There remains much confusion about the law's provisions. More than a third of respondents wrongly think it contains panels of bureaucrats to make decisions about people's care — what critics labeled "death panels" — and 65 percent believe congressional budget analysts said it would increase the government's debt. In fact, budget analysts say it will reduce red ink.
The biggest changes in the legislation, such as the new purchasing pools and requirement for everyone to carry insurance, don't kick in until 2014. Among changes taking effect this week:
_Young adults can remain on family health plans until they turn 26.
_Free immunization provided for kids.
_Free preventive care provided, such as mammograms and cholesterol screenings.
_No more lifetime coverage limits, and annual limits start to phase out.
_Plans can't cancel coverage for people who get sick.
_No denial of coverage for kids with pre-existing health conditions.
___
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Long Truth
Bishop Eddie Long | Charges could be difficult to proveBy Craig Schneider
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
7:42 p.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sexual coercion accusations, such as the ones leveled at Bishop Eddie Long, can be difficult to prove in court, but cases have been won against other religious leaders, experts say.
There must be proof that the religious leader compromised the will of his victim, said Atlanta attorney Lee Parks, who has represented people coerced into sex.
"It is not enough to say they got enough gifts until they said yes," Parks said. "That is still yes."
Proving that in the Long case will be difficult, because the plaintiffs were of legal age of consent, and don't assert they were forced to submit, made drunk or drugged, Parks said. Consequently, there must be proof that Long had so much control over his accusers they had no power to resist, the attorney said.
Three defendants charge that Long used his mega-church position to build a strong personal bond with them, by taking them on trips and giving them lavish gifts. They said the church leader convinced them that sex with him was part of a healthy spiritual life. They also have claimed that Long violated his legal responsibility as a spiritual adviser. Long adamantly denies the allegations.
"There is a legal responsibility not to compromise your position of trust, to overcome another's will," Parks said.
If the Long case survived a judge's initial review, it could go to a jury trial and take two years to be decided and another two years in appeals, Parks said. These cases often end in a financial settlement between the parties.
"The publicity in this kind of case is something the defendant does not want," Parks said.
Ronald Carlson, a University of Georgia law professor, said there have been major judgments against religious figures who coerced church members into sex. Those cases stressed the religious leader's power over the person as a father figure and religious adviser.
Carlson said the defense likely will stress that several years have passed between the alleged events and the lawsuit filings, that the plaintiffs simply are looking for money. The defense next could raise credibility issues, since one of the plaintiffs was arrested in June in connection with a burglary at the church. The defense also could stress Long's history of community and church service, the UGA educator said.
Elevating the accusations to criminal charges could be difficult, with a higher standard of proof and the plaintiffs required to prove that the defendant held an almost cult-like -- power over them, Parks said.
Federal charges are slim even while the defendants assert that Long took them on trips to other states and had sex with them. If the young men were considered minors in those states, Parks doesn't believe federal authorities would get involved. Taking a minor across state lines for sex is a federal crime, but the federal government concentrates on cases that involve child prostitution and pornography, he said.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
7:42 p.m. Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Sexual coercion accusations, such as the ones leveled at Bishop Eddie Long, can be difficult to prove in court, but cases have been won against other religious leaders, experts say.
There must be proof that the religious leader compromised the will of his victim, said Atlanta attorney Lee Parks, who has represented people coerced into sex.
"It is not enough to say they got enough gifts until they said yes," Parks said. "That is still yes."
Proving that in the Long case will be difficult, because the plaintiffs were of legal age of consent, and don't assert they were forced to submit, made drunk or drugged, Parks said. Consequently, there must be proof that Long had so much control over his accusers they had no power to resist, the attorney said.
Three defendants charge that Long used his mega-church position to build a strong personal bond with them, by taking them on trips and giving them lavish gifts. They said the church leader convinced them that sex with him was part of a healthy spiritual life. They also have claimed that Long violated his legal responsibility as a spiritual adviser. Long adamantly denies the allegations.
"There is a legal responsibility not to compromise your position of trust, to overcome another's will," Parks said.
If the Long case survived a judge's initial review, it could go to a jury trial and take two years to be decided and another two years in appeals, Parks said. These cases often end in a financial settlement between the parties.
"The publicity in this kind of case is something the defendant does not want," Parks said.
Ronald Carlson, a University of Georgia law professor, said there have been major judgments against religious figures who coerced church members into sex. Those cases stressed the religious leader's power over the person as a father figure and religious adviser.
