Alan Beaman was sentenced to 50 years in prison for a murder that he did not commit. Jennifer Lockmiller was found dead in her apartment near Illinios State University in central Illinios. She had been stabbed with a pair of scissors and had an electrical chord tied around her neck.
The problem with the judgment, said a recent Illinios Supreme Court holding, was that evidence suggested Beaman was in Rockford at the time of the murder. The murder occurred about 120 miles south of Rockford in Bloomington.
The Illinios Supreme Court cited the presocution's failure to consider countervailing evidence regarding another suspect. The suspect, known only as John Doe, had abused his girlfriend on prior occasions, and was prone to erratic behavior due to his steroid use.
The prosecution turned a blind-eye to such evidence, and that was enough for the Illinois Supreme Court to reverse Beaman’s conviction. Beaman now may be eligible for $170,000 in compensation for wrongful accusation.
Have you been accused of a crime? Then you need a lawyer to protect you.
Click here for the original and more.
- THE CROSBY LAW FIRM
- Rockford, Illinios
- The purpose of the Crosby Law Firm Blog is to encourage public discourse and inform everyday-people of current events.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Rockford Native Among Murdered C.I.A. Agents
A suicide bomber killed C.I.A. Agent, Elizabeth Hanson, at a base in the Afghan mountains. On December 30th, Hanson was slain along with three American security guards, four CI.A. agents, and a Jordanian intelligence officer.
An armed Taliban member carried out the attack with explosives, and was apparently invited on the base. The C.I.A. allegedly utilized the Taliban member to gather intelligence information, before he sacrificed his life and others for the sake of his cause.
Hanson was a 1997 graduate of a private college prep school in Rockford, where she played tennis and worked on the yearbook. Next to Hanson’s photo in her class’ Senior Yearbook is an inspiring quote: “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
The Crosby Law Firm would like to thank Elizabeth Hanson for her valuable service to the United States, and the Hanson Family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Click here to view the orignial and more.
An armed Taliban member carried out the attack with explosives, and was apparently invited on the base. The C.I.A. allegedly utilized the Taliban member to gather intelligence information, before he sacrificed his life and others for the sake of his cause.
Hanson was a 1997 graduate of a private college prep school in Rockford, where she played tennis and worked on the yearbook. Next to Hanson’s photo in her class’ Senior Yearbook is an inspiring quote: “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
The Crosby Law Firm would like to thank Elizabeth Hanson for her valuable service to the United States, and the Hanson Family will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Click here to view the orignial and more.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Will Google Say Goodbye to China?
San Francisco based Google may pull its highly popular search engine from Chinese cyberspace, reported the Financial Times.
The move comes after Google complied with censorship requirements of the Chinese government, a controversial position initially taken by the company in 2006. Goggle’s stance to comply with China’s stringent internet policies clearly did not sit well with some of the company’s high ranking corporate officials. An attempt by hackers to break into Google’s popular email service, Gmail, prompted the internet giant to reconsider its presence in the communist nation.
The cyber-attack came from within China, but Google has said it does not believe the Chinese Government sanctioned the attack.
Many popular websites, including facebook, are unavailable in China due to government-imposed censorship. As well, many websites tailor their content to the parameters of government regulation. Google had tailored its content to meet censorship requirements in the past, but only time will tell if Google and China will go their separate ways.
Make sure you see a lawyer that will not censor you.
Click here for the original and more.
The move comes after Google complied with censorship requirements of the Chinese government, a controversial position initially taken by the company in 2006. Goggle’s stance to comply with China’s stringent internet policies clearly did not sit well with some of the company’s high ranking corporate officials. An attempt by hackers to break into Google’s popular email service, Gmail, prompted the internet giant to reconsider its presence in the communist nation.
The cyber-attack came from within China, but Google has said it does not believe the Chinese Government sanctioned the attack.
Many popular websites, including facebook, are unavailable in China due to government-imposed censorship. As well, many websites tailor their content to the parameters of government regulation. Google had tailored its content to meet censorship requirements in the past, but only time will tell if Google and China will go their separate ways.
Make sure you see a lawyer that will not censor you.
Click here for the original and more.
Jordan Sues Grocery Chains
NBC recently reported that superstar athlete Michael Jordan has filled lawsuits against two major Chicagoland grocery stores, Jewel and Dominick’s.
The former Chicago Bull alleges that he has been injured from the grocery stores’ unauthorized use his identity. The claims stem from two separate ads taken out by Jewel and Dominick’s, both of which congratulate Jordan on his recent hall-of-fame induction.
