Getting wrongfully accused of and prosecuted for a crime can cost you your reputation, your career, and thousands of dollars in legal fees to defend yourself. If the police and prosecutors misuse their authority intentionally, they might get sued for malicious prosecution. It is an uphill battle to prove that malicious prosecution happened, so you…
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State v. Steele: What Is a Law Enforcement Show of Authority?
The case of State v. Steele centered on the Fourth Amendment implications involved in the determination of whether a driver is “seized” when an officer in a marked police cruiser tails the driver’s car at 3 a.m., follows the car into an empty parking lot and hails the driver down by using hand gestures. The…
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What Is Due Process? Understanding the 14th Amendment
We have specific civil rights guaranteed to us by the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Understanding those civil rights can mean the difference between freedom and prison. It can mean the difference between keeping your property and having it seized by the government. An essential element of the protection under the 14th Amendment…
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What Types of Damages Are Available in a Chicago Medical Malpractice Case?
If you or a loved one suffered harm because of substandard healthcare services, you might wonder what types of damages are available in a Chicago medical malpractice case. The damages you can pursue in a medical malpractice case will depend on the unique facts of your situation. Illinois allows compensatory damages and, in some circumstances,…
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Freed after 47 Years: The Wrongful Conviction of Cleve Heidelberg
Imagine if you were wrongly convicted for murdering a police officer and sentenced to life in prison, continuously maintained your innocence, and eventually had a judge order a new trial after serving 47 years in prison. It sounds like the premise of a Hollywood movie. Unfortunately, this case was very real for Cleve Heidelberg, who…
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When Is Unnecessary Surgery A Form Of Medical Malpractice?
There is growing evidence that doctors are pushing their patients into getting surgeries that they may not need, rather than considering alternative – and safer – forms of treatment. Every surgery, including a relatively minor one, carries a number of risks for the patient. And if an unnecessary surgery turns out to injure the patient,…
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Common Insurance Tactics Used Against Personal Injury Victims
If you’ve been in an automobile accident or other personal injury, chances are you will be dealing primarily with the at-fault party’s insurance company rather than the individual. It’s imperative that you retain skilled legal counsel when dealing with the insurer, especially since there are a number of tactics these companies use to try to…
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What Are Wandering And Elopement In Nursing Home Neglect Cases?
Nursing homes are trusted to keep an eye on their residents, especially those with serious health conditions or cognitive problems. But when a facility fails to supervise its residents, they can end up lost and deprived of the critical care they need. In some cases, residents leave the facility grounds altogether and put themselves at…
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What To Know About Nursing Home Financial Abuse
Nursing home abuse is often thought of in terms of physical or emotional harm inflicted upon the elderly. Unfortunately, another form of such abuse is financial. Nursing home residents are often seen as targets by dishonest caregivers wishing to exploit them for their own gain. But the problem of financial nursing home abuse usually goes…
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How Can I Prove I Was Wrongfully Convicted of a Crime?
When someone is arrested, they are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The United States Constitution guarantees our civil rights to legal counsel and a fair trial. We trust that justice will prevail, and innocent people will be found not guilty. However, what happens when the justice system fails and a person is wrongfully convicted of…
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