Electronic bracelets flawed, suits claim: Chicago-area man, girl murdered by criminals who escaped from the devices

Article Abstract:

Several lawsuits near Chicago and elsewhere raise disturbing questions about the efficacy of electronic bracelets designed to keep convicted criminals at home as an alternative to prison. In Nov 1994 the estate of Marvin Cheeks won $3 million from a manufacturer after a criminal escaped from one of its bracelets and killed Cheeks. Another lawsuit has been filed over a girl's death, and a third, settled suit claimed that 2,000 of one maker's devices had broken down. Various new systems are in development and could fix some flaws.

Safety and security measures, Cases, Electronic monitoring of prisoners, Home detention, Electronic prisoner monitoring, Alternatives to imprisonment, Alternative sentencing

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Painful decisions: new business risks await both plaintiff and defense lawyers

Article Abstract:

Changes in tort law may force both plaintiffs' and defense lawyers into new lines of work, or possibly out of law altogether. New efforts by states and Congress to cap certain kinds of tort compensation and impose new limits on others leave medical-malpractice and injury attorneys complaining that they can no longer make enough to cover the high expenses of research and trial preparation. However, such problems are limited chiefly to those who specialize in relatively complex or expensive cases.

Management, Laws, regulations and rules, Cover Story, Trial practice, Tort reform, Damages, Damages (Law)

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Prototype invoice to be unveiled

Article Abstract:

A group of 50 lawyers will soon unveil a proposed prototype billing form for standardized use nationwide. It breaks down bills by litigation phases and the hours spent on each task. Some members of the group want more detail than others, but all agree that a standard format with no more than about 10 phases could reduce clients' demands that their own proprietary formats be used. Firms that want to provide more detail on each phase would be able to.

Legal services, Offices of Lawyers, Innovations, Attorneys, Lawyers' fees, Accounting and auditing, Costs (Law), Legal fees, Invoices

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