Salem-News.com Legal articles

Memorial Day Weekend is No Time to Drive Loaded

Drunk driving crashes are PREVENTABLE!

(SALEM, Ore.) - Along with police agencies across the country, the Marion County Sheriff's Office Traffic Safety Team will be on the lookout for impaired drivers this Memorial Day Weekend. Beginning May 25th and ending May 28th, patrols will be stepped up, with additional deputies who will be attempting to locate DUII drivers.

Deputies will be working all hours of the day and night to ensure a safe traveling experience for our residents and visitors. The focus, according to ODOT, will be to make sure child passengers are buckled up; ensuring traffic moves over for emergency vehicles; and getting impaired drivers off the road.

Why Do You Need a Personal Injury Lawyer?

Answer: For the best chance of winning your claim and getting compensation for your loss.

(SALEM, Ore.) - A Personal Injury Lawyer works to maximize the compensation you receive for your injuries. They do this because their interests align with yours. The equation is very simple, higher compensation for you means better pay for the lawyer.

So if you have been involved in an accident, and are thinking about why you should (or shouldn't) hire a lawyer, consider the following...

5 Important Insights for Hiring the Right Criminal Defense Lawyer

Your very freedom may be on the line.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Let’s get real; bad things can happen to good people. Despite the charges and circumstances that led to it, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney standing beside you in the courtroom. Following, we are sharing some insights on how to hire a reputed and capable defense attorney.

The starting point of any legal battery is initial consultation, aka the process of finding a criminal defense lawyer. Many companies offer free initial consultation. No, this is not a favor, instead it is standard practice for reputed and established law firms.

What Questions Should You Ask A Lawyer Before Hiring Them?

Preparing for your first meeting will make your time together much more productive. Time is money!

(SALEM, Ore.) - How do you know what questions to ask when you hire a lawyer?

It can be very complicated, especially if this is your first time hiring a legal representative, but don’t worry, we have you covered with the following array of important questions. These will help you gauge which attorney is best for you, your situation, and your pocketbook!

New Laws to Know for Oregonians

Oregon Senator Kim Thatcher (Dist 13) reports on new laws going into effect.

(SALEM, Ore.) - With the new year upon us, you've probably heard about several of the higher profile or controversial laws, soon to go into effect, that passed during the last legislative session.

I would like to highlight some of the good, bipartisan bills that passed that may not have had much media attention.

When Do You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney?

If your situation requires legal attention, find a talented, committed legal team.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Life is full of unexpected events that have unintended consequences. Finding yourself on the wrong side of the law can be a terrifying experience if you are unprepared to handle the situation.

Fortunately, there are legal professionals available to assist you with any representation you may need.

FDA Allows Creator of OxyContin to Conduct Its Own Studies on Childhood Uses

If you have ever wondered if the FDA is corrupt, this should leave you thinking long and hard...well, are they?

(MYRTLE BEACH, SC) - The FDA has approved OxyContin for use in children to manage their chronic and extreme pain. If you are wondering what could the FDA possibly have been thinking in approving a drug for children that has been responsible for tens of thousands of deaths and addictions throughout the U.S since its release in the late 1990's -- there was no thought.

Don't even try to imagine how the FDA could have conducted studies with their research people and physicians under the watchful eyes of the heads of the agency because they did not.

International Parental Kidnapping Case Leads to South Pacific Island

The father pled guilty in March 2015 and was sentenced last week.

(WASHINGTON, DC) - When 9-year-old Billy Hanson didn’t return to Pennsylvania after spending the summer with his father in Seattle, the boy’s mother called her local police department, setting in motion an international kidnapping investigation that led FBI agents halfway around the world to a tiny island in the South Pacific.

It was a traumatic experience. By the time Billy and his father reached Niue after 60 days aboard the Draco, the 9-year-old had lost 30 pounds.

Backyard Chicken Ordinance Considered by Marion County Commissioners

Six hens (no roosters) would be allowed on property inside urban growth boundaries.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Marion County Board of Commissioners will hold the first reading of an ordinance allowing backyard chickens, within urban growth boundary areas, at its regularly scheduled Board Session on Wednesday, July 29, 2015. The meeting begins at 9 a.m.

The proposed ordinance will allow up to six hens inside urban growth boundaries, except in the Woodburn and Silverton UGBs where a maximum of three hens would be allowed. There would be no sales of chickens, eggs, or fertilizer.

MCSO Cold Case Squad Seeks Public`s Help with Homicide Investigation From 1986

Help solve a murder nearly 29 years old....if you can.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Marion County Sheriff's Office, Cold Case Squad, is requesting the public's help in identifying a Hispanic male, whose decomposing body was found by fishermen in the area of Horseshoe Lake, near St. Paul, Oregon on October 25, 1986. The Oregon State Medical Examiner determined that this death was a homicide.

The victim is believed to have been young, perhaps 20 to 30 years old, approximately 5' 4" tall with a slender to medium build.

Most importantly, the victim possessed numerous distinctive tattoos...