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Manhattan DA Uses Sting to Stop Blackmailing of Letterman

John Fiore — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:27:54 +0000

An employee of CBS News was recently indicted on charges of blackmail in a plot against David Letterman. Manhattan’s District Attorney, Robert Morgenthau, reported the indictment against Robert Halderman on Friday, telling authorities that he had used an undercover sting operation to reveal the plot. Letterman reported that he had discovered a package filled with embarrassing photographs and e-mails in his limosine.

Letterman’s attorney delivered the evidence to the prosecutor’s office, which set up a sting operation at a hotel. New York police detectives set up recording and surveillance equipment in an adjoining room, capturing proof of the plot as evidence.

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Elizabeth Smart Testifies

John Fiore — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:25:32 +0000

Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped in 2002, has recently testified publicly for the first time about her experience. Her account begins with being abducted from her bedroom at age fourteen, and being taken to a mountainous campsite by Brian David Mitchell, a street-preacher. Mitchell was arrested in 2003, but because he was on two occasions considered mentally incompetent, was not taken to trial and instead held in an institution. However, due to Smart’s recent testimony, Mitchell’s competence is being re-evaluated.

Smart described Mitchell as “Evil, wicked, manipulative, stinky, slimy, greedy, selfish…” She also testified that her captor raped her three to four times per day, and told her that he would kill her if she yelled or tried to escape. Smart was held captive by a steel cable bolted to her leg. Marshall had reportedly used drugs and alcohol on Smart in order to lower her resistance. Smart at one point tried to defend herself by biting him.

Marshall is currently being charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor.

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Canadian Senator Mobina Jaffer faces Conduct Review for Recent Legal Actions

James Gapinski — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:24:46 +0000

Mobina Jaffer, a Canadian Senator from British Columbia, faces a conduct review in light of a large bill sent to the Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and a recent out-of-court settlement.

The Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a religious group in Canada, hired Mobina Jaffer and her firm to defend the Order in a sexual abuse case. From 2000 to 2004, Jaffer represented the Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate; after her work was done, she billed the religious organization $5 million for her services and the services of her law firm.

The Order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate sued Mobina Jaffer, Azool Jaffer-Jeraj (the Senator’s son), and the law firm for the extraordinary bill. The lawsuit was settled out-of-court, but Jaffer now faces a conduct review by the Law Society of British Columbia in light of these recent events.

Stuart Cameron, the Director of Discipline for the Law Society of British Columbia, says “a conduct review is a serious matter for any lawyer.” Should misconduct be found in the Senator’s past, the review’s findings could have drastic ramifications on Jaffer’s career as one of Canada’s top lawyers.

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Paris Hilton Faces Legal Action for Skipping Scheduled Events in Germany

James Gapinski — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:24:35 +0000

Paris Hilton faces legal action for ditching several scheduled events in Germany. Hilton, who has made a business out of socializing and partying, had contracts to appear at events in Frankfurt, Germany on September 11th and 12th, but she did not show up for the events.

A few German newspapers report that Hilton had a verbal argument with Dough Reinhardt, her boyfriend, and the spat may be the reason for her absence at the scheduled events. She reportedly did not leave her hotel room in the city of Frankfurt. Speculation has arisen that the argument may have been due to the fact that one event was scheduled for an erotic club.

However, regardless of her reasons for skipping the scheduled events, Hilton had a contractual obligation to make appearances and she failed to do so.

Mediastar, the company who booked Hilton for the German appearances, will be seeking legal recourse to recoup losses. Mediastar said that Hilton had skipped “dinner with 18 high-ranking guests, the appearance at the bar, [and] the autograph session at Mediastar.”

Specific details about the impending lawsuit upcoming lawsuit, including what monetary damages Mediastar is seeking, is not available at this time. However, Mediastar confirms it will seek legal action.

However, regardless of her reasons for skipping the scheduled events, Hilton had a contractual obligation to make appearances and she failed to do so.

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South California Gov. Mark Sanford May Use Legal Action to Prevent Handing Over an Ethics Report

James Gapinski — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:29:43 +0000

Following lawmakers’ desires to obtain a probe into South California governor Mark Sanford’s travel expenses, Sanford explains that he will use any and all necessary legal action to prevent the probe from going public.

The preliminary state Ethics Commission report in question, containing an in-depth look at Gov. Sanford’s travel expenses, may answer questions regarding alleged use of the government-funded air travel to see a woman with whom was having an affair. The affair allegedly lasted for one year, leading many to question the South California governor’s integrity when the relationship was finally made public.

Sanford admits to the extramarital affair and has apologized, but he denies traveling illicitly. Even still, speculation alone has caused many to call for Sanford resignation. State Republication Party leaders met on Thursday, September 10, 2009, to discuss the dilemma. In July, a Republican Party executive committee censured Sanford for the affair. Further action may be taken against Sanford by the Party if public opinion continues to favor resignation or if released reports do indeed confirm illicit use of government-funded air travel.

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Sean Penn and Robin Wright Penn file for divorce

admin — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:41:12 +0000

Robin Wright Penn and actor Sean Penn are calling it quits. The couple married in 1996 and had attempted to separate two other times. Robin filed for divorce in California on August 12th citing “irreconcilable differences” as the reason.

Penn is a two-time Academy Award winner for the movies Mystic River and the latest box office hit, Milk.

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Michael Jackson Coroner’s Investigation Complete

admin — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:00:11 +0000

The Los Angeles County Coroner announced today that it has completed the investigation into the causes of Michael Jackson’s death. An ongoing LAPD investigation is currently underway, and as a request from the LAPD, the report is being kept confidential for the time being.

In a press release, the coroner’s office indicated that it would keep the results of the autopsy confidential until further notice.

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admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:40:04 +0000

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