Jordan’s alleges he was injured when both stores used his name in advertisements without his permission.According to the law, you can be injured without a scratch on your body.
Although physical injury is required for “Personal Injury” lawsuits, you may be entitled to relief from other types of harm, such as “Economic Injury.” A breach of contract, for example, may cost you money that you can recover in court. Have you been the victim of “Economic Injury?”
Michael Jordan claims these advertisements injured him to the tune of $10,000,000.
Both advertisements were taken out in a commemorative issue of Sports Illustrated, congratulating Jordan on his recent hall-of-fame success. To MJ, the grocery stores’ salutary advertisements were a crafty way of using his name and likeness against his will. Furthermore, Jordan claims the ads unlawfully imply that he endorses the grocery stores or products on the page.
Air Jordan also claims that Jewel’s ad contains an “inaccurate and misleading copy of Air Jordan basketball shoes.”
Click here for the original and more.
The former Chicago Bull alleges that he has been injured from the grocery stores’ unauthorized use his identity. The claims stem from two separate ads taken out by Jewel and Dominick’s, both of which congratulate Jordan on his recent hall-of-fame induction.
Jordan’s alleges he was injured when both stores used his name in advertisements without his permission.According to the law, you can be injured without a scratch on your body.
Although physical injury is required for “Personal Injury” lawsuits, you may be entitled to relief from other types of harm, such as “Economic Injury.” A breach of contract, for example, may cost you money that you can recover in court. Have you been the victim of “Economic Injury?”
Michael Jordan claims these advertisements injured him to the tune of $10,000,000.
Both advertisements were taken out in a commemorative issue of Sports Illustrated, congratulating Jordan on his recent hall-of-fame success. To MJ, the grocery stores’ salutary advertisements were a crafty way of using his name and likeness against his will. Furthermore, Jordan claims the ads unlawfully imply that he endorses the grocery stores or products on the page.
Air Jordan also claims that Jewel’s ad contains an “inaccurate and misleading copy of Air Jordan basketball shoes.”
Click here for the original and more.
Combating Pitfalls of the IL Prison System
Last month's American Bar Association Journal included an article explaining the position of Malcolm Young, who is a scholar at Northwestern School of Law. According to Young, more states should follow the lead of New York and take a more rehabilitative approach to solve prison system problems.
Young authored a report called “Controlling Corrections Costs in Illinois: lessons from the Coasts.” He argues that New York's pragmatic approach illustrates the premise that not all low-level offenders need to be locked up.
Some states treat low-level crimes the same way they treat other crimes, with jail-time. Other states focus on rehabilitating drug-users, instead of punishing them. If you have been arrested for a drug-offense or any other crime, you need a lawyer to protect you. Will the court send you to jail or rehab? The answer depends the laws of your state and the knowledge of your attorney.
Malcolm Young wants to see drug treatment, rehabilitation, and a reduction in minimum-mandatory sentences in Illinois.
Presumably, Young will be pleased to see new laws in Illinois, which emphasize more rehabilitation and less punishment.
Until January first, Illinois was one of the handful of states that typically try minors as adults in the criminal setting. In Connecticut, young persons age 16 and up are tried as adults, and it depends on the severity of the offense in states like Washington.
In Illinois as well, whether minors will be tried as adults now depends on the severity of the offense. Illinois will join the 38 other states that try minors charged with misdemeanor offenses in juvenile court, where rehabilitation is heavily emphasized. However, persons 17 years and older charged with a felony will still be tried as adults in Illinois.
Another law set to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents is the Redeploy Illinois Program. The Program will allow smaller Illinois counties the opportunity to apply for services to help troubled children where they are, instead of pushing them through the costly state youth prison system.
A third new Illinois law also takes a step back from the “tough-on-crime” approach. Public Act 96-0707, as it is called, provides for the automatic expungement of first-offense misdemeanor for juveniles when they turn 18 (or upon the completion of the sentence, whichever comes later).
These new reforms not withstanding, Malcolm Young is not the only one pleading for change. The Illinois prison system is still understaffed and lacks a rehabilitative focus, according to the results of a two-year study reported by the John Howard Association of Illinois.
Click here for the original and more.
Young authored a report called “Controlling Corrections Costs in Illinois: lessons from the Coasts.” He argues that New York's pragmatic approach illustrates the premise that not all low-level offenders need to be locked up.
