Philadelphia criminal defense attorney Larry Charles was found by security naked with a minor in the lawyers lounge of the Courthouse. He has pleaded no contest to the charges and stands accused of repeated cases of statutory rape with various underaged girls. For the story, click here Given the common increases for aggravating factors such as the abuse of positions of authority, Charles is looking at some very serious time.
Category: Bizarre
In a disturbing case out of Florida, an owner tried to get construction workers to bury his horse alive, according to police reports. The bulldozer operator refused. At most the owner could be charged with animal neglect for leaving the horse in the sun without water or food, a second-degree misdemeanor. For the story, click
In what appears to be a clear case of abusive by a police officer, a women was arrested at a McDonald’s after serving a police officer a burger that was over-salted. The officer said that he became sick and accused the woman of adding the salt and pepper on purpose. She spent the night in jail despite the fact that she explained that an entire batch was oversalted by accident. The arrest of an individual out of personal outrage is a classic form of police abuse. The fact that the arrestee spent the nighti in jail shows how a citizen can be punished by an angry officer even without a meritorious charge. For the story, click here
There has always been an uneasy compromise between environmentalists and native groups over whaling. Various groups with cultural histories of whaling and a need for the food have been allowed to kill a small number of whales each year. Now, authorities have discovered that one tribe shot a harpooned whale with a 50-caliber machine — hardly a traditional whaling technique. Criminal charges are possible. For the story, click here
One of the privacy related torts is the misappropriation of a name or likeness of a celebrity. Perhaps the most interesting (and in my view wrongly decided case) was the successful challenge by Vanna White against Samsung: arguing that a robot turning cards was a misappropriation of her likeness for commercial purposes. Others like Johnny Carson sued over his trademark phrase, Here’s Johnny. Now Paris Hilton is suing over her likeness and trademark phrase (“I’t Hot”) due to a card put out by Hallmark. For the story, click here
The common law has long been harsh on those who practice a profession without a license. One rules imposed the professional standard of care in any injuries that result. Continue reading “Practicing Without a License: Two Arrested in California for Home Cosmetic Surgery Operations”
Cars for Kids, a charity, has been sued and may go insolvent after an accident at a parade. Continue reading “Parade Accident Leads to Tort Case”
Mobile County Circuit Judge Herman Thomas is accused to taking prisoners about the jail, ordering them to remove or drop their pants, and spanking them in a room in the Courthouse. Thomas has refused comment. However, if true, this would follow a gradual erosion of judicial restraint and growth in novel punishments, which appear to cable shows and public sentiment. For prior column, click here
For the story, click here
It would be the world’s greatest irony. NBC is reporting that Sen. Craig is now reconsidering his decision to resign. Continue reading “NBC Reports that Craig is Reconsidering Decision to Resign”
Various gay groups are demanding an apology and other action after Jerry Lewis’ bizarre slur using “faggot” during his famed telephon. Click here for the video and story. It is a creepy video to watch and even creepier at a national fund-raiser. He has already issued an apology for a poor choice of words. Click here for apology.
It appears that Nepal Airline has been having technical problems. It is less clear whether part of its response would reassure passengers: sacrificing two goats to Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god.
For the full story, click here
A man seen in the Borat film has filed a complaint alleged unlawful use of his image as well as other torts. Click here for the court papers.
In Kentucky, a farmer is being sued for nuisance of his propane cannon — used to scare away birds from his corn. This is becoming more common as residential homes move into former farming areas. Continue reading “Sound Nuisance: Propane Cannon Leads to Tort Action”
According to the police, Garry Lamar in Rhode Island is not going to get the son of the year award any time soon. The 47-year-old man his accused of extorting more than $20,000 from his 78-year-old mother, Mary Lamar Grancher. He alleged kidnapped her cat and extorted money to protect her from future harm. For the bizarre story, click here
A divorce attorney had his office torched by a disguntled ex-husband of his client in a divorce case. For the story, click here