National Roundup

Georgia Student sues school over proposed prom changes ATLANTA (AP) -- A suburban Atlanta high school student says in a federal lawsuit that administrators removed him as student body president after he promoted changes aimed at making the prom more inclusive to gay students. Reuben Lack, an 18-year-old senior at Alpharetta High School, filed the lawsuit this week in U.S. District Court. He's asking a judge to issue an injunction reinstating him as student body president. Lack said he introduced a resolution at a January student council meeting to modify the school's "prom king and queen" tradition to make it more inclusive to gay students. Lack says he was told by school officials Feb. 8 that he was immediately removed from his position for "pushing personal projects" and advocating policy changes. School officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment Friday. New Jersey Supreme Court to hear judicial pension case TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Supreme Court will hear arguments this week on whether the state can increase judges' health insurance and pension contributions. The case stems from a new law passed last summer that requires all public employees to contribute a greater share toward their health care and pension costs. Shortly after it passed, Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale of Hudson County sued, saying another state law sets judges' salaries and says they cannot be reduced. The state Supreme Court fast-tracked the case after lower courts ruled that the state cannot increase judges' contributions while the case proceeds. California Jury convicts man for killing woman for her laptop LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- A Southern California man has been convicted for the gunshot killing of a woman so he could to steal her laptop computer. Prosecutors say 34-year-old Michael Lee Bonfiglio and two co-defendants wanted the woman's laptop because she was using it to commit identity theft and they wanted to use the stolen credit account numbers. The Torrance Daily Breeze says Thursday's first-degree murder verdict included a special circumstance allegation that the killing occurred during a robbery. The Whittier man was also convicted of conspiracy to commit a crime and second-degree robbery. Prosecutors say 27-year-old Ginie Samayoa was shot behind a San Pedro diner in January 2009. She had used her laptop to tap into corporate accounts. Bonfiglio's co-defendants, 29-year-old Raul Tiscareno and 38-year-old Daniel Keith Martinez are awaiting trial. Alabama Former Auburn lawyer pleads guilty in fraud MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- A former attorney from Auburn has pleaded guilty to taking more than $2 million from loan closing and refinancing deals that his firm handled from 2005 until late last year. Disbarred lawyer James Boyd Douglas Jr. apologized for his actions during a hearing in federal court in Montgomery on Thursday. The Opelika-Auburn News reports that the 42-year-old Douglas accepted full responsibility for what he did. Douglas pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors for a reduced sentence, but a judge has yet to schedule a sentencing date. Douglas admitted taking more than $2 million in proceeds from residential mortgage loan closings and refinances overseen by his law firm. Clients and lenders were told wrongly that loans had been repaid. California $11.5M award for motorist hit by chunk of iron FRESNO, Calif. (AP) -- A California jury has awarded $11.5 million to a motorist who was struck in the head by a chunk of iron that fell of a big-rig. Former Fresno schoolteacher Susan Reyes was driving behind a tractor-trailer rig on State Route 99 about 18 months ago when the load shifted on the Selma-based Lion Raisins truck and the piece of iron crashed through the windshield of her Acura. Reyes suffered a traumatic brain injury and has serious behavioral problems as well as a personality change. The Fresno Bee says a jury on Thursday awarded more than $11.5 million for past and future medical expenses, past and future earnings losses, and pain and suffering. The jury also awarded $350,000 in damages to her husband, Adrian Reyes. Lion Raisins did not return a call seeking comment. Iowa Bank appeals lawsuit dismissal to Iowa high court LAKE MILLS, Iowa (AP) -- A Lake Mills bank has appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court the dismissal of its lawsuit against a customer for nonpayment of a $150,000 loan. The Mason City Globe Gazette reports that attorney David Siegrist filed the appeal Wednesday on behalf of Manufacturers Bank and Trust. A Winnebago County judge dismissed the bank's lawsuit against 87-year-old Clemence Weber, of Austin, Minn., last month. The judge says the bank's former president breached a fiduciary relationship with the man and was aware of his growing dementia when the loan was made in 2007. The lawsuit sought repayment of the loan, at 16 percent interest, plus collection and attorney fees. Maryland Appeals court in Va hears Md free-speech claims RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Attorneys for two Maryland localities have urged a federal appeals court to uphold ordinances requiring anti-abortion pregnancy counseling centers to post signs stating that they don't provide medical services. The ordinances were declared unconstitutional. Lawyers for the city of Baltimore and Montgomery County, Md., asked a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject those rulings Friday. The court is expected to rule in a few weeks. The Baltimore ordinance requires pregnancy counseling centers that don't provide abortions or birth control to post disclaimers stating so. Greater Baltimore Center for Pregnancy Concerns, the Archbishop of Baltimore and a Roman Catholic church sued city officials, contending that such requirements violate the centers' free-speech rights. The other case involves a similar ordinance in Montgomery County. Published: Mon, Mar 26, 2012