There is an interesting ruling out of California where the Third Appellate District has reversed a dismissal of tort claims against two defendants who were sued by their former friend after he fell off a cliff while drunk. The appellate court ruled that there are triable issues in the culpability of Zachary Gudelunas and Sarah Koivumaki in bringing Jason Michael Carlsen to the cliff knowing that he was drunk and then waiting for hours before calling police after he fell off the cliff in Redding above the Sacramento River.
We have previously discussed our concerns over the seemingly exponential increase in “no knock” raids in the country where police give no warning before raiding a home. (here and here and here and here and here and here). Now in a remarkable ruling, a Texas grand jury has refused to indict Goedrich Magee, 20, who shot and killed a law enforcement officer, Burleson County Sgt. Adam Sowders, 31, during a no knock entrance into his home. Magee said that he thought he was being robbed and acted to protect his pregnant girlfriend and children. The grand jury “no billed” the case in February.
We have followed the scandals in Durham involving its police chief and former district attorneys. Now Durham police officers have been shown to have lied about non-existent 911 calls to enter the homes of citizens without a warrant. Despite this illegal tactic that was admitted on the stand, no officers have been fired. Instead, Durham Police Chief Jose Lopez (left) has sent out a memo. You may recall Lopez who earlier reportedly said that a public defender deserved to be shot.
Continue reading “Durham Police Admit To Lying About 911 Calls To Enter Homes Without Warrants”
There is a disturbing case out of the Leesburg Virginia (near my home) where Dallas Northington, an eight-year employee of Target, has been fired as he reportedly caught a Fairfax County sheriff’s deputy shoplifting. He filed a report and was told that both his manager and the investigator recognized the culprit on a videotape. However, when he returned to work, he was canned by Target. In the meantime, despite the alleged identification and two color videotapes of the shoplifting, the police have yet to charge the officer (who reportedly left the force).
The Singapore government is supporting the National Library Board in the plan to destroy a children’s book detailing the real-life story of two male penguins raising a baby chick in New York’s zoo. It appears that the government views “And Tango Makes Three” to be nothing more than penguin perversion.
Respectfully submitted by Lawrence E. Rafferty (rafflaw)-Weekend Contributor
We have heard the phrase for quite some time now. “Corporations are people”. It sounds so simple, but what does it mean in practice? The corporate structure is designed to protect individual shareholder assets from creditors of the corporation. If you maintain your corporate structure requirements and corporate book, the individual’s assets cannot be attached or claimed by a creditor of the corporation.
Corporations are also afforded special tax breaks and tax rates that individual persons cannot take advantage of. How has the Hobby Lobby decision altered or not altered the corporate veil protection provided to corporations? Continue reading “Corporate Veil and Hobby Lobby”
By Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Raju got freed from an imprisonment in India last week after a 50 year sentence. Shackled with iron bindings studded with spikes and starving, the captive at first winced then cried tears of joy when his rescuers finally relieved him of the pain. That wasn’t the first time Raju cried. He cried when he was caught and then throughout his ordeal when he was sold and beaten. He cried when he was forced to stand outside of temples begging for food.
Raju’s story isn’t unique in a part of the world where life is cheap, especially non-human animal life. Raju, you see, is an elephant and elephant’s don’t have emotions were are taught. They are chattel in the mind of the law and any similarity between them and the dominant species on the planet is purely coincidental.
By Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Even as the GOP struggles to hold onto to its wacky Tea Party base and appease the country clubbers who finance the show, it finds it can unite on one thing: It Loves the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). That’s right, the party who issued dire warnings over death panels and runaway costs, and rationing, and lost jobs just heard from its grass-roots and … they LOVE it. According to the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that “aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, particularly for society’s most vulnerable,” polling shows 74% of persons who had the guts to identify themselves as Republicans “said that they were very or somewhat satisfied with their new insurance plan.” And even more remarkably for that “sky-is-always-falling” crowd, they’re optimistic .. yes, optimistic, that “new health coverage will improve their ability to get the care they need.” What ? No waiting lines, no rationing of health care ? No shadowy board saying Grandma must die because she needs hormone replacement therapy? Continue reading “Guess Who Loves Obamacare By A 3 to 1 Majority? Republicans!”
