A civilian judge has stopped a court martial for an accused deserter. Continue reading ‘Federal Court Stops Court-Martial of Iraq War Objector’
Archive for October, 2007
Federal Court Stops Court-Martial of Iraq War Objector
Published 1, October 6, 2007 Constitutional Law , Justice , Military 3 CommentsMcDonald’s Hit with $6.1 Million Award in Hoax Case
Published 1, October 5, 2007 Bizarre , Torts Leave a CommentA jury awarded $6.1 million in damages in the case of Louise Ogborn who alleged that she was tricked into sexual acts by a caller pretending to be a police officer. Continue reading ‘McDonald’s Hit with $6.1 Million Award in Hoax Case’
Washington Supreme Court Strikes Down Prohibition on Lying by Politicians
Published 1, October 5, 2007 Congress , Politics 3 CommentsIn a 5-4 decision, the Washington Supreme Court struck down a state law prohibiting political candidates from deliberately lying in campaign ads. Continue reading ‘Washington Supreme Court Strikes Down Prohibition on Lying by Politicians’
Duke Players Sue Former Prosecutor and City
Published 1, October 5, 2007 Justice , Torts Leave a CommentThree former Duke lacrosse players filed a lawsuit today against disgraced prosecutor Mike Nifong, the city of Durham and the police detectives who handled the investigation. It is a positive development in deterring such prosecutorial misconduct. Continue reading ‘Duke Players Sue Former Prosecutor and City’
President Bush Defends Administration on Latest Torture Flap
Published 1, October 5, 2007 Congress , Constitutional Law , Justice , Politics 1 CommentPresident Bush came out today to address the latest controversy over torture involving secret memos that appear to endorse the use of methods considered torture under international law. The President, however, simply repeated his statement that “we don’t torture.” Continue reading ‘President Bush Defends Administration on Latest Torture Flap’
Doctors Liable for Foot-Long Sponge Left in Patient After Surgery
Published 1, October 5, 2007 Bizarre , Military , Torts 1 CommentKarlene Chambers, of Pembroke Pines, Florida had a considerable surprise after her C-Section: the doctor had left a foot-long sponge in her body. It is one of the most common examples of surgical malpractice is leaving sponges in the bodies of patients. Continue reading ‘Doctors Liable for Foot-Long Sponge Left in Patient After Surgery’
Kentucky Officials Sue OxyContin Maker for “Hillbilly Heroin”
Published 1, October 5, 2007 Torts Leave a CommentCalling it “hillbilly heroin,” Kentucky officials have sued the manufacturer of OxyContin, the painkiller abused most famously by Rush Limbaugh. Continue reading ‘Kentucky Officials Sue OxyContin Maker for “Hillbilly Heroin”’
Craig Loses Motion on Plea; Pledges to Stay in Senate
Published 1, October 4, 2007 Congress , Constitutional Law , Politics Leave a CommentIn the most predictable ruling of the year, a court denied the effort of Idaho Sen. Larry Craig to withdraw his guilty plea after his arrest in a Minnesota public restroom. Craig, however, got the last word and, once again, reversed an earlier decision. He now insists that he will serve out his term in office. Continue reading ‘Craig Loses Motion on Plea; Pledges to Stay in Senate’
Bad News for Murtha? No Murder Charges Likely in Haditha case
Published 1, October 4, 2007 Congress , Constitutional Law , Justice , Torts Leave a CommentIn the on-going controversy over the defamation lawsuit against Rep. Jack Murtha, one of the collateral issues has been whether the Marines that he accused of a massacre would be tried for murder. Today, it appears that there will be no such charges coming out of the killing of roughly two dozen Iraqi citizens in the town of Haditha in November 2005. Continue reading ‘Bad News for Murtha? No Murder Charges Likely in Haditha case’
Cops At Play: Arrest and Impound Competitions in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department
Published 1, October 4, 2007 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Justice , Lawyering Leave a CommentThere was a time when an office football pool was viewed as sufficient outlet for competition. However, the LA Times now reports that deputies at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have been competing to see how many people they can arrest in a 24-hour period. Continue reading ‘Cops At Play: Arrest and Impound Competitions in the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department’
Novel Defense: Man Claims that He is Gay in Hate Crime Case
Published 1, October 4, 2007 Bizarre , Justice , Lawyering 1 CommentIn a variation of the famous “I am Spartacus” scene, defendants appear to be jumping up and screaming “I Am Gay” as a defense to a hate crime against gays. Continue reading ‘Novel Defense: Man Claims that He is Gay in Hate Crime Case’
Justice Department Continued to Endorse Possible Torture in Secret Memo
Published 1, October 4, 2007 Congress , Constitutional Law , Justice , Military , Politics Leave a CommentA new report shows that the Bush Administration may have continued its endorsement of tactics viewed as torture in secret despite public claims to the contrary. Continue reading ‘Justice Department Continued to Endorse Possible Torture in Secret Memo’
Parishioner Sues Priest for Statements in Homily
Published 1, October 4, 2007 Bizarre , Constitutional Law , Lawyering , Torts Leave a CommentYou can never forget to leave your business card at home as a lawyer, even when going to mass it seems. Continue reading ‘Parishioner Sues Priest for Statements in Homily’
A Liberal’s Lament: The NRA Might Be Right After All
Published 1, October 4, 2007 Columns , Constitutional Law , Supreme Court , USA Today 34 CommentsHEADLINE: A liberal’s lament: The NRA might be right after all
