Miscellaneous

• Punitive Damages - On Borrowed Time?

  Elaine Mandel | October 31, 2006 5:20 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  The United States Supreme Court takes up the issue of punitive damages - meant to punish corporate wrongdoers - with a new case against cigarette maker Philip Morris USA.For 45 years, Jesse Williams smoked two packs of Marlboros a day. Williams believed Philip Morris' decades of PR claiming that cigarette smoking was safe. After he died of lung cancer, William's widow sued Philip Morris USA. ...

• Pope Acknowledges Priest Molestation Scandal

  Paul Kiesel | October 29, 2006 1:57 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  For the first time in his papacy Pope Benedict XVI spoke out against priest abuse. There has been a growing spotlight on the Vatican's response to sexual molestation since the release of the recent documentary "Hear No Evil." "The wounds caused by such acts run deep," Benedict said.The Pope told the bishops that, as they continued to deal with the problem, "it is important to establish the...

• Second Victim Comes Forth Naming Foley's Abuser

  Cheryl Buchanan | October 29, 2006 1:37 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  As anyone who has studied the patterns and practices of pedophiles knows, they seldom strike once. Earlier this week, the first lawsuit was filed in the Miami Archdiocese naming Father Anthony Mercieca. Mercieca has become a household name recently, following the accusations of former Congressman Mark Foley. Now that a second courageous individual has come forward, one can't help but wonder...

• Settlement Reached in Seven Clergy Abuse Cases

  Michael Eyerly | October 27, 2006 11:41 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Seven clergy cases pending against the Los Angeles Archdiocese settle for $10 million.The parties involved in seven clergy abuse cases reached a settlement agreement yesterday. The seven cases settled for a total of $10 million. Two of the victims alleged they were sexually molested while attending a school in Encino. The cases all involved 67 year old Dominic Savino, who was a Carmelite...

• Health Care "Providers" Dump Patients at Skid Row

  Patrick DeBlase | October 26, 2006 12:18 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Ambulances and hospitals caught in the act of dumping patients on skid row.In the "Man's Inhumanity to Man" file: It's no secret that state and national health care and insurance programs are in shambles and people's ability to afford such insurance or care is on a downward spiral. The end result is an utter lack of preventative maintenance and people without health insurance getting sicker...

• Move Afoot To Limit Big Rigs' Speed on the Roads(2)

  Elaine Mandel | October 24, 2006 11:25 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  The trucking industry is trying to take responsibility and help decrease the number of highway big rig collisions by proposing to limit big rigs' speed on the roads. Every year, thousands of Americans are killed or seriously injured in highway accidents involving large commercial trucks. We all know these huge vehicles can be a menace on the roads. These big rig accidents can be very serious,...

• Move Afoot To Limit Big Rigs' Speed on the Roads

  Elaine Mandel | October 24, 2006 11:10 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

• Accused Priest still at large despite molestation alleagion

  Paul Kiesel | October 22, 2006 5:38 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Father Aguilar was accused of molestation, and, just prior to his arrest, he fled back to Mexico, perhaps with the assistance of the Los Angeles archdiocese, according to yesterday's New York Times. Last night I saw the play "Doubt" here in Los Angeles. "Doubt" is the story of a priest in the early 1960s at a Catholic school on the east coast. As I sat in the audience, watching the story...

• "Absolutely No Other Problems" in Mark Foley's Case

  Cheryl Buchanan | October 22, 2006 12:05 AM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  The Catholic Church's response to former Congressman Mark Foley's allegations of sexual molestation by a Florida priest has captured lots of headlines. But is anyone really paying attention to the depth of the emptiness behind this "Zero Tolerance Policy" in action? As reported by the New York Times, on October 21st, Father Anthony Mercieca has acknowledged being naked with teenage Mark in the...

• Workers' Compensation Carriers Reaping Windfall Profits at the Expense of Workers, Employers

  Patrick DeBlase | October 19, 2006 9:42 PM | 0 CommentsLos Angeles, CA

  Despite huge windfall profits at the expense of injured workers, Callifornia's workers' compensation carriers are still shortchanging applicants on accepted injury claims. A class action lawsuit by Kiesel, Boucher & Larson, LLP seeks to restore injured workers their appropriate benefits under the law.In 2004, Governor Schwarzenegger pushed sweeping changes to the workers' compensation laws...