Among the foremost threats to individual freedom in America is the abusive and oftentimes lawless behavior…
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More Legal Shenanigans from the Biden Administration’s Department of Education

Among the foremost threats to individual freedom in America is the abusive and oftentimes lawless behavior of federal administrative agencies, whose vast armies of overpaid bureaucrats remain unaccountable for their excesses.

Among the most familiar examples of that bureaucratic abuse is the Department of Education (DOE).  Recall, for instance, the United States Supreme Court’s humiliating rebuke last year of the Biden DOE’s effort to shift hundreds of billions of dollars of student debt from the people who actually owed them onto the backs of American taxpayers.

Even now, despite that rebuke, the Biden DOE launched an alternative scheme last month in an end-around effort to achieve that same result.

Well, the Biden DOE is now attempting to shift tens of millions of dollars of…[more]

March 19, 2024 • 08:35 AM

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Jester’s Courtroom
Gearing Up for the Protest Lawsuit
Wednesday, September 02 2020

Several individuals involved in the Seattle protests have come together to file a lawsuit seeking taxpayer money to pay for expensive anti-police protective gear.

According to news reports, the lawsuit claims that having to purchase gas masks, boots, gloves, helmets and other gear deprives poorer demonstrators of their First Amendment rights.  In response, criminal defense attorney Brian Claypool calls the suit "out of bounds."

"You’ve got to be kidding me that you’re asking a court that taxpayers should pay for protective gear," Claypool said. "You’re asking a court that is supposed to be interpreting the law, not making the law, to then prescribe what levels of force that police officers can use in very fluid and volatile situations."

"You can’t charge people and make people have to buy expensive stuff in order to protest," countered Andrew Stoltmann, an attorney and adjunct law professor at Northwestern University. 

Claypool warned that if the plaintiffs win the lawsuit, it might encourage protestors to become more violent "because now the taxpayers are arming them with all this gear."

The Seattle City Attorney’s office intends to defend the city. The plaintiffs are seeking a temporary restraining order that would prohibit the use of force by city police.

Source: foxnews.com

Penny for Your Thoughts
Thursday, August 27 2020

A class action lawsuit has been filed against popular restaurant chain Chipotle Mexican Grill after customers did not receive their exact change at checkout.

With a coin shortage happening throughout the country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, some stores are short-changing their customers. One plaintiff claims to have visited a Pennsylvania store and paid her $15.51 total with a $20 bill, only receiving $4 in return rather than $4.49. A second plaintiff claims she received $11 in change instead of $11.28.

“This ‘company policy’ not only discriminates against people who do not have, or do not wish to use, credit cards, but also results in a tax-free cash windfall to Chipotle,” the suit reads.

In a written statement, Chipotle Chief Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer Laurie Schalow said, “If a restaurant is low on change as a result of the nationwide coin shortage, our policy is to only accept exact change or other non-cash forms of payment.

“Restaurants that are impacted have signage posted on the door as well as inside, and employees have been instructed to alert guests prior to ordering. We encourage customers to contact us immediately with any concerns so we can investigate and respond quickly to make things right.”

Frank G. Salpietro, attorney for the plaintiffs, claims the corporate explanation and signage are not sufficient. “If someone tells you, ‘I’m gonna steal from you,’ and they steal from you, that didn’t get them off the hook.”

Source: post-gazette.com

Judge Judy Wants Day in Court
Thursday, August 20 2020

Judge Judy Sheindlin, the star of the syndicated long-running daytime television show “Judge Judy” is suing a talent agency in Los Angeles County Superior Court for $22 million in fees she alleges the agency wrongly received.

According to news reports, Sheindlin was "discovered" by two producers following a "60 Minutes" profile in 1993 that showcased her quick-witted style in the courtroom. At that time, the producers were represented by Richard Lawrence and his talent agency, Rebel Entertainment Partners, but, according to Sheindlin, that only lasted a very short time. Nonetheless, Richard Lawrence has allegedly collected $22 million over the last 24 years in syndication fees. Sheindlin calls him "an unethical and self-dealing talent agent, and one of the luckiest men in the world." Sheindlin says Lawrence and his agency were not entitled to collect "one penny of fees" because the agency did not represent a package deal and that the agency was "effectively stealing from the series’ bona fide profit participants, including Sheindlin."

Earlier this month, Rebel Entertainment sued CBS Studios, Sheindlin and others claiming it would be owed money if any "Judge Judy" episodes were sold.

Should the gavel come down in her favor, Sheindlin says she will donate any net proceeds she receives to the charity Stand Up To Cancer.

Source: Courthousenews.com

The Big Easy?
Thursday, August 13 2020

Comedian Andy Dick has filed a civil lawsuit in New Orleans against a man he claims punched him last year outside a French Quarter nightclub.

According to news reports, Dick alleges David Hale caused “serious, permanent and disabling injuries.” Dick seeks compensation for medical expenses and lost wages, among other damages. Hale maintains that Dick provoked him by grabbing Hale’s genitals and winking at him outside the club where Dick had performed. Dick denies the allegation.

"The entire suit is ridiculous," Hale's attorney, Michael Kennedy said, adding it was "appalling" that Dick would seek lost wages during a pandemic.

Last month the New Orleans district attorney’s office announced it was dropping the prosecution of Hale because Dick failed to cooperate and keep in touch with prosecutors. Dick has since said he would be willing to come to New Orleans to testify against Hale.

Source: Westport-news.com

Do Masks Interfere with the Ability to Pray?
Thursday, August 06 2020

A Florida pastor is suing local authorities over a mask mandate, claiming the resolution is wrong biblically.

Rev. Joel Tillis, a pastor at Suncoast Baptist Church in Palmetto, has joined forces with State Representative Anthony Sabatini (R) to nullify a local ordinance that requires people to wear masks inside businesses and churches when social distancing isn’t possible. Sabatini has filed over a dozen similar lawsuits across the state.

"The resolution is wrong legally. The resolution is wrong biblically. The resolution is wrong medically. The resolution is wrong, and we do not accept it under any circumstances," Tillis told a crowd at a gathering in support of the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, the mandate is "a radical infringement of the reasonable and legitimate expectation of privacy and facial autonomy in addition to the medical privacy by forcing them to wear masks for the majority of the day." Tillis adds that the mandate makes it "more difficult for him to preach and for members of the choir at his church to sing."

Source: The Bradenton Herald



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