Legal Commentary

4COL d00d! Man Arrested After Hitting and Killing Pedestrian While Texting and Driving

Posted on July 27, 2008
In York, Pa., Brian Widmayer, 21, has been charged with a crime for our times: killing a man by running over him while text messaging. David Peters, 43, was walking across the street when Widmayer was responding to a text message and driving through an intersection...

Not-So-Noble Savage: Court Dismisses Michael Savage?s Lawsuit Against Islamic Group

Posted on July 26, 2008
In an earlier blog, we discussed a clearly meritless lawsuit by rabid radio take show host Michael Savage, here. A federal judge in San Francisco dismissed the conservative commentator’s lawsuit against Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, for copyright infringement...

Using Tasers Over Mace: Police Taser Teenage Boy With Broken Back Up to 19 Times

Posted on July 26, 2008
In Ozark, Missouri, a family is wondering why their 16-year-old son Mace Hutchinson was hit by tasers up to 19 times after he fell (or jumped) from an overpass and broke his back. Witnesses said that the boy did not seen out of control. Doug Messersmith said that ?He looked a little agitated [...

McCain Proposes American Version of the Prime Minister Question Session

Posted on July 26, 2008
Sen. John McCain has proposed the adoption of an American version of the Prime Minister Question Session where he would appear before the Senate regularly for unscripted exchanges. I have long advocated such a tradition in the United States and it was the subject of a NPR story...

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Clipped: Wisconin Man Arrested After Shooting Lawn Boy

Posted on July 26, 2008
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Keith Walendowski, 56, was upset with his lawn mower, which refused to start. In classic Bill Mauldin fashion, he then proceeded to shoot the lawn boy. He is now charged with a felony for possession of a short-barreled shotgun or rifle and a misdemeanor for disorderly conduct while armed...

Dial M for Martini: Women Charged With Killing Husband With Cocktail Glass

Posted on July 26, 2008
In Robert Dahl’s essay, Lamb to the Slaughter, the wife kills her husband with a frozen leg of lamb and then destroys the evidence by feeding it to the investigators. In Newark, N.J., 76-year-old Marlene Mackenzie was certainly as creative but not nearly as successful: she killed 80-year-old Robert Mackenzie by throwing a cocktail [...

The Bybee Memo: How to Torture and Avoid a Criminal Charge on Technicality

Posted on July 25, 2008
The Bush Administration has released torture memos that reveal the extent to which officials laid the groundwork for a criminal defense in its torture program. The 2002 memos instructed interrogators in a good-faith defense for any claim that they were committing federal crimes...

National Enquirer Reporters File Criminal Complaint in Edwards Controversy

Posted on July 25, 2008
National Enquirer reporters Alan Butterfield and Alexander Hitchen have filed a criminal complaint with the Beverly Hills Police Department against the security staff of the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The paper is also not backing off from its story — virtually daring Edwards to file a defamation lawsuit...

Last Lecture: Professor Randy Pausch Dies

Posted on July 25, 2008
Carnegie Mellon University professor Dr. Randy Pausch, 47, died of pancreatic cancer today. Pausch inspired the nation with his “last lecture,” a moving discussion of his life and his approaching death. This story became the subject of a best seller and his lecture below was viewed by millions...

Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Accused of Assault on Police Deputy

Posted on July 25, 2008
Detroit politicians continue their almost daily contributions to the criminal blogs and blotters. Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is now being investigated for allegedly assaulting a deputy accompanying an investigator for the Wayne County prosecutor at the home of the mayor’s sister...

L.A. Times Bars Bloggers From Covering Edwards Affair Story

Posted on July 25, 2008
In an extraordinary act of self-censorship, the Los Angeles Times has asked its bloggers not to discuss the Edwards story about his alleged affair and child with Rielle Hunter. The story was broken by the National Enquirer after allegedly catching Edwards at a hotel with the woman...

The Thin Blog Line: Memphis Police Chief Godwin Sues to Learn Identity of Anonymous Bloggers

Posted on July 25, 2008
Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin and the city of Memphis appear to have such excess of amounts of money and time that they have decided to pursue Internet bloggers critical of their work. They have filed to try to learn who has been filing critical entries under MPD Enforcer 2...

?Spam King? Eddie Davidson Escapes from Jail Then Kills Wife, Daughter, and Himself

Posted on July 25, 2008
“Spam King” Edward ‘Eddie’ Davidson, his wife and 3-year-old daughter escaped recently from the minimum-security federal prison in Florence, Colorado. He has now been found dead after shooting his wife and three-year-old daughter...

Bad Habit: Nebraska Nun Sentenced for Embezzlement; Seeks to Withdraw Plea

Posted on July 25, 2008
There is the Flying Nun and now there is the Embezzling Nun. Sister Barbara Markey, 73, apparently was never quite comfortable with her vow of poverty. She pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $250,000 from the Omaha archdiocese. After she was sentenced to three to five years in prison by an irate Nebraska [...

Rudy?s Son Demands a Mulligan: Andrew Giuliani Sues For Wrongful Dismissal From Duke Team

Posted on July 24, 2008
Andrew Giuliani, son of Rudy Giuliani, has gone to court to fight for his right to golf on teh Duke University team. He was recently thrown off the team with little notice or explanation by its coach, O.D. Vincent. The filing is based on a loose theory of contract, even though decisions [...

