Judge Kathleen Galen manages the bustling 38th District Court in Eastpointe, Michigan, renowned for being the state’s busiest single-judge court. Located adjacent to Detroit and the iconic Eight Mile Road, Eastpointe encompasses just five-and-a-half square miles yet serves a population of 34,000 residents. Judge Galen cites multiple factors for the court’s heavy caseload, including its…
In a recent decision, a state appellate court ruled that initiating a pursuit to apprehend a fleeing offender, even for minor traffic violations, does not constitute willful and wanton conduct. Justice Michael B. Hyman, authoring the majority opinion, stated, “Initiating a pursuit in an attempt to apprehend a fleeing offender even for minor traffic violations…
The appellate court’s decision to uphold a $2.2 million verdict in a trucking accident case underscores the severe financial implications of traffic violations. The case involved Jeffrey Brungart, who was injured when a truck driver named Awwad ran a red light at an intersection, colliding with Brungart’s vehicle. This judgment reaffirms the consequences individuals and…
A Chatham County jury in Savannah awarded $3.4 million to Ms. Smith, 35, in a personal injury verdict against a client insured by State Farm. The case stemmed from a traffic incident where the at-fault driver pled guilty to failing to yield the right of way but later disputed fault in the civil proceedings. Plaintiff…
In today’s Morning Docket for May 29, 2024, several high-profile legal developments have made headlines. Foremost among them, the New York hush money trial involving former President Donald Trump has progressed to the jury stage. This trial, focusing on alleged payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign, stands out as other pivotal cases, including those…
Recent occurrences in the legal fraternity have again brought the issue of entangled ethics and elitism in the sector to the fore. A case exemplifying this involves Sandra Doorley, a Monroe County District Attorney. A collaboration between the police and District Attorneys (DAs) to evade the law, while shambolic, is quite prevalent. A recent report…
A recent New York court decision highlights the implications of law enforcement escalating minor traffic violations to more serious charges. The ruling centered around a scenario in which an initial allegation of a window tint violation led to a parking citation and eventually a full-search of a car that was unjustifiably towed. This case was…
In an effort to mitigate pretextual stops and biased policing, a new law has now taken effect in California. The law dictates that peace officers in California must state the reason for a traffic or pedestrian stop before they can proceed with any questioning related to a criminal investigation or traffic violation. This effectively removes…
On Wednesday, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation filed a complaint in a U.S. federal court against the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, alleging that the city has infringed upon tribal sovereignty by issuing traffic violation tickets to tribal members within the bounds of the reservation. In their claim, the nation contends that the city does not possess…