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Interesting case from just North of the Virginia State line. The alleged value in this dispute is the network of Twitter "followers" that the Reporter developed during his employment with the Paper. In North Carolina, the law generally holds that customer lists do not constitute "trade secrets" and can't be the basis of a legal claim. In the newspaper industry where the customers are the readers, could there be an argument that Twitter followers are really just a list of readers/customers? https://bit.ly/2KBs73H
For information on trade secret misappropriation and other commercial law issues, contact the team at Parton & Associates. http://www.partonnc.com/commercial-litigation.html
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The Equal Justice Initiatives’ (“EJI”) National Memorial for Peace and Justice recently unveiled The Legacy Museum, dedicated to the victims of violent, non-judicial executions in the form of lynchings. The 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to notice of what crime they are alleged to have committed and an opportunity to defend those allegations before they are deprived of their liberty or, more importantly, their life. The National Memorial for Peace and Justice pays tribute to those who were deprived their 14th Amendment rights and to the suffering caused by lynchings which occurred frequently throughout the South. According to the EJI report, which was compiled by a small group of lawyers and documented over 4,000 lynchings between the Civil War and WWII, lynchings were often conducted most minor perceived infractions: walking behind a white woman, attempting to quit a job, organizing sharecroppers, and even reprimanding children for throwing rocks (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/25/us/lynching-memorial-alabama.html). The Legacy Museum, built on the site where enslaved black people were imprisoned, traced the roots of inequality and racism through slavery, lynching, racial segregation and attempted to show connections to perceived implicit biases present in the modern justice system. Speakers came from all over the country to attempt to address criminal justice reform in the United States, including Ray Hinton, who spent 30 years on death row for a crime he did not commit. For more information on civil rights and the history of United States laws, contact Parton & Associates, PLLC.
 This weekend, only because I’m a nerd, I decided to watch one of my favorite TED talks (again). In 2012, Civil Rights Advocate Bryan Stevenson delivered an impactful lecture on America’s criminal justice system. If you ever have the time, I suggest you give it a watch.
https://www.ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_talk_about_an_injustice I had the unique pleasure of hearing Bryan speak at a book signing here in Charlotte and one quote that always stuck out to me was how not only race, but money and the lack thereof shapes outcomes. “We have a system of justice in this country that treats you much better if you’re rich and guilty than if you’re poor and innocent. Wealth, not culpability, shapes outcomes; and yet, we seem to be very comfortable.” In 2016, as an example, 18% of inmates in Mecklenburg County were imprisoned for failure to pay fines or court costs. Those who could not afford bail stayed in jail for an average of 4 days. That’s 4 days of incarceration before a person is convicted or even has a substantive court date. Research has shown that one’s ability to pay does not reduce the chances for failure to appear or risk to commit another crime – so the “pay or stay” model doesn’t seem to advance a worthy objective. The dollars don’t make sense either. In 2014, Mecklenburg County spent $113 million dollars on its local jail, roughly $166 dollars a day per inmate. Many County leaders are not comfortable with wealth shaping judicial outcomes, and are attempting to shift how we look at bail and other forms of monetary punishment. In October, Mecklenburg County was awarded a $2 million-dollar grant aimed at reducing its incarcerated population. The grant came from the John D and Catherin T, MacArthur Foundation, with the goal of reducing our jail population by 13%. To achieve its reduction goal, the County looking to implement the following programs:
For more information on disparities in the justice system and County policies, contact Parton & Associates, PLLC. -Drafted by Micheal L. Littlejohn, Edited by Corey V. Parton Earlier this week, Mecklenburg County became the latest victim of a ransomware attack that resulted in a shutdown of the County’s IT systems. The Hackers demanded $23,000 in Bitcoin in exchange for an encryption key that would release the files. The County was left with the choice of either paying the ransom and restoring their usual systems, or resorting to old fashioned paper systems. As the deadline passed to meet the Hacker’s demands, Mecklenburg County Manager Dena Diorio announced she will not pay criminals and that the County would rebuild its system applications and restore files and data from backups. Some of Parton & Associates Clients may be impacted by interruptions in the following County services:
Criminal Justice Services: Child Support Enforcement (CSE): Community Support Services Human Resources Mecklenburg County has been providing updates on their website at the following link: http://bit.ly/2BY05fK -Drafted by Attorneys Micheal L. Littlejohn & Corey V. Parton In anticipation of an increased number of impaired drivers this weekend, Mecklenburg County's "ABC" Board is launching Operation Safe Streets, which is set to begin Wednesday. Operation Safe Streets is a program designed to deter drinkers from operating a motor vehicle by assisting them in finding an alternative ride home. Basically, Officers hang out in parking lots of popular outing spots and observe patrons for any signs of intoxication as they enter their vehicle. Instead of making arrests or writing tickets, Officers will ask potential drivers to admit to intoxication and then help them to secure a ride home. The Board has partnered with three local taxi companies to provide ride vouchers to potential intoxicated drivers who cannot afford a taxi.
