Latest news with #legalrepresentation
Sky News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Starmer warned over fears of 'toothless' Hillsborough Law replacement
Why you can trust Sky News More than 130 MPs have urged Sir Keir Starmer to deliver the Hillsborough Law as promised - amid claims it is being watered-down with a "toothless" replacement. Ian Byrne, the Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, has written to the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, over concerns that officials have "carved out" key elements of the long-awaited legislation. The Hillsborough Law is intended to prevent future state cover-ups by putting a legal duty of candour on public servants to tell the truth, with criminal sanctions for lying. It also includes a commitment to funding so families receive proportional legal representation in battles with official bodies. The bill had its first reading in 2017 when it was introduced by Andy Burnham and supported by Steve Rotheram who were MPs at the time. In his letter, Mr Byrne said a draft government version of the law, shown to the now Great Manchester and Liverpool City Region mayors respectively and one of the campaign's lawyers in March, did not contain the key provisions. In particular, he said it did not contain a duty of candour, only an "aspirational objective". He said there was also "no reference at all" to the rebalancing of resources for legal representation for families at inquests and inquiries. As Sky News reported at the time, the government paused the process to listen to these concerns, meaning it missed its own deadline to implement the law by the most recent anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster on 15 April. However campaigners have not been shown the latest draft and say meetings with ministers and officials have indicated the Hillsborough Law is still to be replaced with weaker legislation. 'Legally nothing left' In particular, there are concerns the obligation to be truthful would be applied only to some investigations and could even be reduced to a professional duty dealt with by codes or staff handbooks rather than a criminal backstop. A government spokesperson said they are "fully committed" to a legal duty of candour with criminal sanctions for those who don't comply. However Elkan Abrahamson, one of the lawyers who drafted the original Hillsborough Law, told Sky News: "It's easy to talk about commitment but until we see something in writing... we don't know what that means." He said that under the government's proposals there would "legally be nothing left" of the original bill, adding: "My message to them is rip up your draft, go back to ours and tell us what the problem is and we will sort it with you." The government declined to say what its concerns are with the Hillsborough Law when asked by Sky News. It has said it wants to bring the legislation in "at pace" but "having consulted with campaign groups, we know more time is needed to draft the best version of a Hillsborough Law". 1:36 At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool in 2022 when he was still in opposition, Sir Keir said that "one of his first" acts as prime minister if he won the election would be "to put the Hillsborough Law on the statute book". The Times has reported officials have concerns that the Hillsborough Law could punish junior civil servants who turn up late for work and lie about it. But in his letter, signed by 136 cross-party MPs and 29 peers, Mr Byrne said "that is manifestly not correct". He added: "We have no doubt that the attempts to replace the bill with wholly deficient and ineffective redrafts are led by those who are most likely to be affected by the Hillsborough Law: senior civil servants and public institutions who want to retain their impunity in protecting their reputations above telling the truth." 'Toothless replacement' He called on the prime minister to "show leadership and strength" in implementing the Hillsborough Law in full "and not some toothless replacement". "We urge you not to pass up this opportunity to achieve generational culture change, and a step change in the integrity of public life." The campaign for the Hillsborough Law follows a decades-long fight for justice for the 97 football fans who were unlawfully killed after gross negligence by police at an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield in 1989. Shortly before kick-off, supporters were let through a gate, which caused crowding in the stand and a crush. Nobody has ever been convicted for its subsequent cover-up.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Lee Partners Law Launches to Fight for Injured Workers Using Insider Defense Knowledge
Lee Partners Law: Injury Attorneys LLP brings a family-owned, client-first approach backed by decades of inside insurance defense experience. A new California law firm is opening its doors with a bold mission: to protect injured workers using the same insider strategies once used against them. Lee Partners Law: Injury Attorneys LLP, founded by brothers David A. Lee and Michael Lee, launches today with a statewide focus on workers' compensation cases—and a deep commitment to fighting for working families. What sets the firm apart is the background of its founders. Both attorneys spent over two decades combined defending insurance companies and major employers. Now, the brothers are putting that knowledge to use on the other side—helping injured workers navigate a system that's often confusing, unfair, and stacked against them. 'We're brothers, business partners, and former defense attorneys who've sat inside insurance war rooms,' said David Lee, Founding Attorney. 