Delinquently

We’ll admit it. Shortly after Sully Sullenberger pulled off his miraculous landing in the Hudson River last month, visions of lawsuits danced in our heads.

We weren’t exactly sure what these hypothetical lawsuits would look like, mind you, given that the passengers all survived, with only a few suffering minor injuries. But we tried out some theories, nonetheless, trying to gauge what the suits might request. Damages for emotional pain? Money for lost luggage? We took it even farther: What if the aborted flight caused someone to miss a job interview in Charlotte? Could that get wrapped into a claim?

Well, we just might find out! Another WSJ blog — The Middle Seat Terminal — is reporting today that more than a dozen passengers from the flight have contacted a well-known aviation accident law firm, Kreindler & Kreindler, to “learn more about their rights after the accident.” That said, Andrew Maloney, a lawyer at the firm said the firm wasn’t necessarily filing a suit. “Right now we’re trying to do the responsible thing and investigate the incident,” Maloney said. “And that’s what we’ve told people who’ve contacted us.”

US Airways has ponied up a little already. The airline sent passengers $5,000 checks — plus reimbursing airfare — the weekend after the accident. The carrier also upgraded all passengers on board to “Chairman’s Preferred” status, entitling them to automatic upgrades, exemptions from baggage fees and bonus miles for a year.

Are we gearing up for another big day of law-firm layoffs? The folks at Above the Law asked the question yesterday after hearing various rumors about pending pink-slippage at Latham & Watkins.

This morning, ATL, AmLaw and Legal Week are all reporting that Latham has cut 440 employees (190 associates and 250 staff). The cuts represent the largest to date by a U.S.-based firm.

Bob Dell, the firm’s managing partner, sent us the following statement:

The depth and duration of this recession is unprecedented and we expect the health of the global economy to remain weak at least through 2009. While our diversified practices and global platform provide the stability and strength to navigate these turbulent market conditions, we must adjust our staffing levels in line with the projected needs of our clients. . . . We will be offering a comprehensive separation package, including payment of six months salary and six months of continued medical benefits, as well as other resources to support this transition. . . . ”

According to the Legal Week piece, the firm’s New York and Los Angeles offices will be hit hard. The cuts come off the back of a dramatic fall in Latham’s profits in 2008. Profits per equity partner dropped 21% from $2.27 million to $1.8 million, while revenues fell 4% from just over $2 billion to $1.9 billion.

FBI Raids UF's Nuclear Power Institute and Iranian Nuke Professor - Director's Home. Check out the wife. Man, the jihad sure has the tiger by the tail. Huh!

Professor, Wife Accused of Defrauding NASA of Hundreds of Thousands of Taxpayer Dollars hat tip wolf

 The FBI and NASA are investigating a University of Florida professor and his wife for allegedly defrauding NASA out of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars for their own personal use.

Iranian-born Samim Anghaie, 59, is the Director of the Innovative Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Institute at the University of Florida. His wife, 55-year-old Sousan Anghaie, is president of New Era Technology Inc. (NETECH) in Gainesville, Fla.

Authorities say Sousan Anghaie persuaded NASA to award her company "several fully funded contracts," including nearly $600,000 to develop and study a uranium-related technology.

But, according to an affidavit unsealed today in federal court, the couple allegedly used most of that money to buy personal luxuries — including their $480,000 home in Gainesville, a 2007 BMW and a 2005 Toyota Sienna sports van.

They also used that money to buy a property for their son in Tampa, Fla., a property for their other son in Manchester, Conn., a 2008 Toyota Corolla for Sousan Anghaie's sister, and a 2007 Toyota Corolla for another family member.

Earlier today federal agents raided the Innovative Nuclear Space Power and Propulsion Institute, according to a law enforcement official.

•    The Executive Director’s report, dated February 19, 2009, and Department’s report, dated January 9, 2009, relative to Status Report Relevant to the Department’s Efforts Regarding the Prevention of Biased Policing and the Response from Analysis Group to the ACLU of Southern California Report Entitled “A Study of Racially Disparate Outcomes in the Los Angeles Police Department, as presented by Executive Director Richard Tefank, was approved.  Mr. Tefank informed the Commission he had a series of meetings with Commissioner Robert Saltzman, Deputy Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur and Police Administrator Maggie Goodrich in which they discussed training to identify incidents of biased policing and the use of TEAMS II for documentation of bias policing incidents.  With regards to TEAMS II, supervisors would meet with the accused officer to discuss the incident and documentation would be made in his or her TEAMS II profile.  The profiles would be subject to real-time auditing by the Inspector General.  Deputy Chief MacArthur added officers are first trained to identify bias policing scenarios in the Academy.  Recruits who are unable to adhere to Department protocols are relieved of duty.  Every officer in the Department is currently required to take an e-learning class on bias policing every 18 to 24 months.  Department command staff participates in 4 to 5 trainings per year. Commander Richard Webb, Commanding Officer of Professional Standards Bureau, stated the draft of the new Special Order changing Racial Profiling to Bias Policing has been completed and is awaiting approval by Deputy Chief Charlie Beck and Police Chief William Bratton.  Police Commission President Anthony Pacheco expressed his pleasure with the progress thus far but stated there is still much work to be done.

