Category: Society

Animals, Bizarre, Environment, Politics, Society

Fur Flies: PETA Accuses Olson Twins Of Marketing Fur Backpack For “Shock Value”

For years, some of us who support the general mission of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have criticized the organization for bizarre publicity grabbing moves from women making love to Pamela Anderson butcher posters to using a robotic groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to bizarre taunting Thanksgiving messages. It was therefore a bit surprising to see PETA denouncing the Olson twins — Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen — for using animal pelts to create their latest backpack. PETA objected that “[w]hat the Olsons lack in creativity, they try to make up for in shock value.” I would have thought the $17,000 for the world’s ugliest backpack would have been enough to deter sales.

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Criminal law, Society

Houston Police Arrest Woman Who Warned Drivers of Speed Trap

We have previously seen cases involving the arresting of citizens who merely warn others of a speech trap. Despite rulings that correctly recognize such acts as free speech, the arrests continue. The latest is a woman in Houston, Texas, Natalie Plummer, who was jailed for 12 hours after she held up a sign to warn drivers about a speed trap.

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Academia, Criminal law, Justice, Society, Things That Tick Me Off

Down In The Valley II: What Did They Know And When Did They Know It?

By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

The conviction of former Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky on 45 counts of child molestation and abuse seemed like the worst storm residents of Happy Valley could have endured. Now it seems that was just the opening gust of the hurricane. A series of emails recently turned over to investigators from a secret file in AD Tim Curley’s office suggests that university president, Graham Spanier, was more involved in the cover-up that previously thought and that former PSU head coach, Joe Paterno, was just as involved as many of us thought. Just 16 days after grad student, Mike McQueary, walked into the showers at the Penn State’s football temple athletic facility to find Sandusky behind a ten-year-old making “slapping noises,” an email issued from university vice president, Gary Shultz, to Spanier setting forth the agreement to report Sandusky’s actions. On February 26, 2001, Shultz wrote the three-part plan was to “talk with the subject [Sandusky]… contact the charitable organization [Second Mile]… and contacting the Department of Welfare.” In Pennsylvania, the Department of Welfare is required to investigate all allegations of child abuse. It works hand-in-glove with the law that requires educators and those working with children to report allegations of child abuse.

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Academia, Society

“Un-Civil” Wars

By Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

Like many of us, I’ve read the back-and-forth exchanges between our host, Professor Turley, and Wisconsin law professor, Ann Althouse, about Prf. Turley’s Washington Post (WaPo) article proposing an expansion of the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS)  to nineteen members. It’s been a fascinating glimpse into what passes for dialog among American intelligentsia. Professor Turley reiterates a proposal he’s made years before, suggesting SCOTUS needs to keep up with the times and expand to reduce the power of a lone swing voter. Prf. Althouse responds that the reasons for the proposal cited by Prf. Turley are pure BS and that she knows better what’s in JT’s heart. Prf. Turley responds by saying her research into his position and attitude is deficient and laments the loss of civility among colleagues. Althouse replies that she’s just “plain talking” and that her real point was the manipulation of  the timing of Turley’s article by the newspaper even as it drives its own pro-Obama agenda.

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Bizarre, International, Society

Pure Genius: U.S. Immigration Officials Give Special Visa To Former Playboy Bunny As An “Individual of Extraordinary Ability”

Immigration officials have declared Shera Bechard former Miss November and girlfriend of Playboy Enterprises founder Hugh Hefner to be pure genius. Bechard was allowed a visa by immigration officials as an “individual with extraordinary ability.” The specific extraordinary ability was left unstated on immigration forms but it is believed that the matter was fully researched by officials.
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Bizarre, Religion, Society, Torts

The Rogue Exorcist Defense: Priest Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Woman During Exorcisms

A Virginia woman has filed a lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, its bishop, and an anti-abortion ministry for what she alleges was sexual assault during an exorcism. The woman claims that the Rev. Thomas Euteneuer, then president of Front Royal-based Human Life International Inc., made her repeatedly take off her clothes and then caressed and kissed her — saying that he was “blowing the Holy Spirit” into her. She said it gradually dawned on her that this was not your standard exorcism. The case will apparently explore the difference between showing why “Jesus Loves You” and showing how “Jesus loves you.”
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Congress, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society, Supreme Court

SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS INDIVIDUAL MANDATE IN HEALTH CARE
The U.S. Supreme Court

I am still at NBC but, as many have heard, the Supreme Court delivered a clear victory to the Obama Administration in upholding the individual mandate. However, the response may be a bit too gleeful for both those following the implications for the Court and the White House.

