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In a landmark victory for same-sex parents, a judge in New Jersey granted custody of twin girls to their biological father following a trial that spanned more than a year. The fathers, a gay, interracial couple who were married in California and joined in a civil union in New Jersey, had long desired to be parents and created embryos using the eggs of an anonymous donor. The case arose out of a 2005 agreement between Angelia Robinson and her brother, …

Presents purchased? Check. Vacation time scheduled? Done. Holiday cards mailed? Yep. End-of-the-year legal checklist complete? Ye—wait a sec! What? If you truly want to start 2012 off on the right foot, there are a few things you’ll want to do before Dec. 31 rolls around. Yes, I’m talking about making sure your legal and financial affairs are in order. Let’s look at what needs to be done: Review your estate planning documents. Reread your last will and testament, living will, …

The man of the house used to unilaterally earn more money than the woman, but that is not necessarily so in the 21st century. Women continue to narrow the income gap, which has resulted in some unforeseen consequences, particularly when it comes to divorce. “Interestingly enough, part of the ramifications of women getting better jobs, getting higher pay and receiving equal rights are certain penalties, such as orders of spousal support in divorce proceedings,” says Kenneth Altshuler, president of the …

Nathan and Brenda Toone suffered the unthinkable loss of two of their daughters to alleged pesticide poisoning within days after taking care of the seemingly routine home maintenance task of using an exterminator. The Toones hired Bugman Pest and Lawn, Inc. to take care of voles, which had established themselves in the family’s lawn at their Layton, UT home. Bugman employee Cole Nocks buried poisonous Fumitoxin pellets, a phosphide-based rodent killer, in the yard. Within a day, Rebecca, age 4, …

“Sheriff Joe” Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona, is notoriously known for his harsh treatment of prisoners, such as his inmate “tent city.” He has systematically used racial profiling to enforce immigration laws and violated the US Constitution, according to the Justice Department. He is finally being held to account — from a loss of federal funding and resources to being sued by the US government. The Justice Department found that “Sheriff Joe” Arpaio systematically violated the civil rights of Latinos …

• $10 million jury award for deserving student after Segway Challenge disaster. John Ezzo, 23, of Norwalk, CT, suffered a traumatic brain injury during a “Segway Challenge” benefit for Special Olympics. The program, run by Segway, consisted of an obstacle course to navigate on the popular two-wheeled Segway. The benefit took place in the university center ballroom at Southern Connecticut State University, where Ezzo was a student, preparing for a career as a police officer. Ezzo fell backwards off a Segway, …

Dentists and doctors increasingly are policing what you say online about their services. In the most recent case, a prominent New York dentist, Dr. Stacy Makhnevich, threatened to sue a former patient, Robert Lee, over a negative review Lee posted to Yelp!, an online review website. The tables have turned though, and now Lee and his lawyers are biting back with a class action against Makhnevich. The case involves something new: A patient gag agreement. Open Wide and Shut Up Enrico …

New Year’s Day was the leading holiday for reported vehicle thefts in 2010, according to an analysis by the National Insurance Crimes Bureau (NICB). A total of 2,347 vehicles were reported stolen on the festive day. Meanwhile, neighboring holiday Christmas had the least number of thefts, with only 1,361 reported. “There’s no theories as to why New Year’s Day has the highest rate of theft of all holidays,” says Frank Scafidi, the NICB’s director of public affairs. “Perhaps people have …

New information about child support payment from the census bureau shows that when it comes to custody cases, fathers are still getting the short end of the stick. Mothers more likely to get custody, child support Fatherless homes lead to troubled children Men need to be proactive to protect rights in custody cases It Pays To Be Mom The latest census information reveals that of the 13.7 custodial parents in the country, only one in six are fathers. The report, …

Family man says military jet crash wrecked his life. The sad, bizarre story made national headlines about three years ago. Don Yoon was at work on December 8, 2008. His wife, 2- and 15-month old daughters and his mother-in-law were in the family’s San Diego home. That day, a crippled US Marine jet fighter suddenly crashed into the home, killing Yoon’s family. After three years of unsuccessful negotiations with the US government, Yoon and his father-in-law filed a wrongful death action …