Gary Secondino: Legal

California wrests final say over offshore oil leases from US

Wed, 02 Apr 2003 21:33:53 GMT

Ventura County Star - Ending a long-standing dispute over oil and natural gas exploration off the California coastline, the Bush administration on Monday dropped its challenge to a court ruling that handed authority to the state.
Feds drop offshore drilling push San Jose Business Journal
White House won't fight ban on new Calif. offshore drilling San Francisco Chronicle

US SEC charges HealthSouth, CEO with fraud

Wed, 19 Mar 2003 16:23:17 GMT

The US Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday that it has charged healthcare services group HealthSouth Corp. and its Chief Executive Richard Scrushy with accounting fraud.

'Sopranos' Star Drops Suit Against HBO

Wed, 19 Mar 2003 15:52:22 GMT

The salary dispute between HBO and James Gandolfini, the star of "The Sopranos," ended as the network received notice Mr. Gandolfini had dropped his lawsuit against the network. By Bill Carter.

SEC accuses Spiegel of securities breach

Sat, 08 Mar 2003 11:42:16 GMT

London Free Press - The US Securities and Exchange Commission accused retailer Spiegel Inc. in a federal court filing yesterday of violating securities laws by withholding adverse information from the public.
SEC Sues Spiegel Over Withholding Info ABC News
The Spiegel Group Feb Sales $120.1M, Down 23% Yahoo News

September 11 al-Qaida 'mastermind' handed over to America

Sun, 02 Mar 2003 08:18:26 GMT

Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks and a senior operative in Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, has been handed over to US authorities.
Profile: Khalid Shaikh Mohammed FOX News

Who Needs TIA? Big Brother is Already Watching Us

Mon, 17 Feb 2003 19:34:13 GMT

A former Santa Fe public defender who said he was handcuffed Thursday at the St. John's College library and interrogated by Secret Service agents for several hours said Saturday that he plans to sue the government for violating his rights. He said a lawsuit is the best way to make the point that he was mistreated. "I'm going to sue the Secret Service, Santa Fe Police, St. John's and everybody involved in this whole thing," he said. "The way our country is now, the only way people apologize anymore is with money. So I'm going to sue."

Court Bans Peace March in Manhattan

Tue, 11 Feb 2003 12:18:13 GMT

New York Times - Antiwar demonstrators may not march past the United Nations complex on Saturday, or anywhere else in Manhattan, a federal judge ruled yesterday. Agreeing with the city that a large, moving rally of 100,000 people or more raised serious ...
Anti-War Protesters File Appeal as Judge Backs Citys Ban on March The New York Sun
Judge Blocks Anti-War March Near UN Newsday

Republican lawmaker slams database plan

Mon, 27 Jan 2003 03:50:08 GMT

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is lending his voice to criticism of a Pentagon data-mining project that could result in detailed electronic dossiers compiled on Americans. [CNET News.com]

Supreme Court Endorses Copyright Theft

Thu, 16 Jan 2003 03:06:28 GMT

Swipe a CD from a record store and you'll get arrested. But when Congress authorizes the entertainment industry to steal from you -- well, that's the American way. We learned as much on Wednesday when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Congress can repeatedly extend copyright terms, as it did most recently in 1998 when it added 20 years to the terms for new and existing works. The law, a brazen heist, was called the Copyright Term Extension Act. It was better known as the Sonny Bono act, so named after its chief sponsor even though Disney and other giant media corporations were the money and muscle behind it. Who got robbed? You did. I did. Important! Read the full story...
Dan Gillmor's eJournal

Baffling Software/Music Industry Copyright Deal

Thu, 16 Jan 2003 02:56:45 GMT

This "landmark agreement" seems mostly an endorsement of the status quo. True, the status quo is better than what some in the entertainment cartel have been pushing -- new, congressionally mandated technological measures designed to thwart unauthorized copying of digital material. And this agreement specifically disclaims new laws in this direction.
Dan Gillmor's eJournal

Pentagon database plan hits snag on Hill

Thu, 16 Jan 2003 02:41:04 GMT

A plan that would link credit card, health insurance and other databases--creating what critics have called a "domestic surveillance apparatus"--raises concern on Capitol Hill.
CNET News.com

ACLU Spooked by Domestic Spying

Thu, 16 Jan 2003 02:38:55 GMT

A new report by the American Civil Liberties Union raises concerns about the growth of U.S. surveillance in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The group recommends legislation to protect Americans' privacy rights. By Julia Scheeres.

Henry K quits probe into Sept. 11

Sat, 14 Dec 2002 21:53:29 GMT

San Jose Mercury News - Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger abruptly resigned Friday as head of a new commission investigating the Sept. 11 terror attacks, complaining in a bitter letter to President Bush that concerns about conflicts of interest ...
Kissinger Is Leaving 9-11 Probe Salt Lake Tribune
Henry Kissinger quits 9/11 panel amid controversy Seattle Post Intelligencer
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Cardinal Law Resigns

Fri, 13 Dec 2002 12:09:01 GMT

The Pope has accepted Cardinal Bernard Law's resignation as the Archbishop of the Boston Archdiocese. The public outrage from the information gathered by the release of the churches records last Wednesday and a letter signed by 58 Boston priests finally motivated Cardinal Law to do the right thing. Cardinal Law remains in the church as a priest and a Cardinal. He also still faces ongoing investigations and testimony in front of the Grand Jury in Massachusetts next Tuesday.

