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Private Prisons Make Money. Why Is Holding Them Accountable So Difficult?

Private prisons operate for profit, but when someone is seriously injured or dies inside one, the case may involve much more than ordinary negligence. Families may be required to prove that the prison violated the person’s constitutional rights. That is often a much higher legal standard than showing that an employee or company was simply […]

Okbar.org: Ethics & Professional Responsibility | Confidentiality: The Basics

Read on Oklahoma Bar Association Website: https://www.okbar.org/barjournal/october-2023/ethics-professional-responsibility/ By Richard Stevens ORPC 1.6 (a) states, “A lawyer shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation or the disclosure is permitted by paragraph (b).” EVIDENTIARY PRIVILEGE […]

Oklahoma Police Pursuits: What Are the Actual Rules?

What the Real Rules on Police Pursuits Actually Are Most people assume police can chase anyone for anything. That is not actually how police pursuits are supposed to work. In Oklahoma, officers are expected to constantly balance two competing goals: Catching the suspect Protecting the public And legally, public safety is supposed to matter every […]

Deadly OHP Pursuit Raises Questions About When Police Chases Become More Dangerous Than the Suspect

Tulsa, Oklahoma — A deadly Oklahoma Highway Patrol pursuit is raising serious questions about public safety, pursuit training, and when a high speed chase should be stopped before innocent lives are lost. During testimony connected to the case, OHP Lt. Mark Warren acknowledged that officers must consider the safety of the general public during pursuits. […]

OKLAHOMA STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS CHEAT SHEET

Based on Oklahoma Statutes Citationized Title 12. Civil Procedure, Chapter 3 Section 95 – Limitation of Other Actions Cite as: 12 O.S. § 95 DIRECT LINK: HERE or SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM. MOST COMMON DEADLINES BROKEN DOWN: 🚨 2 YEARS (MOST CLAIMS) Personal Injury Wrongful Death (starts at date of death) Property Damage Civil Rights […]

“A Felony to Follow My Faith?” Attorney Donald E. Smolen II Questions Oklahoma Senate Bill 1554

“A Felony to Follow My Faith?” Attorney Donald E. Smolen II Questions Oklahoma Senate Bill 1554 Oklahoma City, OK — Oklahoma Senate Bill 1554 is drawing growing concern across the state as it proposes sweeping restrictions on providing aid to undocumented individuals, raising serious constitutional and religious freedom questions, according to civil rights attorney Donald […]

Q& A: Why Do Civil Cases Take So Long to Go to Trial

If you’re involved in a civil case, one of the most common questions is: Why is my case taking so long to get in front of a jury? The answer isn’t about your case. It’s about how the court system is structured. Understanding the Civil Case Timeline Civil cases follow a process that takes time […]

Why Someone Can Be Found Not Guilty But Still Lose a Civil Case

One of the biggest misconceptions about the legal system is this: if someone is found not guilty in criminal court, people assume that should be the end of it. But that’s not how the law works. Criminal court and civil court serve different purposes, and they operate under different standards. That difference can lead to […]

Autism and Law Enforcement: Why Disability Training Must Be Mandatory Nationwide

This should not depend on geography. Whether someone is stopped in Oklahoma, California, Texas, or New York, the standard should be the same. Law enforcement officers across the United States should receive mandatory training on autism spectrum disorder and cognitive disabilities. Right now, that training is inconsistent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and […]