Question

Criminal Civil Research

Purpose: To search the internet for case information and then be able to compare and contrast between civil and criminal law cases.

Outcome: You will be able to apply research rules and techniques using web-based legal research.

Look up James Arthur Ray - Arizona motivational speaker -on the internet and briefly state why/how he had both criminal and civil trials

demonstrate critical thinking skills to prioritize, anticipate, and analyze problems, and then to evaluate and implement solutions.

Answer 1

A self-help author imprisoned for the deaths of three people following an Arizona sweat lodge ceremony settled civil lawsuits with the victims' families for more than $3 million, according to court documents.

James Arthur Ray began serving a two-year sentence last month on a trio of negligent homicide convictions. The terms of the settlements reached last year recently were disclosed in court documents filed as exhibits in Ray's criminal case and released Friday at the request of The Associated Press.

The families of Kirby Brown, 38, of Westtown, N.Y.; James Shore, 40, of Milwaukee; and Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minn., sued Ray after the October 2009 ceremony near Sedona. The lawsuits accused Ray and his company of negligence, fraud and wrongful death. Others who were injured in the ceremony also were party to the lawsuit.Brown's parents, who received nearly $860,000, said they were motivated to settle because of the financial burden that Shore's death had placed on his own family. Shore's wife, Alyssa Gillespie, testified in the criminal trial that she saw her massage therapy business crumble after her husband's death. Since Shore took care of all the bills, she said she was uncertain whether their cars were paid off or who provided their cellphone service.