•    The Executive Directors report, dated February 19, 2009, relative to Write Off of Uncollectable False Alarm Accounts Receivable for the period January 1, 1982 through December 31, 2009, was approved and transmitted to the City’s Board of Review.

•    The Department’s report, dated February 13, 2009, relative to the Department’s Quarterly Discipline Report, Fourth Quarter, 2008, was received the Office of the Inspector General was directed to submit an analysis of this report along with any appropriate recommendations to the Board.

In June 2008, a 58-year-old resident of Cumming, Georgia passed away from helium intoxication. Police suspected assisted suicide, and the Georgia Burea of Investigation launched a probe into the Final Exit Network.

Today, the GBI’s investigation led to the arrests of Atlanta resident Claire Behr, age 76, and a Kennesaw man, 63-year-old Thomas E. Goodwin. Authorities in Maryland also charged two others they believe to be part of the alleged assisted suicide network: Baltimore residents Dr. Lawrence Egbert, age 81 and 60-year-old Nicholas Alec Sheridan.

The GBI became involved after Cumming Police and the Forsyth County coroner suspected the unnamed suicide in Cumming had received assistance and relatives found material related to Final Exit in the man’s possession.

According to Atlanta’s ABC affiliate, WSB TV, the arrestees all “have been charged on warrants out of Forsyth County with assisted suicide, tampering with evidence, and violation of the Georgia RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act.”

The GBI performed a sting to determine how Final Exit works.

Members apparently pay a fee and fill out an application. Then they are assigned “Exit Guides.” Exit Guides instruct the new member on the materials they should purchase; these include helium tanks and a hood the Network calls an “exit bag.”

The day of the member’s suicide, they are attended by the Exit Guide and a Senior Exit Guide.

Atlanta’s Fox affiliate [link] interviewed a GBI official on-air, and he reported that the suicide process put an emphasis on the “assisted” portion of the term. The GBI believes that Final Exit guides actually hold the suicide down to complete the act even if the person in question has second thoughts.

WSB reports that Final Exit is under investigation in 7 states: “Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Colorado, and Montana.”

More arrests may be made soon.

Assisting someone with learning a method of suicide could be considered a debatable topic to some. Allegedly holding the dying person down after they have second thoughts and begin to struggle seems like it’d be a pretty clear-cut case of homicide.

Here’s how the Final Exit Network explains what they do:

We believe the needs of those who are suffering are paramount. We applaud the work of organizations that seek legislative action to strengthen our right to die a peaceful and painless death at the time and place of our choosing. However, we feel that legislative change will not come soon enough for the many people who need help NOW and in the interim!

This is definitely a developing story, and its scope dictates you’ll hear a lot more about it in the days to come. This entry may be updated and revised.

A former Cub Scout leader from Flint has been charged with sexually assaulting children.

Crime Statistics February 21, 2009

VIOLENT CRIMES                2009**             2008**          % Chg

Homicide                             42*                  61           -31.1%
Rape                                  101                 121           -16.5%
Robbery                            1865               1795              3.9%
Agg Assaults **                  1539               1619             -4.9%
Total Violent Crimes       3,547             3,596            -1.4%

PROPERTY CRIMES

Burglary                              2546              2642            -3.6%
BTFV                                   4271              4325            -1.2%
Personal/Other Theft           3531              3728            -5.3%
Auto Theft                          2549               3090          -17.5%
Total Property Crimes     12,897          13,785           -6.4%
Total Part I Crimes          16,444          17,381           -5.4%

* Numbers reflects a change in reclassification for Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) guidelines and numbers are adjusted accordingly.

** Prior to 2005, Aggravated Assaults included Child/Spousal Simple Assaults

In a case that examined freedom of expression in public forums, the Supreme Court says a city does not have to place a religious groups' monument next to the Ten Commandments.

Los Angeles:  Gang Officer's investigating possible gang activity were met with gunfire, resulting in an officer involved shooting.

On February 22, 2009, at around 8:00 p.m., Los Angeles Police Officer Michael Stewart, with eleven and a half years of service, and his partner, were patrolling in the area of St. Andrews Place and West Martin Luther King Boulevard.  The Officers saw several suspected gang members standing at the corner.  When the suspects saw the Officers, they ran in different directions. 

Officers followed one subject who ran into the parking lot of a motel located in the 1700 block of West Martin Luther King Boulevard.  Officer Stewart got out of the patrol car and walked into the parking lot where he encountered the subject who had drawn a pistol and began firing at him.  Stewart returned fire, striking the subject in the ankle.  The subject was taken into custody without further incident.  A loaded pistol used by the subject was recovered and taken into evidence.

The subject's name is not being released because he is a minor.  He was treated for his injury at a local hospital and subsequently booked for Attempt Murder of a Police Officer, and is being held without bail.

Neither Officer was injured.

Force Investigation Division is handling the investigation.

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