Posts
Publication: The East Hampton Press & The Southampton Press
Motz trial date could be set soon
By Vera Chinese Oct 1, 08 2:23 PM
A trial schedule could soon be set in the case involving Quogue Village Mayor George Motz, who was indicted last month on charges that he “cherry picked” profitable accounts for his Manhattan-based investment firm and then altered documents to impede the ensuing criminal investigation.
Mr. Motz, 66, and his attorney, G. Robert Gage, are expected to appear in federal court in Central Islip at noon this Friday, in front of U.S. District Judge Arthur Spatt for a status conference. The conferences, which are pre-trial meetings, are used to discuss how a case is proceeding and to set a tentative schedule for future court dates.
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=170680
Follow the story from the beginning:
Mayor is indicted
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=164771
Trial date to be set
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=170680
Lawyers waiting on documents
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=172021
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Defense agency rescinds whistleblower's gag order
Defense agency rescinds whistleblower's gag order
By Robert Brodsky rbrodsky@govexec.com
September 26, 2008
The Defense Contract Audit Agency has rescinded a controversial, and possibly illegal, nondisclosure memo filed in 2007 against an agency whistleblower, Government Executive has learned.
Two days after a Sept. 10 hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in which lawmakers excoriated agency leaders for appearing to retaliate against employees who had raised concerns about suspicious contractor fees, DCAA lifted the year-old gag order against veteran auditor Diem-Thi Le.
In a Sept. 12 memo obtained by Government Executive, Jan Findley, branch manager of DCAA's Santa Ana, Calif., office, wrote that Le was now free to share agency records with the Office of Special Counsel or any other government investigator.
Find the rest of the story here:
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=41071&dcn=todaysnews
By Robert Brodsky rbrodsky@govexec.com
September 26, 2008
The Defense Contract Audit Agency has rescinded a controversial, and possibly illegal, nondisclosure memo filed in 2007 against an agency whistleblower, Government Executive has learned.
Two days after a Sept. 10 hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in which lawmakers excoriated agency leaders for appearing to retaliate against employees who had raised concerns about suspicious contractor fees, DCAA lifted the year-old gag order against veteran auditor Diem-Thi Le.
In a Sept. 12 memo obtained by Government Executive, Jan Findley, branch manager of DCAA's Santa Ana, Calif., office, wrote that Le was now free to share agency records with the Office of Special Counsel or any other government investigator.
Find the rest of the story here:
http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=41071&dcn=todaysnews
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Miss Marple's final case: real-life crime mystery of late Oscar-winning actor
She was an Academy Award-winning character actor best known in later life for her flamboyant screen portrayal of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.
But after her death, Dame Margaret Rutherford became the victim of a crime mystery worthy of the spinster detective herself.
The case involved Rutherford's live-in companion, the disappearance of an Oscar, and a Fulham antiques dealer.
Rutherford, who played Miss Marple in four films between 1961 and 1964, appearing alongside her real-life husband, Stringer Davis, employed a down on her luck former soprano as a companion in her declining years.
Violet Lang-Davis lived at the couple's home in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire, before Rutherford died in 1972. Lang-Davis, then in her 60s, stayed on to look after Rutherford's widower and grew so close to him that they contemplated marriage. But he died in August 1973 before they could tie the knot.
He left a will which bequeathed everything to his wife, even though she was dead. All the silver, china and furniture the grande dame of the English stage and screen had accumulated in her career was due to pass to Stringer Davis's distant cousin William James Davis. Lang-Davis was left nothing.
As Detective Sergeant Paul Hunter of the Gerrards Cross police told the director of public prosecutions: "She then embarked on a series of actions designed to secure the inheritance of the late Mr Davis," according to a Whitehall file released this month at the National Archives.
She went to see her old priest in Brook Green, west London, Father Joseph Williams, who had agreed to marry her and Davis. She left a copy of a will naming herself as sole beneficiary while Williams was out visiting parishioners. An accompanying note asked him to act as an executor and to forward it to the Rutherford family solicitors.
Read teh rest of the story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2008/sep/30/2
Sunday, September 28, 2008
No fraud found in voter registration
Note, this article was not found when visiting the original link--it was copied in its entirety from the link's cached pages
Original link: http://www.keysnet.com/news/story/23716.html
Cached link: http://74.125.113.104/search?q=cache:oc7srmc2Qj8J:www.keysnet.com/news/story/23716.html+Dodamead+also+voiced+concern+at+not+being+able+to+obtain+a+copy+of+his+own+records+and+that+a+handwriting+expert+was+not+used+in+the+case&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
No fraud found in voter registration
Keys man claims signature not his
By RYAN McCARTHY
rmccarthy@keynoter.com
Posted - Wednesday, September 24, 2008 07:01 AM EDT
The Monroe County State Attorney's Office has found no evidence of fraud in a Marathon man's voter registration records, though he disagrees.
After he voted in the primary in August, Tom Dodamead filed a complaint with the Supervisor of Elections Office, claiming the signature on a change-of-affiliation form with his information was not his. Dodamead says he did fill out a form changing his party from Independent to Democrat -- just not the one on file with the Elections office.