The Attorneys and Staff at Parton & Associates, PLLC, wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Thanksgiving! -Drafted by Micheal L. Littlejohn & Corey V. Parton http://www.wcnc.com/news/crime/new-police-program-buys-drunk-drivers-a-ride-home-from-the-bar/493825905 http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article185643568.html Mecklenburg County has recently introduced a pilot program to help reduce the time residents spend at the courthouse for traffic matters by allowing residents with speeding tickets to go online to reduce their tickets.
Here are some of the basics:
Every situation is different, which is why it important to carefully consider each client's individual driving needs and to conduct a careful analysis of their driving record before determining what reduction to seek or agree to. For more information on ticket reductions, license suspensions, and insurance points, contact Parton & Associates, PLLC. -drafted by Attorney Micheal L. Littlejohn & Corey V. Parton http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article169082632.html Earlier this week, a twenty-five year old Math teacher at Rocky Mount Preparatory School was accused of having sexual contact with three underage students (http://bit.ly/2tjMeLR). Students and teachers were interviewed before a warrant for Erin McAuliffe was issued. McAuliffe was later arrested. McAuliffe was fired on May 4th and had her first appearance in court yesterday to face the allegations brought against her.
When serious misconduct in connection with a school, and teachers or students suddenly transition to suspects and witnesses, the question of what rights those individuals have have often arises and can be critical. The 4th Amendment of the United States Constitution protects against unreasonable search and seizure. This has been interpreted by the courts to protect against unreasonable search and seizure by government officials such as police officers, FBI agents, and other governmental agencies. However, the 4th Amendment does not protect against a private citizen’s unreasonable search and seizure of other private citizens. So is a teacher a State actor or private citizen? Teachers are considered State actors under the law. Public school officials are representatives of the State according to New Jersey v. T.L.O. However, unlike police or other law government actors, teachers and school officials do not need a warrant to search a student’s property. Getting a warrant can take time, which has been deemed by the courts to be unsuitable for the school environment when safety is a primary concern. A search may be conducted when there are reasonable grounds that evidence will be found showing a student’s violation of the law or school rules according to New Jersey v. T.L.O. The search must be conducted reasonably especially in light of the age and sex of the student. The search must not be excessively intrusive based on those factors. See New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325, 332 (1985). For example, a strip-search of a student has been found highly intrusive. A fairly recent Supreme Court case reviewed facts in which a thirteen-year-old student was asked to remove clothing and “shake out” her underwear while school officials looked for prescription-strength ibuprofen. The student’s attorney argued that the search was very intrusive on a young, female student when the only allegation was that she might have prescription-strength ibuprofen. High Court Weighs School Strip Search Arguments, ABC News. http://abcn.ws/2rZ0Nqf Each case depends on the individual facts and surrounding circumstances. The bottom line is that public school officials are state actors who have to abide by a certain standard when subjecting an accused individual to a search or seizure, otherwise they may risk violating the 4th Amendment. For more information on Constitutional rights, contact Parton & Associates, PLLC. -Drafted by Megan S. White, Attorney-at-Law The Charlotte Observer reported that the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), the largest police department in North Carolina, is implementing a new program to help solve current and cold cases. You may be thinking new DNA testing or interrogation methods but you would be wrong. The CMPD is leaving it to the cards, literally. CMPD is printing the faces of murder victims onto playing cards that will be handed out to prisoners in Mecklenburg County.
