Legal Buzz is your go-to source for the latest and greatest legal news.
The Dark Web’s Oxymonster Sentenced to 20 years:
Gal Vallerius, aka the “Oxymonster,” was sentenced last week to 20 years in prison for charges related to drug trafficking and money laundering.
The Oxymonster was known on the Dark Web for selling Oxycontin and Ritalin – go figure right? As if selling oxy wasn’t enough, the Oxymonster also worked on the Dark Web supporting online drug deals and virtual currency money laundering schemes.
This guy sounds like an evil villain straight out of a Bond movie.
What exactly is the Dark Web anyways? The term refers to websites and networks that are heavily encrypted and “hidden” from the average Internet user.
Because of its super secret hiding place, the Dark Web has become a playground for illegal activities.
Several organizations were involved in the investigation and prosecution of the Oxymonster, but major props belong to the South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (insanely long name, I know) for their work on this.
Read more at Jurist and United States Department of Justice
Kaepernick Tries to Trademark His Image:
Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback / face of NIKE / political activist, applied to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office last week seeking trademark rights to a black-and-white image of his face and hair.
The trademark, if successful, would give Kaepernick complete control over how his image is used. It would give him the power to license the image to any brands he wants. He would retain the rights to the image in the event his brand relationships sour.
The trademark would also give Kaepernick legal ammunition in the event that his haters use the image in negative campaigns.
This is a smart play by Kaepernick. He’s out here playing chess while his haters are playing checkers.
Read more at Law.com
Legal Tech is on the Rise:
Attorneys are expensive – I know. But without attorneys, the legal system is complicated to navigate and a source of relentless anxiety.
So what do you do when the value of your dispute doesn’t justify paying for an attorney?
The mobile app, DoNotPay, may have a solution. DoNotPay’s new update allows users to “sue anyone in small claims court for up to $25,000 without the help of a lawyer.”
Here’s how it works…
The app first asks for your name, address, and claim size in order to determine whether or not it complies with a state’s limits. It then generates a demand letter, creates a filing, helps serve notice of the suit and provides other support to usher users through the trial process. The app even generates suggested scripts and questions pro se litigants can use when they go to court.
Sound too good to be true? It might be. Early users of the app warn of technical bugs and ethical concerns, the ABA Journal reports.
All in all, this tech sounds promising. It has the potential to simplify a process that is foreign to most people. The app could provide comfort to pro se litigants who are unfamiliar with the legal system and can’t afford legal representation.
If this tech takes off, many young attorneys who make a living on small claims litigation will be without work.
With a market swarming with thirsty lawyers, DoNotPay is sure to have its fair share of enemies.
Stay tuned to see how this develops…
Read more at ABA Journal
via The Lawyer Post
Brendan Bald 