"I'm saying I didn't do it, that's the way I feel about it," Dodamead said, adding he has no plans to pursue the matter further.
"It's pretty stressful for me; I'd rather it just go away. I thought it was important enough to make sure it wasn't happening to anyone else," he said.
Well, investigators say it didn't happen to him.
They say no motive appears evident to tamper with the affiliation form because the party change was what Dodamead desired and the information on it is consistent with his other records.
"Had the contents of the two cards been different in any way, that might have suggested that some crime was being committed," State Attorney's Office spokesman Matthew Helmerich said.
"Results of the investigation indicate that although Mr. Dodamead believes his signature on the card in question was not his signature, it is," a State Attorney's Office report says. "Therefore, no evidence exists indicating a criminal act occurred."
The report cites a mark Dodamead uses when signing his name "indicating he is Thomas Emile Dodamead III." "That mark, on the card in question, is similar to the mark on his Florida driver's license record. This record contains four separate signatures of Mr. Dodamead," the report reads.
Dodamead said the information in the report was not what he was told by the State Attorney's Office.
"They just said they can't resolve it; they can't figure out who's telling the truth," he said.
Dodamead also voiced concern at not being able to obtain a copy of his own records and that a handwriting expert was not used in the case.
"It wasn't necessary to analyze the handwriting. There's a preponderance of evidence that says he was present with ID when both cards were filled out," Helmerich said of the card in question and the new one he filled out before voting in August.
"I didn't want this to turn into a big political issue. I just wanted to make sure it's not happening on a regular basis," Dodamead said.
Original link: http://www.keysnet.com/news/story/23716.html
Cached link: http://74.125.113.104/search?q=cache:oc7srmc2Qj8J:www.keysnet.com/news/story/23716.html+Dodamead+also+voiced+concern+at+not+being+able+to+obtain+a+copy+of+his+own+records+and+that+a+handwriting+expert+was+not+used+in+the+case&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
No fraud found in voter registration
Keys man claims signature not his
By RYAN McCARTHY
rmccarthy@keynoter.com
Posted - Wednesday, September 24, 2008 07:01 AM EDT
The Monroe County State Attorney's Office has found no evidence of fraud in a Marathon man's voter registration records, though he disagrees.
After he voted in the primary in August, Tom Dodamead filed a complaint with the Supervisor of Elections Office, claiming the signature on a change-of-affiliation form with his information was not his. Dodamead says he did fill out a form changing his party from Independent to Democrat -- just not the one on file with the Elections office.
"I'm saying I didn't do it, that's the way I feel about it," Dodamead said, adding he has no plans to pursue the matter further.
"It's pretty stressful for me; I'd rather it just go away. I thought it was important enough to make sure it wasn't happening to anyone else," he said.
Well, investigators say it didn't happen to him.
They say no motive appears evident to tamper with the affiliation form because the party change was what Dodamead desired and the information on it is consistent with his other records.
"Had the contents of the two cards been different in any way, that might have suggested that some crime was being committed," State Attorney's Office spokesman Matthew Helmerich said.
"Results of the investigation indicate that although Mr. Dodamead believes his signature on the card in question was not his signature, it is," a State Attorney's Office report says. "Therefore, no evidence exists indicating a criminal act occurred."
The report cites a mark Dodamead uses when signing his name "indicating he is Thomas Emile Dodamead III." "That mark, on the card in question, is similar to the mark on his Florida driver's license record. This record contains four separate signatures of Mr. Dodamead," the report reads.
Dodamead said the information in the report was not what he was told by the State Attorney's Office.
"They just said they can't resolve it; they can't figure out who's telling the truth," he said.
Dodamead also voiced concern at not being able to obtain a copy of his own records and that a handwriting expert was not used in the case.
"It wasn't necessary to analyze the handwriting. There's a preponderance of evidence that says he was present with ID when both cards were filled out," Helmerich said of the card in question and the new one he filled out before voting in August.
"I didn't want this to turn into a big political issue. I just wanted to make sure it's not happening on a regular basis," Dodamead said.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Decision is Made on the Sharp County Wet/Dry Issue
Decision is Made on the Sharp County Wet/Dry Issue
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 06:01 PM EDT
SHARP COUNTY, AR (KAIT) - Judge Philip G. Smith decided not to allow the wet/dry issue on the November ballot in Sharp County.
The decision came down late Thursday afternoon. In his decision, Judge Smith stated that if this alcohol issue was on the ballot, the votes would not be counted and would be null and void.
The needed signatures to get the item on the November ballot was 4,369 but after 461 were invalidated, the total number fell short of the requirement.
More on this on Region 8 News on KAIT and kait8.com.
Posted: Sep 25, 2008 06:01 PM EDT
SHARP COUNTY, AR (KAIT) - Judge Philip G. Smith decided not to allow the wet/dry issue on the November ballot in Sharp County.
The decision came down late Thursday afternoon. In his decision, Judge Smith stated that if this alcohol issue was on the ballot, the votes would not be counted and would be null and void.
The needed signatures to get the item on the November ballot was 4,369 but after 461 were invalidated, the total number fell short of the requirement.
