- “Less is more. We know the issues.”
Posted May 15, 2008, 12:51 pm by Jon
Peter Lord reports on today's lead paint arguments, which included some advice from the Chief Justice that applies to any oral argument: The arguments were not without some moments of humor. Chief Justice Frank J. Williams warned the lawyers to curb their arguments. "We feel like we're on the receiving end of a fire hose here," he said as the proceedings got under way. "Less is more. We know the issues."
- Rhode Island Divorce Attorney | Ahhh . . Draining Marital Joint Bank Accounts!
Posted May 15, 2008, 7:43 am by Christopher Pearsall
Once a Rhode Island Divorce is filed by your attorney (or by yourself) then it would be wise to consider what you do each day or you might end up in handcuffs. The Automatic Orders of the Court are not simply a peice of paper. They are embodied in the Rhode Island General Laws and they prescribe what you can and cannot do. I ran into a siutation similar to this. You can look at the Automatic Orders of the court to see what you thing but here's my take on it. Bob is married to Judy. For the...
- U.S. Code Updates Available Via RSS
Posted May 14, 2008, 9:22 am by Jon
From the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries Law Updates blog: The Legal Information Institute as Cornell has launched RSS feeds for each title of the US Code. Do you practice Bankruptcy law? Get a feed to title 11. Tax law? Stay current with a feed on title 26. Immigration law? Get the updates to title 8. Each of the 50 titles to the US Code has a link for updates. Very nice.
- RI Supreme Court on the Circuit
Posted May 14, 2008, 9:10 am by Jon
I think the Rhode Island Supreme Court's occasional practice of hearing oral arguments at various sites around the state is fantastic. The ProJo's Edward Fitzpatrick reports today on the Court hearing oral arguments yesterday at Bishop Hendricken High School. Fitzpatrick reports mostly on the argument in the "gap kids" case. Two asides: one is the Chief Justice's commentary on the Governor's and General Assembly's efforts to save money over the last couple of years: Yesterday, the justices...
- RI Alimony - A Refresher by Rhode Island Divorce Attorney Christopher A. Pearsall
Posted May 14, 2008, 4:01 am by Christopher Pearsall
Alimony is an important concept to understand under Rhode Island law. The Rhode Island media, in fact the media in general with television shows like, LA Law, Law and Order and articles about fat divorce settlements that include large alimony payments in the National Enquirer and even movies such as the comedy Liar, Liar leave Rhode Islanders with the notion that alimony is typical, commonplace and, in fact, an entitlement. Unfortunately as the media creates its entertainment or information to...
- An Divorce Court Speaks through its Orders: What do you need to watch out for?
Posted May 13, 2008, 5:25 pm by Christopher Pearsall
Each time a divorce or family court matter is brought before a Rhode Island Judge designated to address that matter, the Judge almost universally checks the file, reviews the docket sheet and looks at the Orders entered in the matter to tell the story or the history of what has taken place before the particular matter is heard. The importance of Rhode Island Family Court Orders can't be emphasized enough. It has often been said, "a court speaks through its Orders." Though Orders in a divorce or...
- Forum Non Conveniens Now Recognized in RI
Posted May 12, 2008, 1:17 pm by Jon
Just a few months back I noted that the Rhode Island Supreme Court had never ruled on the applicability of the doctrine of forum non conveniens. Well now it has, and it has joined most other states and the federal courts in adopting the doctrine.
- Dean David Logan on Justice Antonin Scalia
Posted May 9, 2008, 6:04 pm by Jon
David Logan, Dean of RWU Law, has a few interesting tidbits of information on U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia's visit to RWU last month.
- Link Up to Lead Paint Argument Webcast
Posted May 7, 2008, 10:43 am by Jon
As previously reported the Rhode Island Supreme Court has decided to webcast the oral argument in the lead paint appeal. The Court has now put up on its web site a link to the webcast, which can be found on the Court's Of Current Interest page. I suggest right-clicking on the webcast link and opening it in a new window. It looks like you will need Windows Media Player to watch. Enjoy!
- Ease your Rhode Island Divorce by Adopting a Responsive State of Mind
Posted May 7, 2008, 6:45 am by Christopher Pearsall
In my Rhode Island Divorce article called "Divorcing with Dignity" I alluded to the fact that when you divorce your spouse you have a better chance of doing so amicably with both spouses retaining their dignity rather than arguing, fighting and bickering at each other simply by retaining your power as the client to direct the focus of your divorce. The title of that divorce article was to call to your attention as a divorcing party that there is more than one aspect to a divorce. Divorcing with...
