February 2023 - LEGAL S.O.S

28Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

Longford man convicted for no car insurance 20 hours after the policy expired

A Longford man was convicted and ordered to complete 20 hours of community service for no insurance after it expired 20 hours before he was stopped by Gardai. Michael Ward, 30 Pallas Crescent, Ardnacassa, Longford was convicted and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service in lieu of six months in prison and disqualified from driving for four years for no insurance at Knocklongford, Mohill on June 23, 2021.He was also convicted and fined €150 for no driving license, €150 for no tax and €200 for driving with no L plates. Solicitor Martin Burke said the probation report said he was a moderate risk. He explained that his client was married with four children and worked part-time in gardening and landscaping. It was noted that he had 18 hours…

28Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

Jason Kenney lands senior advisor role at Bennett Jones

LAW

A second key player of Alberta's last government revealed their landing spot on Wednesday: former premier Jason Kenney is joining Bennett Jones' Calgary office. The 25-year-politician and one-term premier will work with the Canadian law firm's public policy group as a senior advisor. "I'm thrilled to be joining this iconic firm, which has both deep Alberta roots and a major national presence," Kenney was quoted as saying in an announcement on the company's website. "Bennett Jones' Public Policy group has the greatest policy depth of any Canadian law firm, and I look forward to working with several former colleagues from both senior elected and public service roles." The firm's chairman and CEO Hugh MacKinnon added, "We are delighted that Jason has joined Bennett Jones. He brings…

27Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

LIV Golf attorneys’ request for communications from Condoleezza Rice, others at Augusta National as part of the antitrust suit is denied

ATTORNEY

In what appeared to be a failed attempt to pull more sides into the fracas, LIV Golf filed a request earlier this month to obtain third-party discovery of communications involving members of Augusta National as part of its antitrust lawsuit against the PGA Tour. That request was denied in court Monday, according to documents obtained by Golfweek.LIV Golf attorneys served subpoenas to former PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem as well as a half dozen of the Tour's policy board directors past and present in the most recent round of legal salvos. Included in that filing was a request to produce all communications between the parties “and any member of Augusta National relating to a New Tour, including but not limited to LIV Golf.”LIV Golf lawyers contended that former Secretary of…

27Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

The average price paid for motor insurance will increase by 8% in the final months of 2022

INSURANCE

The average price paid for motor insurance has jumped by 8% in the last three months of 2022, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).The typical premium paid for private motor insurance was £470, up by 8% in the previous quarter.The average premium was also 7% higher compared to the final quarter of 2021.Rising costs have added to upward pressures on insurance policies.The ABI said delays in finding parts, the increased cost of paint and the jump in energy prices are among the factors adding to vehicle repair costs.Courtesy car costs have increased, as have second hand car prices, the trade body said.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced new rules on the pricing of motorbikes and home insurance from January 2022.The rules ensure that the price paid by renewing…

27Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

Yorkshire law firm Schofield Sweeney signs up to sponsor the Wetherby Beer Festival

LAW

Schofield Sweeney has been confirmed as the Wetherby Beer Festival's official sponsor for the VIP Business Networking Event, which kickstarts the fundraising weekend of April 28-29. Wetherby Grange Park is planning the town's largest ever beer festival, aiming to attract thousands from across the region, as part of the huge fund-raising effort to support the rugby, cricket, football and bowling clubs. As well as more than 45 artisans, local and regional beers, ciders and stoats to sample, organizers are determined to make this a family affair, with live music, gin bar, champagne lounge, free children's entertainment and street food concessions all part of the two -day festivals. With offices in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield, Schofield Sweeney is leading on a growing list of business supporters who are backing the Festival…

26Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

Democrats, out of power for decades, passing bills in record time in Lansing

ATTORNEY

The cash advantageDemocrats are coming in with an advantage unprecedented in Michigan history: billions of dollars in surplus cash in state coffers at their disposal.The expected $9.2 billion in revenue surplus is a combination of federal aid and unique pandemic circumstances. It's also one-time funding, meaning that lawmakers can't rely upon it forever, and fiscal analysts recently predicted the state is heading into a 'mild' recession.In the interim, though, it frees Democrats from needing to make painful budget cuts or ask for tax hikes, leaving more room to push forward other policies they haven't had the last word for years, said John Lindstrom, a former publisher of Gongwer News Service who has followed Michigan politics for nearly 50 years. The last time Democrats took control in 1982, Michigan was in…

26Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

These Two Cars Are Stolen So Often Insurance Won’t Cover Them

INSURANCE

Hundreds of Kias and Hyundais have been stolen in the US in the past few months, causing some major insurance companies to drop their coverage of the vehicles, claiming they're too easy to steal. 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe Car thieves, with names like the "Kia Boyz," have preyed upon some Kia and Hyundai cars, manufactured between 2011 and 2019 as part of a social media trend called "keyless car thefts."As a result, some major insurance carriers such as Progressive and State Farm are refusing to insure these cars in select cities where theft is rampant, like Denver and St. Louis, hyundai-kia/index.html">according to CNN. 2016 Kia Soul"State Farm has temporarily stopped writing new business in some states for certain model years and trim levels of Hyundai and Kia vehicles because theft…

26Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

Recent legal opinion on foreign investment in Libya does not impose blanket ban in oil sector: Tumi Law Firm

LAW

On 23 January the Legal Department of Libya's Ministry of Justice issued a legal opinion clarifying the scope of Law No. 9 of 2010 on the Promotion of Investment on permitted investment structures for foreign investors in Libya. The legal opinion was interpreted to confirm that foreign investors in Libya may operate through a Libyan branch or through any other legal form. It was also interpreted to confirm that foreign investors are permitted to invest in Libya on a 100 percent ownership basis – that is, without the participation of Libyan shareholders – except in the oil and gas sector. Law No. 9 was deemed not to apply to oil and gas projects. However, leading Libyan law firm, Tumi Law Firm, says careful reading of the Ministry of Justice's 11-4-2…

26Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

EvictionFreeMKE.org offers free legal help to those on verge of losing their rented homes

LEGAL

A screenshot of the automated EvictionFreeMKE.org tool.A new tool, EvictionFreeMKE.orgis offering Milwaukee residents the opportunity to connect with free legal help, rental assistance and other resources to reduce evictions.The new tool comes months after Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley signed a historic bill that established a Right to Counsel program in Milwaukee County.RELATED: Milwaukee County has established a Right to Counsel program. Here's why advocates say it could reduce evictionsThat program provides residents facing eviction the right to a free lawyer. This new tool helps connect people with those lawyers.Partners involved in creation of the tool include United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County, Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Legal Action of Wisconsinthe City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.The tool is part of the United Way's Safe and Stable…

25Feb 2023 by Charles E. Price

Senior counsel questions handling of Keppel bribery case as other lawyers weigh in; Indranee to address matter in Parliament

ATTORNEY

SINGAPORE: A senior counsel has questioned the decision by Singapore authorities not to prosecute six former senior management staff members of Keppel Offshore & Marine for a US$55 million (S$73 million) bribery case involving Brazilian oil giant Petrobras. However, other lawyers who weighed in on the subject, while acknowledging the lack of clarity and how it might appear questionable to the public, suggested that the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) might have reason not to divulge certain legally protected information. After the commentary by Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal was published on Wednesday (Feb 1), Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah addressed "assertions" about the case in a Facebook post on Thursday and said the assertions were made on an "inadequate understanding" of the facts". She said she would explain…

Month: February 2023