More on this on Region 8 News on KAIT and kait8.com.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wet-dry case enters day 3
Wet-dry case enters day 3
By Larry Stroud Guard Associate Editor
Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
ASH FLAT — The excitement level dropped sharply in day two of a civil trial to determine whether voters get to choose wet or dry in Sharp County this November.
Tuesday, however, Sheriff Dale Weaver and other officers set up a metal detector in front of the courtroom because of a comment a Cave City woman had made on Monday, the first day of the trial. The woman was taken to the sheriff’s office, then released without charges, after being heard saying she would return the following day with a gun.
Weaver said he did not interview the woman himself, but the two officers who did said the woman was known to say things she didn’t mean and was not considered a threat.
The metal detector “door” through which spectators had to walk was set up anyway.
The first day of the trial found the courtroom packed with spectators, most of whom appeared passionate about one side or the other.
Circuit Judge Phil Smith ruled that day that the petitions to get the issue on the general election ballot substantially complied with state laws regarding local option elections. He said part of the structure of the petitions was incorrectly worded but said he did not feel that was a fatal flaw and could be fixed with “judicial directive” concerning the wording on the ballots.
He ruled that the issue will be on the ballot, because those had to be prepared in advance and work had to start on that by Tuesday. However, it remains to be seen whether the votes will be counted.
That depends on the validity of the signatures.
Read the rest of the story here: http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/48102
By Larry Stroud Guard Associate Editor
Published: Wednesday, September 24, 2008
ASH FLAT — The excitement level dropped sharply in day two of a civil trial to determine whether voters get to choose wet or dry in Sharp County this November.
Tuesday, however, Sheriff Dale Weaver and other officers set up a metal detector in front of the courtroom because of a comment a Cave City woman had made on Monday, the first day of the trial. The woman was taken to the sheriff’s office, then released without charges, after being heard saying she would return the following day with a gun.
Weaver said he did not interview the woman himself, but the two officers who did said the woman was known to say things she didn’t mean and was not considered a threat.
The metal detector “door” through which spectators had to walk was set up anyway.
The first day of the trial found the courtroom packed with spectators, most of whom appeared passionate about one side or the other.
Circuit Judge Phil Smith ruled that day that the petitions to get the issue on the general election ballot substantially complied with state laws regarding local option elections. He said part of the structure of the petitions was incorrectly worded but said he did not feel that was a fatal flaw and could be fixed with “judicial directive” concerning the wording on the ballots.
He ruled that the issue will be on the ballot, because those had to be prepared in advance and work had to start on that by Tuesday. However, it remains to be seen whether the votes will be counted.
That depends on the validity of the signatures.
Read the rest of the story here: http://www.guardonline.com/?q=node/48102
Monday, September 22, 2008
Man Charged In Series Of York County Robberies, Shootings Faces First Trial
Man Charged In Series Of York County Robberies, Shootings Faces First Trial
To comment on this story, e-mail Greg Suskin.
POSTED: 6:43 pm EDT September 22, 2008
UPDATED: 6:44 pm EDT September 22, 2008
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- There was a tremendous sigh of relief after the February arrest of 20-year-old Phillip Watts Jr. Watts is charged with seven armed robberies in York County last winter. Four people were shot in those robberies, including two store clerks and two customers in Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York County.
Monday morning, the trial began for Watts, who police said confessed to all seven crimes and gave a detailed statement of how they happened, even telling police he was going to hit a store in the city of York next.
However, on Monday Watts took the stand in a pre-trial hearing and denied ever confessing to anything. He told the judge that he read about the robberies in the paper but didn't know anything about them.
He also claimed that the signature at the bottom of one of the signed police statements wasn't his.
Watts's mother, Valerie Dunham, told Eyewitness News that if her son said he didn't commit those crimes, then she believes him.
"He knows if he did it better than anyone," Dunham said. "He didn't do it. I didn't raise him like that, to tell lies."
Judge John Few asked that a handwriting expert be called in to study the two signatures.
Read teh entire article: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/17533174/detail.html
To comment on this story, e-mail Greg Suskin.
POSTED: 6:43 pm EDT September 22, 2008
UPDATED: 6:44 pm EDT September 22, 2008
ROCK HILL, S.C. -- There was a tremendous sigh of relief after the February arrest of 20-year-old Phillip Watts Jr. Watts is charged with seven armed robberies in York County last winter. Four people were shot in those robberies, including two store clerks and two customers in Fort Mill, Rock Hill and York County.
Monday morning, the trial began for Watts, who police said confessed to all seven crimes and gave a detailed statement of how they happened, even telling police he was going to hit a store in the city of York next.
However, on Monday Watts took the stand in a pre-trial hearing and denied ever confessing to anything. He told the judge that he read about the robberies in the paper but didn't know anything about them.
He also claimed that the signature at the bottom of one of the signed police statements wasn't his.
Watts's mother, Valerie Dunham, told Eyewitness News that if her son said he didn't commit those crimes, then she believes him.
"He knows if he did it better than anyone," Dunham said. "He didn't do it. I didn't raise him like that, to tell lies."
Judge John Few asked that a handwriting expert be called in to study the two signatures.