- The Chief Justice on Lincoln and Chief Black Hawk
Posted May 6, 2008, 7:32 pm by Jon
So tonight the plan was to get in my run during my daughter's girl scout meeting, but after the parents' meeting about an upcoming camping trip ran long I didn't have time to run as far as I wanted, so I walked over to the Museum of Primitive Art and Culture to listen to Chief Justice Frank Williams give a short lecture on Abraham Lincoln and his (minimal) role in the Black Hawk War. After an interesting talk in which there was more to be learned about Chief Black Hawk than about Abraham...
- Rhode Island Divorces: Divorcing with Dignity
Posted May 6, 2008, 4:41 pm by Christopher Pearsall
How do you want your Rhode Island Divorce to proceed? Yes, I'm serious. Most Rhode Islanders in divorce situations don't even take the time to consider this question, let alone realize the amount of power they have to determine the course their divorce will take. Whether you try to handle your own divorce or hire a divorce attorney to help you through your family law matter, YOU should be the driving force behind the course of your divorce. Most divorcing persons fail to realize that the hiring...
- PD Michael DiLauro’s Innocence Issues No. 5
Posted May 6, 2008, 8:15 am by Jon
Michael DiLauro, Director of Training and Legislative Liaison for the Rhode Island Public Defender's Office, publishes an e-mail newsletter called Innocence Issues. His most recent issue is entitled UNINTENDED BUT WELCOME CONSEQUENCES OF THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM EFFORTS. It is below the fold, along with DiLauro's contact information. Enjoy. UNINTENDED BUT WELCOME CONSEQUENCES OF THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S (OPD) CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM EFFORTS. This is...
- Affordability of Rhode Island Divorce Attorneys by Attorney Chris Pearsall
Posted May 4, 2008, 9:40 am by Christopher Pearsall
Well, it's pretty much official . . . and I'm not referring to a Rhode Island divorce. Rhode Island is the first of the New England States to declare that it is in a recession. Unemployment rates are up, health insurance rates and available options have spiraled far out of control, gas prices are climbing so fast that from the time you drive into the office until the time you drive home they have gone up as much as 10 cents. Downsizing is at an all time high in Rhode Island and long-time...
- I don’t have a license, but I drive very well, officer . . .
Posted May 1, 2008, 9:30 am by Jon
A defendant convicted of operating a motor vehicle without a driver's license challenged the constitutionality of the law requiring drivers to be licensed, and the Rhode Island Supreme Court on Tuesday reiterated the following rules: A person does not have a fundamental right to unregulated travel by automobile within Rhode Island. The State may prohibit unlicensed drivers from operating a motor vehicle on the State's public highways as a valid exercise of the State's police power. Said the...
- What is a Nominal Rhode Island Divorce Hearing?
Posted April 30, 2008, 2:57 pm by Christopher Pearsall
The word "nominal" is generally defined as meaning something "small, brief or of little consequence or value." In its root form its literal translation was akin to "in name only". In Rhode Island Divorce proceedings you can understand a Rhode Island Nominal Hearing by thinking of it as a combination of its linguistic roots and its modern day definition. A Nominal Hearing is a divorce hearing in which there are no "disputes" presented before the court for determination and the court is only...
- Rhode Island Divorce and the Importance of Healthcare Provisions
Posted April 29, 2008, 2:28 pm by Christopher Pearsall
a {text-decoration:none} A:hover {background-color:yellow} There is a great concern about medical coverage today. This is not surprising with the skyrocketing premiums of medical insurances and increasing deductibles and co-pays. For these reasons and many others, medical insurances and healthcare expenses should be given serious consideration when settling your Rhode Island Divorce or if you are involved in a Rhode Island Family Court matter involving the establishment of healthcare related...
- Welcome Freakonomics Readers
Posted April 24, 2008, 6:55 am by Jon
RILJ remains on break, but here's a quick hello to new readers coming over from the Freakonomics blog, which links to RILJ today in a post about the lead paint oral argument. Please come again! And if you're interested in the lead paint case, you should check out Law and More, which covers lead paint issues extensively.
- Rhode Island Divorce Attorney Christopher Pearsall on Hidden Income.
Posted April 23, 2008, 6:18 am by Christopher Pearsall
As most people know, Rhode Island Child Support is based on the gross income of the parents of the child(ren) who are entitled to the support. What is often not clear about child support is that there are any number of parents who would rather avoid paying their allotted share of child support. A parent can attempt to do this in any number of ways by hiding their income. One way a parent may attempt to do this is to hide income in a corporation or some other such entity like a Limited Liability...
- RILJ is on hiatus . . .
Posted April 17, 2008, 9:54 am by Jon
. . . while I consider the future of the blog. I am probably going to make a change, posting less frequently (perhaps weekly?) but writing at greater length about Rhode Island-related legal, political and social issues. In the meantime, you can find me at Pincince Legal Services, Run Rhode Island, LinkedIn, and Facebook.