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Academia, Society

Paper Chase: Former Tenured Nova Professor Sues Law School Over Firing Based on Alleged Mental Derangement

Anthony Chase, a former tenured professor at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center in Florida is suing the law school for firing him due to its fear that he was “mentally deranged enough to engage in a campus shooting rampage.” His attorney has charged that the school not only did not give him a fair investigation but “buried the entire paper trail” to justify the termination. The lawsuit raises a novel claim under Americans with Disabilities Act alleging that Chase was fired based on the school’s perception of a mental disability.

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Society

American Pietà: Florida Child Found Alive In Arms Of Mother Following Tornado

Every once in a while a story comes along that it both horrific and inspiring. The story of Heather Town, 32, is one such story. Heather’s 3-year-old girl Anne Marie was found alive in her arms after a tornado lifted her home off its foundation and threw her hundreds of feet. Heather held the child safely to the very end and was found alive and cradling her child by rescuers. After the child was pulled from her arms, Heather died.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, International, Religion, Society

Goin’ Hagwalah: Saudi Man Sentenced To Death By Beheading For Car “Drifting”

Saudi police have been dealing with a bizarre form of reckless driving called “Hagawalah” where men (women still are prohibited from driving in the Kingdom) skid their cars at high speeds as crowds cheer. Drifters often skid into opposing traffic or into awaiting crowds. One man identified only as “Mutannish” (or “he who ignores”) has been sentenced to be beheaded for killing two people while drifting.

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Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Justice, Lawyering, Media, Politics, Society, Supreme Court

A Bigger and Better Supreme Court

Below is my column in today’s Guardian newspaper — a further discussion of my proposal to expand the Supreme Court. While overlapping a bit with the column on Sunday in the Washington Post, the piece adds a few new details on the proposal that I first made over ten years ago.

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Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Society

Tampa Rape Victim Sues After Jailer Refused Emergency Contraception Pill Due To Religious Beliefs

A federal judge has ruled that a Tampa rape victim known as R.W. can sue the Hillsborough County Sheriff after a jail guard refused to give her an emergency contraception pill because it was against her religious beliefs. Jail employee Michele Spinelli explained to R.W. that she would not give her the pill approved by a doctor because she viewed them to be a sin.

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Bizarre, Congress, Politics, Society

Hornets’ Draft Pick Anthony Davis Moves To Trademark Unibrow Phrases

We have been following the runaway trademark and copyright laws with common phrases, symbols, and images being claimed as private property. (here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here and here). Now New Orleans Hornets Draft pick Anthony Davis is moving to trademark his unibrow signature phrases like “Fear the Brow” and “Raise the Brow.” To avoid one of the thuggish firms enforcing these claims, I am showing what I hope to be an unprotected unibrow.

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Criminal law, Society

Report: Zimmerman Passed Lie Detector Test After Martin Killing

A new report shows that the day after killing Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman passed a police lie detector test. He registered truthful in stating that he was afraid for his life before shooting the teen. The report does not materially affect the trial since such tests are not admissible but may explain the the resistance of local officials to bring the case. It also further supports the view, again, that Angela Corey overcharged the case. She was no doubt aware of the test which, while not admissible as evidence because their reliability is questioned, can be considered by the prosecutors in determining the appropriate charge. UPDATE: A police report shows a critical view of Zimmerman’s account and says that he missed two opportunities to defuse the situation.

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Bizarre, Criminal law, Society

Step Away From The French Fries: Massachusetts Man Charged With Assault With A Dangerous Weapon After Throwing French Fries At Step Daughter

James Hackett, 26, is accused of assault with a dangerous weapon in Lowell, Massachusetts. The weapon: french fries. Hackett was arguing with this wife when his stepdaughter stepped in. Hackett responded by throwing french fries in her face. We have seem assault with everything from flatulence to a hug to a pillow attack to bubble, but not a french fry.

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