States brief ~ SD Supreme Court rules alimony does not automatically terminate at remarriage News
States brief ~ SD Supreme Court rules alimony does not automatically terminate at remarriage

[JURIST] Leading Thursday's states brief, the South Dakota Supreme Court unanimously ruled [text] today that remarriage does not automatically terminate alimony payments, but recipients must show there is a good cause to continue the payments. Justice Judith Meierhenry wrote, "Absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances, [the wife's] alimony should have ceased" upon her remarriage. The court also noted, in overturning the decision of a lower court, that the divorce agreement did not expressly state alimony was to continue upon remarriage. AP has more.

In other state legal news …

  • New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs has filed a lawsuit [DCA press release] against Nextel Communications Inc., Sprint Spectrum LP., and T-Mobile USA Inc. [corporate website], alleging the use of deceptive advertising to sell wireless services and equipment. The lawsuit was filed in Manhattan's State Supreme Court and will seek $500 in civil penalties for each customer violation. Department of Consumer Affairs [official website] deputy commissioner and attorney, Susan Kassapian, said the agency also prepared deceptive advertising claims against AT&T Wireless, Verizon Wireless [company website] and Cingular Wireless, but those companies settled and agreed to comply with consumer protection laws. She also said that the attorney generals of 32 states recently reached an agreement with wireless companies over their advertising practices. AP has more.
  • Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm has signed legislation [press release] that prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from buying products with pseudoephedrine or ephedrine as the sole active ingredient, and limits adult purchases to 48 tablets or capsules per transaction. The laws, SB 189 [PDF text] and HB 4322 [PDF text], also require retailers to place over the counter medications that contain either pseudoephedrine or ephedrine behind the counter, or in a locked case, or to attach anti-theft devices to the product. The law is intended to crack down on methamphetamine production and takes effect in December. AP has more.