Max Mosley Wins Privacy Action for Disclosure of Sadomasochistic Nazi-Themed Orgy

Posted on July 24, 2008
Formula One racing head Max Mosley has won a lawsuit in London alleging an invasion of privacy by News of the World for their release of pictures and a video of his sadomasochistic fantasy Nazi-themed party with prostitutes. The newspaper was ordered to pay $120,000 plus his legal fees and costs...

Plain Jane: Judge Orders Name Change for ?Talula Does the Hula?

Posted on July 24, 2008
A New Zealand judge, Rob Murfitt, has taken custody from parents of a nine-year-old girl so that he can chose a better name than Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii.” It is clear that these parents should be under psychiatric analysis, but there is an interesting question of whether you can lose custody, even [...

Federal Court Strikes Down Colorado Law Limiting College Scholarships to Exclude ?Pervasively Sectarian? Schools

Posted on July 24, 2008
A very interesting decision has emerged out of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Former law school professor (and potential candidate for the Supreme Court) Michael W. McConnell wrote the opinion that the limitation to colleges other than those “pervasively sectarian” violates the Constitution as discrimination against certain religions...

Man Jailed and Criminally Charged for Theft of 42 Cents

Posted on July 24, 2008
When Laslo Mujzer, 43, saw the donations in a Florida mall fountain, he clearly decided that he was a good candidate for charity. He took 42 cents before a woman alerted the mall security force. Now, Mujzer is facing a criminal charge of misdemeanor theft...

Something Borrowed, Someone Sued: One Bride Wins $150,000 After Being Jilted While Another is Sued for Being Too ?Ugly?

Posted on July 24, 2008
RoseMary Shell was not willing to become just another jilted bride. When Wayne Gibbs refused to be her husband, a personal injury lawyer was willing to say “I do.” Now a Georgia jury has awarded Shell $150,000 for the breaking of a marital contract by her former fiance...

Lieberman Appears With Hagee and Embraces the Controversial Pastor

Posted on July 23, 2008
John Hagee may be viewed by many as an antisemite, anticatholic, and virulent homophobe, but that did not stop Senator Joe Lieberman from proudly embracing him as a friend and kindred spirit during Hagee’s Christians United for Israel conference...

Columnist Robert Novak Accused of a Hit and Run in Washington

Posted on July 23, 2008
Columnist Robert Novak has a reputation for being an aggressive and fast driver. It may now have put him into legal jeopardy. He is accused of hitting a man in his black Corvette who was lawfully crossing in a pedestrian walkway in Washington and then speeding from the scene — only to be [...

Detroit Descends into Chaos with New Criminal Charges and Investigations

Posted on July 23, 2008
Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac must be wondering why he bothered in 1701 to found the city. Detroit’s government continues its downward spiral toward collapse with new indictments, criminal allegations, and scandal. The federal prosecutors have introduced a superseding indictment alleging more lies from Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick about past affairs...

Politics of Adhesion: PM Gordon Glued to Glass in Plane Stupid Stunt

Posted on July 23, 2008
Dan Glass, a member of the appropriately named climate change pressure group Plane Stupid, unsuccessfully tried to superglue himself to Prime Minister Gordon at a Downing Street reception. He was unsuccessful and worse yet, the British allowed him to stay at the reception after laughing off the attempt...

FBI Accused of Trying to Bury Findings That Raised Questions Over DNA Claims

Posted on July 23, 2008
The FBI is accused of launching a coordinated effort to bury the results of a finding by an Arizona crime lab analyst, Kathryn Troyer, that individuals may have very similar DNA profiles. The finding throws into question the claims made in court about the unlikelihood of two individuals sharing such similarities...

Oklahoma Couple Arrested in Massive Bestiality Case

Posted on July 23, 2008
Oklahoma City may have the largest bestiality case in history — and without question the most disgusting. Diane Sue Whalen 54, and Donald Roy Seigfried, 55, are accused of training their dogs to have sex with Whalen and other women. Whalen was apparently busted by her own son who found 150 tapes of [...

Natural Born Killer Sequel In Real Life: Wisconsin Teenager Strangles Girlfriend After Watching Movie

Posted on July 23, 2008
Over the years, various lawsuits have been filed against movie makers for the alleged influence that their films had on kids who acted out stunts or acts of violence. They have been entirely rejected, but there may be one more on the way. Eric Tavulares, 18, strangled his 18 year-old childhood girlfriend, Lauren Aljubouri...

Is President Bush Preparing a Preemptive Pardon?

Posted on July 22, 2008
Speculation is growing that President Bush may pardon those officials responsible for the unlawful programs under his Administration. It will be the subject (and possibly the Sunstein controversy) of my discussion on Countdown tonight. This far, Bush has been openly hostile to pardons, creating one of the worst records in history...

The Simpson Effect: Doctor Accused of Conspiring to Commit Perjury in ?93 Death of Girlfriend

Posted on July 22, 2008
A truly strange case in Boston has now gotten even stranger. Dr. Timothy Stryker, 56, was accused of involvement in the death of his longtime girlfriend, Dr. Lynn Goudey. The 42 year-old doctor’s body was found in her locked Saab at New England Memorial Hospital...

Holy Assault and Battery, Batman: Batman Star Christian Bale Arrested for Assault on Mother and Sister

Posted on July 22, 2008
Not exactly the press that the flaks were hoping for. Batman star Christian Bale has been arrested for assault on his mother and sister. He could also face a personal injury action — a possibility that seems a bit more likely with a film that shattered the earlier record held by Spiderman (who [...

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