Archive for the ‘National Issues’ Category

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Teenage Girl Gets Life with Possibility of Parole

February 8th, 2012 | Posted in Legislation, National Issues, Personal Injury by bloom | No Comments »

Alyssa Bustamonte in a 2009 photo, courtesy of the Cole County Sheriff's Department

Alyssa Bustamonte, 18, was sentenced today for the murder of a 9-year-old girl in which she strangled, cut, and stabbed the victim in order to “know what it felt like to kill someone.” Bustamonte gets life in prison with the possibility of parole, avoiding a straight life sentence in an adult prison.

Bustamonte committed the crime when she was 15 in her hometown of St. Martin, a rural town west of Jefferson City, Missouri. She confessed to prosecutors that she strangled her victim Elizabeth Olten, then repeatedly stabbed her in the chest before slicing her throat. Olten’s body was then buried in a shallow grave under a pile of leaves.

Her defense claimed that her depression and prescription of the drug Prozac made her more prone to violence. The prosecution argued that the murder was premeditated and cited the girl’s journal entries as evidence of unwarranted cruelty. “It was ahmazing (sic). As soon as you get over the ‘ohmygawd I can’t do this’ feeling, it’s pretty enjoyable,” read the journals, according to a handwriting expert, “I’m kinda nervous and shaky though right now. Kay, I gotta go to church now…lol.”

Connecticut Man Sentenced to Die for “Unimaginable” Crime

January 27th, 2012 | Posted in Legislation, National Issues, Personal Injury by bloom | No Comments »

A Connecticut judge has sentenced Joshua Komisarjevsky, 31, to die today for the brutal murder of a mother and her two daughters during a home invasion in 2007. “This is a terrible sentence, but one you have written for yourself,” Judge Jon Blue told Komisarjevsky in New Haven Superior Court. “Your crime was one of unimaginable horror and sadness,” the judge said. “Your fate is now in the hands of others. May God have mercy on your soul.”

Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 48, was raped and died of strangulation. Her daughters died of smoke inhalation as the home was set afire. Hawke-Petit’s husband, Dr. William Petit Jr., was tied up and beaten, but escaped before their home went up in flames. “July 23, 2007, was my own personal holocaust,” Petit Jr. said. “Evil does live among us.”

Komisarjevsky targeted Hawke-Petit and her younger daughter at a grocery store and later went with Hayes to their home as the family slept, police said he confessed to investigators. He bashed Petit with a baseball bat, tied him up and ransacked the home.

Police caught Komisarjevsky and his accomplice, Steven Hayes, 48, as they tried to flee.

Komisarjevsky’s sentencing brought to 11 the number of men on the Connecticut’s death row, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Connecticut has executed only one person, in 2005, since the death penalty was reinstated in the United States in 1976, the center said.

Notorious ‘Bama Fan, Brian Downing, Released on $10,000 Bond

January 23rd, 2012 | Posted in Celebrity Justice, Sexual Harassment, Sports by bloom | 1 Comment »

Brian Downing being booked at Central Lockup in New Orleans

What Russell County Sheriff and Downing’s second cousin, Heath Taylor, described as a “minute of misconduct” following Alabama’s National Championship victory on January 9 will likely haunt Mr. Brian Downing for the rest of his life.

32-year-old Downing faces a felony charge of sexual battery for allegedly putting his genitals on an unconscious LSU fan’s face at the Krystal on Bourbon St. following the game. The incident was videotaped and went viral across the internet within days. If convicted, he will have to register as a sex offender nationally and notify authorities whenever he changes his home address.

To make matters worse, Downing was fired from his job at Hibbett Sports shortly after it became public that police had identified him in the video. He is also married and has a newborn daughter. Surely, Downing’s severe consequences illustrate how a brief episode of irresponsibility can damage someone’s life for a very long time.

If you or anyone you know has been arrested, call Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for immediate help and a free case evaluation.

Alabama Man Arrested for Involvement in Viral Post-BCS Video

January 20th, 2012 | Posted in Legislation, Local Issues, NOPD, Personal Injury by bloom | No Comments »

Brian Downing, 32, of Smiths Station, Alabama, was arrested late Wednesday in connection with an incident that involved abusing an unconscious LSU fan at the Krystal on Bourbon Street. The event was videotaped and uploaded to the internet, where it spread like wildfire.

Police booked Downing on charges of sexual battery and obscenity. He was videotaped Jan. 9 “placing his genitals on an LSU fan’s face. The LSU fan appears to be heavily inebriated and practically unconscious,” a police statement said.

Downing surrendered himself to police peacefully after meeting with his attorney in New Orleans. He was encouraged to give himself up because of his family connection to Russell County, Ala., Sheriff Heath Taylor, who earlier Thursday had said Downing was on his way from Alabama to New Orleans to surrender.

If you or anyone you know has been arrested, call Bloom Legal at 504-599-9997 for immediate help and a free case evaluation.

Judge Charged with DUI

December 23rd, 2011 | Posted in DUI/DWI, Legislation by bloom | No Comments »

Randal Todd, a western Pennsylvania judge was charged with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol after Mt. Lebanon police said he caused a minor accident Dec. 16.

Police said the 56-year-old Allegheny County judge was confused and smelled of alcohol when he was stopped at 8:51 p.m. on Shady Drive West.

Randal Todd, 2001 photo

The criminal complaint says Todd responded that he was “just a little drunk” when Officer Matthew Mankamyer asked if he’d been drinking. Investigators said Todd then failed two field sobriety tests.

Administrative Common Pleas Judge Jeffery Manning said Todd was temporarily assigned to civil cases until his criminal case is resolved.

