“An Iowa judge has denied unemployment benefits to a man who claimed discrimination after being fired from an ethanol plant for drinking ‘automobile fuel’ produced by the company.” Cory Neddermeyer, 42, was fired after being hospitalized with an almost fatal 0.72 blood-alcohol level after dipping into the 190-proof fuel at his employer, Amaizing Energy in Denison, Iowa. “Neddermeyer argued that his employer shared in the responsibility for the incident because the spill at the plant provided an ‘opportunity’ for him to drink. He also argued that Amaizing Energy was discriminating against him due to his ‘disease of alcoholism.'” (Clark Kauffman, “Man fired for getting gassed on spilled ethanol at work”, Des Moines Register, Jul. 9 (via Romenesko)).
“Tide turns against rape — but why?”
“The Washington Post recently reported that since the 1970s, rape has diminished in frequency by some 85 percent.” Both feminists and televangelists would seem to have some trouble accounting for this welcome trend, given that access to pornography on the one hand, and the trappings of modernism in general on the other, remain ubiquitous (Steve Chapman, syndicated/Chicago Tribune, Jun. 29)(reg).
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
We’re lucky the internet is going to be regulated by lawmakers with such a profound understanding of how it works. (Wired.com/27B Stroke 6, Jun. 29)(via Nobody’s Business who got it from Boing Boing).
Slavery reparations gaining momentum?
The Associated Press claims, on evidence whose strength readers may assess for themselves, that advocates of slavery reparations now constitute a “sophisticated, mainstream movement” which is “quietly chalking up victories and gaining momentum”. Amid all its cheerleading for the concept, the article brings in my Manhattan Institute colleague John McWhorter for token balance (Erin Texeira, “Slavery reparations gaining momentum”, AP/Boston Globe, Jun. 9).
“Cat-owner suit seeks $1.4 million in pet death”
In Portland, Ore., Janet Dumas, age 86, says neighbor Chad F. Christensen let his two dogs run loose which spelled the end of her pet cat Clyde; she claims Christensen tried to cover up the deed. Did he realize that her son was a lawyer? He does now. (Mark Larabee, The Oregonian, Jul. 7).
“Leader of anti-DUI squad is arrested on DUI”
Update: court to dismiss Leno defamation suit
According to The Recorder/Law.com, a San Francisco judge has said he would grant an anti-SLAPP motion and dismiss a defamation suit filed against late-night host Jay Leno by a woman who was the butt of one of his comedy routines (see Apr. 18) (Pam Smith, “Calif. Court to Toss Defamation Suit Against Jay Leno”, The Recorder, Jun. 19).
Soup-tampering does not pay
“A federal grand jury indicted a Stockbridge, Ga. man Thursday on charges he poisoned his own children with tainted soup in an attempt to extort money from soup maker Campbell’s.” Prosecutors say William Allen Cunningham, 40, on three occasions in January fed his children, aged 3 years and 18 months, soup spiked with dangerous substances which resulted each time in their hospitalization. Cunningham allegedly told police he planned to sue the Campbell Soup Company for money based on the injuries. (“Man Indicted For Poisoning Soup and Feeding It to His Children”, WXIA/FirstCoastNews, Jul. 7; Priscilla Rodriguez, “Dad accused of tampering with kids’ soup”, KNX NewsRadio, Jul. 7). And in Newport News, Va., Carla Patterson was sentenced to 12 months in jail as punishment for a scam in which she and her son Ricky claimed to have found a dead mouse in the soup at a Cracker Barrel restaurant, for which they sought $500,000 (Jun. 3, 2004); evidence indicated that the mouse had neither drowned nor been cooked, but had died of a fractured skull. (“Woman gets year in jail for mouse-in-soup scam”, WAVY-TV, Jul. 6; Beverly N. Williams, “Mother gets year in mouse soup case”, Newport News Daily Press, Jul. 6).
Mistaken for Michael Jordan, so he sues
By reader acclaim: Allen Heckard of Portland, Ore. “says he’s been mistaken as Michael Jordan nearly every day over the past 15 years and he’s tired of it.” So he’s suing the basketball star and Nike founder Phil Knight for $832 million in all. “’I’m constantly being accused of looking like Michael and it makes it very uncomfortable for me,’ said Heckard. Heckard is suing Jordan for defamation and permanent injury and emotional pain and suffering. He’s suing Knight for defamation and permanent injury for promoting Jordan and making him one of the most recognized men in the world.” Why $832 million, exactly? “Well, you figure with my age and you multiply that times seven and ah, then I turn around and ah I figure that’s what it all boils down to.” That’s no more arbitrary as a calculation than some damage assertions we can think of that have done very well in court (Pat Dooris, “Local man sues Jordan, Nike for resemblance”, KGW, Jul. 7)(& more). Update Aug. 3: he drops case.
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