Movies, television shows and books all seem to dramatize the insanity defense in criminal cases. But, what is the insanity defense? And, more specifically, what is the M’Naghten Rule? If you’ve never heard of the M’Naghten Rule, or the Model Penal Code Rule for the insanity defense, you’re probably in good company. But, these two rules essentially make up the bulk of how states analyze the insanity defense, which is sometimes used in criminal defense cases....
Desperate times call for desperate measures. That’s the only excuse one can think of for dressing up as your dead mom and going to the bank to open an account to commit pension fraud. “She would wear large glasses to impersonate my grandmother. She would even wear makeup on her face to wear liver spots to look old and look like my grandmother,” said Betty’s granddaughter Arielle Stanwyck, KOMO reports....
Would you inject a drug that essentially causes facial paralysis into your 8-year-old child? Botox Mom - and pageant mom - Kerry Campbell would. Campbell made news last week when she went on Good Morning America and Inside Edition in an effort to defend her unconventional methods, reports SFist. She is now going to be investigated by Child Protective Services and the San Francisco Police Department. Campbell defended her position by saying that she was not endangering her daughter, Britney....
Rosa Parks was honored by thousands of people today at a memorial service at Greater Grace Temple Church in Detroit. Parks was remembered for her sacrifice, dedication, and contributions to the cause of racial justice and equality in America. In attendence were members of Congress, former President Bill Clinton, and religious and civil rights leaders. “The woman we honored today held no public office, she wasn’t a wealthy woman, didn’t appear in the society pages,” said Senator Barack Obama....
The Supreme Court is back in session for its 2012 Term, with several rounds of oral arguments set to take place over the next few months. As always, a few closely watched cases are getting the most attention. For the justices’ fall term, this includes controversies such as warrantless DUI blood tests, university affirmative action, and international human rights. Here are five Supreme Court cases that could have wide-reaching effects:...
Salmonella fears are typically associated with egg or poultry products. But as seen in two recent recalls, the food contaminant can also be found in your dry goods. Americans may need to re-examine their pantries after ground black pepper sold at Costco stores across the country was recalled because of possible Salmonella contaimination. Those with a health bent may also want to reconsider chia seed and flax seed powders, which have also been voluntarily recalled over Salmonella worries....
It’s a sad commentary when the alleged Boy Scout sex abuse scandal barely makes a ripple in the news. We have all become so jaded to child sex abuse scandals that we just automatically figure that any large organization having to do with youths will have sex abuse and attempts to cover up the sex abuse – as was allegedly the case with the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America were tightly associated with innocence and growing up in America....
Police arrested a California mom who threw her baby off a garage’s fourth floor at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County. Sonia Hermosillo, 31, was charged with a count of attempted murder with premeditation and a felony count of child abuse causing great bodily injury. The 7-month-old baby boy remained in extremely critical condition at UC Irvine Medical Center on Tuesday. Hermosillo had been suffering from postpartum depression after giving birth to her now 7-month old baby boy....
Special software meant to help concerned parents monitor their child’s Internet activity is being offered for free by the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. “ComputerCop” allows parents to review their child’s Internet actions and find out if their children are being exposed to any harmful or inappropriate material, Chicago’s WBBM-TV reports. “As the number of children who use technology continues to soar, the need for education and the commitment to the protection of children who are exposed to online predators must also increase,” said State Attorney Anita Alvarez....
For the past decade, Google has been scanning collections of books. And for the past decade, Google has faced legal opposition to its book-scanning project. But that opposition might finally be over. A U.S. Appeals Court ruled that Google’s book-scanning project provides a public service without violating intellectual property law. The case tested “the boundaries of fair use,” and for now Google will be free to continue pushing those boundaries....
Fox News’s parent company has agreed to pay former anchor and Fox and Friends host Gretchen Carlson $20 million to settle her sexual harassment lawsuit against former CEO Roger Ailes. 21st Century Fox released a statement today acknowledging and apologizing “for the fact that Gretchen was not treated with the respect and dignity that she and all of our colleagues deserve.” One odd part about the settlement is that Carlson hadn’t named Fox News or 21st Century Fox in her lawsuit....
Six Hollywood studios have sued Internet-movie company Zediva, claiming the start-up violates copyright law with its system for showing new movies online for $1 or $2. The company calls its service a DVD-rental operation. But instead of sending DVDs to customers through the mail, like Netflix and others, Zediva’s discs sit in banks of players at a Silicon Valley data center, Bloomberg reports. The Motion Picture Association of America, representing the major Hollywood studios, filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against the operators of the movie-streaming service Zediva, PC Mag reports....
A blogging juror can ruin a trial, but luckily for the family of Scott Eskew, it did not ruin theirs. Eskew’s family sued Metra after one of its trains struck and killed him. During trial, freelance writer and blogger Eve Bradshaw posted 6 entries describing her time as a juror. This was in spite of a court order to keep the details to herself. Metra found out and challenged the $4....
If you’re not a big fan of public education, you may be hesitant about signing your kids up. Maybe you feel kids should learn from the university of life, and not from traditional education system. If that is your plan, think again, as you could end up in big trouble. School attendance is compulsory in every state. Although the laws vary and there are some exceptions for homeschooling, there is nonetheless a general requirement that students attend school from age 6 to 16....
Kris and Bruce Jenner have finally confirmed one big rumor regarding their relationship – the couple has been separated for a year now. However, Kris Jenner claims, according to an interview with US magazine, that there is no animosity between the two, the Associated Press reports. The “Keeping up with the Kardashians” couple had been together for 22 years, and now they are living apart. However, no divorce papers have been filed, nor is this even a legal separation....
The rock band Kiss is being sued by a security guard who claims he slipped and fell when the band’s crew sprayed water and confetti on the stage in a “foolish and reckless manner.” Timothy Funk was working security at a Kiss concert in Noblesville, Indiana, in 2012 when the accident occurred, reports Ultimate Classic Rock. Funk claims the combination of water and confetti that accumulated on the stage during the band’s closing song created a “slippery, waxy, and glassy” surface causing Funk to fall and injure himself....
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reissued a baby stroller recall. This reissued recall applies to Maclaren single and double umbrella model baby strollers. The strollers were originally recalled in November 2009. Since that recall went out, the CPSC reports it has received notice of 37 injuries, reports MSNBC. The recall affects single and double umbrella strollers, made before November 2009. CPSC announced those strollers had a hinge mechanism that could cut or even amputate a child’s fingers, when the stroller was being unfolded or opened....
And the next American Idol (judge)… singer Jennifer Lopez. In what seems to be a revolving door of celebrity judges, American Idol announced that the actress/singer/clothing designer will be replacing Kara DioGuardi with a one-year $12 million contract. Also leaving this season is the man who started it all, Simon Cowell and comedian Ellen DeGeneres. New York Daily News reports that Lopez is, “very excited” to serve as a judge on the hit show....
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a last-minute order halting gay marriage in Virginia on Wednesday. In an underwhelming one-paragraph order, the High Court imposed a stay on the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling, effectively putting Virginia gay marriage on “pause” until it can be appealed. The Washington Post suggests that the Supreme Court doesn’t want to implicate itself in making a decision on marriage by refusing to act....
A federal court this week killed claims by the Machete Kills filmmakers that a Texas film incentive program was unconstitutional and violated its right to free speech by denying them grants. The filmmakers argued that prior dismissal of their claims in a Texas court were erroneous, but they failed to convince the feds. Machete Kills is the sequel to the very popular Machete, starring Danny Trejo and Robert DeNiro. But if Texas doesn’t want to incentivize more Machete movies, that’s okay says the federal court....