O come, all ye plaintiffs

Thu, 12 Dec 2002 13:58:41 GMT

Philadelphia Daily News - A Catholic organization has sued New York City, upset, it says, because public schools are allowing Islamic and Jewish holiday symbols while banning nativity scenes.
Schools Single Out Christians for Discrimination ChronWatch.com
Jesus snubbed: Catholics Winnipeg Sun
Detroit News - Freedom Forum Online - Independent Online - CBC News -

Records show Law ignored priest's past

Thu, 12 Dec 2002 13:53:55 GMT

Cardinal Bernard Law recommended a priest to a military chaplain's post in 1996 even though he knew of allegations of child sexual abuse against him, including a $200,000 settlement to his alleged victim, say court documents released Wednesday. This week, 58 priests in the archdiocese released a petition calling for Law to resign. Officials with Voice of the Faithful, a group of Catholic laity that formed this year to demand that parishioners have more of a say in church matters, also called on Law to resign.

Lay group votes to seek cardinal's ouster

Thu, 12 Dec 2002 13:41:15 GMT

Boston Globe - A group of moderate Catholics formed in the wake of the clergy sexual abuse scandal last night voted to demand Cardinal Bernard F. Law's ouster, charging him with sacrificing his moral authority ...
Mystery group bails Boston priest out of jail Chicago Sun Times
Priests and Parishioners Urge Law to Step Down Washington Post
New York Times - CNN - WCVB-TV - Freezerbox -

US warns Iraq against using mass destruction weapons

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 11:07:35 GMT

Times of India - WASHINGTON: The United States warned Iraq and other potential foes Tuesday not to use any weapons of mass destruction (WMD) against US troops in the event of war, vowing to retaliate with ...
US Warns It Would Use N-Arms Salt Lake Tribune
US will use Nuclear Weapons in response to attack from WMD Hindustan Times
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NH Catholic Diocese Reaches Deal on Abuse

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:58:06 GMT

Washington Post - Attorney General Philip T. McLaughlin announces settlement with Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester, NH (Lee ...
Catholic Diocese Settles Abuse Case Salt Lake Tribune
New Hampshire Diocese Is First to Settle a Criminal Abuse Case New York Times
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Cardinal Law Gives Up Post as Chairman of Catholic U.

Wed, 11 Dec 2002 10:56:15 GMT

New York Times - Cardinal Bernard F. Law, under fire all year for failing to remove sexually abusive priests in the Archdiocese of Boston, resigned yesterday as chairman of Catholic University in Washington. The cardinal was still at the Vatican.
Church Officials Say Little on Law's Trip to Rome Washington Post
Law in Rome seeking advice WNDU-TV
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Pressure increases on Cardinal Law

Mon, 09 Dec 2002 16:52:43 GMT

CNN - Pressure on Cardinal Bernard Law to resign increased Sunday with a large protest planned at Holy Cross Cathedral and the circulation among Boston priests of a letter calling on their boss to step down.
Priest merely fits the mold Boston Globe
Church panel wants a few words with Law Chicago Sun Times
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Churches warn of possible lawsuits

Mon, 09 Dec 2002 16:50:43 GMT

Los Angeles Daily News - Bracing for a new wave of sexual abuse lawsuits, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles warned parishioners in a letter read Sunday that a state law scheduled to take effect in January will allow alleged victims to revive decades-old claims against ...
From pulpit, priests challenge sex abuse law San Jose Mercury News
California Catholics face financial crisis BBC
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With Criticism Mounting, Cardinal Heads to Rome

Mon, 09 Dec 2002 16:49:02 GMT

New York Times - BOSTON, Dec. 8 Cardinal Bernard F. Law abruptly canceled his schedule this weekend and flew to Rome, as anger toward him mounted and some priests signed a draft of a letter calling for his resignation. A spokeswoman for the cardinal, Donna M.
Outspoken Newton priest gets ovation Boston Globe
Church Won't Explain Unscheduled Trip Washington Post
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He's in Rome to get his bosses stamp of approval to move the Boston Archdiocese into bankruptcy proceedings. Those documents from last week are loaded with smoking guns. I predict Bernard Law will be prosecuted for being an accessory to a crime.

Personnel records show drug use, sex abuse by priests

Wed, 04 Dec 2002 20:45:11 GMT

Thousands of newly released personnel files show the Archdiocese of Boston went to great lengths to hide priests accused of abuse, including clergy who allegedly snorted cocaine and had sex with girls aspiring to be nuns.
The life of a violent South Shore priest is detailed Boston Globe
New Revelations In Boston Sex Scandal CBS News
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The perversion and cover up is much greater than everyone imagined. Did Bernard Law break the LAW? Seems so to me. These latest revelations dragged from the Diocese by court order will, in my opinion, guarantee that the Boston Diocese will declare bankruptcy to limit the losses and protect assets. Which if that happens will further diminish the RC church. When are they gonna get it? Just come clean, get rid of the perpetrators and the administrators who covered it up, and make celibacy a personal choice between a priest and GOD. Why not do these things?

Bush slashes civilian comp plan; making Federal workforce less competitive..

Wed, 04 Dec 2002 20:44:22 GMT

Bush transfers regional cost-of-living pay differentials to defense budget. So the FBI agent forking over $3000 a month for a Manhattan studio will get paid the same as her counterpart paying $500/month for a two bedroom in Iowa. Accomodate regional differences if you want a flexible work force. Mr. Bush, know that the federal workforce is telling the millions of people they serve that you just put your political expediency (tax cuts for the richest Americans and companies) ahead of your workforce's bread and butter needs. Just more shrubbery.