Sindey Blumenthal has long been viewed as one of Bill Clinton’s and then Hillary Clinton most aggressive supporters. Often criticized for his scorched earth tactics against any critics of the Clinton, Blumenthal now faces his own fight after an arrest the day before the New Hampshire primary for aggravated drunk driving. Continue reading “Columnist and Clinton Adviser Sidney Blumenthal Arrested for Aggravated DWI”
Category: Bizarre
In my work in prisons, I have had on occasion to insist on dietary changes, particularly for my Muslim clients. However, this is the first time I have heard of an outside organization asking a prison to impose a particularly dietary plan. PETA has asked for a vegetarian diet for Christopher Lee McCuin, 25, who killed and cooked his girlfriend 21-year-old Jana Shearer in Texas. Continue reading “Don’t Feed the Cannibals: PETA Wants Vegetable Only Diet for Man Accused of Eating Girlfriend”
Warren Zier could have used from blind justice this month when he appeared before Milwaukee Circuit Judge William Sosnay wearing an ascot. Putting aside the question of the stylistic choices of an ascot for a court appearance, Sosnay saw the item as a violation of court rules. However, prosecutor Zier could have a case — and a line of harrumphing ascot-wearing prigs in protest behind him. Continue reading “My Cousin Vinny Moment: Judge Stops Proceedings Over Prosecutor’s Neckwear”
While politicians have been unable to reach consensus on the war, civil liberties, and the environment, members were eager to act on a national crisis a few years ago: French people eating American horses. Members passed legislation to ban the slaughter of American horses destined for French tables. However, it now appears that the legislation has merely led to horses being forced into a grueling transports to the Canadian and Mexican borders for slaughter. Continue reading “Prohibitions on Horse Meat Industry Lead to Cruel Unintended Consequence”
Given the recent controversy over horse slaughter houses in Mexico, this prior column on the intervention of Congress into the world of horse meat may be of interest. Continue reading “Horsing Around in Congress: The Senate Seeks a Ban on the Slaughter of American Horses for Human Consumption”
A law firm is looking at a nightmare after it filed one minute late — and lost one million dollars. The lawyers had the right to seek the fees on behalf of its client Toshiba America and does not meet the standard of excusable neglect when the lawyer was forced to wait for a “long train to pass.” Continue reading “One Minute — One Million Dollars: Law Firm Loses Claim for Legal Fees By Filing One Minute Late”
That rumbling sound that you may have heard this week may be the Dykes on Bikes. The San Francisco motorcycle club got final approval for its trademark of the name “Dykes on Bikes” when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear a challenge from a men’s right advocate. Continue reading “Dykes on Bikes Ride! Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Trademark Case”
It was an extraordinary scene on the last day of campaigning for New Hampshire voters when two sexist men jumped up and started waving signs that said IRON MY SHIRT and chanting the same line. Clinton immediately seized on the moment, pointing out the sexism that still exists and ordering that the lights be brought up. It infuriated many woman and could well have secured the slim margin of victory in the state for Clinton. It now appears that the protest was a stunt by a radio program by Nick Gemelli and Adolfo Gonzalez — regulars on the “Toucher and Rich” radio show at WBCN in Boston. The question now is what WBCN will do about a shock jock show that may have determined — or certainly contributed to — the outcome of a critical primary. Continue reading ““Iron My Shirt” Protesters of Clinton May Have Been Plants By Radio Station”
As discussed in prior entries, Senator Larry Craig is arguing that his guilty plea is invalid because the underlying conduct cannot be a crime. While the odds are against him, the argument has merit. Continue reading “Craig Challenges Conviction Claiming Hand Signals are Protected Speech and Conduct was Victimless”
The Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal from the decision of the Mississippi Supreme Court to uphold the alienation of affection tort and to award a man $750,000 to be paid by his wife’s lover. Sandra Valentine (yes, Valentine) was accused by her husband of having an affair with her wealthy businessman, Jerry Fitch, and having a baby with him. After divorcing Valentine, Johnny Valentine sued Fitch and won. In its ruling, the Mississippi Supreme Court rejected calls to reject the tort of alienation of affection as antiquated. Continue reading “Supreme Court Refuses Case of Cuckolded Husband Who Won $750,000; Mississippi Supreme Court Upheld Alienation of Affection Tort”
There has been a spate of recent defamation actions by and against celebrities from Roger Clemens to Tom Cruise and now Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld and his wife Jessica Seinfeld have been sued by Missy Chase Lapine over comments made on the David Letterman Show about her and her allegations of plagiarism of a cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld. This one could actually make some interesting new law if it goes the distance. Continue reading “Latest Celebrity Defamation Lawsuit: Jerry Seinfeld and Wife Sued for Defamation”
For those who vaguely remember promises that Democrats would clean up Congress, they might want to look at West Virginia which is dumping ground for $3 billion in earmarks by Sen. Robert Byrd. What is astonishing is that establishment politicians are still scratching their heads over why upstarts like Obama, Huckabee, and Paul are doing so well. They might want to look at the litany of broken promises made by those “with experience” in Washington. Continue reading “Byrd Racks Up $3 Billion in Earmarks — So Much For Budget Reform”
The Georgia Supreme Court is considering a basic law of physics: is a man is banished from the entire state except for a small county in a distant section: how can he get there and, if he does, how can he live. This is the intriguing question presented by a lower court’s sentence that Gregory Mac Terry is banished from all but one of the state’s 159 counties. Banishment has become the rage with state judges but there remains a question of constitutionality, if not impossibility. Continue reading “Georgia Supreme Court Considers the Limits of the Laws of Banishment and Physics”
Ok, this has absolutely nothing to do with the law or policy. However, there must be some deeper social question revealed from this photograph of a bride, Chidi Ogbuta of Texas, who had herself sculpted into a full-size wedding cake. Continue reading “Nuptials or Cannibals? Bride Serves Up Self to Celebrate Wedding”
Not long after the scandal of officials sending pictures of a decapitated Nicole “Nikki” Catsouras to friends on MySpace and the Internet, a fire Chief in Central Florida is accused to sending pictures of an accident victim to friends by e-mail. Umatilla Fire Chief Richard has been suspended after he allegedly took (and later e-mailed) pictures of a 26-year-old woman being treated by emergency workers after she crashed her sport utility vehicle into a tree. The woman died later from her injuries. The pictures include nudity. Continue reading “Another Official Accused of Sending Graphic Pictures of Accident Victims to Friends”