Read teh entire article: http://www.wsoctv.com/news/17533174/detail.html
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Typewriter Guru, Martin Tytell passes away
obituary
Blue-ribbon repairman keyed typewriter's role
By Bruce Weber
The New York Times
Article Last Updated: 09/17/2008 02:20:56 AM MDT
NEW YORK — Martin Tytell, whose unmatched knowledge of typewriters was a boon to American spies during World War II, a tool for the defense lawyers for Alger Hiss, and a necessity for literary luminaries and perhaps tens of thousands of everyday scriveners who asked him to keep their Royals, Underwoods, Olivettis (and their computer-resistant pride) intact, died Thursday in the Bronx. He was 94.
The cause was cancer, said Pearl Tytell, his wife of 65 years. She said her husband also had Alzheimer's disease.
When he retired in 2000, Tytell had practiced his recently vanishing craft for 70 years. For most of that time, he rented, repaired, rebuilt, reconfigured and restored typewriters in a second-floor shop in Lower Manhattan, where a sign advertised "Psychoanalysis for Your Typewriter."
There, at Tytell Typewriter Co., he often worked seven days a week wearing a white lab coat and a bow tie, catering to customers such as writers Dorothy Parker and Richard Condon, newsmen David Brinkley and Harrison Salisbury, and political opponents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Adlai E. Stevenson
In addition to his wife, Tytell is survived by a daughter, Pamela, of Paris, and a son, Peter, of Manhattan. Peter Tytell, who closed the store about a year after his father retired, is a forensic document examiner who frequently testifies in criminal trials, a natural offshoot of the family business.
see full obituary here: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_10480659
Blue-ribbon repairman keyed typewriter's role
By Bruce Weber
The New York Times
Article Last Updated: 09/17/2008 02:20:56 AM MDT
NEW YORK — Martin Tytell, whose unmatched knowledge of typewriters was a boon to American spies during World War II, a tool for the defense lawyers for Alger Hiss, and a necessity for literary luminaries and perhaps tens of thousands of everyday scriveners who asked him to keep their Royals, Underwoods, Olivettis (and their computer-resistant pride) intact, died Thursday in the Bronx. He was 94.
The cause was cancer, said Pearl Tytell, his wife of 65 years. She said her husband also had Alzheimer's disease.
When he retired in 2000, Tytell had practiced his recently vanishing craft for 70 years. For most of that time, he rented, repaired, rebuilt, reconfigured and restored typewriters in a second-floor shop in Lower Manhattan, where a sign advertised "Psychoanalysis for Your Typewriter."
There, at Tytell Typewriter Co., he often worked seven days a week wearing a white lab coat and a bow tie, catering to customers such as writers Dorothy Parker and Richard Condon, newsmen David Brinkley and Harrison Salisbury, and political opponents Dwight D. Eisenhower and Adlai E. Stevenson
In addition to his wife, Tytell is survived by a daughter, Pamela, of Paris, and a son, Peter, of Manhattan. Peter Tytell, who closed the store about a year after his father retired, is a forensic document examiner who frequently testifies in criminal trials, a natural offshoot of the family business.
see full obituary here: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_10480659
Monday, September 15, 2008
Identity-Theft Victims Owed Duty of Care in Bank Fraud Investigations, N.J. Court Says
Identity-Theft Victims Owed Duty of Care in Bank Fraud Investigations, N.J. Court Says
Mary Pat Gallagher
New Jersey Law Journal
September 11, 2008
Printer-friendly Email this Article Reprints & Permissions
There is a cost to reprint this article so all that is provided is the link to the article
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202424426977#
The article deals with identity theft & the duty a bank or credit union owes to the
party whose identity was stolen.
Mary Pat Gallagher
New Jersey Law Journal
September 11, 2008
Printer-friendly Email this Article Reprints & Permissions
There is a cost to reprint this article so all that is provided is the link to the article
http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202424426977#
The article deals with identity theft & the duty a bank or credit union owes to the
party whose identity was stolen.
Quogue mayor indicted on fraud charges
Publication: The East Hampton Press & The Southampton Press
Quogue mayor indicted on fraud charges
By Vera Chinese
Sep 3, 08 10:37 AM
Quogue Village Mayor George Motz pleaded not guilty last Thursday afternoon, August 28, to charges that he “cherry-picked” profitable accounts for his Manhattan-based investment firm over a four-year period, and altered documents in an attempt to impede a subsequent investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Mr. Motz, who is the president and chief executive officer of Melhado, Flynn & Associates, entered his plea in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen A. Tomlinson in U.S. District Court in Central Islip, a day after he was indicted on the two criminal counts. Mr. Motz surrendered last Thursday morning to federal authorities, according to Robert Nardoza, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office.
The rest of the story: http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=164771
Follow the story from the beginning:
Mayor is indicted
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=164771
Trial date to be set
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=170680
Lawyers waiting on documents
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=172021
Quogue mayor indicted on fraud charges
By Vera Chinese
Sep 3, 08 10:37 AM
Quogue Village Mayor George Motz pleaded not guilty last Thursday afternoon, August 28, to charges that he “cherry-picked” profitable accounts for his Manhattan-based investment firm over a four-year period, and altered documents in an attempt to impede a subsequent investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Mr. Motz, who is the president and chief executive officer of Melhado, Flynn & Associates, entered his plea in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen A. Tomlinson in U.S. District Court in Central Islip, a day after he was indicted on the two criminal counts. Mr. Motz surrendered last Thursday morning to federal authorities, according to Robert Nardoza, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office.
