A case in Fayetteville, Arkansas could prove very interesting as a family has sued a high school bully and may soon sue the school district over a prolonged and dangerous pattern of bullying directed against 15-year-old Billy Wolfe. It appears that the school district left this family few choices other than litigation after their son was repeatedly attacked as a type of collective sport for bullies in this high school — and school officials seemed remarkably passive and unsympathetic in the face of the resulting injuries (even after viewing the video below). Notably, the Wolfes are not alone in seeking legal action when school official fail to act. Continue reading “Billy and the Bullies: Family Sues High School Bully and May Soon Sue an Arkansas School District”
Category: Criminal law
Larry C. Bynum, 30, is hardly what one might call a master criminal. Bynum is filmed in a series of disasters as he tries to break into a Fort Worth liquor where he proves more a danger to himself than the public. Continue reading “The Decline of the American Criminal: Video of Liquor Store Break-In Shows a Comedy of Errors”
In Wisconsin, another case of alleged religion-based abuse is being investigated after 11-year-old girl Madeline (“Kara”) Neumann died of untreated diabetes as her parents prayed for divine intervention. The last time Kara had reportedly been to a doctor was at age three. Notably, this follows just days after the death of 15-month old Ava Worthington in Oregon in a case that will test one of the new faith healing laws. Continue reading “11-Year-Old Girl Dies of Untreated Diabetes as Parents Pray for Spiritual Healing”
Today, the Supreme Court will hear the case of Indiana v. Edwards and explore the question of the limits as self-representation — the subject of the column below. Continue reading “A Fool and His Lawyer: Can You Be Competent to Stand Trial But Unfit to Represent Yourself?”
In Rome, Italian police broke up a circus that makes you wonder about our progress as a species. The circus entertained Italians by having teenage girls swimming with piranhas and fending off snakes. Continue reading “Circus Slavery Arrests Made in Rome”
In Omaha, Nebraska, federal wildlife officials secured a rare conviction against Jack McClanahan, 66, was convicted for butchering illegal shot game in his garage. Continue reading “Rare Butcher Conviction Secured in Nebraska Over Wildlife Violations”
In Missouri, prosecutors are considering criminal charges against Ronald Long after he shoot his wife, Patsy, in the chest while using his .22-caliber handgun to try to put holes in a wall. Continue reading “Man Shoots and Kills Wife While Using Gun to Drill Holes”
Virginia Tech massacre is offering $100,000 to each of the 32 families of victims killed in the 2007 shooting rampage of Seung-Hui Cho. The offer is a relatively low given the strong case of negligence by the University and the higher averages for wrongful death awards. Continue reading “Virginia Tech Offers Settlement to Families of Victims in 2007 Shooting”
Sidney Blumenthal, a top aide to Hillary Clinton and a past aide to Bill Clinton, will plead guilty in New Hampshire to drunk driving. It makes this a particularly bad day for the Sen. Clinton. She is being pummeled by questions over her Iraq vote after the death count passed 4000. Gov. Richardson not only endorsed Obama but criticized her campaign for “gutter” tactics. And then there is the release of the video below debunking a claim that she made concerning a landing in Bosnia under sniper fire as first lady . . . and its only Monday. Continue reading “Ready to Serve: Clinton Aide Sidney Blumenthal To Plead Guilty to DWI”
There is a fascinating case emerging from Oregon. Someone posted a couple of hoax ads on Craigslist that announced that Robert Salisbury had left the area and that all of his possessions were free for the taking, including a horse. Salisbury found people ransacking his home and tried to stop people who had their trucks filled with his belongings. They refused to give them back and in doing so could be (and should be) charged criminally and sued civilly. As for Craigslist, it is notable that this is not the first time this type of hoax has been perpetrated through its site. Continue reading “Craig List Prank Leads to Ransacking of Oregon Home”
Prosecutors have charged Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick with perjury and other criminal counts tied to his effort to conceal and deny an affair with his former aide, Christine Beatty. Beatty was hit with perjury and obstruction charges as well. Things are likely to get worse before they get better for both of the defendants. Continue reading “Detriot Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Criminally Charged and Could Faced 15 Years in Prison”
Not since Sandy Berger have socks figured so prominently in a major Washington scandal. It appears that former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer may have been fingered by Republican political operative Roger Stone. Strangely, Stone’s lawyer cited the fact that Spitzer never took off his knee high socks during a sexual encounter as a key factual element to prove the accuracy of the source. Continue reading “Spitzer’s Socks and Stone’s Secret: Political Intrigue and Personal Hosiery Cited in Spitzer Scandal”
In the continuation of a grotesque practice, a 15-year-old boy was crucified in the Philippines to mark the death of Jesus Christ. Of course, such practices would be strictly criminal in the United States with no leeway given under claims of free exercise. Continue reading “15-Year-Old Boy is Crucified to Celebrate Easter”
The Supreme Court will hear an important case on self-representation this coming week in the case of Ahmad Edwards. The case out of Indianapolis could well re-define the limits of self-representation in cases where a defendant is viewed as mentally unstable. Continue reading “Supreme Court Takes Up Self-Representation”
This week saw another fatality among hunters after Michael Shane Hasting shot and killed Randall Williamson. Williamson was sitting in a tree when he was felled by Hasting. Continue reading “Hunter Shoots Another Hunter Out of Tree”