Criminal law, Society, Torts

Toddler Killed and Mother Injured By California Teen Texting While Driving

This beautiful child is Calli Murray, 2, who became the latest fatality of a driver who was texting while driving. The driver was Sonoma State University freshman Kaitlyn Dunaway who was texting while driving in California. She slammed her Honda into Calli and her mother Ling Murray, 40, who suffered a broken leg, a shattered pelvis and broken arm. However, Dunaway, 18, will only be charged with a misdemeanor offense.

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Courts, Criminal law, Lawyering

In God RIAA We Trust: Califormia Moves To Do Away With Need For Warrants In Seizing Pirated Music or Discs

We have watched as lobbyists for RIAA and other companies have steadily increased trademark and copyright limitations, including new criminal penalties. Now, State. Sen. Alex Padilla (D., Los Angeles), has sponsored RIAA legislation in California that would allow law enforcement to enter optical-disc plants and seize disc-stamping equipment, and pirated movie and music discs without a court warrant.

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Society, Torts

Nothing Like a Brando: Harley-Davidson Sued Over Name of New Line of Boots

Harley-Davidson Motor Company is facing a tort action over its use of the name “Brando” for a new line of boots resembling the boots worn by actor Marlon Brando in the 1953 classic The Wild One. Brando Enterprises says that the boot constitutes the appropriation of name or likeness of Brando.

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Bizarre

“You’re Going To Like Where We Land”: United Under Fire For Ad Placed Above Ground Zero

Some New Yorkers were a bit displeased to see a sign put up at the Cortlandt Street R subway stop above ground zero for United Airlines reading “You’re going to like where we land.” The last flight to land at the location was United Flight 175, which struck the south tower on September 11th. This has not been a great week for United, which had to apologize for reinstating the flight numbers for the flights that crashed into the World Trade Center and at Shankville, Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001.
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Academia, Bizarre, Science, Society

Dr. Levengood’s Scab: CDC Seizes 180-Year-Old Smallpox Scab

Now this would have made for an interesting tort suit, but the surgical-booted thugs from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) have spoiled it. After Dr. Paul Levengood of the Virginia Historical Society put on display a small pox scab from 1831, CDC officials covered in surgical garb rushed to the museum, seized the scab, irradiated it and threw it into a “medium security area.” It is not clear if the scab has counsel.
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Bizarre, Lawyering, Society

Illinois Prosecutor Charged With Ethical Breach in “Grandma Ruse”

Illinois Assistant Attorney General Paul Ambrose Rathburn is the subject of an interesting ethical charge after allegedly using the “grandma ruse” to gain evidence against a condominium project for lack of handicapped access. Rathburn is accused of entering the premises under the false pretense that he was looking for a condo for his grandma when he knew the party was represented and sought information under false pretenses.

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Academia, Bizarre, Science

Fat Head? New Study Shows Thinking About Food Can Reduce Cravings For Food

A new study suggests that common wisdom on dieting may be wrong. Many people try to avoid thinking about food but researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh found that imaging yourself eating foods can reduce your cravings . . . but does it give you a fat head?
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International, Society, Torts

Father Wins Almost $1 Million Verdict Against Law Firm in Paternal Kidnapping Case

A jury in Bergen County, N.J., awarded $950,000 to Roy Innes and his daughter after finding that the New Jersey law firm of Lesnevich & Marzano-Lesnevich had released the passport of Innes’ daughter — allowing his mother to take her to Spain where she remains. Partner Madeline Marzano-Lesnevich was named as the attorney responsible for giving the passport to Maria Jose Carrascosa.
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Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, International, Military, Society

Permanent War: House Members Move To Give President Unchecked Authority To Launch Future Military Operations As Part Of The War On Terror

Members of Congress are taking steps to make the war on terror permanent — and make the Constitution optional — for future presidents. Only days after the killing of Osama Bin Laden, members are moving to relieve presidents of any need for approval from Congress — or anyone — in committing troops in the fight against terror. The bill would take the “The Authorization for Use of Military Force” passed after 9-11 (and used to justify two almost ten years of worldwide attacks) and extend it to allow military operations against any “associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States.”

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Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Politics, Society

Don’t Try This At Home: New Law Would Bar Sex in Home By Couples Awaiting Divorce

Wrentham Selectman Robert Leclair believes that there is a long overdue problem that needs to be addressed on Beacon Hill: parents having sex in their homes while awaiting a divorce. One could call this the ultimate nanny state legislation except that it includes sex with the nanny or anyone else while a divorce is pending — Schwarzennegger take note.
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Academia, Bizarre, Lawyering, Society

North Carolina Central University Student Accused of Plagiarizing Commencement Speech

Law Student Preston Mitchum, 25, did not quite have the graduation that he anticipated at N.C. Central University Law School. It should have been his crowning glory as the class speaker at the graduation but has now turned into a nightmare after he was accused of plagiarizing his speech from a Binghamton University student in New York.
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