The rest of the story: http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=164771
Follow the story from the beginning:
Mayor is indicted
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=164771
Trial date to be set
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=170680
Lawyers waiting on documents
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=172021
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Convicted murderer appeals child starvation conviction
Published September 14, 2008 05:21 am -
A man serving a life term in the 2003 starvation death of his daughter is appealing his conviction, alleging that some child welfare caseworkers’ documents were altered and others were destroyed.
KITTANNING (AP) — A man serving a life term in the 2003 starvation death of his daughter is appealing his conviction, alleging that some child welfare caseworkers’ documents were altered and others were destroyed.
James Tatar, 46, was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 4-year-old Kristen Tatar, whose 11½-pound body was found stuffed into a picnic cooler put out for garbage collectors near her Armstrong County home in August 2003.
Tatar’s attorney, Jeffrey Miller, contends that a forensic document examiner determined that four documents from the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau, which had been working with Tatar’s parents, had been altered.
The rest of the story:
http://www.dailyitem.com/panews/local_story_258052136.html
A man serving a life term in the 2003 starvation death of his daughter is appealing his conviction, alleging that some child welfare caseworkers’ documents were altered and others were destroyed.
Convicted murderer appeals child starvation conviction
KITTANNING (AP) — A man serving a life term in the 2003 starvation death of his daughter is appealing his conviction, alleging that some child welfare caseworkers’ documents were altered and others were destroyed.
James Tatar, 46, was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of 4-year-old Kristen Tatar, whose 11½-pound body was found stuffed into a picnic cooler put out for garbage collectors near her Armstrong County home in August 2003.
Tatar’s attorney, Jeffrey Miller, contends that a forensic document examiner determined that four documents from the Westmoreland County Children’s Bureau, which had been working with Tatar’s parents, had been altered.
The rest of the story:
http://www.dailyitem.com/panews/local_story_258052136.html
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Bomb warning prompts emergency landing
Bomb warning prompts emergency landing
Essam Al Ghalib
Last Updated: September 11. 2008 11:21PM UAE / September 11. 2008 7:21PM GMT
A bomb hoax on an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah caused a red alert at Chittagong airport in Bangladesh on Wednesday.Bomb disposal experts, army personnel and fire officers met the plane carrying 81 passengers after a flight attendant found a handwritten note warning of a bomb on board. “There is a bomb set,” said the note written in Bengali left on a service tray, according to Air Arabia’s communications manager Housam Raydan.
A member of the flight crew who found the note asked a passenger to translate it for her. When its contents were revealed, she notified the captain who immediately alerted air traffic control of a possible emergency.The plane was given priority landing status at Chittagong and was towed to an unused part of the airport where it was searched, but no bomb was found. Upon landing all 81 passengers were asked to provide a handwriting sample and security personnel arrested a Bangladeshi man.
Full article: http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080911/NATIONAL/169508699/-1/NEWS
Essam Al Ghalib
Last Updated: September 11. 2008 11:21PM UAE / September 11. 2008 7:21PM GMT
A bomb hoax on an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah caused a red alert at Chittagong airport in Bangladesh on Wednesday.Bomb disposal experts, army personnel and fire officers met the plane carrying 81 passengers after a flight attendant found a handwritten note warning of a bomb on board. “There is a bomb set,” said the note written in Bengali left on a service tray, according to Air Arabia’s communications manager Housam Raydan.
A member of the flight crew who found the note asked a passenger to translate it for her. When its contents were revealed, she notified the captain who immediately alerted air traffic control of a possible emergency.The plane was given priority landing status at Chittagong and was towed to an unused part of the airport where it was searched, but no bomb was found. Upon landing all 81 passengers were asked to provide a handwriting sample and security personnel arrested a Bangladeshi man.
Full article: http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080911/NATIONAL/169508699/-1/NEWS
Caseworkers' documents altered in Tatar case, report says
Caseworkers' documents altered in Tatar case, report says
By Renatta Signorini
TRIBUNE-REVIEW NEWS SERVICE
Saturday, September 13, 2008
A sworn statement from a caseworker and an expert's report that caseworkers' documents were altered were accepted into evidence Friday during an appeal hearing for an Armstrong County man serving a life sentence for the starvation death of his daughter.
Jeffrey Miller, the attorney for James Tatar, 46, of Parks Township, had asked that Judge Kenneth Valasek provide him with resources to bring the forensic document examiner, Albert H. Lyter, from North Carolina to testify. Miller also asked for a detective's help to find Pamela Walmsley, a caseworker who worked with 4-year-old Kristen Tatar and her parents before the girl's death in 2003.
Valasek instead permitted the statement and report be part of the record of an appeal hearing in which Tatar is seeking a new trial.
see full story: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/teenscene/s_588017.html
By Renatta Signorini
TRIBUNE-REVIEW NEWS SERVICE
Saturday, September 13, 2008
A sworn statement from a caseworker and an expert's report that caseworkers' documents were altered were accepted into evidence Friday during an appeal hearing for an Armstrong County man serving a life sentence for the starvation death of his daughter.
