs of tobacco-related illnesses in the kingdom total more than $1.3 billion a year, according to the health minister. More »
Lifetime Ban on Judicial Service Sought for Judge Allegedly Drunk on the Bench
A prosecutor asked the New Jersey Supreme Court's judicial ethics tribunal on Monday to censure former municipal Judge Richard Sasso, and to bar him from the bench, for allegedly being drunk in court, unruly in public and overly harsh to litigants and lawyers. In testimony before the committee, Sasso testified that during the alleged drunken appearances, he was taking medications including the painkiller Vicodin for back and knee injuries from a car accident and Ambien for sleep apnea. More »
Supreme Court Argument Report: Lawyers as 'Repeat Players'
During argument at the Supreme Court on Monday in a confrontation clause case, the justices and attorneys engaged in some spirited exchanges concerning whether defense lawyers -- especially those "repeat attorneys" who appear often before the same judges and prosecutors -- would be likely to take undue advantage of a rule requiring forensic technicians to testify when lab reports are admitted as evidence in drug cases. More »
Federal Government Recovers $1.34 Billion Under False Claims Act
Pursuing allegations of fraud under the False Claims Act, the federal government secured $1.34 billion in settlements and judgments in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2008, with the largest share coming from health care lawsuits -- in particular, from pharmaceutical companies and related entities. The fiscal year recoveries bring the amount of total recoveries since 1986 amendments to the act to more than $21 billion. More »
Firm Sued for Offering Job to Judge While He Sat on One of Its Cases
Lawyers who engaged a retiring judge in discussions about a future business relationship while he was ruling in one of their cases have been sued for damages -- specifically, the other party's attorney fees. The suit against Herten, Burstein, Sheridan, Cevasco, Bottinelli, Litt & Harz and partner Thomas Herten claims that the firm's actions amounted to professional negligence, and advances a third-party legal malpractice cause of action. The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages. More »
Mattel Goes Back to Court to Fight Bratz Products
The maker of Barbie dolls is taking new action to sweep the rival Bratz line from store shelves after winning $100 million in a copyright suit this year. Attorneys for Mattel asked a federal judge on Monday to ban MGA Entertainment from making the Bratz products, which they asked the court to impound and destroy. The current dispute centers on whether the jury in the earlier suit found that only the first generation of Bratz dolls infringed on Mattel's copyright or whether all the line's dolls are in violation. More »
Sutherland's Atlanta Office Loses Prominent Husband-and-Wife Duo
The husband-and-wife duo of John A. Chandler and Elizabeth V. Tanis have left Sutherland's Atlanta office. Tanis, a professional liability litigator who became one of the highest-ranking women at the firm, has accepted a partnership at King & Spalding. Chandler, who led Sutherland's pro bono representation of six Yemeni detainees imprisoned at Guantanamo, acknowledged some interest in a potential role in the Obama administration working on detainee matters but said his plans are still shaping up. More »
Sedgwick to Merge With Gordon Hargrove, Open Florida Office
San Francisco-based Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold has announced plans to merge with Gordon, Hargrove & James and open a Florida office on Jan. 1, 2009. Sedgwick has been on something of a new office spree lately, having opened three other offices since the start of 2006. More »
U.S. Supreme Court Blocks Challenge to Secret Litigation
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to hear an appeal by More »
South Africa: Zuma Treads Carefully on Rights
AFRICAN National Congress (ANC) president Jacob Zuma is skating on thin ice in his efforts to talk tough on crime while balancing this with his party's commitment SA's human rights culture and the constitution. More »