Archive for August 2016
False Claims Act
Also known as the “Lincoln Law,” the False Claims Act is a federal law that penalizes those who defraud government programs. In addition to providing up to treble damages in a pro-plaintiff verdict, the Act delivers upwards of up to 30% of recoveries. It has been described as the single most important resource American taxpayers…
Read MoreHow serious is a forgery charge?
Although forgery is considered under the umbrella of fraud charges, many people are under the impression that it is a minor charge and not really anything to worry about. Having this perception can be a big mistake. Any person who knowingly possesses or creates a forged document or instrument that confers either liability or value…
Read MoreFederal drug crimes v. state drug crimes
Most drug arrests in New York State are carried out by local law enforcement, but under certain circumstances, a drug crime can become a federal matter. These circumstances include: The accused person had a large enough quantity of drugs in their possession to be charged with trafficking A federal officer makes the arrest The offense…
Read MoreOfficials push for “Blue Lives Matter” laws
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch and New Jersey State Senator Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middletown, NJ) both want to classify police slayings as hate crimes. Sen. Kyrillos’s proposal would elevate simple assault to aggravated assault if defendants target police officers simply because of their occupation. Other laws already offer similar protections “based on race, on religion, on…
Read MoreHow does jury selection work?
The U.S. Constitution guarantees a defendant the right to trial by jury in both civil and criminal proceedings. In New York State, a jury pool is drawn from the following resources: Registered voter lists Names on file with the Department of Motor Vehicles Income tax filers Unemployment or family assistance recipients Volunteers Criminal felony trials…
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