Carlson said the defense likely will stress that several years have passed between the alleged events and the lawsuit filings, that the plaintiffs simply are looking for money. The defense next could raise credibility issues, since one of the plaintiffs was arrested in June in connection with a burglary at the church. The defense also could stress Long's history of community and church service, the UGA educator said.
Elevating the accusations to criminal charges could be difficult, with a higher standard of proof and the plaintiffs required to prove that the defendant held an almost cult-like -- power over them, Parks said.
Federal charges are slim even while the defendants assert that Long took them on trips to other states and had sex with them. If the young men were considered minors in those states, Parks doesn't believe federal authorities would get involved. Taking a minor across state lines for sex is a federal crime, but the federal government concentrates on cases that involve child prostitution and pornography, he said.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Harvard Law Student: 'African Americans Are, On Average, Genetically Predisposed To Be Less Intelligent'
A racist email written by a third-year Harvard Law student has incited outcry at law schools across the country.
I absolutely do not rule out the possibility that African Americans are, on average, genetically predisposed to be less intelligent. I could also obviously be convinced that by controlling for the right variables, we would see that they are, in fact, as intelligent as white people under the same circumstances. The fact is, some things are genetic. African Americans tend to have darker skin. Irish people are more likely to have red hair. Everyone wants someone to take 100 white infants and 100 African American ones and raise them in Disney utopia and prove once and for all that we are all equal on every dimension, or at least the really important ones like intelligence. I am merely not 100% convinced that this is the case.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/28/harvard-racist-email_n_555247.html
http://abovethelaw.com/2010/04/hls-3ls-racist-email-goes-national/
I absolutely do not rule out the possibility that African Americans are, on average, genetically predisposed to be less intelligent. I could also obviously be convinced that by controlling for the right variables, we would see that they are, in fact, as intelligent as white people under the same circumstances. The fact is, some things are genetic. African Americans tend to have darker skin. Irish people are more likely to have red hair. Everyone wants someone to take 100 white infants and 100 African American ones and raise them in Disney utopia and prove once and for all that we are all equal on every dimension, or at least the really important ones like intelligence. I am merely not 100% convinced that this is the case.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/28/harvard-racist-email_n_555247.html
http://abovethelaw.com/2010/04/hls-3ls-racist-email-goes-national/
Friday, March 5, 2010
4 Accused Of Kidnapping, Torturing Teen
Two men and two women are accused by police of kidnapping and torturing a 19-year-old woman.
Police said the suspects followed the teen to a hotel Sunday, where they abducted her and took her to a vacant rowhouse in Patterson Park.
The suspects are accused of bounding the teen to a chair and shooting her.
"The victim stated that the assailants applied duct tape across the eyes ... shot her and left her for dead in the basement of the vacant dwelling," according to a court document.
Detective Kevin Hagan said, "It appears that they did sort of torture her in order to try to get her to get someone to give them money for her release."
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/22751165/detail.html
Police said the suspects followed the teen to a hotel Sunday, where they abducted her and took her to a vacant rowhouse in Patterson Park.
The suspects are accused of bounding the teen to a chair and shooting her.
"The victim stated that the assailants applied duct tape across the eyes ... shot her and left her for dead in the basement of the vacant dwelling," according to a court document.
Detective Kevin Hagan said, "It appears that they did sort of torture her in order to try to get her to get someone to give them money for her release."
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/22751165/detail.html
Black Woman's Body Found
Is this sad, or what? This Black woman’s body has been laying out in the elements for four months! I can’t believe that NOBODY noticed that this woman was missing or reported her missing. Had this been a pilgrim, it would still be splashed all over the news media and Nancy Grace would be having a field day with this!
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=98010&catid=158
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=98010&catid=158
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Professor charged in Alabama university shooting
(CNN) -- A Harvard-trained biology professor is facing murder charges in the shooting deaths of three faculty members at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, police said early Saturday.
Authorities said Amy Bishop wounded three other employees Friday. She was arrested outside the sciences building where the shooting occurred, authorities said
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/13/alabama.university.shooting/index.html
Authorities said Amy Bishop wounded three other employees Friday. She was arrested outside the sciences building where the shooting occurred, authorities said
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/02/13/alabama.university.shooting/index.html
Monday, February 8, 2010
Toyota to decide about recalling Priuses soon
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