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Legal Eagles in Hot Water? Alabama Attorney Accused of Using Fake Case Law!

Hold onto your hats, ChumCity citizens, because things are getting wild in the legal world! A federal judge has summoned prominent Alabama prison defense attorney William Lunsford and his crew from Butler Snow LLP to court. Why? They're being asked to explain why they shouldn't be sanctioned for a legal motion packed with what looks like completely made-up case citations!

AI Gone Rogue?

The accusation comes from lawyers representing Frankie Johnson, an inmate suing ex-Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn. They allege that Lunsford's team used fictitious legal precedents – possibly conjured up by artificial intelligence – in a recent court filing. One of Johnson's lawyers, Jamilah Mensah, wrote that the defense seemingly "wholly invented case citations," potentially thanks to some generative AI.

"Not There," Says the Judge

According to the order, these legal citations were, well, nowhere to be found. Judge Anna Manasco even did her own digging, stating that she conducted independent searches for each citation and came up empty-handed. Uh oh!

Show Cause or Face the Music!

Judge Manasco is NOT playing around. She's ordered all four attorneys who signed the motion, along with the Butler Snow firm, to explain why they shouldn't be sanctioned for making false statements of fact or law to the court.

No Excuses!

Lunsford tried to get out of the hearing, but Judge Manasco wasn't having it. She pointed out that he'd have plenty of time to travel to another hearing the next day.

Case on Hold

In the meantime, Johnson's case has been put on pause until further notice. Could this be the start of a legal AI apocalypse? Stay tuned, ChumCity, because this is one story we'll be following!

Hemp Hysteria in Alabama? Givhan Sounds Off!

State Senator Sam Givhan recently chopped it up on WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show" about the new hemp law. Governor Ivey put pen to paper, but not without a rumble! This bill, aiming to control hemp product sales, sparked a real tug-of-war in the legislature.

Caught in the Crossfire

Givhan spilled the tea, saying, "I know that they were getting a lot of heat from both directions." Seems like folks were either screaming for stricter rules or claiming it was overkill.

The Abstention Explanation

Here's the kicker: Givhan, originally on board, ended up sitting this vote out! Why? An amendment slipped in, allowing these products in grocery stores. "I got mad about that amendment," he admitted. He couldn't back something he felt was a mistake, but didn't want to oppose something he'd pushed so hard for. Tricky situation!

Strange Bedfellows?

Givhan pointed out an odd alliance: groups like the Alabama Policy Institute (usually conservative) found themselves in the same corner as THC users and hemp shop owners, all fighting against the bill! "The far right and the far left converge for totally different reasons," Givhan explained. Talk about a plot twist!

Imperfect Progress

"Rep. Andy Whitt said the bill isn’t perfect. No, it’s not. But it’s what could pass, and it’s a reasonable step.” It sounds like compromise was the name of the game in Montgomery.

DUI Concerns

Back in March, Givhan mentioned a rise in THC-related DUIs as a key reason for getting these products under control. Looks like the debate on hemp in Alabama is far from over!

Alabama DOC Faces Flurry of Excessive Force Lawsuits

The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is swimming in legal hot water, having settled over 90 lawsuits related to alleged excessive force by its officers since 2020, according to Alabama Reflector's investigation.

A Tidal Wave of Claims

In total, the ADOC has settled a staggering 124 lawsuits in the last five years. The heart of these cases? Claims that inmates suffered serious injuries at the hands of correctional staff. Think broken bones, head trauma, and even permanent disabilities – nasty stuff detailed in court records.

Show Me the Money!

The ADOC's legal tab has exploded. The report reveals over $17 million spent defending individual officers and settling cases since 2020. Tack on the big-ticket class-action lawsuits, like the one from the U.S. Department of Justice, and total legal costs breach a whopping $57 million.

Case Studies in Controversy

• Ventress Correctional Facility (2018): An officer allegedly fractured a handcuffed inmate's jaw in two places. The ADOC settled for $90,000 and fired the officer.

• Limestone Correctional Facility (2019): A man suffered a traumatic brain injury and permanent hearing loss after allegedly being beaten by multiple officers. His mother received $9,000 after his release and subsequent death.

• Staton Correctional Facility (2018): An inmate was airlifted to a hospital with multiple fractures and internal injuries. The case ended with a $55,000 settlement.

Where Does the Money Come From?

Settlements come from Alabama's General Liability Trust Fund, which covers legal defense and settlement payments for state employees. Bigger lawsuits against state agencies? Those get paid out of the state's General Fund.

A Growing Problem

Many complaints start as handwritten filings from inmates with limited options for reporting abuse. The number of claims has skyrocketed, jumping from 33 in 2020 to 235 in 2023.

Legal Fees vs. Settlements

Between 2020 and 2024, private attorneys defending ADOC employees pocketed nearly $13 million – almost triple the $4.4 million paid out in settlements. The median settlement for excessive force claims? A mere $8,000.

How Does Alabama Compare?

Unfortunately, data comparing Alabama to other states on similar lawsuits isn't readily available.

Longshore & McKnight Dive Deep into College Sports Chaos!

John and Barry are at it again! Today's episode of Longshore & McKnight tackles the wild, wild west of college athletics governance. Power conference bigwigs are proposing a College Sports Commission – sounds serious, right? The aim? To slam the brakes on those pesky state-level NIL laws that are causing all sorts of headaches.

Is This the Only Solution?

