Sorry for the late post about the details (according to testimony) of a trial from last month-there was a trial where a man was accused of robbing a bank while wearing women’s panties on his head. (That was the news stations’ take on it) According to testimony from the State - the man, who was 65 years old, got away on a bike. It sounds like they arrested the wrong guy. If a 65 year old man can get away on a bike – maybe he should train the bike cops how to ride.
Another chase case where the police obviously need to improve their chasing skills was a trial where a prosecutor named Carl Randall got a guilty verdict… $487,000 credit union robbery. According to a man who testified in the case for the prosecution (who admitted to being the get-away driver) he got away from the police while driving a car with one of those “donut” spare tires! Yep- dude was driving a car with a donut and outran the police. Ummph, ummph, ummph… I guess the police would’ve caught him if it was a Krispy Kreme doughnut. LOL!!
Well, our city was plagued with more violence this weekend. The mayor has proposed a curfew for teenagers. I do not think that is the answer for the problems. Education is the clear answer. We need to educate people to give them something to do. If these young people had education, then the results would lead them away from the streets. If educated, they would be able to get a job. This would prevent them from being out late because they would need to go to work early the next day. That would give them money, which means they wouldn’t have to sell dope or steal to get by. Plus, as an added benefit, they will pay the city and state back through taxes.
It is a true win-win but we are around here fighting about where to put a dome, a pentagon police station, and getting the Olympic Games here. We need to begin with the source of the problem then it will improve. If not, the city will die.
I promise to blog more. Sorry folks- no more emails fussing at me, please. I promise to blog at least once a week. My law partner and I have had an influx of cases lately and have been working extra to stay on top of things.
I am in trial this week. I cant discuss the specifics of the case, however I must say that it is the wildest set of accusations for a robbery I have ever heard of. i meant to write about it earlier, but due to us being in the trial right now, I cant.
Check back with me by Friday and I should have a post about it.
My friends who read my blog are well aware of my support for a judicial candidate named Shanta Owens who is running for the Jefferson County District Court Seat #2. This is the Drug Court Position.
Shanta resigned her position as Jefferson County Deputy District Attorney earlier this year to seek the position. She turned down many lucrative offers from law firms, including mine, to practice law in private practice. She was a perfect fit to the equation of what we are building – she is smart, aggressive, and one of the best lawyers in her area – criminal law. However, she wanted to make a change in the community by fighting the drug addiction epidemic through the Drug Court position. Although I wanted her as my law partner, I support her decision to seek a judicial position.
In the Democratic primary, she faced a challenger named Linda Hall. Of course Owens’ supporters were nervous about any opponent, but we worked hard to introduce her to citizens and let them know her vision for Drug Court in Jefferson County.
Shanta Owens received 76% of the vote to Hall’s 24%. As my Grandfather would say…”That was a whuppin” Please visit www.owensforjudge08.com
Posted by Birmingham News June 03, 2008 8:43 PM
Former Jefferson County prosecutor Shanta Owens has won the Democratic nomination for Jefferson County District Court Place 2.
With 90 percent of the vote counted, Owens received 78 percent of the vote compared to 23 percent for Linda Hall.
Owens will now face Republican W. Davis Lawley
I have a buddy who mentioned doing lunch. When she mentioned doing lunch to “catch up” on stuff, she said we can talk about stuff and she usually picks my brain for business ideas while we are at it.
So, I dared to asked the question “what the heck is doing lunch and what is the benefit”? I asked her the question, she couldn’t reply. Then I threatened to call her out on my blog and talk about her really bad. So, here it is…
Remember that lunch has a benefit. As my friend recently found out from a guy she was interested in, lunch can be a test of if a person can cook. It can be a meeting of a new person to date – hey- lunch is only an hour and if you don’t like him or her you only have 59 minutes to go. Lunch can also be a question and answer session for mentors, friends, and new people in your life. Old ones too.
It can be an event to make business deals happen. It is an event that can make you money. It can be a complete waste of time, too.
In business, I prefer “doing breakfast”. I often meet two of my law mentors for breakfast each week on separate days. I know where to find them and exactly what time. I call it the “mob” meeting place because we meet there every week to catch up and I get advice that is priceless (well, for the cost of breakfast because I usually pay). It is wonderful because we are freshly rested without the rigors of the day making us tired. Plus, unlike lunch, it is rare to have something to make us late, disturb us, or make us miss it - everyone else is still waking up by the time we are drinking our coffee AFTER we have eaten.
I am kinda hungry now…
Call me. Let’s do a meaningless lunch soon…
Watch this Video of the Day- these guys have nothing better to do:
I found some funny depostions online I wanted to share with you.
This one is kinda long…but WELL WORTH WATCHING: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAIN_w026aY&feature=related
This is one where some lawyers were “gonna” fight” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td-KKmcYtrM
This dude was “kinda” mad at his lawyer…ouch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnvTxM7u46Q&NR=1
I have no trials for a few weeks. I am happy about that so I can breathe a little and relax. Sometimes you need several days at a time to stay in bed until 10AM, watch the morning news, THEN go to work-if you go at all.
