Bizarre, Society

Foul Play: Phillies Protest Decision Not To Expel Its Own Pitcher[Updated]

cubs-shotAs I always do, I watched my Chicago Cubs play last night against the Phillies.  In the Eighth inning with the game all but over with a 5-1 Cubs lead, a curious thing happened.  Third base umpire Joe West came out as Addison Russell was batting.  He called out Phillies pitcher Austin Davis for something that was not clear — something that brought out manager Gabe Kapler.  It turned out that Davis was using a crib sheet or scouting card and pulled it out to check out the stats on Russell who was brought in to pinch hit for Kyle Schwarber.  That was in violation Rule 6.02(c)(7) and the sheet was taken away.  Now, the Phillies are seeing a convoluted way to try to negate the one-sided loss. It is my dream come true: law has finally made it into an actual baseball game.  Before I address the legal issue, I simply want to repeat my willingness to suit up as the Cubs pinch lawyer to call all future legal hits, strikes, and balls. Since I am already responsible for winning the 2016 World Series (and I clearly already have a uniform), I think that this is a signing that needs to happen this season. Joe Maddon, I am ready to start as the designated lawyer.  Send me in, coach.

Continue reading “Foul Play: Phillies Protest Decision Not To Expel Its Own Pitcher[Updated]” →

Criminal law, Politics

Papadopoulos Claims Trump and Sessions Approved His Outreach To The Russians

According to filings in federal court, former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos claims Donald Trump approved his proposal of a meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin ahead of the 2016 presidential election.  I still do not see that effort as particularly sinister or incriminating.  Bach channels have long been established in politics.  What is most notable is that he states that Attorney General Jeff Sessions also approved the trip.  That fact only reaffirms the clearly correct decision that Sessions made to recuse himself despite the President continued attacks on Sessions.  Indeed, the account of the Papadopoulos testimony could conflict with Sessions’ testimony before Congress – making recusal all but inevitable. Continue reading “Papadopoulos Claims Trump and Sessions Approved His Outreach To The Russians” →

Bizarre, Media, Politics, Society

Texas Teacher Hit With $109,000 Bill Despite Having Insurance . . . Bill Reduced To $332 After Media Coverage

Continue reading “Texas Teacher Hit With $109,000 Bill Despite Having Insurance . . . Bill Reduced To $332 After Media Coverage” →

Academia, Free Speech, Society

Brown Under Fire After Censoring Article On Research Because It “Might Invalidate The Perspectives Of The Transgender Community”

Brown University is under fire this week for an act of censorship that undermines its status as a leading academic institution.  The university removed an article discussing a peer-reviewed article that ran in  PLOS One by Lisa Littman, an assistant professor in behavioral sciences at Brown.  The article discusses “rapid-onset gender dysphoria” and how this transition toward transgender status is influenced by social media and online videos.  That nexus was immediately flagged by activists as not fitting the narrative that such gender decisions are predetermined and pressure was put on Brown University to act.  Bess Marcus, dean of Brown’s School of Public Health, explained that the article was removed because ” the study could be used to discredit efforts to support transgender youth and invalidate the perspectives of members of the transgender community.”  Instead, Marcus and the university discredited its entire academic institution by engaging in censorship and attacking academic freedom principles.  Rather than simply allowing an opposing academic viewpoint to be heard, the university removed a story on research by popular demand.   Continue reading “Brown Under Fire After Censoring Article On Research Because It “Might Invalidate The Perspectives Of The Transgender Community”” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

Report: Chapel Hill Police Chief Ordered Officers To Stay Back As Protesters Tore Down Confederate Statue

We recently discussed the latest destruction of a statue in North Carolina and I expressed my skepticism over the inaction of police as well as the absence of significant arrests for a crime committed openly in public while surrounded by officers.  Now, WRAL-TV obtained text messages and emails that showed Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue actually ordered his officers to back off as protesters were destroying a century-old statue.   Continue reading “Report: Chapel Hill Police Chief Ordered Officers To Stay Back As Protesters Tore Down Confederate Statue” →

Bizarre, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society

CNN Sticks With Story That Cohen Alleges Trump Knew Of Trump Tower Meeting Despite Cohen and His Lawyer Denying The Story

