Category: Society

Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Justice, Lawyering, Politics, Society, Uncategorized

Just How Much of Big Bank Fines Are Actually Paid and Who Profits?

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Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw)- Weekend Contributor

It should not surprise any of the regular visitors to this blog that I have written many articles detailing the abuses of many of the Big Banks and the resulting fines that they have paid on multiple occasions.  When a taxpayer reads about Billion dollar settlements being paid by Banks and financial companies as a result of a Justice Department investigation, they probably assume that the entire amount of the fine is being paid.

Those very same taxpayers may be surprised to learn that in many cases, the Banks are able to deduct from their taxes up to 75% of the fines and settlements made with the Justice Department. Continue reading “Just How Much of Big Bank Fines Are Actually Paid and Who Profits?” →

Free Speech, International, Politics, Society

Turkish Court Issues Arrest Warrant For Dissident Under “Terrorism” Accusations

By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor

Flag of TurkeyWe recently reported HERE arrests made around Turkey of journalists, police, and opposition critical of President Erdogan. Now, an arrest warrant has been issued against Cleric Fethulla Gülen who is presently residing in the United States as an exile.

The Turkish government accuses Gülen of orchestrating a terrorist plot to seize power in Turkey. He has been an outspoken critic of the president and that certainly appears to be a motivator in another campaign to eradicate political opponents of the leadership of our NATO ally.

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Academia, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Media, Politics, Society

“I Hate Republicans”: Michigan Professor Under Fire For Provocative Column

16596269-smallUniversity of Michigan Communications Professor Susan Douglas is at the center of a controversy over a column that she wrote for In These Times entitled “It’s Okay To Hate Republicans.” The title was changed after Douglas complained that it did not represent the content of her column which began with the line “I hate Republicans.”

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Criminal law, International, Society

Mexican Psychologist Accused Of Killing and Dismembering Husband and Then Faking Mental Illiness

Mexico Killer WifeMexico is fixated on an extraordinary murder case involving psychologist María Alejandra Lafuente Caso, 40. Lafuente Caso is accused of drugging, murdering, and chopping up the body of her husband Allan Carrera Cuellar, 41. She has claimed spousal abuse as a defense.

Continue reading “Mexican Psychologist Accused Of Killing and Dismembering Husband and Then Faking Mental Illiness” →

Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Missouri Legislation Would Require Women To Get Consent Of Man For An Abortion

RickBrattinMissouri Republican Floor Leader Rick Brattin has introduced a bill that would allow a man to stop a woman from getting an abortion by withholding written permission. Brattin is under fire not only over the bill but his description of the condition of confirmation of a “legitimate rape” to secure and exception under the law — a decryption that reminded many of the controversy over the use of the same term by former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.).

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Bizarre, Society

Weighty Professions: Police and Priests Top Study Of Most Obese Professions

250px-Glazed-DonutNOPD_badgeThere is an interesting study out on obesity in America. The study of American Journal of Preventive Medicine appears to confirm one stereotype: police officers and donuts. Almost half of police (as well as firefighters and security guards) were found to be obese. The second most obese? Clergy (as well as social workers and counsellors) at 35.6 percent. If appears that, even you cannot avoid crime or sin, you may at least be able to out run the immediate consequences.

Continue reading “Weighty Professions: Police and Priests Top Study Of Most Obese Professions” →

Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Society, Torts

Is The Threat of David Boies To Media Over Use Of Hacked Documents Real?

Sony_Entertainment_Network220px-David_Boies_2011_ShankboneThere are continuing rumblings in the media about the threat of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) lawyer David Boies over media sites using material hacked from the studio, including embarrassing emails where executives dish on leading stars like Angelina Jolie and the disclosure of contract information. Boies has warned that such material must be ignored or destroyed and suggested legal repercussions in the use of “stolen information.” But how serious is this threat? In my view, not very.

Continue reading “Is The Threat of David Boies To Media Over Use Of Hacked Documents Real?” →

Bizarre, International, Society

London Banker Loses Job And Is Banned From Working In Industry Because . . .

South_eastern_railway_crestThere is an interesting story out of London where banker Jonathan Burrows has been banned from working in the financial services industry. Another cases of fudged books or fraudulent earnings reports? No, Burrows was nabbed skipping the full fare on his commutes to work from Stonegate to London — paying roughly 7 pounds instead of 21 pounds for the daily trips.

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Bizarre, Media, Society

The Brady Bunch: Tom Brady Accused Of FCC Violation For Silent F-Bombs

240px-Tom_Brady_2011fcc-seal_rgb-largeMany of us watching the Patriots-Packers game so Tom Brady throwing a fit on the sideline after a bad play. He clearly was saying “f–k” over and over again but there was no audio. Those silent F-bombs however are now the basis for a series of complaints to the Federal Communications Commission from people who said that they, even if they could not hear what he said, they knew what he said and were left shocked and angry. It creates an interesting basis for a FCC: the silent F-Bomb. It is almost a Zen-like Administrative Law question: Little Grasshopper, if a silent F-bomb explodes on a sidelines and no one is around to hear it, did it make a legal sound?