Jeffrey Miller, the attorney for James Tatar, 46, of Parks Township, had asked that Judge Kenneth Valasek provide him with resources to bring the forensic document examiner, Albert H. Lyter, from North Carolina to testify. Miller also asked for a detective's help to find Pamela Walmsley, a caseworker who worked with 4-year-old Kristen Tatar and her parents before the girl's death in 2003.
Valasek instead permitted the statement and report be part of the record of an appeal hearing in which Tatar is seeking a new trial.
see full story: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/valleyindependent/teenscene/s_588017.html
Friday, September 12, 2008
Two politicos charged in passport case
Daily Mirror Front Page
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Two politicos charged in passport case
By T. Farook Thajudeen.
The CID filed charges before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court against two Western Provincial Councillors for allegedly aiding and abetting a person to obtain a passport on forged documents.
The CID filed charges against the two Provincial Councillors Andarage Don Gamini Thilakasiri of Katuwawala, Boralesgomuwa and Hector Bethmage of Talangama South, Battaramulla for aiding and abetting Karunapalage Nandana Jagath Kumara to prepare forged documents to obtain passport bearing no. N 165324.
Whole story:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=25971
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Two politicos charged in passport case
By T. Farook Thajudeen.
The CID filed charges before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court against two Western Provincial Councillors for allegedly aiding and abetting a person to obtain a passport on forged documents.
The CID filed charges against the two Provincial Councillors Andarage Don Gamini Thilakasiri of Katuwawala, Boralesgomuwa and Hector Bethmage of Talangama South, Battaramulla for aiding and abetting Karunapalage Nandana Jagath Kumara to prepare forged documents to obtain passport bearing no. N 165324.
Whole story:
http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=25971
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Irish police demand handwriting samples after plane bomb hoax
Irish police demand handwriting samples after plane bomb hoax
Monday, 8 September 2008
Gardai demanded handwriting samples from 223 passengers and nine crew members during a major security operation at Dublin Airport after a note was found on an Aer Lingus plane warning of a bomb on board.
The operation began at about 9.30am on Saturday when the transatlantic flight travelling from New York to Dublin landed at Dublin Airport.
One of the crew members on the flight had reported finding a paper towel in the toilet of the plane with a written warning that there was a bomb on board.
The plane landed and taxied to a secure location some distance away from the airport terminal and was secured by armed gardai.
Passengers disembarked and interviews were conducted in the terminal building. Passengers were asked to supply samples of handwriting.
Full article: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/irish-police-demand-handwriting-samples-after-plane-bomb-hoax-13963266.html
Monday, 8 September 2008
Gardai demanded handwriting samples from 223 passengers and nine crew members during a major security operation at Dublin Airport after a note was found on an Aer Lingus plane warning of a bomb on board.
The operation began at about 9.30am on Saturday when the transatlantic flight travelling from New York to Dublin landed at Dublin Airport.
One of the crew members on the flight had reported finding a paper towel in the toilet of the plane with a written warning that there was a bomb on board.
The plane landed and taxied to a secure location some distance away from the airport terminal and was secured by armed gardai.
Passengers disembarked and interviews were conducted in the terminal building. Passengers were asked to supply samples of handwriting.
Full article: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/irish-police-demand-handwriting-samples-after-plane-bomb-hoax-13963266.html
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Who Owns Early Film Star's Oscar
September 8, 2008 5:27 PM
Quinn Emanuel on Case of Who Owns Early Film Star's Oscar
Posted by Zach Lowe
How much is an Oscar worth on the private market? Experts have suggested the trophies can fetch anywhere between $500,000 and $1.5 million. And that's the kind of cash the descendants of Charles "Buddy" Rogers, the former husband of silent film star Mary Pickford, hope to fetch by selling the 1929 Best Actress statuette Pickford won for her role in Coquette, to raise proceeds for charity.
One catch: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences claims it has the right to buy the statue first--for $10.
A Los Angeles trial court judge gave the Academy its first victory in the case yesterday, ruling against the Rogers-Pickford team's motion for summary judgment and ordering the case to a jury trial.
Christopher Tayback of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges is representing the Academy. The firm is the Academy's regular outside counsel.
Mark Passin of Dreier Stein Kahan Browne Woods George, an entertainment litigation boutique, is representing the Rogers heirs.
The Academy established the $10 first-refusal rule in 1950, well after Pickford won her Best Actress award--the first ever given for a performance in a so-called talkie. Regardless of when she first received that Oscar, the Academy contends Pickford signed away her rights to sell it when she won an honorary Oscar in 1975. Passin says Pickford never signed any such agreement and has hired a handwriting expert who has filed a declaration with the court backing the heirs' claim. Quinn Emanuel disagrees, though Academy lawyers concede that an assistant may have signed on behalf of Pickford, who was in her mid-80s at the time. Either way, the agreement should hold up, Tayback argues.
