Firm News & Blog
Big Changes to the Jury Selection Process Arrive in 2022
New rules in Arizona radically change how a jury is selected Beginning January 1, 2022, there will be a radical change to the jury selection process in Arizona. For years, the selection process included challenges for “cause” and what were known as “peremptory” strikes. “Cause” meant a juror had a bias or prejudice that prevented […]
November 2, 2021 Posted in Arizona News Tagged Arizona Supreme Court, jury selection, peremptory challenge, peremptory strikes Comments Off on Big Changes to the Jury Selection Process Arrive in 2022
Leighton Jr has been nominated to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40
The National Trial Lawyers is pleased to announce that Leighton Rockafellow, Jr. of Rockafellow Law Firm has been selected for inclusion into its Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Arizona, an honor given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field. Membership in this […]
October 7, 2021 Posted in Firm News Comments Off on Leighton Jr has been nominated to the National Trial Lawyers Top 40 under 40
Personal Injury Settlements for Minors: There’s More To It!
Minor children frequently have personal injury claims but they are legally incapable of agreeing to a settlement and unable to receive the funds. Therefore, under Rule 53 of the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure, most settlements for plaintiffs under the age of 18 must be approved by the Court, who then authorizes the execution of […]
August 6, 2021 Posted in Personal Injury Tagged conservatorships, injury settlements, personal injury claims, Rule 53 of the Arizona Rules of Probate Procedure Comments Off on Personal Injury Settlements for Minors: There’s More To It!
An update on the current state of legal affairs in Southern Arizona
Have We Turned a Corner? It has been a long fifteen months. We have all been impacted by this serious Public Health Threat. Some of you have been sick. Some of you have lost loved ones. Some of you are still experiencing the “long haul symptoms.” The Courthouse is opening up again. Trials are being […]
July 7, 2021 Posted in Arizona News, COVID-19 Comments Off on An update on the current state of legal affairs in Southern Arizona
Arizona’s Top 10 Civil Verdicts in 2020
An overview of the top civil verdicts from Arizona in 2020 Every year we bring you news of the top ten Civil verdicts in the State of Arizona. Twenty Twenty will go down as a very odd year as most of the State Court Houses were closed to trials for a majority of the year […]
June 1, 2021 Posted in Civil Litigation Comments Off on Arizona’s Top 10 Civil Verdicts in 2020
Duty in Torts
Before there is negligence, there must be a duty. Personal injury lawyers frequently work within the realm of negligence-based tort laws. Torts can be defined as: “… an act or omission that gives rise to injury or harm to another and amounts to a civil wrong for which courts impose liability.” In order for tort liability […]
May 4, 2021 Posted in Personal Injury Tagged Arizona, personal injury, Torts Comments Off on Duty in Torts
Is My Personal Injury Settlement Taxable or Not Taxable?
It is tax time once again. The Rockafellow Law Firm is not in the business of giving tax advice, but there is one area of tax law that we are familiar with and give clients advice on in every case: That is: “Are personal injury settlements taxable as income?” The short answer is no, but […]
April 7, 2021 Posted in Personal Injury Tagged injury settlement, taxable income, taxes Comments Off on Is My Personal Injury Settlement Taxable or Not Taxable?
Devices That Help Determine Fault in a Car Crash: GPS, Dash Cameras and Black Boxes
GPS (Global Positioning Systems), dash cameras, and “Black Boxes” (Electronic Data Recorders) have become important tools in deciding fault for auto collisions Most commercial vehicles now have GPS to track the driver’s activity during the day and to make sure safe driving is being observed. This benefits the employer. It also helps in accident reconstruction. […]
February 2, 2021 Posted in Auto Accidents, Personal Injury Tagged car accident, car crash, fault, GPS data Comments Off on Devices That Help Determine Fault in a Car Crash: GPS, Dash Cameras and Black Boxes
The State Of Our Courts During COVID-19
Trials are still suspended. Hearings are remote. When will this end? Most court rooms throughout the country have been operating on a limited basis during the time of COVID-19. Our Pima County Superior Court is no different. Leighton Sr. and Leighton Jr. recently attended a video-conference seminar held by numerous Superior Court judges representing the […]
January 6, 2021 Posted in COVID-19, Firm News Tagged civil trials, COVID-19, remote hearings, Zoom trials Comments Off on The State Of Our Courts During COVID-19
Leighton Rockafellow Announces Re-launch of His Novel of Legal Suspense: Diminished Capacity
Diminished Capacity: The Re-Launch of Leighton Rockafellow’s Novel Leighton Rockafellow has re-launched Diminished Capacity, a novel of Legal Suspense. (Think John Grisham style prose.) This full-length legal novel is set in Tucson and features two exciting stories interwoven together. Story one is a murder trial. The defense: Diminished Capacity. Follow the story of this psychological […]
December 1, 2020 Posted in Firm News Tagged Diminished Capacity, Legal Suspense Novel, Leighton Rockafellow Comments Off on Leighton Rockafellow Announces Re-launch of His Novel of Legal Suspense: Diminished Capacity