CMPD hopes that by placing pictures of murder victims onto decks of cards, prisoners will contact Crime Stoppers with information. With approximately 600 open homicides in the city of Charlotte, the first set features 26 victims on the deck of cards. Inmates will also be compensated for passing on a successful tip to Crime Stoppers. How will this help solve crimes in Charlotte? It is extremely possible that prisoners may take advantage of this newly implemented program. It is common for what are called “jailhouse snitches” to falsely claim to know something about a case in exchange for receiving less time in jail. Not only is this a huge waste of time for investigators but it also reopens the old wounds of the victim’s family. It is also common for “jailhouse snitches” to seek out information from other inmates at the direction of the police which violates the United States Constitution. In hopes of receiving less jail time and potentially money for themselves or family, false tips may be given to Crime Stoppers as a result of this practice. Two men in Southern California were living like “kings” because they worked as jailhouse snitches raking in $335,000 between the two of them in four years. These snitches became so well paid; California passed a state bill to correct the payment of informants. Likewise, these men dodged the death penalty by informing the police of statements made by inmates. Tony Saavedra, 2 Jailhouse Snitches, who were paid $335,000 over Four Years, Spark New Legislation, The Orange County Register (May 4, 2017, 2:23pm), http://bit.ly/2qaBpwN . Is this a violation of the Sixth Amendment? Under the United States Constitution, a criminal defendant has the right to assistance by an attorney. The right to an attorney is critical in nearly every phase of the criminal process. In some form, placing a deck of “victim cards” into prisons could loosely be considered entrapment. Without an attorney present, prisoners could be questioned concerning certain local cases. Other inmates could also elicit criminal statements at the direction of the police. This is dangerous in preserving individuals constitutional right to an attorney. Likewise, this degrades the criminal justice system. One article discussing this issue explains that this practice “breaks down the integrity of the criminal justice system in three key ways: innocent people go to prison, justice for victims is delayed and public trust in the criminal justice system is eroded.” Tony Saavedra, 2 Jailhouse Snitches, who were paid $335,000 over Four Years, Spark New Legislation, The Orange County Register (May 4, 2017, 2:23pm), http://bit.ly/2qaBpwN . Finally, who would want to use this deck of cards? These are photos of murder victims. I doubt that many prisoners will be eager to use these cards. Time will tell as to whether this new program can help solve any crimes. The likelihood of the right person getting ahold of a card they have some knowledge on would be rare. CMPD hopes that “street knowledge” will come to light through a deck of cards. CMPD had a clearance rate of 66% in 2016. A clearance rate is the ability of a police department to solve a homicide. Normally, this is established by arresting someone for the crime. While the CMPD average is about 1% higher than the national average, it still makes you wonder how much a deck of cards can help solve a crime. While it is certainly sad that these cases have continued to be unsolved, it is unclear as to what role these cards will play with leads and tips. Additionally it is yet to be determined how accurate these tips will be. Unfortunately, it may create more confusion and harm to the families of these victims. At this time, only one deck of cards has been printed. -Megan S. White, Attorney-at-Law The Charlotte Observer article may be found at: http://bit.ly/2qaF3qi Today is being organized as A Day Without Latinos where some Hispanics did not go to work, did not send their children to school, and boycotted businesses.
On my way to work, I noticed a rally of hundreds of people kicked off at noon today at Marshall Park in Charlotte. Some were waving American flags while others held signs that read: “No Ban - No wall. Stay united”, “Stop Racism” and “We are not criminals.” It made me curious as to whether or not those people here illegally had an unqualified right to free speech. On May 7, 2015, the Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers in the Federal District Court in San Antonio, Texas, argued that immigrants who are not legally admitted into the United States do not have free speech rights under the First Amendment. If the DOJ is right, that would mean that millions of unauthorized immigrants in the United States could be censored or punished for speaking their mind, thereby undermining their ability to participate in the debate over important issues, such as immigration reform and the Dream Act. Moreover, since the First Amendment covers more than speech, the DOJ’s argument has implications for other fundamental rights, including freedom of religion. There may be good reasons to argue that freedom of speech should apply to everyone in the United States, but there is little definitive case law on point. In fact, there are instances where the Court has permitted the Federal Government to single out disfavored political groups, at least in the context of deciding whether to exclude or deport a non-citizen. Pineda Cruz et. al v. Thompson et al., 5:15-CV-00326, (W.D. Tex. 2015). Despite dancing around the edges of the issue, courts have not definitively decided whether non-citizens have freedom of speech when they are in the country unlawfully. Ironically, I received my citizenship today. While studying for the test, I noticed that one of the questions read “What are two of the rights of everyone living in the United States? “ and “Freedom of Speech” was one of the right answers. As a Latina I stand in solidarity with all of my fellow immigrants who came to this Country following the law. However, I understand that millions of immigrants have come to this country in pursuit of basic rights. I understand that rights such as freedom of expression, of religion, of speech, and the right to bear arms, which are the foundation of our Country’s character, are critical to ensuring a formidable, autonomous citizenry. Those rights, however, should come with the same duties imposed on citizens; such as paying taxes and obeying the laws. -Written by Shirley Garrison, Paralegal, Licensed Bolivian Attorney For more information on Constitutional rights, contact Parton & Associates, PLLC. Most people don’t keep up with statutory amendments, proposed legislation, or case law developments, but are generally aware of prohibited behavior like stealing, assault etc. that is illegal in North Carolina. However, ignorance of the law is not a defense, and most people aren’t aware that other, more obscure activities, such as serving alcohol at a bingo game, stealing grease, or failing to keep a detailed record of cotton sales, that constitute crimes. Here are some of the stranger North Carolina criminal laws that could land you in the slammer as originally highlighted by Charlotte Stories:
It's illegal to borrow your neighbor's dog. North Carolina General Statute § 14-82. Taking horses, mules, or dogs for temporary purposes. If any person shall unlawfully take and carry away any horse, gelding, mare, mule, or dog, the property of another person, secretly and against the will of the owner of such property, with intent to deprive the owner of the special or temporary use of the same, or with the intent to use such property for a special or temporary purpose, the person so offending shall be guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor. Oral sex is a Felony North Carolina General Statute § 14-177. Crime against nature. If any person shall commit the crime against nature, with mankind or beast, he shall be punished as a Class I felon. Among other acts, oral sex is considered to be a crime against nature. It's illegal to hold an organizational meeting while wearing a mask North Carolina General Statute § 14-12.10. Holding meetings or demonstrations while wearing masks, hoods, etc. No person or persons at least 15 years of age shall while wearing a mask, hood or device whereby the person, face or voice is disguised so as to conceal the identity of the wearer, hold any manner of meeting, or make any demonstration upon the private property of another unless such person or persons shall first obtain from the owner or occupier of the property his or her written permission to do so, which said written permission shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which said property is located before the beginning of such meeting or demonstration. It's illegal to have sex in a hotel room if you're not married (and it's also illegal to lie about being married). North Carolina General Statute § 14-186. Opposite sexes occupying same bedroom at hotel for immoral purposes; falsely registering as husband and wife. Any man and woman found occupying the same bedroom in any hotel, public inn or boardinghouse for any immoral purpose, or any man and woman falsely registering as, or otherwise representing themselves to be, husband and wife in any hotel, public inn or boardinghouse, shall be deemed guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. It's against the law to not pay taxes on any illegal drugs you deal. North Carolina General Statute § 105-113.107. Excise tax on unauthorized substances. (a)Controlled Substances. - An excise tax is levied on controlled substances possessed, either actually or constructively, by dealers at the following rates: (1) At the rate of forty cents (0.40) for each gram, or fraction thereof, of harvested marijuana stems and stalks that have been separated from and are not mixed with any other parts of the marijuana plant. (1a) At the rate of three dollars and fifty cents ($3.50) for each gram, or fraction thereof, of marijuana, other than separated stems and stalks taxed under subdivision (1) of this section. (lb) At the rate of fifty dollars ($50.00) for each gram, or fraction thereof, of cocaine. (2) At the rate of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each gram, or fraction thereof, of any other controlled substance that is sold by weight. It's illegal to serve alcohol at a bingo game. North Carolina General Statute § 14-293. Allowing gambling in houses of public entertainment; penalty. If any keeper of an ordinary or other house of entertainment, or of a house wherein alcoholic beverages are retailed, shall knowingly suffer any game, at which money or property, or anything of value, is bet, whether the same be in stake or not, to be played in any such house, or in any part of the premises occupied therewith; or shall furnish persons so playing or betting either on said premises or elsewhere with drink or other thing for their comfort or subsistence during the time of play, he shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Any person who shall be convicted under this section shall, upon such conviction, forfeit his license to do any of the businesses mentioned in this section, and shall be forever debarred from doing any of such businesses in this State. Stealing over $1,000 of grease is a class H felony. North Carolina General Statute § 14-79.2. Waste kitchen grease; unlawful acts and penalties. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following: 1. Take and carry away, or aid in taking or carrying away, any waste kitchen grease container or the waste kitchen grease contained therein, which container bears a notice that unauthorized removal is prohibited without written consent of the owner of the container. 2. Intentionally contaminate or purposely damage any waste kitchen grease container or grease therein. 3. Place a label on a waste kitchen grease container knowing that it is owned by another person in order to claim ownership of the container. (b) Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be penalized as follows: 1. If the value of the waste kitchen grease container, or the container and the waste kitchen grease contained therein, is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or less, it shall be a Class 1 misdemeanor. 2. If the value of the waste kitchen grease container, or the container and the waste kitchen grease contained therein, is more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), it shall be a Class H felony. For more information on North Carolina criminal law, contact one of the attorney's at Parton & Associates, PLLC. |
DISCLAIMER: Inclusion in laudatory organizations is not intended to represent that a particular result can be guaranteed or expected in your case. Each case is unique and must be evaluated separately. Membership standards are available and can be obtained by visiting each organization's individual website.
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