Taco Bell must pay the entirely of a $42 million in breach-of-contract award to the two Michigan men who created the idea of a taco-selling Chihuahua. oseph Shields and Thomas Rinks of Grand Rapids, Mich., prevailed in their claims against the chain as the originators of the “Yo quiero Taco Bell” ads. According to the court, Taco Bell and not its ad company is responsible for the full amount of the damages.
Continue reading ““¡Yo Quiero Taco Bell Dinero!”: Restaurant Chain Loses Case Over Talking Chihuahua”
There is a fight brewing about an Ebay sale after a supporter of Sarah Palin bought an effigy of her by mistake, thinking that it was just another item to add to his Sarah Palin collection. It turned out to be the controversial effigy of Chad Morrisette, a professional window dresser, who hung it in protest. The Palin supporter is now refusing to pay the $2,200.
Continue reading “Palin Fan Mistakingly Buys Infamous Effigy on EBay and then Refuses to Pay”
The Vanguard, one of Nigeria’s largest newspaper, has a different take on the conventional crime beat. The newspaper reported how a thief in Kwara state was chased and cornered by vigilantes and promptly turned himself into a goat.
Continue reading “The Goat Did It: Nigerian Newspaper Reports That Cornered Car Thief Turned Himself Into Goat”
Anthony Hernandez has sued the Chicago police department after officers arrested him without probable cause on drug charges and then held him for six months in jail. Not only did Hernandez lose his jobs, but he missed the birth of a child. It also turns out that one of the arresting officers, Slawomir Plewa, was stripped of his police powers in 2008 for his involvement in a false arrest.
Continue reading “Chicago Man Sues After Being Held Six Months on False Drug Charges”
The librarians in Independence, Iowa don’t take kindly to people holding on to their books. Shelly Koontz, 39, probably feels like she has become a character out of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment after police arrested her for failing to return a book that she checked out in April. The book value is $13.95.
Continue reading “Booked: Iowa Woman Arrested Over Failure to Return Library Book”
Ok, this has nothing to do with the law, society, politics, or policy. It is just sooooo creepy that I have to post it so you will be equally creeped out. Angel Pantoja Medina, 24, was found dead under a bridge in San Juan and his family wanted to fulfill his desire to be standing at his own wake “ready to party.” So, Angel was embalmed in a special way to allow him to be standing and dressed as people put their arms around him and kissed him at the party.
Continue reading “Dead Man Standing: Family Fulfills Last Party Wish of Deceased Relative”
South Carolina state senator Robert Ford is seeking to criminalize bad language in songs and droopy pants. The former civil rights worker believes that he has the right to dictate the speech and styles of citizens — dismissing any claims of constitutional rights. Indeed, he has proudly proclaimed that “[w]e’re talking about teenagers. They have no rights.”
Continue reading “State Legislator Seeks to Criminalize Bad Language and Droopy Pants”
Police in Staunton, Virginia are dealing with a deathbed confession that may have solved a 42-year-old double murder. Sharron Diane Crawford Smith, 60, confessed to the murder of Constance Smootz Hevener, 19, and Carolyn Hevener Perry, 20 (who was also Hevener’s sister-in-law) at High’s Ice Cream store on 1967. She said that she shot the woman after she teased her about being a lesbian and got into a physical altercation.
Continue reading “Dying Virginia Woman Confesses to Double Murder 42 Years Ago in Ice Cream Shop”
The international trend toward criminalizing any insulting of religion has reached Austria, which has now convicted far-right legislator Susanne Winter for making anti-Muslim statements, including the oft-stated charge that Mohammed was a pedophile for marrying an underaged girl. Winter is an obvious wingnut and her statements obnoxious. However, the first amendment is being sharply curtailed by a movement to criminalize insults to religion, including a United Nations resolution.
Continue reading “Winter of Discontent: Far-Right Politician Convicted of “Humiliating a Religion””
Correctional Officers Michael McKie, Khalid Nelson and Denise Albright have been arrested on charges that they organized a fight club of inmates called “The Program.” Using teen enforcers called “The Team,” they allegedly oversaw a system of beatings, extortion, and terror at Rikers prison in New York. They even allegedly held classes on how to beat prisoners to leave as few marks as possible.
Continue reading “Rikers’ Fight Club: Three Officers Arrested for Allegedly Organizing System of Beatings and Extortion”
There is an interesting case out of Safety Harbor, Florida of the classic peril of the guests who will not leave. Judson Randall says that agreed to help out Elizabeth Sewall and her daughter, Jessica Sewall, who were broke and homeless by letting them stay in his house for a month. Eight months later, they are still there and will not leave. They appear to have taken the name of Safety Harbor to heart and plan to stay until carried out.
Continue reading “Standoff in Safe Harbor: Temporary Guests Refuse to Leave House”
The truth is out. The inaugural classical piece by Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, pianist Gabriella Montero and clarinetist Anthony McGill was made to look live but was not. The music that America heard was a tape of a performance of “Air and Simple Gifts” by John Williams done days earlier. This version of a classical lip sync puts Ma and Perlman in the same category as Milli Vanilli and Ashlee Simpson.
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID) has finally changed the status of the investigation of Sgt. Ryan Maseth, a highly decorated, 24-year-old Green Beret, from “accidental” to “negligent homicide.” Maseth was killed in an act of unbelievable negligence and carelessness by KBR in a shower where he was electrocuted. After months of controversy and criticism, the Army finally acknowledges that the company “failed to ensure that work was being done by qualified electricians and plumbers, and to inspect the work that was being conducted.”
Continue reading “Death of Sgt. Maseth in KBR Shower Incident Re-Classified From “Accidental” to “Negligent Homicide””
Chicago Police officer William Cozzi has admitted that he “lost it” when he attacked 60-year-old Randle Miles, 62, who was handcuffed and shackled to a wheelchair at the time. The attack with his baton is shown on the video below. He pleaded guilty to a civil rights violation.
Continue reading “Chicago Police Officer Pleads Guilty of Beating 60-Year-Old Man Handcuffed and Shackled to Wheelchair”
We may be losing markets to foreign countries but we still have a superior level of criminal. A teenager from Achim was caught shoplifting and an officer demanded his address. The teen made up an address. The only problem was that not only did the teen not live there but the officer did.
Continue reading “D’oh! Thief Arrested After Giving Officer False Address — The Officer’s Address”