Wives have historically used a great assortment of methods to kill their husbands from poison to guns to knives to cars. However, Raynella Dossett-Leath is under suspicion of murdering Knoxville District Attorney Ed Dossett by first drugging him and then trampling him to death with his own cattle. The allegations have come to light after prosecutors sought to exhume the body — and Dossett-Leath awaits trial for the murder of her second husband. Continue reading “Was the Knoxville District Attorney Intentionally Trampled to Death?”
Yanadi Kondaiah is an 80-year-old Hindu holy man who claimed , who that those who touched his leg would be cured of illness or have wishes granted. It appears that the leg was too tempting a prize for some: Two men lured the holy man into private — saying that they wanted to buy him a drink for having touched his magic leg. They then cut off his leg with a sickle — presumably to use it for other magical cures. Yet, such beliefs are not confined to the Hindu faithful. Continue reading “Attackers Cut Off “Magic Leg” of Hindu Holy Man”
There is a bizarre fight brewing in Florida between a lawyer and judge over their respective alleged misconduct. Lawyer Sean Conway faces discipline for attacking Judge Cheryl Alemán is facing possible discipline before the Judicial Qualifications Commission. At issue are not just standards of professional and judicial conduct, but the first amendment. Continue reading “Florida Lawyer May Be Disbarred for Criticizing Judge in Blog — While the Judge Stands Trial for Judicial Misconduct”
Federal trial judge Samuel Kent is facing possible criminal charges and impeachment after accusations of sexual harassment and assault. This week, media reported that he is under investigation by the Justice Department. Continue reading “Federal Judge Sam Kent Under Investigation for Sexual Assault”
The former head of the Black Panther Party, Elaine Brown has filed a remarkable lawsuit against Kathleen Cleaver, ex-wife of the late Panthers spokesman Eldridge Cleaver. Continue reading “Former Black Panther Elaine Brown Sues Black Panther Kathleen Cleaver for Defamation For Being Called FBI Snitch”
The House of Representatives has passed an intelligence bill that would prohibit the use of cruel techniques of interrogations, including waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh interrogation methods. It is a welcomed move by many, but the concern is that is suggests that waterboarding was not unlawful before its passage. In the meantime, there is little real effort in Congress to deal with the President’s ordering of the crime of torture — and the obvious implications of such impeachable crimes. Continue reading “House Passes Bill Prohibiting Cruel Interrogation Practices, Including Waterboarding”
The Bush Administration lost a major terrorism case in Florida in the alleged al-Qaida plot to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago. The case follows a familiar pattern with the Bush Justice Department: a huge press conference on a major bust only to have the real evidence undermine its claims. Continue reading “Jury Acquits One and Hangs on the Other Six in Sears Bombing Case”
In Boston, a jury awarded $2.5 million in damages Wednesday to Audrey Serrano, who received HIV treatments for almost nine years before discovering she never actually had the virus that causes AIDS. It is only the latest in misdiagnosis cases. Continue reading “Woman Misdiagnosed with AIDS Wins $2.5 Million Verdict Against Doctor”
The Republicans were successful in filibustering the energy bill (including needed increases in fuel efficiency standards for cars) over their opposition to increased taxes for oil companies. Continue reading “GOP Filibusters Energy Bill Over Increased Taxes for Oil Companies — Why Can’t Democrats Be More Like Republicans?”
President Bush may prove to be to the law of contempt what President Johnson proved to be to the law of interstate commerce: he could create lasting precedent for the holding of officials in criminal contempt. With calls for contempt and prosecution swirling over the torture of suspects and destruction of CIA tapes, Bush officials have now been formally charged with contempt by Senate and House Judiciary Committees. Continue reading “Senate Judiciary Holds Rove, Bolton in Contempt While House Judiciary Does the Same for Bolton and Miers”
Rev. Al Sharpton’s office was raided and staff subpoenaed in a sudden move by federal agents. There is clearly a grand jury investigation afoot and Sharpton’s 2004 Presidential run seems to be the focus of the probe. With at least 10 subpoenas to testify, it seems to be a fully developed investigation and makes possible indictments more likely. Continue reading “Al Sharpton’s Office Raided by Federal Agents”
A label on a small tractor that warns, “Danger: Avoid Death,” has been chosen as the nation’s wackiest warning label in an annual contest sponsored by a consumer watchdog group. The Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-LAW) has released its eleventh annual results of “The Wacky Warning Label Contest” featuring the silliest warnings on products. However, the contest itself should come with a more prominent warning about the basis for the contest and the motives of its organizers. Continue reading “Tort Reform Group Releases Annual List of Wacky Warnings — Without A Warning of its Own Motivation and Bias”
Administration officials are reporting that the CIA not only destroyed the tapes of the two suspects at the center of torture scandal, but they also did not allow transcripts to be made. This a very irregular practice given the importance of the suspects and further evidence to support a conspiracy to avoid or destroy evidence of torture. Continue reading “CIA Does Not Have Transcripts of the Interrogations from the Destroyed Tapes”
A federal district court has ruled against the auto industry’s attempt to stop California from requiring cleaner cars. The ruling of U.S. District Court Judge Anthony Ishii now puts pressure on the Bush Administration to either allow the important environmental measure to take effect or, once again, block an effort to combat greenhouse gases. Continue reading “Federal Court Rules Against Car Manufacturers; Pressure Now on Bush Administration”
For those distressed by the sectarian turn of American politics, it just got worse. Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney are now in a tussle over whether Mormons believe Jesus is the brother of Satan. Continue reading “Latest GOP Campaign Issue: Is Jesus the Brother of Satan?”