11/29/2008

Killers on the Loose: They're Looking for the Shoppers in the Wal-Mart Trampling Case

Showing my age, when I first heard the story about the Wal-Mart clerk being trampled to death by crazed bargain hunters on this Thanksgiving's Black Friday, my mind immediately recalled those 11 fans trampled to death in the mob's rush for the best seats at a Cinncinnati, Ohio open seating concert for The Who back in 1979.

Being trampled to death must be very painful, and terrifying, don't you think?

The Authorities Are Considering Criminal Charges Against the Shoppers Who Trampled the Clerk

This morning, I read that law enforcement is going over the WalMart surveillance video, and looking to charge those folk who ran over this poor guy on their way to their DoorBusters. The headline reads almost like a Wanted poster, and I'm wondering when CrimeStoppers will get involved (only halfway tongue-in-cheek):

Sought: Wal-Mart shoppers who trampled NY worker.

They're saying that criminal charges are possible -- if they can figure out the identities of those who actually ran over the poor man.

I think about who these people must be, and what they are thinking about right now. Are they going over that horror in their minds, with regret? Or, are they focused on whether or not they are going to be caught, based upon those surveillance videos?

Some Shoppers Got Mad the Store Was Closing Due to the Death

I suppose it's somewhat good news to report that there were those who tried to help - and got hurt in the process. But this is far from making me feel better at the thought that materialism and a Good Deal were so important that people ran like cattle over this clerk. What is this telling us as a society? Is Elmo that important?

And, can you believe that there were shoppers who actually got angry because WalMart announced the store was closing due to this man's death? WHAT? Did they expect to carry their bags out, and manuever their carts, around the yellow crime scene tape? Did this death mean so very, very little to them?

This saddens me. And, it makes me wonder about what's going on in the minds and hearts of those who did this deed. No one's come forward with mea culpa. Are they still as self-absorbed as they were on Friday morning?

Sensationalism On the Heels of Materialism

It also saddens me that lots of sensationalized media stories will end up making advertising dollars for various publications, online and not, based upon this holiday tragedy.

One bright note: early on, if you wanted to check out a cellphone video of the event, you could see it online. Then, YouTube took the video down for Terms of Use Violation. Thank you, YouTube.

Who Was the Guy Who Got Trampled? The Clerk Who Opened the Door

By the way, it was a 34-year-old man named Jdimytai Damour who died in that shopper's rush. He was the guy who unlocked the doors for these people to enter the store to shop for the early-bird specials.

Rest in Peace, Jdimytai Damour: 1974 - 2008.

My sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Jdimytai Damour. I hope and pray that somehow, someday your holidays - especially Thanksgiving, a day dedicated to recognizing one's blessings with gratitude - can become something of joy and peace once again, despite this terrible tragedy and the horrific memory you must now carry with you.

Again, I am so sorry this has happened to you all.

11/24/2008

Trend in Pro Se Representations Continues, But Have You Heard of Bundling?

In today's paper (I read the San Antonio Express-News), there is an AP snipnet about the growing national trend of folk representing themselves in a variety of matters. (Here's the link if you want to read it.)

Not big news. Robert Shapiro's been on this bandwagon for awhile -- surely you've heard about LegalZoom by now. And, sure, there are others out there. (Check out my post over at Everyday Simplicity discussing these self-help law mills.)

Bundling Legal Services Is News To Me

However, one thing did catch my eye in today's article: this new idea of "bundling." Seems attorneys in some states (haven't heard of this in Texas, though I could be wrong) are narrowing their representations down to only a segment of a case, or transaction.

Say, for example, you file the pleadings but that's it. You don't do the discovery.

Or, you draft the contract or incorporation documents. Nix on the other stuff - like making sure the annual minutes are done correctly.

Interesting. This way, the lawyer does get paid some fees, and the client does get some professional advice, even though it's far from complete.

I Still Vote that You're Gonna Wish You Had Sprung for a Lawyer

Guess something's better than nothing. And, I'm still holding to the old adage -- these folk thinking that they can avoid a lawyer and represent themselves in major life issues like child custody or property distribution after death have fools for a client.

