Category: Society

The Reich Man For the Job? Ohio GOP Candidate Shown in Nazi Uniform

What is it about public officials and Nazi uniforms these days. We just saw a Portland police officer accused wearing a Nazi uniform and building a memorial to fallen German soldiers including a SS officer and a war criminal. Now, Rich Iott, Ohio Republican nominee for Ohio’s Ninth District (second from the right) has been shown in his World War II German uniform.

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Dora Explores Liability: Voice of Cartoon Character Sues Nickelodeon

Caitlin Sanchez, 14, has filed a lawsuit against Nickelodeon alleging that the network denied her full compensation as the voice for “Dora the Explorer.” The New Jersey team says that she (and her parents) were taken advantage of by network lawyers who convinced them to sign an unfair and ambiguous contract.

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Oregon Police Officer Disciplined as “Nazi Sympathizer”

We have been following cases where public employees have been disciplined or fired for activities in their private lives from teachers to coaches to lunch ladies (and here and here) to prison guards to city officials to police officers. There have also been such cases involving private employers as well as international cases (here). Now, Portland police Capt. Mark Kruger has been disciplined for his actions celebrating the exploits of German soldiers — actions that have labeled him a “Nazi sympathizer.”
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Canadian Surrogate Refuses To Abort Baby With Down’s Syndrome in Possible Test Case Over Parental Obligations

There is a fascinating case in Canada on the legal status of babies carried by surrogates. We have seen various rulings in surrogate cases, including surrogates awarded custody and surrogates fighting for such rights. The couple who (upon learning that the baby carried by their surrogate had Down’s Syndrome) wanted to abort the baby. However, the surrogate refused and wanted to complete the pregnancy.

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Obama Administration Accused of Blocking Report on Potential Seriousness of BP Spill

We have previously discussed how the Obama Administration played down the environmental damage caused by the BP oil spill, including public statements by people like Carol Browner that the oil (which was later found) had miraculously disappeared. Now, documents have been disclosed suggesting that the Obama Administration blocked efforts by federal scientists to tell the public of how bad the oil spill was. Once again, there is relatively little attention to this story. The Bush Administration was accused of the same type of manipulation of scientific reports and was generally (and rightfully) savaged in the press.
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Pittsburgh Judge Rejects Plea Agreement As Something That Prosecutor Only Gives “To White Boys”

In Pittsburgh, Allegheny County Judge Joseph Williams has caused a controversy by rejecting a plea bargain on the ground that it is the type of deal that “only goes to white boys.” The plea agreement involved three months probation for a man accused of fighting with police during a traffic stop.
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Mississippi Lawyer Jailed By Court For Not Reciting Pledge of Allegiance

Mississippi Chancery Judge Talmadge Littlejohn means it when he asks everyone to stand and say the pledge of allegiance. When attorney Danny Lampley of Oxford stood but did not recite, Littlejohn threw him in jail.

Littlejohn was just honored by the Mississippi bar for 50 years in public service.
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Representation in “Sister Wives” Case

As has been the practice on this blog, I wanted to disclose my representation of the Brown family, who are the subjects of the new series “Sister Wives” on TLC. As in the past, any comments on the case by me will be limited. However, various people have suggested the reported criminal investigation as a subject for this blog and I wanted to explain why I have not posted anything on the controversy.
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Right of Sepulcher: Medical Examiner Sued After Former High School Friends Observed Deceased Boy’s Brain In a Jar During Morgue Tour

Andre Shipley and his wife, Korisha, were already mourning the loss of their son Jesse when they were given an added injury by the New York city medical examiner when they learned that their son’s brain was on public display in a jar. The case is the latest controversy over the “right of sepulcher.”
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Report: Ethiopian Jews Allegedly Being Given Controversial Birth Control Drug

There is a raging controversy in Israel where feminists and doctors have accused health officials of using a controversial birth control drug Depo Provera on female Ethiopian immigrants. The activists charge that the policy is based on racism and doubts over the “Jewishness” of the Ethiopians.

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Saudi Prince on Trial For Sexually Assaulting and Murdering Servant

We have seen a steady stream of criminal cases involving Arab princes and princesses accused of beating or killing their servants (here and here). Now, one prince, Saud Bin Abdulaziz Bin Nasir al Saud, 34 (grandson of Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah) is accused of strangling his male servant Bandar Abdulaziz (left) after sexually assaulting him in their luxury London hotel suite.
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“I Am Not A Witch”: O’Donnell Releases Unique Campaign Ad

It is perhaps an indication of our contemporary politics that 37 years ago, on November 17, 1973, Richard Nixon was declaring “I am not a crook.” Now, Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell is about to run an ad declaring “I am not a witch.” Our political system has become a parody of itself.
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Report: Buffalo Police Officer With Political Connection Reportedly Racks Up Disciplinary Charges

This is a curious story. West Seneca Police Chief Edward F. Gehen called in the FBI to investigate an officer, Sean P. Kelley, who had a long line of disciplinary problems, but was rumored to be too well-connected to fire.
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