Category: Bizarre

Tort Reform Group Releases Annual List of Wacky Warnings — Without A Warning of its Own Motivation and Bias

A label on a small tractor that warns, “Danger: Avoid Death,” has been chosen as the nation’s wackiest warning label in an annual contest sponsored by a consumer watchdog group. The Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-LAW) has released its eleventh annual results of “The Wacky Warning Label Contest” featuring the silliest warnings on products. However, the contest itself should come with a more prominent warning about the basis for the contest and the motives of its organizers. Continue reading “Tort Reform Group Releases Annual List of Wacky Warnings — Without A Warning of its Own Motivation and Bias”

Ladies Nights and Specials Being Challenged Across Country as Gender Discrimination

Across the country, men are challenging specials for women at bars,athletic clubs, and other establishments as discrimination based on gender. They have a point and feminists may now be in a tough position: choosing between supporting popularspecials and opposing gender discrimination. Nevertheless, these cases pose some very novel questions. Continue reading “Ladies Nights and Specials Being Challenged Across Country as Gender Discrimination”

Lawyer Mary Roberts Convicted in Blackmailing of Former Lovers

It did not take long for a jury in Texas to convict  San Antonio lawyer Mary Roberts on felony charges that she helped her husband blackmail four of her former lovers.  Her husband, Ted H. Roberts  was previously convicted in the scheme that netted $155,000 from four married men who had affairs with his wife.   Continue reading “Lawyer Mary Roberts Convicted in Blackmailing of Former Lovers”

Iraq Orders All Policewomen Disarmed as Un-Islamic

The United States has been working to guarantee equal opportunity for women in the new Iraq. However, this effort conflicts with the recent decision to allow sectarian groups greater powers (particularly Muqtada al-Sadr) in the government. Now, the Iraqi government has quietly ordered all women in the police force to turn over their weapons to men in an apparent bow to religious extremists. Continue reading “Iraq Orders All Policewomen Disarmed as Un-Islamic”

Radio Show Host Bernie Ward Indicted on Child Pornography Charges — Claims Novel Research Defense

Bernie Ward, a  San Francisco radio talk show host and former Catholic priest, has been indicted on federal child pornography charges.  Ward, 56, is raising an interesting defense that could have an impact on researchers and journalists in future cases.   Continue reading “Radio Show Host Bernie Ward Indicted on Child Pornography Charges — Claims Novel Research Defense”

If You Like Pina Coladas and Walks in a Prison Yard: Lawyer’s Case Goes to Jury for Bilking Thousands from Former Lovers

The bizarre case of Texas Lawyer Mary Roberts has captivated the bar and, with her testimony, did not disappoint those following the sordid details of the efforts by Roberts and her husband Ted Roberts.  It is now before the jury and Mary Roberts may soon join her husband, Ted, in jail. Ted was previously convicted and given five years for his role in extracting tens of thousands of dollars from Mary’s four lovers. For members of the bar, these two could not be put away too soon. Continue reading “If You Like Pina Coladas and Walks in a Prison Yard: Lawyer’s Case Goes to Jury for Bilking Thousands from Former Lovers”

Halliburton/KBR Accused of Cover-Up in Gang Rape

ABC News is reporting a shocking story of an woman who claims to have been ganged raped and then held in a container box by Halliburton/KBR in Iraq.  The story of Jamie Leigh Jones is shocking and demands a congressional investigation into whether this contractor and the Justice Department covered up a heinous criminal act. Continue reading “Halliburton/KBR Accused of Cover-Up in Gang Rape”

If You Like Pina Coladas and Walks in a Prison Yard: Lawyer Explains Her Effort to Extract Thousands from Former Lovers

The bizarre case of Texas Lawyer Mary Roberts has captivated the bar and, with her testimony, did not disappoint those following the sordid details of the efforts by Roberts and her husband Ted Roberts.  Both were rightfully labeled as two of the worst human beings to put a J.D. after their names (a tough competition). Remarkably, Mary Roberts still believes that it was perfectly legal to hold up her lovers under threat of public disclosure of their affairs.  However, until she cited Rupert Holmes’ “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” in her testimony, I was not sure of the depth of her depravity.   Continue reading “If You Like Pina Coladas and Walks in a Prison Yard: Lawyer Explains Her Effort to Extract Thousands from Former Lovers”

South Dakota Supreme Court Rules that Suicide Case Not Subject to Reasonable Person Standard for Contributory Negligence

In light of the Larry Manzanares suicide case in Denver, this South Dakota case for a couple years ago may be illustrative. It got very little attention but should have. The South Dakota Supreme Court has ordered a new trial in the suicide case of Kristi Dodson. At issue is an interesting question of the standard to apply to a suicidal mind and the concept of contributory negligence. Continue reading “South Dakota Supreme Court Rules that Suicide Case Not Subject to Reasonable Person Standard for Contributory Negligence”