Read teh rest of the story:
http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2008/09/quinn-emanuel-o.html
Quinn Emanuel on Case of Who Owns Early Film Star's Oscar
Posted by Zach Lowe
How much is an Oscar worth on the private market? Experts have suggested the trophies can fetch anywhere between $500,000 and $1.5 million. And that's the kind of cash the descendants of Charles "Buddy" Rogers, the former husband of silent film star Mary Pickford, hope to fetch by selling the 1929 Best Actress statuette Pickford won for her role in Coquette, to raise proceeds for charity.
One catch: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences claims it has the right to buy the statue first--for $10.
A Los Angeles trial court judge gave the Academy its first victory in the case yesterday, ruling against the Rogers-Pickford team's motion for summary judgment and ordering the case to a jury trial.
Christopher Tayback of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges is representing the Academy. The firm is the Academy's regular outside counsel.
Mark Passin of Dreier Stein Kahan Browne Woods George, an entertainment litigation boutique, is representing the Rogers heirs.
The Academy established the $10 first-refusal rule in 1950, well after Pickford won her Best Actress award--the first ever given for a performance in a so-called talkie. Regardless of when she first received that Oscar, the Academy contends Pickford signed away her rights to sell it when she won an honorary Oscar in 1975. Passin says Pickford never signed any such agreement and has hired a handwriting expert who has filed a declaration with the court backing the heirs' claim. Quinn Emanuel disagrees, though Academy lawyers concede that an assistant may have signed on behalf of Pickford, who was in her mid-80s at the time. Either way, the agreement should hold up, Tayback argues.
Read teh rest of the story:
http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2008/09/quinn-emanuel-o.html
Friday, July 04, 2008
Teacher Convicted in Threatening Case
Teacher Convicted in Threatening Case
By Marie Miller23:31, June 26th 2008
A split verdict was reached in the case of a fourth-grade teacher in Philadelphia who was accused of planting terrorist notes in the school where she worked.
The judge found Susan Romanyszyn guilty on eleven charges, but she was also acquitted on seven other.
Romanyszyn left threatening messages in the hallways of Longstreth Elementary School in the fall, while she worked as a teacher there, The Philadelphia Inquirer informs.
The notes read messages such as “You die today,” “Bomb today” and “I have a weapon and a knife.”
The rest of the story: http://www.enews20.com/news_Teacher_Convicted_in_Threatening_Case_08854.html
Follow the story:
Teacher arrested
http://cbs13.com/national/Susan.Romanyszyn.Longstreth.2.643201.html
Teacher convicted: http://www.enews20.com/news_Teacher_Convicted_in_Threatening_Case_08854.html
Judge denies new trial
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20146500&BRD=1306&PAG=461&dept_id=187834&rfi=6
By Marie Miller23:31, June 26th 2008
A split verdict was reached in the case of a fourth-grade teacher in Philadelphia who was accused of planting terrorist notes in the school where she worked.
The judge found Susan Romanyszyn guilty on eleven charges, but she was also acquitted on seven other.
Romanyszyn left threatening messages in the hallways of Longstreth Elementary School in the fall, while she worked as a teacher there, The Philadelphia Inquirer informs.
The notes read messages such as “You die today,” “Bomb today” and “I have a weapon and a knife.”
The rest of the story: http://www.enews20.com/news_Teacher_Convicted_in_Threatening_Case_08854.html
Follow the story:
Teacher arrested
http://cbs13.com/national/Susan.Romanyszyn.Longstreth.2.643201.html
Teacher convicted: http://www.enews20.com/news_Teacher_Convicted_in_Threatening_Case_08854.html
Judge denies new trial
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20146500&BRD=1306&PAG=461&dept_id=187834&rfi=6
Sunday, April 13, 2008
OU closed due to written threats found on campus
04/13/2008
By STEVE STAEGER
Senior Reporter
Threats written on bathroom walls in two academic buildings and the Oakland Center have prompted university officials to close the campus until 7:00 a.m. Tuesday.
“Our crisis management team met early this morning to go over the facts,” said Sam Lucido, OU Chief of Police.
That team made the final decision to close the campus.
“Safety and security are the university’s highest priority and the decision to close campus is consistent with that philosophy,” Lucido said.
The closing comes after phone tips led police to discover a vague threat on the men’s bathroom wall in O’Dowd Hall, and another threat in a men’s room in the Oakland Center Saturday. An e-mail was sent to students after the first message was found and investigated.
full article: http://www.oaklandpostonline.com/read_article.php?id=278
By STEVE STAEGER
Senior Reporter
Threats written on bathroom walls in two academic buildings and the Oakland Center have prompted university officials to close the campus until 7:00 a.m. Tuesday.
“Our crisis management team met early this morning to go over the facts,” said Sam Lucido, OU Chief of Police.
That team made the final decision to close the campus.
“Safety and security are the university’s highest priority and the decision to close campus is consistent with that philosophy,” Lucido said.
The closing comes after phone tips led police to discover a vague threat on the men’s bathroom wall in O’Dowd Hall, and another threat in a men’s room in the Oakland Center Saturday. An e-mail was sent to students after the first message was found and investigated.
full article: http://www.oaklandpostonline.com/read_article.php?id=278
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Pa. Teacher arrested For Alleged School Threats
Feb 1, 2008 3:45 am US/Pacific
Pa. Teacher Busted For Alleged School Threats
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) ― An elementary school teacher has been charged with terrorizing her own school with verbal and written threats.