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
Democrat congressional hopeful Estakio Beltran published a rather unique campaign ad on YouTube. In the video he declares: “They call me a long shot. They say I can’t win in this district. But what happens to an elephant when it stands around, doing nothing, for too long?”
The camera panned to an elephant piñata, and then back to Estakio, who blasted it the face with a pump-action shotgun.
“My name is Estakio Beltran,” he said. “And I approved this message.”
Continue reading “Congressional Candidate Blasts Elephant Piñata With Shotgun In Campaign Ad”
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
“I don’t think there’s a lack of supply in Washington State.”—Rick Garza, Director, Washington Liquor Control Board.
Marijuana Retailers in Washington ran out of their cash crop after three days of sales. A few were never provided a supply before their grand opening. The Liquor Control Board blames licensees for causing the delays but the first licensees were given their licenses via e-mail around 1:30 AM on the opening day. The board issued the first licenses for growers / producers after the optimal time to begin marijuana cultivation and even went so far as to restrict certain growers by reducing their capacity due to what the board described as “over supply issues.” Prices remain high. It seems the command economy will continue for a while and the black market in all likelihood remains largely untouched.
By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
Patients with brain injury brought in to the emergency department of Harborview Medical Center could be subjected to enrollment in a drug trial experiment while they are unconscious and without their express consent.
The hospital, having the largest and most capable trauma center in Washington, frequently admits patents statewide for traumatic brain injury, often of the most serious circumstances. The hospital regularly participates in studies of medications like other hospitals but a new study to test a medication currently prescribed for other hemorrhage disorders in other parts of the body is undergoing human trials for brain injury. The study is bringing forth some opposing views within the realm of medical and legal ethics as to patient informed consent, medical research, harm reduction, and individual rights.
A jury found the Los Angeles Dodgers partially responsible for a Giants fan’s savage beating in a stadium parking lot in 2011 and that partial liability will cost the team must nearly $14 million. The team was found 25 percent responsible for the extensive injuries to Bryan Stow, 45, which comes to precisely $13.9 million for their share when all of Stow’s medical bills and lost earnings are factored in.
Continue reading “LA Dodgers Hit With $14 Million Judgment Over Beating of Giants Fan in 2011”
We have previously discussed the absurd growth of trademark and copyright claims in this country. Now, John Wayne’s descendants have had to go to court to seek the right to continue to use the legendary actor’s nickname, “Duke,” over the objections of Duke University which now claims to own the word “Duke.” The University has objected to a line of alcoholic beverages by the family called “Duke.” They appear to be using the line from the Duke’s character Wil Anderson in The Cowboys (1972) “I wouldn’t make it a habit of calling me that son.”
In a clear victory for both the public and basic notions of decency, the Manassas City Police have announced that they will not execute the abusive warrant discussed yesterday to force a 17-year-old boy to be photographed with an erect penis — including the authority to force an erection with the administration of drugs if the boy did not “cooperate.” However, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Claiborne Richardson is still pursing the teen for two major felonies for sending his 15-year-old girlfriend an explicit video. There is still no word from Paul B. Ebert, the Commonwealth’s Attorney for Prince William County (right).
Continue reading “Manassas Police Refuse To Execute Warrant To Photograph Teen’s Erect Penis”
We have previously discussed the attacks by the Obama Administration on civil liberties and privacy. Obama has also been accused of attacks on press freedoms — resulting in a sharp decline in the standing of the United States on press rights. Now 38 journalism groups have denounced the Obama Administration for censoring media coverage, limiting access to top officials and overall “politically-driven suppression of the news.”