Month: March 2009

Criminal law, Politics, Society

Video Shows Police Officers Beating Man and Then Charging Him With Assault

default1Police in Fort Lauderdale, Florida are facing scrutiny and criticism after police officers beat a man in an elevator and then charged him with assaulting them. What is most disturbing is that internal affairs investigated Joshua Daniel Ortiz’s, 22, claims and completely cleared the officers — yet never appeared to have reviewed the surveillance tape (below) that clearly contradicts by the officers. The department, however, will not discipline the officers for a clearly bogus criminal charge and either intentionally misleading or false reports.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Fraud Fetish: Lawyers Accused of Duping Fetish Club Members With Help of Dominatrix

web-george-guldi-239x300Lawyer and Former Suffolk County legislator George Guldi, 57, is accused in a bizarre fraudulent conspiracy. With the help of a famous dominatrix and two other lawyers, the Long Island attorney is accused of a 450 million mortgage scam.
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Lawyering, Society, Torts

Covington & Burling Slams Former Associate Who Brought Discrimination Lawsuit Alleging “Jim Crow” Policies

yolanda-headshotlogo_home Covington & Burling has filed a response to the complaint filed by staff attorney Yolanda Young alleging that the firm inflated its minority staff numbers by relegating African-Americans in staff attorney jobs with no chance of promotion in the associate rankings. Covington responded with a remarkably rough (and low) appraisal of not just Young but, in the view of some, the other staff attorneys at the firm.

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Bizarre, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Supreme Court

Reid Says Chief Justice Roberts Lied to Congress in Confirmation Hearings

225px-harry_reid_official_portrait225px-official_roberts_cjSenate Majority Leader Harry Reid insisted this week that it was not the fault of the Democrats in confirming John Roberts and not using their power to block the nomination. Rather, they were tricked by Roberts who lied to them in suggesting that he was a moderate and that we are now “stuck” with him as chief justice.
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Bizarre, Criminal law

Suing Liberty: Michigan Woman Fined for Named Police Dog as Defendant in Lawsuit

clip_image002_000Now, here is a case showing the need to get one’s captioning right on civil complaints in Warren, Michigan. Inez M. Starks, 55, was given a fine for suing the police department over an alleged dog attack. Judge David Viviano (left) fined her $500 for actually naming the dog, Liberty, in the lawsuit. She was also given a $500 fine for failing to appear in court.
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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Politics, Religion, Society

Indian Woman Seeks To Marry Rapist In Order To End Social Stigma and Isolation

India flagIn an example of the terrible treatment given rape victims in some traditional societies, a woman in India has converted to Islam to marry her rapist — in order to end the social stigma of being a rape victim. For years ago, the woman (who name was withheld) was raped and then ostracized for her status. She is asking a court to allow her rapist to be placed on bond so that she can marry him and end her isolation since the 2005 crime. As shown below, this is not a unique case.
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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Politics, Religion, Society

Exposing Oneself To Art: Court Rules that Poll Dancing Is Art Form

350px-poledsc325New York Judge Catherine Bennett had become the hero of many a strip joint by declaring that pole dancing is a form of art worthy of a tax exemption. In doing so, she ruled in favor of the argument of Nite Moves in near Albany that it qualified for the “dramatic arts” tax exemption — allowing it to keep $129,000 in sales tax. It also gave thousands of customers an opportunity to rebut claims by their spouses that they lack culture and should expose themselves to art.
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Academia, Constitutional Law, International, Politics, Society

A Knight’s Tale: Professor Suspended for Hanging Bankers Comment

thumb_chris_in_delmenhorstIn yet another example of the shrinking values of free speech in England, a University of East London professor of anthropology Chris Knight has been suspended for saying that bankers need to be aware of the fury in the country before they are found “hanging from lampposts.” Knight was helping organize a protest for next week G20 summit.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Man Breaks 30 Bones in the Body of a 5-Month-Old Baby and Walks Away With Just Seven Years

mauricio_lopezf_baby_beating_arres_knsd4162_4mb-000000-1560234451Ok, even as a criminal defense attorney I do not get this one. Mauricio Lopez, 34, pleaded guilty to child abuse that resulted in his breaking 30 bones in a 5-month-old baby. For that horrific crime, Lopez will get just seven years.
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Congress, Environment, International, Politics, Society

Any Color So Long As It Is Green: California Moves to Regulate Car Color

ir_image_vehicleHenry Ford once promised customers any color so long as it is black. Now, California seems close to saying that black cars can stay out of the state. This is not a racist takeover, but an environmental movement to encourage the selection of cars that reflect light to reduce energy demands.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Better Sooner Than Later: Oklahoma Moves Toward Law Allowing Motorcyclists To Run Red Lights

images3Oklahoma appears poised to join seven other states in allowing motorcycles to run red lights. Many lights in the state are triggered by the metal mass of the vehicle to turn the traffic signal. However, motorcycles lack the weight and mass to register with the ground sensors. Not surprisingly, the lights do not change soon enough for the “Sooners” of Oklahoma.

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Courts, Lawyering, Politics, Society

Former Pennsylvania Judge Wins Rehearing After Claiming She Was Framed By Other Judges Who Recently Pleaded Guilty to Crimes

gavel2Former judge Ann Lokuta has an intriguing claim for reinstatement: her accusers turned out to be criminals. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued a stay of the Court of Judicial Discipline’s ruling to remove Lokuta and directed the Secretary of the Commonwealth not to place her judicial seat on the May ballot. Lokuta was removed after several weeks of testimony from dozens of witnesses about her abusive behavior toward courthouse staff and attorneys. However, she claims that the witnesses were part of the recent criminal conspiracy by former president judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella, who took kickbacks to send kids to jail.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International

German Police Track Down Woman Sought As Serial Killer in 39 Murders — Working Right Under Their Watchful Eyes

250px-bundespolizei-logossvgFor two years, German police have been stalking the most prolific serial killer in its history — a rare female serial killer connected to 39 murders with DNA traces Germany, Austria, and France. They offered 300,0000 euros to anyone who would help find her and hundreds of detectives interviewed 800 women convicted of crimes in the country. They have finally found her.

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