This term, the Supreme Court may finally take up the Voldemort Amendment, the part of the Bill of Rights that shall not be named by liberals. For more than 200 years, progressives and polite people have avoided acknowledging that following the rights of free speech, free exercise of religion and free assembly, there is “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” Continue reading ‘A Liberal’s Lament: The NRA Might Be Right After All’
In Shepherdsville, Kentucky, McDonalds is facing a tort action that may be unique in the annals of the law involving a hoax, unlawful imprisonment, and sexual assault. Continue reading ‘McDonalds Sued in Hoax/Sexual Assault Case’
Prosecutor Sues Innocent Man After Wrongly Convicting Him of Murder
Published 1, October 4, 2007 Lawyering , Torts Leave a CommentIt appears that John Grisham is not the only person that prosecutor Bill Peterson is suing. Continue reading ‘Prosecutor Sues Innocent Man After Wrongly Convicting Him of Murder’
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has asked President Bush to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the late Virginia Tech professor Liviu Librescu, who gave his life for his students. Continue reading ‘Medal Sought for Liviu Librescu’
Woman Has Unnecessary Double Mastectomy Due to Lab Mix-up
Published 1, October 3, 2007 Bizarre , Torts 1 CommentA new malpractice case has been filed in New York involving a lab foul-up with horrific consequences. Continue reading ‘Woman Has Unnecessary Double Mastectomy Due to Lab Mix-up’
Student Thrown Out of Texas School for Wearing Edwards T-Shirt
Published 1, October 3, 2007 Bizarre Leave a CommentIt remains an ever-lasting mystery how public school officials define their mission in life. Most educators and parents relish the idea that high school kids are interested (let alone active) in political issues. Yet, not at Waxahachie High School in Texas. Continue reading ‘Student Thrown Out of Texas School for Wearing Edwards T-Shirt’
Lab Worker Bites Boy After Boy Bites Lab Worker
Published 1, October 3, 2007 Bizarre , Torts 3 CommentsIn both torts and criminal law, the question of intent changes dramatically from an adult to a child. Continue reading ‘Lab Worker Bites Boy After Boy Bites Lab Worker’
John Grisham Sued for Defamation over Nonfiction Crime Book
Published 1, October 3, 2007 Constitutional Law , Lawyering , Torts 2 CommentsThe perils of nonfiction. As Rita Crosby is being sued for her book on Anna Nicole Smith, John Grisham is being sued for his first nonfiction book on a real crime case in Oklahoma. Continue reading ‘John Grisham Sued for Defamation over Nonfiction Crime Book’
Rita Crosby Sued for Defamation by Anna Nicole Smith’s Former Companion
Published 1, October 3, 2007 Constitutional Law , Lawyering , Torts 2 CommentsHoward K. Stern, the lawyer and companion for former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith has filed a $60 million libel suit against the author and publisher of a new book on Smith’s life and death. Continue reading ‘Rita Crosby Sued for Defamation by Anna Nicole Smith’s Former Companion’
The Army Offers College Credits Without the Need of Going to College
Published 1, October 2, 2007 Academics , Bizarre , Military 4 CommentsThe Army appears to have solved an age-old problem with getting a college education: going to college. Continue reading ‘The Army Offers College Credits Without the Need of Going to College’
Video Shows Police Officer Hitting a Cuffed Suspect
Published 1, October 2, 2007 Constitutional Law , Justice Leave a CommentA new video shows police officer hitting a cuffed suspect in Braddock, Pa., for not apparent reason. Continue reading ‘Video Shows Police Officer Hitting a Cuffed Suspect’
Former Bush Administration Official Admits that Parts of Surveillance Program Were Clearly Illegal
Published 1, October 2, 2007 Congress , Constitutional Law , Justice , Politics 1 CommentFor years, some of us have been pointing out repeatedly the fact that the Domestic Surveillance Program implemented by President Bush constituted a federal crime. Indeed, many were horrified when the Democrats decided to extend the program, codifying if only temporarily an unlawful program. Now a former top Bush attorney has admitted that he and others knew it was illegal. Continue reading ‘Former Bush Administration Official Admits that Parts of Surveillance Program Were Clearly Illegal’
Negligence or False Imprisonment? Woman Left for Hours in CT Scanner
Published 1, October 2, 2007 Bizarre , Torts 1 CommentA woman in Tucson seeking treatment for cancer was left for hours in a CT scanner after a technician apparently forget about her and the clinic was closed. Continue reading ‘Negligence or False Imprisonment? Woman Left for Hours in CT Scanner’
The Red Mass and the Calling of the Faithful on the Supreme Court
Published 1, October 2, 2007 Congress , Constitutional Law , Justice , Supreme Court Leave a CommentThis week, six justices participated in the tradition of the Red Mass. This is a traditional that originates in Europe around 1245 at the start of the judicial year of the Scared Roman Rota, the court of the Holy See. It is a tradition that has long made me uneasy and this year’s homily by Archbishop Timothy Dolan showed why. Continue reading ‘The Red Mass and the Calling of the Faithful on the Supreme Court’
As if North and South Carolina did not have enough to fight about. When Shannon Whisnant purchased a barbecue smoker recently, she was surprised to later discover a human leg inside. Continue reading ‘Man Fights to Get Leg Back’
Supreme Court Term Opens
Published 1, October 1, 2007 Constitutional Law , Supreme Court Leave a CommentThis Supreme Court term has slated an interesting crop of cases that may force Judge Kennedy to resume his role as a swing vote on the Court. Continue reading ‘Supreme Court Term Opens’
In what may be the next Fox reality series, a convent was closed in Italy after the resident nuns got into a knock-out, brag-out brawl. For the story, click here
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