Category: Bizarre

Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

San Francisco Bicyclist Charged With Vehicular Homicide

San Francisco prosecutors have brought relatively rare felony vehicular manslaughter charges against a bicyclist who allegedly hit and killed an elderly man, 71-year-old Sutchi Hui in a crosswalk. Chris Bucchere, 36, allegedly ran a red traffic light before hitting Hui who died later of his injuries. His trial could feature a highly inadvisable blog posting that he allegedly published after the fatal accident — bemoaning the loss of his helmet.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Society

Did NBC Bury Creepy Sandusky Interview?

Prosecutors in the trial of former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky are asking NBC to turn over the tapes of an interview with him that had unaired creepy segments. It is not clear why NBC chose not to air the statements where Sandusky appears almost self-incriminating. There is no reason for NBC to protect Sandusky so many of us are perplexed why such revealing lines were left unaired.

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Academia, Bizarre, Criminal law, Torts

Texas School Sued After Forcing “Smelly” Kid To Strip and Shower At School

In Texas, two school employees have been sued after they allegedly verbally abused a boy for being “smelly” and forced him to strip and shower in front of them. The boy was just eight years old and attended Peaster Elementary School. The child’s parents, Amber and Michael Tilley, also filed a police report but no charges were brought against the employees. The lawsuit names Peaster Independent School District and Peaster Elementary School employees Julie West and Debbie Van Rite in federal court in Fort Worth.

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Animals, Bizarre, Criminal law

Poodle Puncher: Former NYPD Blue Writer Charged With Killing Poodle

Former “NYPD Blue” screenwriter Ted Shuttleworth, 51, is now part of a case that could easily end up on an episode of show. He seems to have answered Det. Danny Sorenson’s question “Where’s a good homicide when you need one?” Shuttleworth has been arrested after punching his poodle in the face on May 29th so hard that it died of a brain injury.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Politics, Society

Lawyer and Former West Virginia Candidate For Attorney General Claims Castle Doctrine Defense In Home Shooting

A West Virginia lawyer Hiram C. Lewis IV, 41, narrowly lost a race to become the state attorney general in 2008 but has now found himself on the other side of the courtroom charged with malicious wounding and wanton endangerment with a firearm. Lewis is accused of shooting a man at his home in Procious, West Virgina. He is invoking the Castle Doctrine, which allows citizens to use lethal force in defense of their homes. I have been a long critic of Castle Doctrine laws, which have spinned off various extensions for the work place, cars, and other locations. Called “Make My Day” laws in some states, we now have “Make My Day Better” laws allowing people to use lethal force in defense of other property like cars as well as laws like “Stand Your Ground” involved in the Zimmerman case and other cases in Florida.

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Bizarre, Politics

Meter Madness: Santa Monica Introduces New “Smart” Parking Meters

Santa Monica, California is introducing new technology to end the practice of drivers using minutes remaining on parking meters from the prior cars. New meters use internet connections and sensors buried in the asphalt to wipe out remaining time once a car leaves the parking space. It seems a bit unfair. The city was paid to rent the space and I think I should be allowed to hand over my time to another citizen — after all I paid for the rental and could remain in the spot for the full duration.

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Bizarre, Society, Torts

Miss Pennsylvania Sued Over Allegations that Pageant Is Rigged

There is an interesting defamation lawsuit announced this week by the Miss Universe Organization. The organization which runs the Miss Universe and Miss USA contests (and is co-owned by Donald Trump) is suing Sheena Monnin, who resigned recently as Miss Pennsylvania. Monnin, 27, charged that the competition is rigged and that a fellow contestant saw a list of the top five selectees in the Miss USA pageant before they were actually selected on the program.

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Bizarre, Politics, Society

Uber-Nanny: Bloomberg Administration Now Moves Against Popcorn and Milk

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has been justifiably ridiculed for his banning of large sugary drinks — refusing to allow adults to make such choices for themselves. Despite the overwhelming criticism of the soda ban, his health board appears emboldened rather than chagrined by the controversy. It is now moving to ban certain sizes of popcorn and milk.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Lawyering

Dewey, Cheatem & Howe: Law Firms Losing Tens of Millions In Nigerian Scams

We have previously discussed how it is remarkable that people still fall for Nigerian Internet scams and fork over much of their life savings — allowing these criminals to thrive on the one percent of gullible people. Now it appears that these gullible parties include law firms which have forked over millions to Nigerian con men. The most common involves a con where a man asks a firm for help in a settlement negotiation or real estate deal. He offers the law firm a hefty cashier’s check to put in its escrow account. It is only after the firm pays out on part of the check that they discovered it is bogus. At least 600 attorneys and firms have fallen victim to the scam with losses exceeding $31 million.

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Academia, Bizarre, Politics, Society

Burn Baby Burn: New York Principal Bans Beiber Song After Banning “God Bless The USA”

There is doubling down and doubling dumb. You will have to decide. Brooklyn principal Greta Hawkins caused a national uproar after banning Lee Greenwood’s patriotic “God Bless the USA” — including criticism on this blog about the lack of a standard given the fact that the school allowed other songs like Justin Bieber’s song “Baby” with lyrics about nailing a girl. Rather than reversing her decision to ban the first song, Hawkins responded by banning Bieber’s song as well. The kids, who have been practicing both songs for months, will now have to come up with some other choices for their end-of-the-year celebration.

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Animals, Bizarre, Criminal law, International

It’s Official: A Dingo Did Eat Her Baby

It is now official: a dingo did eat her baby. The terrible story of the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain in 1980 became an international sensation with a movie, “A Cry In The Dark,” and the famous tag line “A Dingo ate my baby.” Azaria’s mother Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton was jailed for murder and her husband Michael given a suspended sentence as an accessory after the fact. However, both were cleared in 1987. Now a coroner says the mother was telling the truth from the start and that dingoes were likely responsible. The finding confirms the view of many and confirms the chilling nightmare created by the state for this grieving family. We previously discussed the new investigation and evidence.

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Bizarre, Politics, Religion, Society

Florida Pastor Hangs Obama In Effigy As Latest Hate-Filled Message

Remember Terry Jones’s Dove World Outreach Center with his penchant for burning Korans? He is now turning his hate-filled message of healing to people with an Obama effigy hanging from gallows in front of his church. For those who seem to embrace religion as an excuse to hate, it is the perfect recruitment message.

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Bizarre, Society

The Armor-Plated Yuppie: Columbian Designer Makes Bulletproof Polo Shirts

Colombian designer Miguel Caballero has the perfect accessory this year for that yuppie with everything: a bulletproof polo shirt. The 4-pound shirt at $4000 can stop an Uzi and is being marketed as the “Armani of bulletproof clothing.” Finally, all those yuppies who wore their polo collars up can claim to be nothing short of urban (lawn) warriors.

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