Barry McKnight says time is of the essence, folks! He emphasized that action “has got to happen sooner, much than way later.” With a July 1 deadline looming, the pressure is on! This commission would make schools play by a unified set of rules or face getting booted from the NCAA. It's all about trying to bring back some competitive balance and actually enforceable standards because, let's be honest, things are getting a little crazy out there.

Recruiting is...Boring?

But that's not all! The guys also chatted about those insane college football ticket prices, and how fans are losing their passion for recruiting. Brian Matthews from AuburnSports.com joined the show and pointed out how NIL and the transfer portal are sucking the joy out of traditional recruiting excitement. He did give a thumbs up to Auburn's roster makeover, though, saying Hugh Freeze needs 8–9 wins to keep the peace!

And More!

Alabama and Auburn baseball postseason hopes, NFL scheduling, and even Charles Barkley's thoughts on NIL got some airtime. It's a jam-packed show you don't wanna miss!

Clay County Politician in Hot Water!

A Democratic hopeful vying for a spot on the Clay County Commission has been found guilty of felony voter fraud. Seems like someone was trying a little too hard to win!

Absentee Ballot Shenanigans

Terry Andrew Heflin, 45, who was running for the District 5 seat, copped a plea to one count of absentee ballot fraud – a serious Class C felony.

How Low Did He Go?

According to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Heflin illegally requested and filled out another person's absentee ballot, casting a vote for himself without their say-so. He even had the ballot sent straight to his P.O. box! Talk about bold!

The Price of Deception

Heflin got slapped with a one-year-and-a-day sentence, but will only spend 15 days behind bars. He's also gotta cough up a $2,500 fine. Ouch!

Message Sent Loud and Clear

Attorney General Marshall minced no words: "Voter fraud is a direct attack on our democratic process... If you undermine our elections by committing voter fraud, you will be caught, and you will be prosecuted.” Preach!

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Marshall thanked the Special Prosecutions Division of the Alabama Attorney General’s Office and the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office for their help in bringing Heflin to justice.

Big News for Huntsville! Raytheon Scores a Billion-Dollar Deal!

Hey ChumCity! Get ready for some high-tech action! Raytheon just landed a massive $1 billion contract with the Missile Defense Agency right here in Huntsville!

What's the Buzz About?

Raytheon will be cranking out up to 55 SM-3 Block IB All-Up Rounds. Think state-of-the-art missile defense systems – pretty cool, right? These bad boys are made, put together, and tested to meet some serious specifications.

Huntsville's Got a Piece of the Action!

While the work will also take place in Tucson, Huntsville's involved! Expect this project to keep things humming along nicely until March 31, 2031. The Missile Defense Agency in our own city is the brains behind this contracting operation. Way to go, Huntsville!

(Courtesy of 256 Today)

Matt Woods Gets Big Boost in Senate Race!

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama (ABC) has thrown its support behind Matt Woods for Senate District 5! This comes as Governor Ivey calls a special election for June 24, 2025, to fill the seat left vacant after Greg Reed joined her administration.

Why ABC is Backing Woods

ABC Board Chairman Tim Harrison says Woods is the real deal: "Matt's a businessman who gets it. We need leaders in Montgomery focused on cutting the red tape, sparking growth, and boosting workforce development. Matt’s got the experience, and that’s why we're with him."

Woods' Roots and Rise

A lifelong resident of Senate District 5, Woods is a product of Oakman High School (Class of '00!). After Bevill State and Auburn, he returned home to Walker County and the family biz. He's been repping District 13 in the Alabama House since '22.

Woods Responds to the Endorsement

"The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama are top-notch when it comes to supporting construction professionals, and their support tells me our message is connecting with folks," said State Rep. Matt Woods (R-Jasper).

He added, "Alabama’s commercial construction industry brings in a massive $17 billion annually, and I'm eager to work with ABC to keep the momentum going for the construction industry and our entire state!”

About ABC of Alabama

The Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama is a heavyweight, representing the state's construction industry, which generates 200,000 jobs and contributes a whopping 5% to Alabama's economy.

Alabama & Auburn Ready to Rumble in SEC Tournament!

It's baseball fever in Alabama! Both Auburn and Alabama are poised for some serious postseason action, kicking off with the SEC Tournament this week. Could this be the year the Tide or Tigers bring home some big-time hardware?

Auburn's Ike Irish: Golden Spikes Nominee!

The Auburn Tigers snagged the No. 6 seed and will battle the winner of Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State in their opener. Fueling their fire is none other than star catcher Ike Irish, a Golden Spikes Award nominee! This dude's a beast, hitting .354 with 16 homers and 52 RBIs, all while flashing some serious leather behind the plate. Talk about a complete player!

Bama's Justin Lebron Chasing Glory!

Meanwhile, the Alabama Crimson Tide are rolling into Hoover as the No. 9 seed, facing Missouri on Tuesday morning. If they conquer the Tigers, they'll face a tough test against No. 8 Tennessee on Wednesday. Bama's own superstar shortstop Justin Lebron has been tearing it up, earning himself a Golden Spikes Award finalist nod. He's batting .313 with 18 dingers! Can he bring the Golden Spikes back to Tuscaloosa for the first time since 1983?

Hardware on the Horizon?

With both Irish and Lebron dominating on the diamond, all eyes will be on them in Hoover. Both teams are practically guaranteed NCAA Tournament spots, but can these superstars lead their squads to a championship run? Only time will tell, folks! Get ready for some serious baseball drama!