'We know exactly how those companies try to reduce or deny claims. And now we're using everything we learned to protect the people they overlook—injured workers.' Headquartered in Los Angeles and serving all of California, Lee Partners Law is a family-run practice built on trust, integrity, and aggressive legal representation. The firm's focus is 100% workers' compensation law, handling everything from denied claims and delayed treatment to serious injuries and maximum-value settlements. The Lees say their approach combines hard-hitting strategy with personalized, compassionate service—something they believe only a small, family-led firm can provide. 'We're not a giant corporate office. We're two brothers who grew up together, work side by side, and care deeply about every client who walks through our doors,' added Michael Lee, Partner. 'This firm is personal to us—and that makes us fight even harder.' Lee Partners Law is proud to represent the workers who keep cities running. These are the people who power California every day, and they deserve someone in their corner when they get hurt on the job. For more information or to schedule a free case evaluation, visit: Media Contact Company Name: Lee Partners Law: Work Injury Attorneys Contact Person: David A Lee Email: Send Email Phone: 3102950822 Address:PO Box 3869 City: Valley Village State: CA 91617 Country: United States Website: Source: Brand Push
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Meet the lawyers helping women fund their escape from domestic abuse
It was an idea hatched over a couple of beers, while airing frustrations at having to turn away victims of domestic violence who couldn't afford legal representation. Jack O'Donnell and Andy O'Connor came up with the idea of a first-of-its-kind divorce and separation loan, based not on someone's income or credit score, but on their likely property settlement. Three years on, the JustFund founders and co-CEOs have to date helped more than 2300 people – mainly women fleeing abusive relationships – and secured more than $1.3 billion in settlements. 'We'd come to realise after spending years working in it [law] that it is a really unfair system,' Mr O'Donnell told 'Unfortunately, we kept turning away really good people who deserved really good advice, simply because they couldn't afford our fees and that never seemed right to us,' he said. The duo believe their offering separates them from traditional banks, with those in need able to pay them back after the settlement is finalised with the divided assets. Mr O'Connor said traditional lenders will look at income and credit score when a loan is applied for, which can become difficult for those who don't work. 'For most people, that means it's a computer says no outcome for that request,' he said. 'It's in putting yourself in the shoes of the borrower, of a client going through separation, and understanding, a) how the product needs to work for their circumstances and b) looking at eligibility in an entirely different way. 'You can't take a copy paste approach to normal lending and apply it in this space. 'When someone's in the shoes of separating from their partner and they're staring at a lawyer charging six, seven, eight hundred dollars an hour, if they're fortunate, if they and their partner can reach a settlement very, quickly, very cheaply, that's great. 'But not everyone's as lucky as that, particularly when you throw into the mix the existence of increasing awareness of the prevalence of domestic violence and financial control. 'In particular, what we see in so many of the experience of our clients, is how the system can be weaponised and how financial imbalances can play out in the negotiation of a settlement for a client.' JustFund takes a 'family law approach' to value the assets that will be divided between the parties and forms a view as to what share the borrower is likely to receive. A borrower is able to access the approved funds within days, with the team of 18 lawyers able to move more quickly if someone's circumstances were urgent. Mr O'Connell said the most important thing to do was to empower those going through a difficult relationship, domestic abuse or financial control to 'take control of their own futures'. 'The reality is barriers to access to funding are really significant in how those situations play out, and we hear time and time again from clients that our approval of their funding application is the difference between them being able to move out of their homes and situations,' he said. In Australia, data shows that about one in six women have experienced financial abuse – a common form of family violence – from a former or current partner. 'This can include things like stopping someone from earning money, controlling finances or denying access to money,' a spokesperson for Safe and Equal told 'It also includes incurring debts in someone's name, stealing someone's possessions, or excluding someone from financial decisions that impact them. 'Economic abuse is particularly insidious because it keeps a victim survivor financially dependent on their perpetrator, trapped and unable to safely escape without facing immense financial stress or, in many cases, poverty and homelessness,' they said, adding that because the abuse can escalate after separation, many victim survivors feel like they must remain in the relationship for their own safety. 'If they do manage to safely escape, the impacts can be lifelong, causing significant stress and damage long after the relationship has ended. 'We see this a lot in cases where the perpetrator has accrued large debts in the victim survivor's name,' the spokesperson said. Safe and Equal said many victim survivors are unable or unwilling to go through costly separation or divorce proceedings, particularly when their abuser has the financial means to weaponise court systems and keep them embroiled in expensive litigation processes as a form of 'punishment' – such as prolonging family court proceedings, hiding assets, stalling joint property or debt settlements, or not paying child support. 'Victim survivors will often settle for much less than what they are entitled to, just to avoid the ongoing control and abuse,' the spokesperson said. 'In many cases, they never fully recover financially.'
