Should the neighbor be forced to cut down the beloved tree?

Dilemma · Ethics & Law

3h · Hypothetical, no court ruling

Illustration: a wooden fence with a broken section between the yards in two backyards side by side

Driveway damageDecades-old treeCostly repairs

Your callShould the neighbor be forced to cut down the beloved tree?

TL;DR

1A homeowner's driveway is cracked by a neighbor’s tree roots.
2Replacing the driveway is expensive, and the roots are the known cause.
3The tree is the neighbor's favorite and is decades old.

More cases to judge

Serious Crime · Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Today's case 1/3

A symbolic image of an empty place, representing a crime against a child

Your callConvicted of creating child pornography. What sentence fits this crime?

TL;DR

1The defendant admitted to making child porn and previously pled guilty to state charges.
2He spent over three years in state prison for related crimes before the federal sentence.
3The question is if his federal sentence should credit the time served in state custody.

Money & Corp · California Court of Appeal

Today's case 2/3

A jet owner and an insurance rep stand next to a private jet, in dispute. — The insurer debates covering a jet purchased with stolen funds.

Your callCan the insurer cancel the policy over the stolen funds used?

TL;DR

1A jet was bought with nearly $2 million in stolen money by one of its co-owners.
2When the government took the jet, the insurer refused to pay, citing undisclosed theft.
3The insurer now wants to cancel the policy, saying the policyholder hid facts about the crime.

Money & Corp · Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Today's case 3/3

A student questions a university rep on a campus lawn, holding a stethoscope. — Did the university falsely promise valid medical credentials to students?

Your callDid the med students prove USAT ran a racketeering scheme?

TL;DR

1Medical students attended USAT, believing it was certified for U.S. exams.
2They claim USAT lied about being accredited after losing ECFMG approval in 2018.
3They're suing, alleging USAT's false promises were a scheme to take tuition money.

Serious Crime · California Court of Appeal

A symbolic image of a dark street at night, representing a homicide

Your callShould he get a reduced sentence because the officer was off duty?

TL;DR

1In 2006, a man acted as a lookout in a robbery where his friend killed an off-duty deputy.
2He was sentenced to life under a rule holding accomplices liable, but the law changed in 2018.
3He says his sentence should be cut because the new rule requires intent if the officer wasn't on duty.

Serious Crime · Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Your callCan the man charged challenge his conviction despite the procedural issues?

TL;DR

1A man was sentenced to death in Nevada for killing a person with a tire iron and then setting the house on fire, leaving the victim inside.
2He says his earlier lawyer's errors in the appeal process stopped him from proving that his trial lawyer didn't do a good job.
3He wants the court to allow him to bring these arguments now, even though it's late according to the rules.

More cases to judge

Serious Crime · Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Today's case 1/3

Your callConvicted of creating child pornography. What sentence fits this crime?

TL;DR

1The defendant admitted to making child porn and previously pled guilty to state charges.
2He spent over three years in state prison for related crimes before the federal sentence.
3The question is if his federal sentence should credit the time served in state custody.

Money & Corp · California Court of Appeal

Today's case 2/3

Your callCan the insurer cancel the policy over the stolen funds used?

TL;DR

1A jet was bought with nearly $2 million in stolen money by one of its co-owners.
2When the government took the jet, the insurer refused to pay, citing undisclosed theft.
3The insurer now wants to cancel the policy, saying the policyholder hid facts about the crime.

Money & Corp · Court of Appeals for the First Circuit

Today's case 3/3

Your callDid the med students prove USAT ran a racketeering scheme?

TL;DR

1Medical students attended USAT, believing it was certified for U.S. exams.
2They claim USAT lied about being accredited after losing ECFMG approval in 2018.
3They're suing, alleging USAT's false promises were a scheme to take tuition money.

Serious Crime · California Court of Appeal

Your callShould he get a reduced sentence because the officer was off duty?

TL;DR

1In 2006, a man acted as a lookout in a robbery where his friend killed an off-duty deputy.
2He was sentenced to life under a rule holding accomplices liable, but the law changed in 2018.
3He says his sentence should be cut because the new rule requires intent if the officer wasn't on duty.

Serious Crime · Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Your callCan the man charged challenge his conviction despite the procedural issues?

TL;DR

1A man was sentenced to death in Nevada for killing a person with a tire iron and then setting the house on fire, leaving the victim inside.
2He says his earlier lawyer's errors in the appeal process stopped him from proving that his trial lawyer didn't do a good job.
3He wants the court to allow him to bring these arguments now, even though it's late according to the rules.

A neighbor's tree roots ruin a driveway. Chop it down?

More cases to judge

Man gets decades for creating child porn. What's the right sentence?

Should an insurance company cover a jet bought with stolen money?

Did this international med school scam its students?

Man wants lesser sentence after off-duty officer's death

A man sentenced to death fights for a new chance in court

A neighbor's tree roots ruin a driveway. Chop it down?

More cases to judge

Man gets decades for creating child porn. What's the right sentence?

Should an insurance company cover a jet bought with stolen money?

Did this international med school scam its students?

Man wants lesser sentence after off-duty officer's death

A man sentenced to death fights for a new chance in court