Defense attorney Bob Del Greco called the arrest “embarrassing” and said Todd could be a candidate for a first-time offender program.

If you or anyone you know have been arrested for DUI/DWI, contact Bloom Legal 24/7 at 504-599-9997 or online at www.bloomlegal.com for a free case evaluation. We are proud to now serve clients at both our original Warehouse District and new Metairie locations!

9-year-old Boy Suspended from School After Calling Teacher ‘Cute’

December 5th, 2011 | Posted in National Issues, Sexual Harassment by bloom | No Comments »

A 9-year-old boy in North Carolina was suspended after calling a teacher “cute,” WSOCTV.com reports. The boy’s mother, Chiquita Lockett, said the principal of Brookside Elementary in Gastonia called her after the incident to say the comment was a form of sexual harassment.

“It’s not like he went up to the woman and tried to grab her or touch her in a sexual way,” Lockett said. “So why would he be suspended for two days?”

According to the station, a district spokeswoman said she could not go into detail, but said the boy was suspended for “inappropriate behavior” after making “inappropriate statements.”

The district’s Code of Conduct doesn’t list “inappropriate behavior,” but says “disruption of school” is punishable by five days of out-of-school suspension.

You can read the full story here: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/12/04/boy-suspended-from-school-for-sexual-harassment-after-calling-teacher-cute/?google_editors_picks=true#ixzz1fgOnFa9D

If you or anyone you know have been accuses of sexual harassment, contact Bloom Legal 24/7 at www.bloomlegal.com or at 504-599-9997 for a free consultation to discuss your options.

NBA’s New Labor Agreement – Good News for the Hornets?

November 28th, 2011 | Posted in Hornets, Legislation, Local Issues, National Issues, Sports by bloom | No Comments »

Photo Courtesy of Zimbio.com

It finally looks like the 150-day NBA lockout will be coming to an end, after both owners and players tentatively agreed to a deal early Saturday morning that would split basketball-related income roughly 50/50 among both sides – and raises hopes for new Hornets ownership that is dedicated to keeping the franchise in New Orleans. The new revenue sharing model, which decreases the portion that players receive of so-called basketball-related income, or “BRI,” from 57 percent to between 49 to 51 percent, means that it is more attractive for a new owner to come forward and invest in the New Orleans franchise. If the deal is ratified, the season would start on Christmas day and would be reduced to 66 games as opposed to the regular 82.

Tulane sports law expert Gabe Feldman said the deal was not perfect for owners of smaller teams, citing that big-market teams would still be able to exploit loopholes to sign away top players, but was still an improvement because of increased revenue sharing and limits on bigger teams’ spending. “I think there’s no question [it helps the ownership search]. I think it makes it more attractive for all owners, but particularly an owner for the Hornets. I think, first of all, the fact that the lockout is now almost over and revenues will start coming in. And there is a system that does make it easier for a team like the Hornets to compete on and off the court,” said Feldman in an interview on Saturday.

However, even with light at the end of the tunnel, significant doubt remains over whether All-Star New Orleans’ point guard Chris Paul will remain with the Hornets. Ironically, under the new proposed CBA, which the NBA is heralding as a fairer approach to contract negotiation, a bigger market team like the New York Knicks could still leverage its larger cap room to attract a big-name player like Paul. Paul has said the new agreement hasn’t effected his decision of whether or not to remain in New Orleans. “I haven’t had an opportunity to do any of that,” he said. “Right now, I’m more worried about packing up so I can get back to the city.”

UC Davis Police on Leave After Pepper Spraying Students

November 21st, 2011 | Posted in National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

The police chief and two unidentified officers at UC Davis have been placed on administrative leave following a pepper spraying incident the University of California system president says he is “appalled” by.

An unidentified officer pepper sprays students during an 'Occupy Wall Street' protest

Cell phone videos posted online of the incident show an officer in riot gear spraying a line of students as they sit on the ground with their arms intertwined. The students were protesting as part of the worldwide “Occupy Wall Street” movement.

Nine students hit by pepper spray were treated at the scene, while two were taken the hospital and later released, university officials said. Ten people were arrested.

UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi said in a statement on Sunday that “I spoke with students this weekend and I feel their outrage.” Katehi set a 30-day timetable for her task force to investigate the incident and publish its report. Meanwhile, outraged alumni, students and faculty have called for Katehi’s resignation. The UC Davis faculty association called her actions a “gross failure of leadership.”

Dr. Conrad Murray Found Guilty in Michael Jackson Case

November 7th, 2011 | Posted in Celebrity Justice, National Issues by bloom | No Comments »

Dr. Conrad Murray, personal physician to late performer Michael Jackson, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter today by a Los Angeles jury.

Photo Courtesy of NOLA.com

Dr. Murray was implicated in Jackson’s 2009 overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol. In order to convict Dr. Murray, the jury needed to determine whether or not he had been reckless in the manner in which he administered the drug.

Dr. Murray faces up to 4 years in jail (the maximum sentence for a single count of involuntary manslaughter). He will be in custody until November 29 when he will be sentenced. Some sources speculate that he may not face any actual jail time and might receive a probation term from his conviction.

Bloom Legal Video Blog: Domestic Violence Charges

October 31st, 2011 | Posted in Courts, Legislation, Local Issues by bloom | No Comments »

Attorney Seth Bloom of Bloom Legal LLC in New Orleans, LA explains the process behind Domestic Violence charges.

Domestic Violence is unfortunately a widespread phenomenon across the United States and causes serious problems and harm between members of the same household.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of or is charged with Domestic Violence, contact Bloom Legal 24/7 at 504-599-9997 or online at http://www.bloomlegal.com for a free case evaluation.

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