WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court on March 8 affirmed an Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that attorneys are debt relief agencies when they provide qualifying services but reversed the appellate court's ruling that a portion of the federal bankruptcy abuse act governing what advice such relief agencies can give to clients is unconstitutionally overbroad and violates the First Amendment rights of attorneys (United States of America v. Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, et al., No. 08-1225; Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, et al. v. United States of America, No. 08-1119, U.S. Sup.). Full story on lexis.com

CHICAGO - A $14.6 million settlement was reached Feb. 24 in an Illinois circuit court, bringing to a close an action involving a student who broke his neck and was rendered quadriplegic while using a mini trampoline during an extracurricular tumbling class more than 17 years ago (Ryan Murray, et al. v. Chicago Youth Center, et al., No. 2007 L 3832, Ill. Cir., Cook Co.). Full story on lexis.com

SAN FRANCISCO - Material misrepresentations on an employment practices liability policy application entitle the insurer to rescind the policy, a California federal judge ruled Feb. 17 (Carolina Casualty Insurance Co. v. RDD Inc., et al., No. C 09-00856, N.D. Calif.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13633). Full story on lexis.com