200px-Cnn.svgCNN is facing rising questions over its refusal to correct its earlier bombshell story entitled “Cohen Claims Trump Knew In Advance Of 2016 Trump Tower Meeting.”  As I discussed recently, Cohen’s attorney Lanny Davis now admits that he was the anonymous source for that story (after publicly denying that he was the source) and that he has no information to support the allegation. Cohen himself testified to Congress that he had no such information.  One would think that the denial of both Cohen and his lawyer (and original source) would alter that story that “Cohen claims Trump knew . . . ”  CNN however says that it had multiple sources for the story and sticks with the reporting by Jim Sciutto, Carl Bernstein and Marshall Cohen.  Continue reading “CNN Sticks With Story That Cohen Alleges Trump Knew Of Trump Tower Meeting Despite Cohen and His Lawyer Denying The Story” →

Columns, Criminal law, Lawyering, Media, Politics

Lanny Davis And The Year Of Lawyers Living Dangerously

Below is my column in The Hill newspaper on the recent admission by Michael Cohen’s lawyer that he was the source on what appears a false story on the meeting at Trump Tower with Russians and Trump officials.  Davis also admitted that he lied to the media in denying that he was the source of the story.  It may be too early to predict the demise of Davis. We discussed earlier the controversy surrounding former CNN commentator and DNC official Donna Brazile lied to the public about being the author of hacked emails giving Hillary Clinton debate questions in advance. She is back as a commentator on various networks.

Here is the column: Continue reading “Lanny Davis And The Year Of Lawyers Living Dangerously” →

Environment, International, Society

Study: Pollution Makes You Dumber
home_page_high-level-08_0
EPA Photo

There is an interesting study on pollution out of China.  Normally, any study out of China would be a tad suspect, but this one only magnifies the costs of pollution choking Chinese and other citizens. Researchers found that pollution has a pronounced impact on reducing cognitive abilities. In other words, if lax pollution standards is dumb, pollution itself will actually make you dumber — making it more likely that you will allow more pollution in an environmental and intellectual downward spiral.  With 90 percent of humanity breathing bad air, that is a truly frightening thought. Continue reading “Study: Pollution Makes You Dumber” →

Bizarre, International, Torts

Musk Repeats “Pedo” Attack On British Explorer Who Helped Rescue Thai Boys In Cave [Updated]

220px-The_ScreamElon Musk appears to be withdrawing his earlier apology and doubling down on his bizarre personal attack on Vernon Unsworth, who helped rescue the young soccer players and their coach from the Tham Luang cave complex in northern Thailand.   Musk suggested Unsworth was a pedophile after Unsworth criticized Musk’s rescue submarine. Now Musk is asking why Unsworth did not sue him and why reporters never investigated the allegation — a suggestion that “truth is a defense” defamation. Update: Unsworth counsel has now confirmed that a lawsuit is being prepared.

Continue reading “Musk Repeats “Pedo” Attack On British Explorer Who Helped Rescue Thai Boys In Cave [Updated]” →

Courts, Media, Politics, Society, Supreme Court

Supremely Forgettable: A Majority Of Americans Cannot Name A Single Justice

1599px-Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States_-_Roberts_Court_2017There is an interesting C-SPAN survey out this week where ninety-one percent of citizens agreed that decisions on the Supreme Court impacted the lives of every American but a majority lack the ability to name a single justice. 

Continue reading “Supremely Forgettable: A Majority Of Americans Cannot Name A Single Justice” →

Criminal law, Lawyering

Wall Street Journal Reports Manafort Sought Deal With Mueller

ManafortThe Wall Street Journal is reporting that Trump Campaign Chairman Paul Manafort sought a plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller while the jury was deliberating in Virginia.  The report indicates that Manafort understood the likelihood of conviction and also could be willing to follow other Trump insiders with a deal.  Why such a deal broke down is an intriguing question.

Continue reading “Wall Street Journal Reports Manafort Sought Deal With Mueller” →

Bizarre, Criminal law

L.A. Prosecutor Arrested After Crashing Car and Then Drinking As He Waited For Police

 

capture410 LA Prosecutor Guzzles Alcohol After Rear Ending DJ Big Boy In CalabasasVeteran Los Angeles County Prosecutor Michael Pettersen is facing a very serious charge after he rear-ended a car in Calabasas and then remained in his wrecked BMW drinking alcohol out of a bottle as various people videotaped him. He then exited the car and collapsed in a stupor.  Adding to the notoriety was the fact that he hit the car of a local radio celebrity called Big Boy, aka Kurt Alexander,

 

 

Continue reading “L.A. Prosecutor Arrested After Crashing Car and Then Drinking As He Waited For Police” →