The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Montejo v. Louisiana, 556 U.S. 778 (2009) Case Summary of Montejo v. Louisiana: Montejo was automatically provided an attorney at his first court proceeding in connection with a murder. Police subsequently asked Montejo to assist in finding the murder weapon. During the excursion, he wrote a letter of apology to the murder victim’s wife. Montejo […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Missouri v. Seibert, 542 U.S. 600 (2004) Case Summary of Missouri v. Seibert: When questioning Patrice Seibert in a murder case, police obtained her confession before giving her Miranda warnings. Then, after a short break, police gave her the warnings and had her repeat her confession. Seibert was ultimately convicted based on the second, post-warning, confession. Seibert’s […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Missouri v. Holland, 242 U.S. 416 (1920) Case Summary of Missouri v. Holland: In 1918, Congress passed the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to enforce an earlier treaty entered into by the U.S. and Great Britain. The State of Missouri challenged the Act in Federal District Court as in conflict with its own State law. The […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Keeble v. Hickeringill, 11 East 570 (1707) Case Summary of Keeble v. Hickeringill: Keeble ran a decoy pond on his land for his livelihood. Hickeringill fired a gun in order to scare the ducks away from Keeble’s pond. Keeble sued Hickeringill for interfering in his business. A verdict was entered in favor of Keeble, awarding […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Katko v. Briney, 183 N.W.2d 657 (1971) Case Summary of Katko v. Briney: Defendants set up a spring gun to guard against people trespassing into their unoccupied farmhouse. Plaintiff broke into the house and was seriously injured by the spring gun. At trial, Plaintiff won a verdict of $20,000 actual, and $10,000 punitive, damages. Defendant […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States, 379 U.S. 241 (1964). Case Summary of Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States: A large motel in Atlanta refused to serve African Americans. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits racial discrimination in places of public accommodation The motel owner challenged the Civil Rights Act […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010). Case Summary of Graham v. Florida: Petitioner Graham committed two robbery-type offenses before he was 18 years old. He was ultimately sentenced to life without parole. Graham challenged his sentence as violative of the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. The Florida state courts denied […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Gonzales v. Oregon, 546 U.S. 243 (2006). Case Summary of Gonzales v. Oregon: Oregon passed a physician-assisted suicide law in 1994. In 2001, the U.S. Attorney General issue a Rule stating that the law violated the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Oregon sued in federal court, challenging the Attorney General’s Rule. The District Court and […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Goldberg v. Kelly, 397 U.S. 254 (1970). Case Summary of Goldberg v. Kelly: Welfare recipients sued in federal court because benefits were being terminated without recipients getting notice or a hearing prior to termination. The District Court held that a pre-termination hearing is required to satisfy procedural due process. On appeal, the Supreme Court agreed. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Frontiero v. Richardson, 411 U.S. 677 (1973). Case Summary of Frontiero v. Richardson: A federal law provided automatic benefits for the wives of military men, but not for husbands of military women. A woman in the U.S. Air Force sued to enjoin enforcement of the law, arguing that it was unconstitutionally discriminatory. The District Court […]
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