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Bizarre, Lawyering, Society

The Super Bowl Of Sales: Bears Loss To Saints Proves The Unquestioned Supremacy . . . Of Jay Cutler’s Agent

Jay_Cutler_-_11-01-2009_(cropped)As I watched the Bears ground into a fine dust by the New Orleans Saints last night, I felt that long-standing sick sensation that has been around all season in watching Jay Cutler — our $127 million franchise quarterback — continue to blow little things like foot work, telegraphing throws, and waiting too long in the pocket. It then occurred to me. I was not watching another crushing defeat but a towering victory. As an attorney, I was watching the ultimate triumph of a fellow lawyer: Cutler’s agent Bus Cook who sold the Bears on $54 million guaranteed contract for a quarterback who has literally never had a true winning season from Vanderbilt to Denver to Chicago (he was as some have noted good for a 10-5 season that fell short of the playoffs). I was watching the work of a genius and I felt a tad better. For the rest of the season, I intend to cheer for Bus — the Monster of the Midwest.

Continue reading “The Super Bowl Of Sales: Bears Loss To Saints Proves The Unquestioned Supremacy . . . Of Jay Cutler’s Agent” →

Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society, Torts

Long Shot Litigation: Sandy Hook Families Sue Manufacturer and Distributor of Lanza’s Bushmaster AR-15

Adam_lanza_sandy_hook_shooter220px-Police_at_Sandy_HookThe families of nine of the 26 people killed two years ago at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut have filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer, distributor and seller of the Bushmaster AR-15 rifle used in the shooting. The lawsuit names Bushmaster, Camfour, a firearm distributor, and Riverview Gun Sales, the East Windsor store where Adam Lanza’s mother purchased the Bushmaster rifle in 2010. The plaintiffs include Sherlach and the families of Vicki Soto, Dylan Hockley, Noah Pozner, Lauren Rousseau, Benjamin Wheeler, Jesse Lewis, Daniel Barden, Rachel D’Avino and teacher Natalie Hammond (who was injured in the shooting). Despite great sympathy for these families and this teacher, the lawsuit has little merit in my view in seeking liability against the sale of a lawful weapon.

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Academia, Environment, International, Politics, Society

New Studies: Global Warming To Cause Much Faster Melting In Antarctica With Possible Rise of 23 Feet In Sea Levels

earth-screensaver_largeThe news continues to grow worse over global warming. The Peru meeting revealed new research showing that time is running out for humanity to act on climate change. Now to new reports indicate that we may have underestimate the rate of loss on the huge ice sheet of West Antarctica — new calculations under global warming could mean a rise in global sea levels of as much as 23 feet. That would create massive changes in the coasts of the world.

Continue reading “New Studies: Global Warming To Cause Much Faster Melting In Antarctica With Possible Rise of 23 Feet In Sea Levels” →

Animals, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Society

Iowa Food Supplier Indicted For Allegedly Falsely Labeling Halal Meat Sold To Millions of Muslims

black-and-white-cow-3Midamar Corp. and directors Jalel and Bill Aossey have been criminally charged in Cedar Rapids for allegedly falsely marking $4.9 million worth of meat as meeting strict halal standards and selling the noncompliant meat to millions of Muslims worldwide in Malaysia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates and other countries. Also indicated is Islamic Services of America, an organization approved by Malaysia, Indonesia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and UAE to certify beef for import under Islamic standards. They are facing 91 other counts for allegedly making false statements on export certificates, wire fraud and money laundering. The case could raise an interesting free exercise question.

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Bizarre, Politics, Society

Grand Rapids Hires “Personal Coach” to Help Clerk Get Better At Job Then Offers Her An Alternative $80,000 Position After She Reportedly Fails To Improve . . . Clerk Sues City For $1 Billion

11002_lauriLauri Parks appears to have more zeros in her complaint against the city of Grand Rapids than arguments. Lauri is suing the Michigan city for $1 billion after she was fired as city clerk. She alleges racial discrimination despite that fact that the city went to the unprecedented step of hiring a “personal coach” to help her improve her performance and then offered to move her to an $80,000 position. When she refused, she was fired and sued the city for racial discrimination. It is a more difficult claim to make given the fact that her replacement, Darlene O’Neal, is African American.

Continue reading “Grand Rapids Hires “Personal Coach” to Help Clerk Get Better At Job Then Offers Her An Alternative $80,000 Position After She Reportedly Fails To Improve . . . Clerk Sues City For $1 Billion” →