Some states treat low-level crimes the same way they treat other crimes, with jail-time. Other states focus on rehabilitating drug-users, instead of punishing them. If you have been arrested for a drug-offense or any other crime, you need a lawyer to protect you. Will the court send you to jail or rehab? The answer depends the laws of your state and the knowledge of your attorney.
Malcolm Young wants to see drug treatment, rehabilitation, and a reduction in minimum-mandatory sentences in Illinois.
Presumably, Young will be pleased to see new laws in Illinois, which emphasize more rehabilitation and less punishment.
Until January first, Illinois was one of the handful of states that typically try minors as adults in the criminal setting. In Connecticut, young persons age 16 and up are tried as adults, and it depends on the severity of the offense in states like Washington.
In Illinois as well, whether minors will be tried as adults now depends on the severity of the offense. Illinois will join the 38 other states that try minors charged with misdemeanor offenses in juvenile court, where rehabilitation is heavily emphasized. However, persons 17 years and older charged with a felony will still be tried as adults in Illinois.
Another law set to rehabilitate juvenile delinquents is the Redeploy Illinois Program. The Program will allow smaller Illinois counties the opportunity to apply for services to help troubled children where they are, instead of pushing them through the costly state youth prison system.
A third new Illinois law also takes a step back from the “tough-on-crime” approach. Public Act 96-0707, as it is called, provides for the automatic expungement of first-offense misdemeanor for juveniles when they turn 18 (or upon the completion of the sentence, whichever comes later).
These new reforms not withstanding, Malcolm Young is not the only one pleading for change. The Illinois prison system is still understaffed and lacks a rehabilitative focus, according to the results of a two-year study reported by the John Howard Association of Illinois.
Click here for the original and more.
UPS Cuts Jobs in Rockford
About 100 part-time employees are being cut from a UPS facility in Rockford, but full-time employees are said to be unaffected. UPS points to the current economic recession as the cause of a drop in volume, which resulted in lay-offs.
The UPS facility, which is located at Chicago Rockford International Airport, apparently may call back laid-off employees when business picks up.
600 seasonal employees were also laid off at the end of December, which is standard procedure. The UPS facility was added to Rockford International Airport in the early 1990s and is located just off the Kishwaukee River.Due to the current economic recession, unemployment rates have sky-rocketed across the nation, especially in Rockford.
Are you are in financial trouble, you need an attorney.
Click here for the orignial and more.
The UPS facility, which is located at Chicago Rockford International Airport, apparently may call back laid-off employees when business picks up.
600 seasonal employees were also laid off at the end of December, which is standard procedure. The UPS facility was added to Rockford International Airport in the early 1990s and is located just off the Kishwaukee River.Due to the current economic recession, unemployment rates have sky-rocketed across the nation, especially in Rockford.
Are you are in financial trouble, you need an attorney.
Click here for the orignial and more.
Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite
In the past few years, New York City has seen a dramatic increase in the number of reported cases of bedbug infestations. The City Council even established a bedbug advisory board.
Although the little critters are said to pose no dangerous health risk, they can be costly and cause pyschological harm (not to mention—they can be really annoying).
Be sure to inquire about the condition of your home before you purchase, and be sure to have a lawyer protect your legal rights. Never buy or sell real estate without the help of an attorney.
As a general priniciple of real estate law, sellers are obligated to disclose major problems with a residence when asked by a potential buyer.
The thinking is this: if the buyer knows of a problem before hand, he or she can potentially eliminate the problem before moving in.
Just as the mold or noise issues have long been included on the standard form contracts, some attorneys in NYC are now including bedbug issues in standard contracts too. That way buyers are forewarned in writing.
It is illegal for a home-sellers to knowingly provide false information to a home-buyer. If you bought a home under false pretenses, hire an attorney.
Click here for the original and more.
Although the little critters are said to pose no dangerous health risk, they can be costly and cause pyschological harm (not to mention—they can be really annoying).
Be sure to inquire about the condition of your home before you purchase, and be sure to have a lawyer protect your legal rights. Never buy or sell real estate without the help of an attorney.
As a general priniciple of real estate law, sellers are obligated to disclose major problems with a residence when asked by a potential buyer.
The thinking is this: if the buyer knows of a problem before hand, he or she can potentially eliminate the problem before moving in.
Just as the mold or noise issues have long been included on the standard form contracts, some attorneys in NYC are now including bedbug issues in standard contracts too. That way buyers are forewarned in writing.
It is illegal for a home-sellers to knowingly provide false information to a home-buyer. If you bought a home under false pretenses, hire an attorney.
Click here for the original and more.
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