High court won't hear appeal over Walker campaign probe

The Supreme Court won't hear an appeal from a conservative group seeking to end an investigation into possible illegal coordination between Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's 2012 recall campaign and independent groups.

The justices on Monday let stand an appeals court ruling that said Wisconsin Club for Growth and its director, Eric O'Keefe, must resolve their claims in state courts.

No one has been charged as a result of the investigation which has sought documents and testimony about possible violation of state campaign finance laws.

The investigation is on hold while a separate legal challenge is pending before the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

The club and O'Keefe argued that the investigation was a violation of their First Amendment rights and an attempt to criminalize political speech.

New York Adoption Attorneys – Rosin Steinhagen Mendel

For over 35 years, the New York Adoption Attorneys of Rosin Steinhagen Mendel have served clients in New York City and the surrounding counties of Southern New York State and New Jersey in matters regarding adoption, foster care litigation, and family law. Rosin Steinhagen Mendel have represented clients in proceedings such as parental right termination, custody hearings, guardianship, and adoption.

The attorneys at Rosin Steinhagen Mendel have represented New York City Foster Care Agencies for over thirty years in all aspects regarding Family Law and New York State Administrative proceedings and provide representation for foster parents, persons seeking adoption, and parents in abuse and neglect proceedings.  Their practice focuses on the areas of law listed below:

·         Adoption

·         Foster Care litigation

·         General Family Law

·         Kinship Guardianship

·         Reproductive Law

In order to learn more about Rosin Steinhagen Mendel and their practice, please visit their website or contact them for more information regarding your case. 

China Trademark and Patent Law Office - CTPLO

Based in Hangzhou, China and founded in 2004, the China Trademark and Patent Law Office Limited (CTPLO) is one of the leading IP law offices in China. CTPLO was created in order to provide marketing and trademark services for both small and large businesses through the simplest process possible. Founded by Mr. Joe Shen, the CTPLO provides creative solutions in regards to brand infringements and trademark related matters.

Mr. Joe Shen, President of CTPLO, has had over ten years of experience with Trademark law and is knowledgeable in the following areas: trademark search, registration, review, opposition, defense, and negotiation. In order to get a clearer view of his practices and focus, you can visit the CTPLO website. Mr. Shen personally counsels and advises his clients in regards to patent and copyrights.

CTPLO aims to minimize and eliminate any and all threats that may affect their client’s portfolio. In order to do this, CTPLO provides quick and responsive service as well as bilingual legal services for international clients. CTPLO’s primary goal is to establish and maintain long-term relationships with all clients. Their current clientele include the following brands and industries: Lemforder, Tommy Bahama, Isomers, Aston Villa FC, Fulham FC, Serge Blanco, to name a few.

Learn more about the services provided by CTPLO by visiting their website.

Judge says court battle over giant emerald can proceed

A Los Angeles judge has ruled a trial can go forward to determine ownership of an emerald weighing 840 pounds that was hauled out of a Brazilian mine more than a decade ago.
 
The 180,000-carat emerald is at the center of a court battle between gem traders, miners, real estate tycoons and others vying for the jewel once valued at $372 million.

The latest claim to ownership came from the Brazil government, which wants the gem returned to its country of origin.

The Los Angeles Times reports Superior Court Judge Michael Johnson said this week a motion by Brazil lacked sufficient evidence to warrant halting the case.

The jewel known as the Bahia Emerald is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Ex-UBS banker pleads guilty in US tax evasion case

A former executive at Swiss bank UBS AG has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge as part of a long-running U.S. investigation into tax evasion using secret accounts.

Hansruedi Schumacher entered the plea Thursday before a Florida federal judge. Schumacher is cooperating in the investigation and in return, prosecutors will recommend a sentence of five years' probation and a $150,000 fine.

Schumacher admitted in court papers that while at UBS and a second Swiss bank from 1995 to 2009 he helped wealthy U.S. citizens escape the Internal Revenue Service using secret offshore accounts.

Several other bankers and dozens of customers have been prosecuted. UBS itself paid a $780 million fine to the U.S. in 2009 and agreed to disclose names of thousands of its American customers.

NC Appeals Court says DOT must pay landowners

The North Carolina Court of Appeals says the state transportation department must pay some landowners whose property is in the path of a proposed road in Forsyth County.
 
Multiple media outlets reported that a three-judge panel of the court ruled Tuesday that a lower court was wrong to refuse to hear a lawsuit by 11 landowners who said the state's designation of their land in the proposed road's path hurt their property values.

There is no indication when the road might be built.

The 11 landowners say the state's designation of their property in the path of the planned road limits what they can do with the land.

The state attorney general's office is consulting with transportation officials on the ruling. They could appeal to the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Republicans welcome court decision in immigration lawsuit

House Speaker John Boehner says a federal judge's ruling temporarily blocking President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration underscores that he acted beyond his authority.
 
In a statement Tuesday, the Ohio Republican said the ruling by a Texas judge was no surprise, citing Obama's repeated comments about the limits of his authority. Boehner said he hoped that Senate Democrats will relent in their opposition to a Homeland Security Department spending bill that overturns Obama's actions to spare millions of immigrants from deportation.

The department's funding expires Feb. 27 and Congress has only a few legislative days to act.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, said in a statement that he hoped Obama obeys the court's ruling. The Justice Department has said it would appeal.