The legal sector, considered as a system made of codes and laws that are not always easy to read, often interfaces with people’s lives. Due to the complexity of bureaucracy and legal language, defined by many authors as an intricate labyrinth of notions, paragraphs and articles, people feel inadequate and very often disoriented. In response to these difficulties, the idea has emerged that the legal system should be redefined in order to make it intelligible to everyone by employing a more linear and clear language. This process of legal innovation was developed through two important legal profiles: legal design and legal tech.
Indeed, the legal discipline has tried to improve the comprehensibility of legal language by abandoning, albeit partially, the so-called “scriptorum” of classical scholars through the use of Legal Design. In fact, the main purpose of this new legal instrument in the hands of new professional figures in the legal field was to limit the use of all technical terms, complex concepts and a particularly articulated syntax in order to facilitate the understandability of rules or contracts, taking into account the difficulty and needs of all relevant parties.
According to the Legal Design Lab of Stanford University, the notion of “design” indicates not only a simple aesthetic design, but also a completely new and innovative methodology that aims at creating intuitive results and legal tools through the employment of icons, graphic signs and argumentative maps in order to make law more transparent and understandable. The legal document is reshaped by resorting to illustrations and schemes, only the essential parts remain, in order to enable people who are not familiar with the legal sector to interact with the latter and understand it in the best way possible.
In Italy, the Bruno Kessler Foundation of Trento developed a project named “SIMPATICO” with the aim of simplifying legal language through the employment of artificial intelligence. The process created by the Foundation is structured around the prior analysis of the text and its consequent translation and adaptation to the needs and factual knowledge of the user, in order to achieve a final objective: to make the document comprehensible and decipherable by the reader. It has been recognized that digital development, which has been raging in every sector of the economy for over a decade, has also revolutionized the world of law and legal services, that more and more employ digital, fast, easy to understand and innovative systems.
Nowadays, legal professionals begin to be familiar with artificial intelligence, algorithms and machine learning, as these tools enable them to combine legal skills with innovative and highly technological solutions. In this context, professionals feel the continuous and growing need to respond to and satisfy new needs, including the reduction of time frames and the simplification of procedures that have always been cumbersome.
According to Claudia Sandei, head of the Innovation Technology Law Lab (IITL) of Padova University, the figure of the legal professional is going to change in the next decade, as he will acquire competences and skills that will allow him to perform efficiently in the digital sector.
The early forms of legal tech were conceived at the end of 2000s, with the purpose of improving all the activities performed by law firms, including: acquisition of customers; monitoring of workflow; restructuring of information architecture; use of online space and cloud; as well as speeding up the management of relations with clients and institutions.
The rise of technology in the legal profession, in the form of legal tech, fintech and insurtech, also represents an industrial trend in technological development. In addition to the birth of tech boutiques and companies with legal in-house, new technological developments have entered the system. In 2019 there were significant decreases in the length of legal processes, originated and favored by the implementation of platforms aimed at resolving online disputes.
The United Kingdom and the United States are the prodromal example of the digitalization process of courts and tribunals. In fact, the two countries have encouraged the use of digital platforms to facilitate the performance of legal processes in a virtual way, without the need to be physically present in the courthouse. This, undoubtedly, takes on even more importance in view of the pandemic that is raging on a global level. The estimates regarding investments in the digital revolution of the legal sector show the complexity of the increasing digitalisation of law. In particular, in the two-year period 2018-2019, revenue in the legal sector, notably the one employing legal tech instruments, exceeded 10.7 billion euro.
Moreover, according to Lawgeex, a contract review platform, there are multiple types of tools relating to the world of legal technology (the platform currently estimates about thirty of them). The impact of new legal tech solutions, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain and intellectual property innovation, is absolutely disruptive and without precedents. These new legal instruments not only guarantee the production of tailor-made documents, shaped according to the needs of clients and professionals, but also ensure the traceability of the various versions of each document, allowing professionals to work simultaneously on the same document.
Nowadays, it should be pointed out that, even though they may seem synonyms, there is a remarkable difference between the notion of “legaltech” and that of “lawtech”. Indeed, when we talk about legaltech, we refer to the software and technologies that legal professionals use to simplify and speed up their work; instead, the notion of “lawtech” identifies a complexity of tools available to clients (legal chatbots, online markets).
To sum up, legal technology is being developed in three main fields: 1) management of the law firm through advanced control systems, 2) management and execution of practices aimed at better administration of the same and, finally, 3) legal services to the market, as platforms serving delivery services. As legal technology continues to improve in all these areas, we can begin to imagine a future in which legal tech tools will play an increasingly central role in the lives of both professionals and clients, making the legal sector easier to understand and navigate.


