Mug Shots of the Year
The Smoking Gun, the nation's top source of remarkable mug shots (among other things), has posted its selections for the top 20 of 2009. As you can see, that one is only #10. Link: The Smoking Gun
Criminal
One Possible Class-Action Defense Strategy: Disappear and Live in a Tent
In class-action cases we generally recommend removing to federal court if possible, moving to dismiss, and then swiftly taking class representatives' depositions if the motion is not successful. There are other strategies, however. Here's one that we could not officially recommend,…
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like . . . This
Now at the top of the Naughty List: William Caldwell, a 45-year-old man who patiently waited in line at a Georgia mall to tell Santa that he had a present for him: dynamite. No bomb was found, but Caldwell was…
Police Dog: The Meat-Smuggler’s Nemesis
In August, police in Framingham, Massachusetts, responded to a report that a gas station had been robbed. They brought along a tracking dog and released it in the direction in which witnesses said the robber had gone. Just a few…
Note: Closing-Argument Demonstratives Should Not Include Hand Grenade
There are better ways to demonstrate the concept of an “imminent threat,” probably.
Man Tests Police by Dressing to Match Suspect’s Description
I can remember times when I was really, really bored. I mean, really bored. But I don't think I've ever been so bored that I even considered checking a police scanner to get a description of somebody the police were looking…
Joe Francis Sentenced to Time Served, Is Now Free to Sleaze Again
Joe Francis, the Girls Gone Wild founder — or as Gawker.com described him, the "alleged arm-twisting sexual aggressor and loathsome Girls Gone Wild founder" — was sentenced on November 7 to time already served, and was released into the wild…
San Francisco Jury Struggles With Whether Bear Was “Disturbed”
Hard to define, but you know it when you see it.
Balloon Parents to Plead Guilty
They will apparently not be charged for their reality-TV-show appearances, unfortunately.
Jury Finds Florida Man Was Not “Too Fat to Kill”
Edward Ates "looked down and shook his head in court" as he listened to the jury's verdict against him on November 6. As he did, his ponderous jowls wobbled slowly from side to side. Or, at least, ponderous and wobbly jowls would…