It's an old litigator joke: do it right at the start, and the trial lawyer doesn't have a job. (Trial lawyer chuckles with glee.)




11/20/2008

Bankruptcy - Auto Industry: Mitt Romney's NYT OpEd Piece Is a Must Read

In his op-ed piece today in the New York Times, George Romney's son Mitt lets it fly right with the title, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt". It's worth the read.

Mitt Romney points to how his dad George turned a dying American Motors around, back in the mid-'50s, and takes that history together with his own two cents worth to offer some solutions for the Big American Automakers.

He's blunt.

"Management as is must go." New labor deals so workers here have pay and benefits analogous to Toyota, Honda, and BMW. A long-term perspective on investments, no more "starving research and development." Do what it takes to keep your top sales people.

Meanwhile, there's lots more talk about conditioning any corporate bailout to a filing of Chapter 11 (reorganizational) bankruptcy -- particularly when those in D.C. already see outlines of the steel, airline, and retail industries on the horizon as the auto makers set before them, hat in hand, their private jets awaiting them over at the Washington airport.

Can you believe those CEOs had the nerve to fly their private jets to Washington? I loved the video of the Congressional hearing when they were called on it. Great stuff.

Nerve? Maybe stupidity. Either way, when Romney writes to throw the rascals out, his words sure resonate with me.

11/03/2008

Curiouser and Curiouser: I Didn't See Any Obama Signs Today

Today, the day before Election Day, I was driving around a good part of southwest and west San Antonio for work - and because I wanted to have fun with the new navigation system in my car, I chose the "least obstacles" route and let it have its fun.

My car's version of HAL took me on a nice tour of that part of San Antonio better known as the "west side." It's a cultural experience unique to our community. You can buy agua frescas (don't even try and knock these if you haven't tried one, they put smoothies to shame), you can smell barbeque cooking as you drive the streets if you've got the windows down, and signs are often written in Spanish instead of English.

Bright colors are everywhere, especially pastels -- pinks, greens, yellows -- it's always a little bit Easter here. There are still small mom and pop groceries and taco joints, and while I sat at a long red light, I watched a man in the front yard of his family's body shop, white tee shirt and jeans, expertly taping newspaper over the exterior of what appeared to be a 1940s sedan (think Humphrey Bogart's two seater in The Big Sleep) in preparation for painting it.

My drive was far from efficient, and I got a pretty good tour of the area from HAL. And here's what I found so very interesting today:

There wasn't a single Obama sign, anywhere.

Here in what everyone assumes is a Democratic Heartland, zip. No "Change" signs, no "Obamanos" bumper stickers, no traditional "Obama/Biden" yard signs or fence banners.

Nothing. Just nothing Obama at all.

But there was McCain stuff. There were flags with McCain signs next to them, and I saw one of the biggest McCain signs I've ever personally laid my eyes upon pretty close to where Division dead ends, pretty near the Pan American Mexican Restaurant, where my daddy took me to have my first puffy tacos when I was 4 years old.

Curious, isn't it?

Over at The Drudge Report, I clicked a link where some pundit is pontificating on not just whether Obama will win, but whether he'll win by a landslide -- like Reagan over Mondale, or Eisenhower over Stevenson.

Maybe my ride today means nothing. But if Obama is such a sure fire winner, you would think I'd would have seen some support for him during my ride today.

I think this is something to ponder.

11/02/2008

Following Casey Anthony on Websleuths

If you want more information, almost on an hourly basis, on the Casey Anthony case, then you may find Websleuths to be a godsend -- or a curse.

Its forums are filled with the latest news, as well as rumors (is Cindy Anthony on the site? what about those crosses from J.C. Penney's?) and there's lots of traffic.

Some of the membership actively track the story on the site each night while watching Nancy Grace ("NG" on the forums)....

It's not the best site for downloading documents or getting video feeds, but it fills a need. Or an obsession.