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Yahoo
Queens Defenders founder Lori Zeno pleads not guilty to stealing $60K to fund luxury lifestyle
Lori Zeno, the disgraced founder of the Queens Defenders who's accused of raiding the public defender nonprofit's coffers to maintain a luxe lifestyle in a penthouse apartment, pleaded not guilty to wire fraud charges at her first appearance in federal court Wednesday. Zeno, 64, and her ex-con boyfriend, Rashad Ruhani, 55, were indicted last week on charges they stole some $60,000 for personal expenses, using their organization's accounts to pay the rent for their $6,000-a-month Astoria penthouse apartment, which they claimed was being used for 'client defense' and 'foster parent care.' Queens Defenders provides legal representation to criminal defendants who can't afford to hire lawyers. The couple used the nonprofit's credit cards and the rewards points they accrued to pay for their honeymoon to Bali, and spent big at Louis Vuitton, Bloomingdale's, Ralph Lauren and Neiman Marcus stores, the feds allege. They bought an 85-inch television for $3,300, paid for a $2,600 steak dinner, and got their teeth whitened for $600, the feds allege. Zeno used a Queens Defenders credit card to pay for a December vacation at a resort in Santa Monica, Calif., according to court documents. On Wednesday, she appeared in Brooklyn Federal Court, where Magistrate Judge Joseph Maritolo set her bond at $500,000 secured by her sister, brother-in-law and son. 'Some things are not quite what they appear to be,' her lawyer, Anthony Ricco, said outside the courtroom Wednesday, adding that he's still learning about the case against Zeno, who is barred from contacting Ruhani as part of her bail conditions. Zeno served as the executive director of the Queens Defenders from 2018 until she was forced out of the job in January and Ruhani was fired. She hired Ruhani, who was paroled after 26 years in state prison in 2022 for a robbery conviction, as a client advocate in October 2023, and started a romance soon after, according to court documents. In August 2024, Zeno and Ruhani were married in a religious ceremony, but prosecutors don't believe the marriage is legally recognized since 'both Zeno and Ruhani were married to other individuals,' they wrote in a June 11 filing seeking Ruhani's detention. Zeno promoted Ruhani in June 2024 to a position overseeing Queens Defenders' youth programs, the feds allege, and Zeno hired Ruhani's relatives and associates, including his daughter, to positions where they 'did little or no substantive work,' according to the court filing. In November, Zeno hired a woman Ruhani had married about a decade earlier as a $60,000-a-year director of a nonexistent 'health and wellness' program, the feds said. The woman, who lives in Saudi Arabia, never showed up for work, according to prosecutors. Ruhani was arrested last week. Prosecutors asked he be locked up because of his record and his ties to Saudi Arabia. Queens Defenders received roughly $368,000 in federal funds via the city Department of Housing Preservation and Development. The couple is charged with theft of federal funds and wire fraud. Earlier this year, the city reassigned the group's contracts to Brooklyn Defenders, a separate nonprofit that represents poor defendants in that borough.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Greenspan & Greenspan Expands Legal Services Across Westchester, the Bronx, and Rockland County, NY
Personal injury victims across New York gain support as Greenspan & Greenspan expands its reach. Greenspan & Greenspan Expands Legal Services Across Westchester, the Bronx, and Rockland County, NY White Plains, NY , June 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- When life is suddenly derailed by a devastating accident, the aftermath can feel like a storm—chaotic, isolating, and without direction. Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers steps in as a steady hand, guiding people through the chaos and helping them get back on their feet. With its expansion into Rockland County and the Bronx, the firm is breaking barriers to ensure more injured New Yorkers have access to the strong legal representation they deserve—close to home. This expansion is a natural step for the firm that has spent over six decades standing up for the rights of the injured. Greenspan & Greenspan's presence has long been synonymous with unwavering legal counsel and meaningful results. 'We've always stood by those harmed through no fault of their own,' said founding attorney Michael Greenspan. 'This expansion ensures more people can access the strong legal representation they need.' Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers In Yonkers, where the firm's name already commands respect, those affected by negligence can expect heightened availability of strategic advocacy. As a leading Yonkers personal injury lawyer, Greenspan & Greenspan offers services that span a wide range of injury claims. In the Bronx, where traffic density and construction risks collide daily, accident survivors often face an uphill legal battle. The New York injury firm is stepping in to level that terrain. Whether serving as a Bronx personal injury lawyer or a Bronx car accident lawyer, the firm delivers experienced guidance aimed at securing justice when the odds are high. Rockland County, too, will feel the impact of this outreach. For residents once without nearby personal injury counsel, the firm's arrival offers more than access—it brings reassurance. Known as a trusted Yonkers car accident lawyer, this leading personal injury practice now brings that same level of experience and dedication to Rockland. People in the area now have a direct line to a New York truck accident lawyer who understands both the intricacies of the law and the weight of what clients have endured. Supported by a practice that blends traditional integrity with modern responsiveness, the Greenspan & Greenspan team of New York personal injury lawyers remains accessible both in person and through virtual consultations. The firm bridges physical and digital access, serving clients across the state without compromising personal connection or quality of service. With its expanded presence across Westchester, the Bronx, and Rockland County, Greenspan & Greenspan is not just growing its geographic reach—it is strengthening its promise to stand up for those injured by negligence. This expansion means helping more people find justice and making sure their voices are heard. To learn more about Greenspan & Greenspan's expanded legal services or to schedule a consultation, visit About Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers is a New York-based personal injury law firm that has served accident victims for over six decades. The firm handles a wide range of cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death. With a client-first approach and a reputation for favorable outcomes, Greenspan & Greenspan provides dedicated legal support across Westchester County, the Bronx, Rockland County, and surrounding areas. ### Media Contact Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers Address: 333 Westchester Ave Suite S-3301, White Plains, NY 10604 Phone: (914) 946-2500 Website: Greenspan & Greenspan Injury Lawyers Address: 333 Westchester Ave Suite S-3301, White Plains, NY 10604 Attachment Greenspan & Greenspan Expands Legal Services Across Westchester, the Bronx, and Rockland County, NYSign in to access your portfolio
