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Litigation

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

The latest rulings of importance to your practice.

Features

Move Away, Lose Custody Image

Move Away, Lose Custody

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Divorced parents who move out of state risk losing custody of their children, according to a recent decision by the Georgia Supreme Court. The court overruled years of Georgia case law when it ruled 4-3 that custody issues can be revisited if the primary guardian decides to leave the state. <i>Bodne v. Bodne</i>, S03G0275, Nov. 11, 2003.

Features

Should Forensic Psychologists Make Custody Recommendations? Image

Should Forensic Psychologists Make Custody Recommendations?

Jeffrey P. Wittmann, PhD

Forensic psychological assessments are often pivotal documents that can have a dramatic effect on the trajectory of a contested custody dispute and, ultimately, on the path a particular child's life will take post-disposition. These documents are often eagerly awaited because of their potential value in providing leverage for one side over the other and for their capacity to settle cases. Clients arrive at the clinician's office often feeling as if their lives are in the hands of the court-appointed expert. Forensic reports arrive at court as documents that represent the application of a behavioral "science" and there is therefore a common expectation that the recommendations will be weighted heavily because they will go beyond common public knowledge or subjective value choices. It is the recommendations section that is often read first by those involved in the dispute because of its perceived impact. This two-part article explores the limitations and applications of forensic psychology to custody evaluations.

'My Therapist Told Me ...' Image

'My Therapist Told Me ...'

Robert M. Galatzer-Levy, MD, & Jeanne Galatzer-Levy

Therapists who treat your client can be meddlesome third wheels or enormous helps in divorce litigation. Dealing with them effectively can improve attorney-client relations and spare everyone considerable misery.

Features

2004 Update: Negative Custody Evaluations and Guardian Ad Litem Reports Image

2004 Update: Negative Custody Evaluations and Guardian Ad Litem Reports

Joseph P. Bluth

In the August 2003 issue of The Matrimonial Strategist, I discussed identifying and exacting information from your client that would motivate a Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) or Custody Evaluator (CE) to examine the real issues in the case and not let bias interfere with his or her assessment. (In the remainder of this article, the GAL/CE is designated female and the client male.) The article made suggestions about interviewing your client, identifying issues, and reviewing records such as those from previous court matters or medical treatment.

Features

Pop-Up Ads Enjoined in Trademark Suit Image

Pop-Up Ads Enjoined in Trademark Suit

Anthony Lin

A Manhattan federal judge recently enjoined an Internet advertiser from delivering "pop-up" ads to visitors of a retail Web site.

Trademark Exploitation on the Internet: Don't Be Branded a Usurper Image

Trademark Exploitation on the Internet: Don't Be Branded a Usurper

Jonathan Bick

While the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act adequately addresses the legal difficulties associated with bad-faith registration of trademarked names by nontrademark holders, e-exploitation of trademarks is still a problem for trademark holders.

e-Commerce Docket Sheet Image

e-Commerce Docket Sheet

Julian S. Millstein, Edward A. Pisacreta & Jeffrey D. Neuburger

Recent court rulings in e-commerce.

New Turf to Surf: A Roundup of Useful Legal Web Sites Image

New Turf to Surf: A Roundup of Useful Legal Web Sites

Robert J. Ambrogi

A wealth of Web sites of interest to legal professionals who advise e-commerce ventures awaits digging into on the Internet. A list of a few that are worth a look follows.

Avoid These Mistakes in Your Company's Employee Handbook Image

Avoid These Mistakes in Your Company's Employee Handbook

R. Michael Smith

Employee handbooks continue to provide disgruntled employees with ammunition for lawsuits for breach of contract, violations of statutes and opportunities to recover punitive damages on discrimination claims. This article identifies mistakes commonly made by employers and discusses methods for eliminating those deficiencies.

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