Alabama stands with the majority of states that reject community property laws, instead following equitable distribution principles that can leave divorcing spouses uncertain about their financial futures. This fundamental distinction affects everything from how couples title their homes to whether inheritance remains separate after decades of marriage. Understanding Community Property vs. Equitable Distribution The difference…
In a ruling that pierces the shield of state immunity, Alabama Circuit Court Judge J.R. Gaines has allowed a disturbing lawsuit to proceed against the Alabama Department of Corrections and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Eight families allege that state officials illegally harvested and studied the organs of their deceased incarcerated relatives without consent,…
The City of Irondale and its police department have rejected claims of excessive force in the August 2024 death of Phillip Reeder, 52, directly contradicting the family’s account and a coroner’s report that ruled the death a homicide. The dispute centers on body camera footage that remains unreleased to the public, leaving critical questions about…
In a quiet corner of Brent, Alabama, what appeared to be an ordinary storm shelter concealed horrors that have shaken this Bibb County community to its core. Four men now face charges that “represent one of the most troubling and complex investigations” in the region’s history, according to local prosecutors. The investigation that began on…
The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that an out-of-state bank cannot be hauled into Alabama courts simply because an Alabama resident viewed the bank’s website and relied on its compliance statements. In Ex parte GBC International Bank, the Court granted mandamus relief to a California bank, reinforcing that passive website content alone does not create…
In a significant ruling that clarifies jurisdictional limits in dependency cases, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has determined that juvenile courts lack authority to declare a person dependent once they reach 18 years of age. The case of In re: M.R.R.-M. highlights critical timing issues that can affect immigrant minors seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile…
The death of 52-year-old Phillip Reeder has been ruled a homicide by the Jefferson County medical examiner’s office, nearly a year after an Irondale police officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest. The August 6, 2024, incident, which bears striking similarities to George Floyd’s death, has reignited debates about police use of force in…
An independent autopsy has revealed that 18-year-old Jabari Peoples was shot in the back by a Homewood police officer on June 23, according to attorneys representing his family. The finding, announced at a Tuesday news conference by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, intensifies calls for transparency in a case that has left a Birmingham-area family…
In a shocking development that has sent ripples through Tuscaloosa County’s educational community, Sarah Huggins Logan, 35, a former teacher at North River Christian Academy, was arrested on charges of engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor student. The arrest, which occurred on Friday, July 18, has raised serious questions about student safety protocols…
The Alabama Supreme Court has issued a landmark decision that could reshape how construction companies, contractors, and subcontractors handle liability and indemnification agreements across the state. The recent ruling in favor of JohnsonKreis Construction Company demonstrates the power of carefully crafted contract language and sends a clear message about the enforceability of proportional fault provisions…