Mississippi Business Journal » bench

Doctor’s murder-for-hire case postponed, mental evaluation pending

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:11:35 +0000

GREENWOOD — A trial in the murder-for-hire case against a Greenwood oncologist has been postponed indefinitely. Circuit Judge Breland Hilburn issued the order this past week because the court is waiting on Dr. Arnold Smith’s evaluation at a state mental facility. The case was to have gone to trial yesterday in Leflore County Circuit Court. [...]

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Judge denies ex-alderman’s request; runoff to proceed

Associated Press — Tue, 21 May 2013 11:40:10 +0000

WEST POINT — A federal judge has denied a request to block today’s runoff elections in West Point. Alderman Jasper Pittman and four other residents filed suit Friday to have the city’s May 7 primary thrown out and Tuesday’s runoff stopped. Pittman, who was seeking re-election, fell one vote short of getting into a runoff [...]

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Alderman brings federal lawsuit after losing election

Associated Press — Mon, 20 May 2013 12:48:19 +0000

WEST POINT — A West Point alderman is suing in federal court to block his loss in a primary election. Jasper Pittman, the incumbent alderman in West Point’s Ward 5, missed forcing a Democratic primary runoff against Gary Dedeaux by one vote, according to final tallies. Pittman alleges in a lawsuit that the body that [...]

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Court rules in clinic dispute involving St. Dominic, HMA

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 19:38:25 +0000

CANTON — The Mississippi Supreme Court has granted a motion from St. Dominic Health Systems to dismiss its appeal of a judge’s order that it did not have a binding contract to buy an outpatient surgery clinic in Canton. The dismissal order was made public by the court late last week. St. Dominic had argued [...]

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Brown would make history if confirmed as judge

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 11:08:02 +0000

JACKSON — President Barack Obama has nominated attorney Debra M. Brown to be a U.S. District judge for northern Mississippi. If confirmed, Brown would be the first African-American woman to serve as a federal district judge in the state, said a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). “I congratulate Debra Brown on her historic [...]

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Real estate company paying $1M for compromising wetlands

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:48:58 +0000

HANCOCK COUNTY — A Mississippi corporation has pleaded guilty to illegally filling wetlands near Bay St. Louis. Hancock County Land, LLC entered the plea yesterday and agreed to pay a $1-million fine and take remedial measures for two felony violations of the Clean Water Act., said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis and Assistant U.S. Attorney [...]

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Panel rejects appeal in global warming/Katrina lawsuit

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:49:14 +0000

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST — A federal appeals panel has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a group of Mississippi Gulf Coast residents and landowners who alleged that emissions by energy companies contributed to global warming, which intensified Hurricane Katrina, which, in turn, damaged their property. In the lawsuit, the landowners sought compensatory and [...]

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Investigator: Mayor double-billed, pocketed $461K

Associated Press — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:30:07 +0000

SOUTHAVEN — An investigator with the Mississippi auditor’s office has testified in court that Southaven Mayor Greg Davis submitted duplicate charges to the city and the Chamber of Commerce, and was reimbursed a total of $461,000. Davis’ attorney denied the claim. Karen Swain, an investigator with the state auditor’s office, said the city and the [...]

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Man gets seven years in prison for teacher-cheating scheme

Associated Press — Mon, 13 May 2013 20:03:13 +0000

MEMPHIS — A federal judge in Memphis has sentenced a longtime Memphis educator to seven years in prison in a test-taking fraud scheme. Clarence Mumford Sr. pleaded guilty in February to leading a 15-year scheme that helped teachers cheat on qualification exams. The passing scores were then used to help people get jobs in public [...]

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Judge denies bond in doctor/lawyer murder-for-hire case

Associated Press — Sun, 12 May 2013 20:40:45 +0000

GREENWOOD — Bond has again been denied for Dr. Arnold Smith but a judge says he may reconsider after the doctor undergoes a mental examination. The Greenwood Commonwealth reports prosecutors told Judge Breland Hilburn that a bed is open for Smith at the State Hospital in Whitfield. They have not said when he might be [...]

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