With the conviction of John White in New York for the killing of a teen on his lawn and the possible indictment of Joe Horn in Texas for killing two burglars on his lawn, the national debate over the so-called Castle Doctrine or Make My Day laws is intensifying. Continue reading “Chilling Tape of Texas Homeowner Killing Two Men in Texas Re-Ignites National Debate over the Castle Doctrine and Make My Day Laws”
Month: December 2007
John White, an African American homeowner, claimed that he was merely protecting his home and his son from a racial attack when he shot Daniel Cicciaro in the face. A jury disagreed and convicted White, 54, of second-degree manslaughter. It is a case often cited in relation to the Castle Doctrine, allowing homeowners to repel invaders with lethal force — one of two current cases (with the Horn case in Texas) of shootings on the lawns of homeowners. Continue reading “Castle Breached: Homeowner Convicted of Killing Teen on Lawn in Racially Charged New York Case”
Dr. Adam Hansen, chief resident of general surgery, has been fired after he admitted that he took a picture of a patient’s penis during surgery. Strip club owner Sean Dubowik has a tattoo at that stop that reads: “Hot Rod.” Continue reading “Mayo Doctor Fired for Photographing Patient’s Penis During Surgery”
In a lawsuit that seems like a scene out of Michael Moore’s SICKO recent film on the U.S. health system, CIGNA is facing a lawsuit after it denied coverage to Nataline Sarkisyan who needed a liver transplant. The California teenager, 17, died at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center despite the fact that a match was found weeks previously. CIGNA HealthCare decided that the procedure was “too experimental” to try — or least pay for. Now, there is a called for manslaughter charges against CIGNA — and a likely tort action. Continue reading “CIGNA Facing Lawsuit After It Denies Coverage for Liver Transport and Teen Dies”
The Top Hatters Motorcycle Club likes motor cycle and garlic, but the two do not always mix in the famous Gilroy Garlic festival. Police refused to allow the club members to wear their club colors at the festival and they sued. A district court and the Ninth Circuit ruled for the city and the bikers are now appealing for an en banc ruling. Continue reading “Federal Court: Motor Cycle Bikers Not Allowed to Wear Colors While Tasting Garlic”
In a ruling that will surprise many public health officials, the Ninth Circuit has upheld an arbitration decision that found that nurses at Virginia Mason hospital in Washington could not require that nurses receive flu shots as a condition for employment — a victory for the Washington State Nurses Association. It will likely be a concern for public health officials planning for pandemic and other risks, particularly given the court’s recognition of the strong public health reasons for the rule. Continue reading “Federal Court Rules that Nurses Cannot be Required to Have Flu Shots”
The Ohio Supreme Court has handed down an important ruling on the right (or lack thereof) of surrogate mothers. Danielle Bimber was accused of breaking her surrogacy contract with James Flynn and his partner Eileen Donich, when she decided to keep the triplets conceived with Flynn’s sperm and Donich’s implanted egg. Continue reading “Surrogate Mother Loses Ohio Appeal for Triplets: Court Rules No Egg, No Claim”
U.S. District Judge Henry H. Kennedy appears inclined to back off, at least for now, from inquiring into the destruction of tapes of CIA interrogations despite his order to preserve such evidence. This is not, however, the last word for Kennedy or other judges lining up on the issue. Continue reading “Federal Judge Appears to be Leaning Toward Bush Administration on Destroyed CIA Tapes”
Paul Bergrin, a defense lawyer and former prosecutor, has been accused of going a bit too far in fulfilling his duty of zealous advocacy for his client: police believed that Bergrin encouraged the 2004 killing of Deshawn McCray. He is also accused of running a brothel with representatives from the oldest profession. Continue reading “N.Y. Attorney Accused in Witness Killing — and Running a Brothel”
Hollywood appears ready to step into the controversy over the pregnancy of Jamie Lynn Spear in a truly signature way: it is ordering a special for television. While a debate rages over why this is being treated as an entertainment rather than criminal issue. Jamie Lynn’s 19-year-old boyfriend, Casey Aldridge, could be charged with statutory rape, carnal knowledge with a minor and even a Mann Act violation. Continue reading “Spears Pregnancy May Result in Television Special Rather than Criminal Charges”
In one of the most bizarre stories of the year, staff members at the Judge Rotenberg Education Center in Boston received a prank call that ordered an excessive level of electric shock treatments for two two emotionally disturbed teenagers — and proceeded to do so based on the telephone call. Continue reading “Seven Staff Members Fired After Giving Teens Electric Shocks Following Prank Call”
One of the most controversial laws in Germany is the criminal ban on Nazi symbols. In the United States, such symbols are viewed as both obnoxious and legal. Recently, the Germans prosecuted people who produced teeshirts with an anti-Nazi image: a swastika with a red strip through it. At the same time, a bizarre man in Berlin with pro-Nazi views was prosecuted for, among other things, his dog Adolf’s pet trick of giving the Nazi salute. The dog was taken from his owner, who had promised to kill him on the Fuhrer’s birthday due to the expense of criminal fines. Continue reading “Germany Criminally Punishes Citizens for Anti-Nazi Teeshirts Showing Swastika — and a Dog Named Adolf That Gives Nazi Salute”
As both Democratic and Republican candidates battle for the religious vote and proclaim the importance of faith, they seem to be ignoring or unaware of a huge number of citizens who are atheists or without religion. A recent study shows that the number is 30 million and that number increases exponentially when one adds secularists.
As noted in this recent column, Democrats like Clinton and Obama have been openly vying to close the “God gap” and claiming the mantle of faith as one of their qualifications. Other candidates have openly dismisses members of certain religions or the non-religious from being qualified for office. Thus, under the definition of some of the candidates, 30 million Americans are qualified to led but not to lead.
For an article on the study, click here
Of course, a motion to continue could be more efficient and hygenic, but 37-year-old Walter Barrett stripped and covered himself with his own feces to avoid court. He also spit and threw waste at guards.
As a result, Barrett, convicted of a violent home invasion, was forced to wear a bag over his head in court. His attorneys are seeking (not surprisingly) a competency hearing.
Guards are routinely the target of such acts, though some actually file criminal complaints. This is the case with
Desmond Turner is awaiting trial for battery by bodily waste by spitting on a jail guard.
Turner and James Stewart face murder charges for the June 2006 shooting deaths of four adults and three young children in a home on the city’s east side. Their trial is scheduled for February 2009. For that story, click here
For the earlier video and story, click here
The Fifth Circuit is on the brink of making history, just not the type of history that anyone would want. Two district court judges — Samuel Kent and Thomas Porteous — are facing calls for impeachment. Both cases now appear quite serious and worsening by the day. Continue reading “Two Federal Judges — Kent and Porteous — in Fifth Circuit Face Possible Impeachment”