Another packed commentary with Paul on Andy’s show today.
Top of the news today is the coming announcement of charges related to the death of Trayvon Martin. The Special Prosecutor is set to hold a news conference at 6:00 PM today. Andy asked Paul to be available tomorrow for commentary, so listen in then on this topic.
A Michigan school teacher, Brooke Harris, was fired this week for supporting a fundraising event for Trayvon’s parents. They were going to wear “hoodies” and pay $1.00. There have been other fund-raising events at this school where the children were allowed to “dress down.” Neither Paul nor Andy could understand why Harris was booted. She went through proper channels and when the Superintendent said “no”, Harris was on her way to tell the students. She was then fired. Paul will follow and report more if available next week.
The third story discussed today was about another teacher, Jarretta Hamilton, in Florida, who was fired for having pre-marital sex. Hamilton worked at a Christian school in St. Cloud, Florida, and the school says she violated the moral precepts of the school. Hamilton and her husband, the father of the child to be, went in to ask the principal about maternity leave. Then, the principal began asking personal questions, and learned the child was conceived about two months before Hamilton and her husband wed. Paul’s thought: blatant gender discrimination!
Paul’s tip of the day involved what to do if you are injured at work. Listen to the segment to learn and also, to learn the startling truth about Worker’s Compensation claims.
Andy and Paul squared off today on Paul’s last comment, at the end of talking about Trayvon Martin. Trayvon, killed in Florida by a community watch captain, facts still to be determined and grand jury being empaneled on April 10th… Paul offered that he didn’t like the fact that the community watch captain had a gun, saying Trayvon would still be alive if the watch captain didn’t have a gun. Andy offered up the self defense argument. They agreed to disagree.
Next, Paul educated us about the distinction between a Worker’s Compensation claim and a lawsuit against the employer as it relates to the current suits against the National Football League (NFL), the most recent one a class action suit with former Redskin, Mark Rypien as the named Plaintiff. The lawsuit, now one of about 51 or 52 currently in state courts all over the country, alleges that the NFL knew all of the hits to the head in games and practices would cause permanent neurologic and cognitive problems. Listen to find out why these are not Worker’s Compensation claims.
The final topic discussed today involved the voluntary agreement between Match.com, E-Harmony and Spark Networks (match-making services) and the California Attorney General, to screen and block sexual offenders and those with fake profiles from using the services. This agreement arose out of horrible case last year when a woman was raped by a man set up through Match.com.
Paul’s tip was to put a family member’s name and telephone number in your cell phone under ICE — In Case of Emergency — so if there is an emergency, first responders or rescue people know who to contact.
Today’s talk between Paul and Andy was sizzling. Andy asked about employers who want prospects’ Facebook usernames and passwords, as a condition of employment. Wow! Paul couldn’t have been more adamant that this was the ultimate invasion of privacy. He asked if the prospect should just give the employer the keys to the house and allow them into all of the private drawers and such. Paul’s advice is to be aware of what is on your social media pages and recognize that people are looking. In today’s world, sometimes your job situation might demand you allow this fishing expedition.
Next, the guys talked about the fatal shooting of 17 year old Trayvon Martin by a Florida “neighborhood watch captain”. Trayvon was black, the captain, George Zimmerman, is white. Media attention on this couldn’t be higher. Paul explained that a grand jury will most likely be convened to determine if Mr. Zimmerman will stand trial, and that police did nothing wrong in not initially arresting him. Listen to find out why.
The third conversation focused on the Supreme Court’s coming decision involving whether children whose father died before they were born, or even conceived, are entitled to survivors benefits under Social Security laws. Servicemen who are deployed to a war zone are more commonly making deposits into sperm banks, in case they don’t return their widows can still potentially have their children. Should the kids get Social Security benefits if they weren’t born before dad died? The Supreme Court will tell us. Paul says they’ll say “no.”
Finally, Paul’s tip of the day involved protecting your assets for reimbursement in the event of a house fire. Listen to find out what to do!
Andy came right out of the box with questions about cancer warnings involving Pepsi, Coke & Diet Coke. Paul explained that it was a consumer watchdog group, CSPI, that wrote a letter to the FDA encouraging them to ban caramel coloring in popular soft drinks. The FDA and an independent group, however, offer there is no reason to believe consumers are in danger. The risk would involve drinking more than 1000 cans of soda in a day.
Next, Andy inquired about all of the changing gun laws in our region. Paul described Virginia’s change last week, lifting a 19 year ban on the number of guns that someone can purchase each month. It used to be one, now, despite pleas from the families of the Virginia Tech massacre to limit, the Governor lifted the ban, and Virginians can buy as many guns as they want, whenever they want. In Maryland, Paul talked about the change in the concealed weapons law, where a Federal judge ruled that Marylanders no longer have to provide a reason to carry a weapon outside of their homes. A portion of the law was deemed unconstitutional, in violation of the 2nd Amendment. Paul quoted a study in New York (a very gun restrictive jurisdiction) finding that only 12% of suicides there come due to guns, where the national average is over 51%.
Finally, Andy told Paul he had to know: Can Rush Limbaugh be sued? Rush is still in the news for the highly derogatory, and slanderous remarks he made on air about Sandra Fluke, the law student health activist. Paul explained that yes, Rush might well soon be on the wrong end of a civil slander lawsuit.
Paul’s legal tip of the day involved the issue of suing: he offered that because you have the right to do so doesn’t mean you should. As a side note, after the show, a gentleman listening called Paul and asked Paul’s opinion on a matter where that very issue was challenging him. Thanks for listening Sir!
Press the Play button ► on the cassette player below to hear this week’s show. You can pause, rewind and fast forward to listen to your favorite parts.
The trial of Dr. Conrad Murray charged with Manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson continues and we’ll be giving focus to the expert testimony offered this past week. Paul will be helping out with how deviations from Standards of Care in this case, just may lead to a guilty verdict. We’ll also look at what the defense has planned as they present their side of the story next week.
Fast and Furious was a U.S. employed strategy to slow down the illegal sale and purchase of firearms … Unfortunately, Fast and Furious turned out to best describe the finger pointing now going on over who is responsible for what is, at a minimum, a frightening misuse of authority to implement an ill-conceived plan. We’ll be asking for your thoughts. Paul shares his views later in the program.
American Student Amanda Knox has returned a free woman after years in an Italian prison and while acquitted of the more serious charges, shades of Casey Anthony clouded the case with lies to law enforcement officials. In Celebrity news, the FBI makes an arrest in the Scarlett Johansson case, and We say OOPS SHE DID IT AGAIN to Lindsay Lohan. In our news follow ups, we feature the Supreme Courts struggle with the fourth amendment…this time strip searches cause questions about security versus privacy – Gary Giordono’s attorney petitions for his release.
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