Recently in law Category

Joe Schmo steals Joe Famous's bicycle - receives 1095 days in prison.
Joe Famous accidentally kills Joe Schmo while driving drunk - receives 30 days in prison.

Lessons learned:

Money talks.
Look both ways before crossing the street.
Don't jaywalk.
Oh and don't mess with Lance Armstrong's stuff.

The Delaware Department of Transportation has issued a memo to it's employees entitled: Diversity Spotlight: Comments you never want to make to a coworker - Work Place Faux Pas

The memo is sectioned by race, age, and sexual orientation, and is absolutely jaw-dropping. In this day and age, who needs to send out a memo like this? My guess is that the Delaware DOT is having some issues, and need to do this to cover their own ass in case they need to fire someone.

Hispanic/Latino Co-workers

• You know we should send all of you back across the border.

Don't assume because people look differently or speak differently that they are not natural-born Americans. Where did your ancestors come from?

• It is never ever acceptable to refer to aHispanic/Latino co-worker as a "spic" "wetback" or "hot footer."

This is derogatory.

• Can you help me out with my landscaping?

Why would you assume that all Hispanics/Latinos are landscaping experts?

• Can you recommend a good Mexican Restaurant?

This is stereotyping and shows ignorance. All Hispanics/Latinos are not Mexicans.

This well-written New York Magazine article on Bernie Madoff and Ezra Merkin, his (maybe) unwitting accomplice, is a great illustration of two things:

1. Bernie Madoff was a crucial player in creating a fair and equitable Wall Street.

2. What happened after that was neither fair nor equitable.

My brother Drew sent along this page of courtroom quotes.
He said this example proves why you should defend yourself in court as much as you operate on yourself at the hospital:

Accused, Defending His Own Case: "Did you get a good look at my face when I took your purse?"

The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to ten years in jail.

Lawyer: "Now, Mrs. Johnson, how was your first marriage terminated?"

Witness: "By death."
Lawyer: "And by whose death was it terminated?"

Lawyer: "Did you ever stay all night with this man in New York?"

Witness: "I refuse to answer that question.
Lawyer: "Did you ever stay all night with this man in Chicago?"
Witness: "I refuse to answer that question.
Lawyer: "Did you ever stay all night with this man in Miami?"
Witness: "No."