Investigators said the apparently disgruntled educator made phone calls, left notes, and wrote threats on school walls, CBS station KYW-TV in Philadelphia reported.
Susan Romanyszyn, a former teacher at Longstreth Elementary School in Warminster, turned herself into authorities on Thursday. Romanyszyn has been charged with 17 counts of making terroristic threats.
Police said Romanyszyn left over a dozen threatening notes at the school. Police said she wrote on school walls and wrote "die" and "I will kill" on one occasion.
The rest of the story:
http://cbs13.com/national/Susan.Romanyszyn.Longstreth.2.643201.html
Follow the story:
Teacher arrested
http://cbs13.com/national/Susan.Romanyszyn.Longstreth.2.643201.html
Teacher convicted: http://www.enews20.com/news_Teacher_Convicted_in_Threatening_Case_08854.html
Judge denies new trial
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20146500&BRD=1306&PAG=461&dept_id=187834&rfi=6
Pa. Teacher Busted For Alleged School Threats
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) ― An elementary school teacher has been charged with terrorizing her own school with verbal and written threats.
Investigators said the apparently disgruntled educator made phone calls, left notes, and wrote threats on school walls, CBS station KYW-TV in Philadelphia reported.
Susan Romanyszyn, a former teacher at Longstreth Elementary School in Warminster, turned herself into authorities on Thursday. Romanyszyn has been charged with 17 counts of making terroristic threats.
Police said Romanyszyn left over a dozen threatening notes at the school. Police said she wrote on school walls and wrote "die" and "I will kill" on one occasion.
The rest of the story:
http://cbs13.com/national/Susan.Romanyszyn.Longstreth.2.643201.html
Follow the story:
Teacher arrested
http://cbs13.com/national/Susan.Romanyszyn.Longstreth.2.643201.html
Teacher convicted: http://www.enews20.com/news_Teacher_Convicted_in_Threatening_Case_08854.html
Judge denies new trial
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20146500&BRD=1306&PAG=461&dept_id=187834&rfi=6
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Kathie Koppenhaver, FDE
I travelled to Baltimore Md, this past weekend to attend Kathie Koppenhaver's Forensic Document Examiners Conference held at the BWI Marriott hotel.
I saw many of my colleagues from past conferences, and we picked up right where we left off.
Kathie talked to us about the image of an Expert Witness, how to dress, how to behave etc.
We learned about different court room displays and the pros and cons for each. We discussed jury books, computer/video projection, and static displays.
Bill showed us his lab setup, including his stereo microscope, and his magnifying cameras. He brought out his IR filter, and we all got to see if our camera was capable of seeing IR. MOst of the point & click digitals could see IR, but the more expensive cameras (like the Nikon D80 or the Canon Rebel) had a hot mirror in it which stops the camera from seeing Infrared.
We learned how to take requested writings from Bob Baier, who is an excellent speaker and document examiner.
Anne Smith, from Virginia, showed us a cool new program that lets you do measuring and statistical analysis with computer generated calipers, compasses, and protractors. The information is then exported into Excel, where formulas are used to get the statistical information.
Linda Hodges, from North Carolina, presented on book collection software called bookcollectorz. This software will allow you to scan in your books (via the ISBN) or it can go online and gather information using only the ISBN or Title. This is a program that will grow with any avid book collection.
A mock trial was held, and those not court qualified were able to get some experience and those who have been court qualified before, were able to hone their skills.
After the 2 day conference, Kathie was kind enough to invite everyone to her office, so we could see how she operated her business. A great time was had by all, and it was over in a flash.
We are already planning next year's conference--it is one you dont want to miss.
I saw many of my colleagues from past conferences, and we picked up right where we left off.
Kathie talked to us about the image of an Expert Witness, how to dress, how to behave etc.
We learned about different court room displays and the pros and cons for each. We discussed jury books, computer/video projection, and static displays.
Bill showed us his lab setup, including his stereo microscope, and his magnifying cameras. He brought out his IR filter, and we all got to see if our camera was capable of seeing IR. MOst of the point & click digitals could see IR, but the more expensive cameras (like the Nikon D80 or the Canon Rebel) had a hot mirror in it which stops the camera from seeing Infrared.
We learned how to take requested writings from Bob Baier, who is an excellent speaker and document examiner.
Anne Smith, from Virginia, showed us a cool new program that lets you do measuring and statistical analysis with computer generated calipers, compasses, and protractors. The information is then exported into Excel, where formulas are used to get the statistical information.
Linda Hodges, from North Carolina, presented on book collection software called bookcollectorz. This software will allow you to scan in your books (via the ISBN) or it can go online and gather information using only the ISBN or Title. This is a program that will grow with any avid book collection.
A mock trial was held, and those not court qualified were able to get some experience and those who have been court qualified before, were able to hone their skills.
After the 2 day conference, Kathie was kind enough to invite everyone to her office, so we could see how she operated her business. A great time was had by all, and it was over in a flash.
We are already planning next year's conference--it is one you dont want to miss.
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