Courts

Couple Killed In Wednesday Crash Had Newborn

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Eric Romero and Marissa Martinez. Facebook

Staff Report

Authorities say the couple killed early Wednesday in a crash on N.M. 68 north of Española were the Alcalde parents of a newborn.

Marissa Martinez, 19, gave birth just two weeks ago. She was driving the 2007 Mazda when it crashed into a flatbed. The impact decapitated Martinez and Eric Romero, the 21-year-old father of her baby.

Espanola Public Safety Director Eric Garcia said they died instantly. He said that the preliminary investigation indicates the pair may have been speeding when they struck a van, ricocheted and slammed into a truck Read More

Los Alamos Court Rulings July 1–July 2, 2013

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Los Alamos Court Rulings:

July 1, 2013: DAWNA RUSSOM, 23, of Los Alamos was found guilty of aggravated driving under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs – 1st offense. Municipal Court Judge Alan Kirk ordered her to pay $750 in fines; $231 in fees; serve 48 hours of community service; install an interlock on her vehicle; serve one year of supervised probation with fees of $40 per month; attend an alcohol use assessment and recommended treatment program; serve 90 days in jail with 85 days suspended as credit for time served and participate in a 30-day drug/alcohol testing program. Read More

Judge Orders Los Alamos Urologist Pavel Mourachov to Leave Town by Monday

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Pavel Mourachov

By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post

Los Alamos Urologist Pavel Mourachov was arrested and placed in the local jail again Tuesday for an alleged electronic monitoring device violation.

He’s now been ordred by the court to get out of town by Monday.

Mourachov was arrested last month and charged with two counts of aggravated assault against a household member with a deadly weapon, harassment and extreme cruelty to animals. He was released six days later, at which time Magistrate Court Judge Pat Casados ordered him to wear a monitoring bracelet. He was awaiting a July 11

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Udall Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Defense of Marriage Act

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SUPREME COURT News:
 
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Tom Udall today issued the following statement the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):
 
“Today’s ruling by the Supreme Court reflects the growing progress made for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals around the country. Striking down the Defense of Marriage Act is a victory for thousands of loving, committed families who have been denied equality under the law for too long and will now be rightly treated as the full and equal citizens they are.
 
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Los Alamos Court Rulings May 14–June 4, 2013

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Los Alamos Court Rulings:

June 4, 2013: TATYANA KURENNAYA, 60, of Los Alamos was found guilty by Municipal Court Judge Alan Kirk of Aggravated Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Drugs – 2nd offense. She was fined $999, ordered to pay $231 in fees, perform 48 hours of community service, install an  interlock device on her vehicle, serve one year probation with fees of $40 per month, 90 hours at an intensive outpatient treatment program, serve 179 days in jail with 164 days suspended and wear an electronic monitoring device. She also was found guilty of making an improper Read More

Arbitrator Finds in Favor of Los Alamos County in Firefighter Dispute

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COUNTY News:

An arbitrator has determined that Los Alamos County acted within its rights in terminating a firefighter who lost his security clearance at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Edwin Render delivered his opinion recently following a February hearing.

The Los Alamos Firefighters Association, Local 3279 initiated the arbitration under the terms of the association’s collective bargaining agreement with the County after the employee lost his security clearance for failing to comply with a request from LANL staff that he submit a urine sample as part of a random drug screening process. Read More

Help With The Hard Stuff: ‘Smith’s, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods’

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HELP WITH THE HARD STUFF:

Part 10 (of 10)–“Smith’s, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods”
By GINI NELSON, JD, MA

This column ends the 10-part Help with the Hard Stuff series on things to consider about yourself and about lawyers in finding a lawyer to help you.

Last week’s column emphasized that all forms of legal services, conventional or innovative, are very human, to me meaning that the practical, on-the-ground reality can be very different from the idealized or theoretical model. That’s okay, as long as we know that and don’t believe and trust that the on-the-ground reality matches exactly (or even Read More

Detective’s Attorney Calls Los Alamos County’s Lawsuit False and Defamatory

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Attorney John W. Day
 
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
 
Attorney John W. Day of Egolf + Ferlic + Day, LLC has issued a response to a story that broke Friday in the Los Alamos Daily Post.
 
Day is representing Los Alamos Police Det. Brian Schamber in a $25 million demand against Los Alamos County.
 
This morning, Day addressed the legal action filed May 17 against his client in United States District Court by attorney’s for the Los Alamos County Council. That complaint requests that Schamber return to work as a police officer at the Los Alamos Police Department.
 
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Detective Makes $25 Million Demand Against Los Alamos County – Council Files Legal Action Requesting He Return to Work

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UPDATE: Santa Fe Attorney John Day of Egolf + Ferlic + Day, LLC is representing Det. Brian Schamber. Day practices in criminal defense, civil litigation and government misconduct/civil rights litigation. He told the Los Alamos Daily Post that he is asking the community to withhold judgment of his client and will present important information in the case later today. Check back at ladailypost.com for this information.
 
Los Alamos Police Det. Brian Schamber at a County Council work session in 2012 in the White Rock Fire Station. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
 
By CAROL
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Help With The Hard Stuff: ‘Be An Informed Shopper For Your Legal Services’

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HELP WITH THE HARD STUFF:

Part 9 (of 10)–“Be An Informed Shopper For Your Legal Services”
By GINI NELSON, JD, MA

Last column looked at some of the reasons agreements fail. This column notes some forms of legal services variously called “cutting edge” law or a “comprehensive law” movement, which try to better address the reasons agreements fail, especially the reasons of shallow peace, and lack of informed consent.

Remember, all forms of legal services, conventional or innovative, are very human, to me meaning that the practical, on-the-ground reality can be very different from the idealized Read More