Law News

A New York couple is now debt-free after a judge erases $525,000 in mortgage payments that a bank was demanding on their home.

A study by two human rights groups says many video games encourage players to flagrantly violate criminal and humanitarian law in the real world. By allowing players to attack civilians and destroy churches and mosques, says the report, the games suggest that modern warfare has no limits or rules. One gaming industry expert disagrees, calling the virtual havoc "just fun, harmless escapism."

In April 2006, an irritated David Hackbart gave the finger to a driver who yelled at him -- only to discover that he had flipped off a cop. After Hackbart was ticketed, the ACLU sued on his behalf, arguing that the gesture is constitutionally protected free speech. Now the Pittsburgh City Council has tentatively approved a $50,000 settlement to Hackbart.

Taking advantage of a loophole in a 1988 law, a dozen Indian tribes apply to build casinos close to cities and suburbs rather than on reservations. The Obama administration is expected to rule soon on whether these projects can go forward. If they do, the dusty California train depot at right will eventually boast a $1.5 billion Vegas-style resort.

The FBI says reports of hate crimes against gays and religious groups went up sharply in 2008. Overall, the number of reported hate crime incidents increased about 2 percent. These same figures show a nearly 11 percent increase in hate crime offenses based on sexual orientation, and a nearly 9 percent increase in such offenses based on religion.

A lawyer for one of the five men facing trial in the Sept. 11 attacks says the group will plead not guilty so that they can voice their criticisms of U.S. foreign policy. Scott Fenstermaker, the lawyer for accused terrorist Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, says they wouldn't deny their role in the attacks but "would explain what happened and why they did it."