I promise to write more. I have been slacking but will do much better in the coming weeks. Just bear with me, please.
E Guster
Today the weatherman (oops, meteorologist) stated that we would get snow in Birmingham. Earlier in the week it was supposed to be just a little. Now, they are saying that it will be 1.5 inches or more. 1.5 inches!!! What ??!!!
I took the day off work – I will explain my day off later. I went to the grocery store around 2:30 to buy a few libations for me to partake in while watching TV and the store was crowded. It was ridiculous. People were buying bread, milk, beer, and eggs. I have never understood this phenomenon. Why buy milk when you think the lights will go out? I guess you can put it outside so it wont spoil). But, it makes no sense.
MY DAY OFF- Today I got up and did nothing. My cases have taken a toll on me and I really needed a day off. There is nothing better than sitting at home when everyone else is at work. It seems much more worthwhile when others are working and I am watching Judge Judy, going to the barber shop and grocery store. Aaaahhh…relaxation. Back to the grind next week!
There is controversy about Beyonce’ making a statement at the Grammy awards while introducing Tina Turneras “The Queen”. Now, let’s analyze this. She never said “Queen of Soul” (which Aretha calls herself) but simply “The Queen”. Aretha does not have the right to get mad. Hmmm…I wonder who else could get mad-
There is Prince (The Purple Rain guy), and also the “Prince of R&B” (R. Kelly) No one is mad there.
There was the musical group “Queen”. The Queen of England did not get mad at that. They better be careful because Aretha may go on a tirade against them.
What about “The King of Pop”. I wonder if Michael Jackson was mad at the movie The Last King of Scotland since King was in the title and it wasn’t about him.
Did James Brown, also known as Godfather of Soul get mad when the movie Godfather was released and he was not in it?
In short, I believe that this argument about Aretha is ridiculous. It is stupid. Plus, who says that she is the only queen anyway. The world has many more queens than one, and those were born into royalty.
Aretha should get over it before the Queen of England lets her know that she is THE QUEEN and Aretha is not a one at all.
Valentine’s Day is a heist. A heist of people’s wallets, credit cards, and checkbooks.
V-Day has been commercialized to the point that men feel the absolute need to do or purchase things that 1) will die within a week (expensive flowers) or 2) will make her fat (candy) or 3) take her to a restaurant that makes you wear a jacket(yuck!)
Valentines, as my Dad and I have examined, is the day where men who never take their wives, girlfriends, or ahem…special friend(s) anywhere during the year somewhere nice. Actually, Valentines should be just any given day. Most men don’t get it that you should send flowers on any given day of the week (Monday or Tuesday are best) which lets her know she is special. Not just sending flowers because the TV commercial told you to. If a person succumbs to the Valentines Day hype, they were victimized by “The Heist”.
Sending flowers on a Monday to her means that her co-workers will sing your praises the ENTIRE week- Trust me, that works big time. Want a special dessert- flowers on Monday. Want to watch the Playoffs without being disturbed- flowers on Monday. Want a happy relationship- flowers on Monday. (Are you taking notes?) trust me, this stuff works.
The Valentines Day that is listed on the calendar is a day which is best spent spending time with your special someone. Not becoming obsessed with the roses that are priced at 300% markup from the normal prices or purchasing chocolate that probably does not taste good. Time is the best gift a person can give. Give that on Valentines day, then send roses in two weeks!
Have fun.
There is an illness with a very long name. It is called The Flavor of Love Jerry Springer Maury Rock of Love addiction syndrome. People have it, but will not admit it – until someone else admits it first. In an effort to start conversations, I mention “Flavor of Love” or the spin-off show “I Love New York” to people. Lawyers, accountants, judges, journalists, and people in many other professions have admitted to me they watch Flavor Flav. Gold teeth, wild antics and all. If they don’t admit to those shows, they watch Rock of Love (which is a show several local prosecutors chat about between court hearings) or Maury (to see if the guy “is her baby’s daddy”). Amazing! And it is a secret. A deep, dark secret. Some have asserted attorney-client privilege after paying me a penny and one mentioned contempt of court if I told. Oops, wont call names here.
I believe that I know why people watch the shows: Our lives are too restricted. We have wireless internet, cell phones, email, Blackberry, families, and 50+ hour per week jobs. We want to get away from normal things. That is when these shows take us to a world we don’t see – a world that is not normal, controlled, and accepted. It is like an underground world of television watchers. Addicts who cannot control themselves. There should be a toll-free number 1-877-STOP-WATCHING.
The shows are dumb, addictive, demeaning, stupid, etc, etc. Yet, we watch. Monday night at 8 PM I will be watching. Email me if you are watching too. It will be our secret. We will call it attorney/friend privilege. No retainer fee necessary. Eric@GusterLawFirm.com
