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Archives: April 01 - 10, 2008 |
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Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Milestones: Today is the 20th birthday of my youngest son, Michael. Mike’s a really great guy whose girlfriend, Amber Walker, threw a wonderful surprise party for him over the weekend - a festive occasion that included a SpongeBob Squarepants piñata, a New Orleans king cake, and lots of good friends and fun.
Today also marks four years since the relocation of my law practice to 113 E. Jefferson Ave. in downtown Effingham and the beginning of a 20-year contract-for-deed to purchase the three story building.
A Creative Judiciary: The world finds some of its best judges among the legal profession’s creative people, and New Mexico Magistrate Danny Hawkes seems to fit both descriptions. Hawkes has taken his DUI courtroom “on the road” to high school auditoriums in his jurisdiction . . . where - in lieu of community service work - willing defendants are candidly sharing their experiences with impressionable young men and women.
Adoptees Want Access To Birth Records: An Illinois lawmaker hopes her state will give adoptees, such as herself, first time access to original birth certificates - as long as birth parents don’t object. State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz says her legislation would grant many people new insight into the “first chapter” of their lives.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Today is “Kick Butts Day” - a day for young people to stand out, speak up and seize control . . . against tobacco use. Remember, boys and girls, besides being unhealthy, smoking is lame!
Technology Aiding Safety: “No contact” orders alone cannot fully protect people from offenders who are determined to do them harm. That’s why criminals who violate orders of protection in Illinois would be forced to wear global positioning system (GPS) tracking devices under recently proposed legislation, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Drug Dealers, Be Warned: Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons announced yesterday that he’s going to start seizing, selling, and then rehabbing the homes of convicted drug dealers in his county. Lyons says the idea is to get the “bad” people out and to improve neighborhoods “one person, one case, and one house” at a time, according to the Peoria Journal Star.
Maybe He Should Take A Long Walk: While some state lawmakers are trying to tackle the problem of “distracted driving,” state Rep. Ken Dunkin of Chicago wants to push the traffic safety issue one step further. Dunkin is targeting “distracted walking,” according to WBBM-AM (780).
Thursday, April 03, 2008
More On Moronic Attempt To Ban Crosswalk Cell Talk: Reaction to House Bill 4520 is mixed, according to an article in this morning’s Chicago Sun-Times. Says one woman: “Put me in jail. I’m not paying [a fine] for talking on a phone.” Violations would result in a petty offense fine of $ 25.00-dollars, under language currently employed in the pending Illinois legislation.
Unique Speeding Ticket Defense - “But I’ve Not Been To Your Continent!” Police in southern Australia mailed a speeding ticket recently to a man in northern England. Problem is, defendant David Smart says he’s never been to Australia, which is nearly half a world away. Click here for an update on Smart’s defense, as reported by News.Com Australia.
Good To Know: Infants in Arkansas are no longer permitted to get married, thanks to legislation signed into law this week by Governor Mike Beebe. Huh??? Believe it or not, this story is absolutely true, according to the Associated Press.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Four Decades: Exactly 40-years ago today, on April 4th, 1968, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis.
I was only seven years old - and a second grader - at the time. However, I can still (vaguely) recall seeing an evening television news bulletin about the assassination. I can remember feeling sad and scared. It will be interesting to see what the rest of our world has to say today about this significant and tragic event.
Sweet And Appropriate: It was also on this date in history in 1968 that Sen. Robert F. Kennedy delivered a wonderfully eloquent impromptu address to a political crowd in Indianapolis that had not yet heard word of the King assassination.
King Tribute: Click here for a thoughtful video interpretation of U2’s classic “Pride (In The Name of Love).”
Saturday, April 05, 2008
Missing In Action: I have run off to Belleville this morning (with the Effingham High School Boys Track Team), so - for the first time in five years - I will have to miss the Lake Sara Dam Run, the Effingham area’s premier running event.
New On The Scene: Speaking of running, best wishes tomorrow to Effingham County State’s Attorney Ed Deters, who will be running the Spirit Of St. Louis Half-Marathon - his first! Ed has been training hard this year and appears to be very fit.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Look It Up: For many years, the registration and disciplinary status of all Illinois-licensed attorneys has been made available to consumers on the worldwide web, courtesy of the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission. Now - for the first time - the same type of information concerning physicians will be made public in a similar manner, according to a news release from the Governor’s office and the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation.
NOTE: More than 85-percent of all Illinois-licensed physicians and surgeons have provided the information necessary to create their profile in categories that include: the location and scope of practice, the type of insurance the physician accepts, specialties and certifications, legal and disciplinary actions taken against the physician, his or her educational background and any professional activities or honors the physician would like to add. Physicians’ licenses are subject to renewal in July 2008. Before a license is renewed, all physicians must provide the information for their profiles.
