As prosecutors seek to prove a difficult criminal theory in the Lori Drew MySpace case, here, MySpace won a critical case against it in New Orleans. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that MySpace could not be sued by a Texas girl and her family over a sexual assault by a man she met on the site. The ruling upheld the dismissal of the $30 million lawsuit by the trial judge in 2007. Continue reading “MySpace Sexual Assault Case Thrown Out by Fifth Circuit”
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The Lori Drew indictment in the Megan Meier case is finally out and it makes for interesting reading. However, as indicated earlier, I remain a bit skeptical that the prosecutors can make this one stick.
Many entries on this site have focused on the treatment of women in Muslim countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, and Iran. Michael Slackman received an insight in how both women and rape is viewed by some Saudi men on a recent trip.
Continue reading “Rape in Saudi Arabia: Reporter Has Eye-Opening Conversation with Young Saudi Males”
Derrick Basle simply wanted his day in court before the city was allowed to tear down his home filled with antiques and family items. He was given a court date, but when he showed up, the learned that someone had canceled the hearing. He then discovered that the city was tearing down his house anyway in Watervliet, New York. Continue reading “We’re The Government, We’re Here to Help You: City Tears Down Home While Man is in Court Contesting Demolition”
Gokhan Mutlu of New York is suing after JetBlue Airways forced him to sit in an airplane toilet for a flight from California to New York. He was asked by the pilot to assume the throne after a flight attendant asked for her seat back — because the jump seat was uncomfortable. Continue reading “Please Return Your Toilet Seat to the Upright Position: Man Sues After Being Forced to Sit in the Airplane Bathroom During Cross Country Flight”
A friend of mine on one of the Democratic campaigns sent this video to me. With West Virginia today, it is advice from a Red State to Democratic voters to make up their mind. It is pretty funny. Continue reading “Red State Update: Advice on Democratic Primary”
There will be no expelliarmus orders in English prisons. English inmates have won the right to keep twigs in their cells to use as wands. This is still better than the American prisoner’s demanding to have Thor’s hammer and sword available to them. Continue reading ““Casting a Spell, Boss:” Inmates Win Right to Keep “Magic Wands” in Cells”
Rear Adm. John “Boomer” Stufflebeem was recently demoted and fired from his post as director of the Navy staff. It was revealed this week, however, that Stufflebeem had a curious pick-up line: he falsely told a woman that he was a widower and slept with her at the White House — later lying about the liaison. The report shows that Stufflebeem seemed to morph into Bill Clinton when confronted with the affair. Continue reading “Boomer Scores at the White House: Admiral Stufflebeem Committed Adultery at White House”
In Minnesota, three eighth graders have been suspended for sitting during the pledge of allegiance. The principal of Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Junior High School states that, while they are not constitutionally required to recite the pledge, they must still stand for the pledge. It is difficult to see how students are protected from pledging but must give the outward appearance of approving or respecting the pledge and flag. Continue reading “Pledge or Perish: Eighth Graders Suspended for Lack of Patriotic Respect”
An interesting story is emerging over possible false light and defamation violations involving Mischa Barton’s thighs. The starlet is objecting that a widely distributed picture of her backside and thighs covered in cellulite is doctored. If the culprit is found, it would make for an interesting tort case since she could bring charges of misappropriation of likeness or image, false light, and defamation. Britain’s Daily Mail first published the pictures. Australian photographer Jamie Fawcett has also been named in the controversy as a possible culprit, though there is no direct proof of doctoring of the photographs. Continue reading “Getting to the Bottom of Mischa Barton: Star Claims Cellulite Doctoring”
Even though in a city that prides itself on “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” Elizabeth Halverson has achieved national infamy for conduct as a judge that allegedly ranges from having a bailiff rub her back to sleeping in the courthouse to making her husband swear under oath that he has done the chores at home. Now the Nevada Judicial Discipline Commission is starting a week of hearings to remove her from the bench. Continue reading “Nevada Judge Halverson Faces Possible Removal Over Bizarre Conduct”
Al Sharpton is once again in the legal news with the disclosure that he and his various enterprises owe $1.5 million in back taxes. Currently under criminaL investigation, the question is why Sharpton appears to get a free pass with politicians like the Clintons and Obamas despite a history of overt race baiting and alleged corruption. Continue reading “Sharpton and His Businesses Own Almost $1.5 Million in Back Taxes”
For many years, civil libertarians have complained about the increase in “no knock”warrants, particularly after the decision in 2006 by the Supreme Court in Hudson v. Michigan. Now, it appears that no knocks have collided with another trend: castle doctrines or “make my day” laws allowing homeowners to defend their homes with lethal force. When Tracy Ingle in North Little Rock heard someone coming through his window, that is precisely what he did. He grabbed his legal handgun and pointed it at the window. A shot immediately ran out, severing most of one leg. After he fell from the bed, he was hit by four more shots from police — who later charged Ingle with assaulting them, even though he had not fired a single shot. Continue reading “No Knock Meets the Castle Doctrine: Man Shot Five Times by Police, No Drugs Found, Arkansas Man Charged with Assaulting Officers”
Former weather channel anchor Hillary Andrews, 38, has won a sexual harassment arbitration ruling against her male co-anchor, Bob Stokes. Stokes is accused of some pretty raw stuff and it now looks that inclement legal conditions for the weather channel as the owner tries to sell it off. Stokes was fired after the judgment and TWC is now allegedly trying to keep the facts from being aired publicly. Continue reading “Sex Storm at Weather Channel: Former Anchor Wins Sexual Harassment Action”
In the law, some people become immortal through a case name. Most reach such immortality through stupid or savage criminal acts like Miranda or Gideon. In the case of Mildred Loving, the case name seemed to fit the principle precisely: she and her husband Richard fought for their right to marry and against the Virginia miscegenation laws. She died this week at 68. Continue reading “Mildred Loving Dies”