Albert Halluin and Judy Perchonock were 70 and 60 years old, respectively, but their relationship was young. They planned to be married in May - three years after they started dating - and spent every weekend at Halluin's mountain home west of Yosemite National Park.

But the Bay Area couple's weekly routine turned tragic Friday night, when Halluin's single-engine plane plummeted into the backyard of a home near Pine Mountain Lake Airport in Groveland (Tuolumne County).

It burst into flames, killing the prominent biotechnology patent lawyer from San Carlos and the energetic Redwood City grandmother.

The crash, which hurt no one on the ground, is under investigation by federal aviation authorities. They said the plane, when it went down at 7:19 p.m., was just an eighth of a mile from the airport.

The incident came just two days after a small plane flying in heavy fog struck power lines and crashed into an East Palo Alto neighborhood, killing all three people onboard and damaging four houses.

If you've been arrested for DUI, this is most likely one of the worst days of your life. As a former police officer, I know the range of emotions that you must be feeling. You're probably angry at yourself for letting this happen, embarrassed to face family and friends, worried about your job, scared because you don’t know whether you’re going to jail and confused because you're not sure what to do next. As a Pittsburgh Police Lieutenant, I spent several years in charge of the Pittsburgh Police DUI Task Force and have extensive experience with all aspects of DUI law in Pennsylvania. The attorneys in my office help steer you through this nightmare so that you are able to get on with your life.

Experience has taught me that the great majority of people arrested for DUI are not bad people or criminals; they are good people who may have made a bad choice, or have done something out of character. If you've been charged with DUI in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County or in any of the surrounding counties, please contact us at 412-429-4360 for a free consultation. Our phone answers 24 hours a day and we'll return your call the same day. You may also email us directly at info@gbmlawpittsburgh.com or use the contact form. We respond to phone calls and emails 7 days a week and are available to speak and meet with you on weekends.

http://www.gbmlawpittsburgh.com/dui-defense

Cigarette maker Philip Morris, a unit of Altria Group Inc., asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a landmark ruling that found the tobacco industry violated federal racketeering laws for deceiving the public about the dangers of smoking.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit last year affirmed most remedies that a trial judge imposed against tobacco companies in 2006, which included restrictions on tobacco marketing and a requirement that the industry make corrective public statements about the health effects and addictiveness of smoking.

The appeals court ruled unanimously that there was ample evidence to conclude that the tobacco industry intended to deceive the public about the dangers of smoking. The court also said the government had adequately proved that the tobacco industry was likely to commit future violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, unless restrictions were imposed.

Philip Morris, whose top brand is Marlboro, said the government is perverting the understanding of the racketeering law.

"Absent further review, the government will henceforth be free to pervert RICO into a device for evading the legislative process, penalizing and chilling public debate on scientific matters, and constraining constitutionally protected speech through vague and sweeping injunctions," Philip Morris said in its appeal.

Other companies targeted by the government include Camel-cigarette maker R.J. Reynolds, a unit of Reynolds American Inc., and Lorillard Inc. They are expected to file appeals to the Supreme Court.

A California appellate court on Thursday reversed a $6.2 million verdict against the city of Los Angeles in a discrimination lawsuit filed by a black lesbian firefighter.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal issued its decision in the case brought by Brenda Lee of Mission Hills, who sued the city alleging the fire department discriminated against her based on her race, gender and sexual orientation and refused to transfer her after she complained of harassment.

Lee claimed her superiors yelled and made derogatory comments about her and put her through grueling drills without proper safety precautions. She also claimed someone put urine in her mouthwash.

The 2007 jury payout was the largest in a string of settlements in cases that alleged discrimination and retaliation against women and minorities within the Los Angeles Fire Department. The cases have cost taxpayers more than $15 million since 2005.

The public relations nightmare for Toyota continues. The company has been plagued with recall after recall. After its most recent announcement, the company faces a class-action lawsuit. On Feb. 9, Toyota announced that the 2010 Toyota Prius, which was previously exempt from recalls, was now being recalled because of a problem with the brake system.

At the same time, Toyota announced that the all-new Lexus HS 250h hybrid was also being recalled due to a similar brake issue. Embedded in that same announcement was a note that about 7,300 2010-model Toyota Camrys were also being recalled due to a completely unrelated issue.

Two days later, Alabama law firm Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C. announced that they were pursuing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of more than 500,000 Toyota Prius and Lexus hybrid owners.

According to Dan Miles, head of the law firm’s consumer fraud and class action department, Toyota knew about the braking system defect well in advance of the official recall.