Still Golden . . . And An Attorney: One man worthy of many accolades is Olympic gold medal marathoner Frank Shorter, one of the sports world’s most effective crusaders against chemical doping. A former chairman of the United States Anti-Doping Agency, Shorter holds a law degree from the University of Florida.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Grand Opening: Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation will dedicate its new regional office building Friday in Champaign. Effingham County is one of several area counties being served by the new facility. Land of Lincoln provides free but limited civil legal services to low-income persons and senior citizens in Central and Southern Illinois.
Winning Times: Congratulations to Effingham County State’s Attorney Ed Deters, who logged a 2:06 chip time Sunday in the Go St. Louis Half-Marathon, which (with all of the rolling hills on this course) equates to a sub-2:00 finish almost anywhere else! Additionally, congrats to Kevin Wiedman, the cross county coach at St. Anthony High School, who ran the full marathon and logged a very impressive 3:58!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Already Missed: The late R. Eugene Pincham was a highly skilled legal practitioner. Pincham died last week in Chicago at the age of 82 . . . but not before leaving behind a legacy of accomplishment and goodwill. Pincham’s wit and wisdom is included in a publication titled “Your Witness: Lessons On Cross-Examination And Life,” which went on sale this week and was excerpted in Monday’s Chicago Tribune.
A trial lawyer is effectively a “13th juror,” wrote Pincham. And, while the attorney must lead, he or she also must remember that the other 12 members of the jury panel are “the smartest people in the courtroom.” The lawyer's job is to inform and persuade his juror colleagues. A lawyer “cannot outsmart them," Pincham explained.
But They May Be Distracted: Decreeing that female attorneys in fishnet pantyhose distract male colleagues and look “unprofessional,” a London-based law firm now has banned the wearing of fishnets - according to a recent article in the Daily Mail. Which only serves to remind me of a certain “old school” video by Morris Day and The Time.
Cheating Their Own Customers: The nation’s second largest insurance company has released thousands of pages of documents that show a pattern of underpaying claims and padding profits. Are you in good hands? Hmmmm. Click here for more information.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Highly Recommended Drug Treatment Facility: From time to time, I get called upon in my practice of law to make recommendations concerning drug and alcohol treatment providers. As of now, there is no inpatient center that I would recommend more highly than . . . the Gateway Foundation residential treatment facility at Springfield, Ill. When it comes to dealing with issues of addiction, these people really mean business . . . and I’ve been told consistently - by people who ought to know - that the counselors at Gateway know what they’re doing and really do care. Pass it on.
A Class-y Action: As an assistant coach for the boys track team at Effingham High School, I observed something special Tuesday afternoon during a dual track meet in Paris, Ill. Nearing the finish line in the 800-meter run, one of our better athletes turned his head a little and slowed down . . . allowing a teammate to pass him and take first place in the event, thereby earning a varsity letter in the process. It chokes me up just to write about this occurrence. It was unceremonious, unrequested, and spontaneous. Very simply, it was an awesome act of sportsmanship.
Still Present In Spirit: Although I didn’t have the opportunity to take part personally in the Lake Sara Dam Run on Saturday, the Ealy family did in fact continue to inflict itself on the event. My son Rob ran a 21:29 5K race - third best in his age division.
Abandoned Newborns Find “Safe Haven” - Illinois’ Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act is being touted as a success in a story published this morning in the Chicago Tribune. The Act’s sponsors say at least 41 newborns have been safely “handed over” - with no questions asked - dating back to the law’s enactment.
An O.P. For Conan: Finally, in unusual legal news, a man pleaded guilty Tuesday in an alleged celebrity stalking matter in New York. Not so unusual. The man was fined and told - via an order of protection - to stay away from NBC-TV talk show host Conan O’Brien. Not unheard of. The alleged stalker is identified as . . . a Roman Catholic priest. Oh, not good!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Online “Dating” Service Woes: Victims of prank “profiles” clearly have a right to sue online businesses such as AdultFriendFinder, under a recently released ruling in a federal district court case. Plaintiff Jane Doe had alleged that the Friendfinder Network “took special pains” to ensure the anonymity of persons posting false information on the AdultFriendFinder website but “did nothing to verify the accuracy of any of the information posted.”
So Much Cooler Online: Meanwhile, a British judge has opined that a person’s Facebook friends are not his / her real friends. The judge was presiding over a harassment claim matter, in which a woman had maintained that a man harassed her solely by making a Facebook “friend request.” The British Court seemed to be base its decision upon that old principle we all learned about in law school - as first espoused by the Kentucky Supreme Court - to the effect that . . . “there’s no harm in asking.”
Night Court, Anyone? At times, I wind up working some rather unconventional hours. But I’ve never offered unconventional hours to the general public on a regular basis. A law firm in Boston is doing just that, however, meeting with customers regularly from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. Prediction: As our various population centers continue to evolve and diversify in the future, we will see a great variety of “alternative” legal offerings - especially in major metropolitan areas.
‘Tis The Season . . . For Teen Tragedy: An old press release appeared on my laptop computer this morning. Although the release is nearly a decade old now, its message is timeless - and backed up by some frightening facts, which follow: On average, more than 5,000 teenagers are injured and nearly 50 more are killed . . . in auto accidents . . . during a typical prom weekend in the USA.
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