Transport Canada Recall - 2021635 - VOLKSWAGEN
Please see corrective actions section below
2021 | VOLKSWAGEN | ATLAS
On a small number of vehicles, the front wheel bearing bolts may not have been tightened properly. Over time, the bolts could loosen and create an unusual noise while driving. This problem could also affect the driver's control of the vehicle.
A loose wheel bearing could lead to a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
Volkswagen will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the front wheel bearing bolts. Any bolts that were not tightened properly will be replaced.
Visit Transport Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database for the original recall.


- PROSECUTING DR. PARKER: THE SENTENCING HEARING
- September 14, 2000 firstname.lastname@example.org
- Today, I attended the four-hour sentencing hearing for
Dr. Joseph Parker. For those unfamiliar with this travesty, please see
the previous posting PROSECUTING DR. PARKER. (Use the search engine, you
can probably find it faster.)
- Dr. Parker, now former marine, former ICBM Silo officer,
and former emergency room physician, was sentenced to 37 months in prison.
His "crime" was reporting receiving child pornography over the
Internet to FBI agents who failed to follow procedures to properly document
his contact with them and failed to follow procedures to come to his residence
and collect the evidence. Dr. Parker called FBI agents at least five times
to report receiving child pornography. Dr. Parker co-operated with the
FBI in setting up a sting operation to catch a possible child molester.
The evidence sat uncollected in Dr. Parker's computer until his e-mail
address was found in the computer of a child pornographer by U. S. Customs
- Customs Agents came to Dr. Parker and asked him if he
knew how they obtained his name in connection with child pornography.
He stated to them that he had called the FBI and Customs had obtained it
from them. Because his numerous reports of receiving child pornography
and the assistance in setting up an FBI sting operation had not been properly
documented, the FBI did not immediately confirm his statements made to
the Customs Agents. Dr. Parker was arrested and charged with possessing
- Subsequent to Dr. Parker's arrest, the FBI admitted to
possessing documentation of his reports of receiving the child pornography
and Dr. Parker helping them to set up a sting operation. At this point
the Justice Department had the choice of admitting that a mistake had been
made when this man was arrested or prosecuting him to cover-up their incompetence
- Enter the Clinton appointed US Attorney for the Eastern
District of Arkansas, Paula Casey, who apparently perceived in Dr. Parker's
bizarre situation an opportunity to pursue a personal agenda. Despite
her busy schedule and substantial workload of major cases, Paula Casey
found time to sit in the back of the courtroom for the entire four hour
sentencing hearing. From my aggregate experience working in every level
of government from city/county to federal, I can tell you that there are
a limited of number of things that will draw a government official at Paula
Casey's level to watch their underlings at work. Most prominent among
them are (1) something they have an emotional investment in and (2) observing
the application of methods and procedures established to implement a new
policy so the methods and procedures can be fine tuned for future application.
I did not learn of this case until the trial phase was over. I only can
attest to what happened at the sentencing hearing which I observed today.
It was obvious that Dr. Parker was prosecuted to cover up the incompetence
and bungling of government employees and to fulfill the personal agendas
of Paula Casey and her minions who argued the case.
- The clearest evidence of this bungling-and-incompetence/personal-political-agenda
was an argument made by the lead prosecuting attorney. It was argued that
Dr. Parker had, in fact, prevented apprehension of the child pornographers
by failing to take the evidence to the FBI, which he was improperly instructed
to do. (If you received a package of cocaine by mistake, would YOU drive
it to your nearest FBI Field Office and risk arrest along the way if you
were pulled over for some reason or involved in an accident? "But
Officer the FBI told me to deliver this cocaine to them." "Yea,
right, shoot him, Dano.") Despite having the files in their possession
for some time, the Justice Department has apparently not been able to find
these pornographers, making a lie of their own argument. Dr. Parker, who
reported the criminal activity and tried in vain to get somebody to do
something, has apparently been the only person arrested and prosecuted.
The FBI sting operation, which would never have occurred if not for Dr.
Parker's help, was also bungled and no one was arrested.
- Additional proof that this was nothing but a malicious
prosecution, was the sadistic, transparent argument made attempting to
obtain quadruple sentencing enhancement. The lead prosecuting attorney
argued that when Dr. Parker voluntarily turned the child pornography files
over to the Customs Agents, in the mistaken belief they had appeared as
a result of his previous reports to the FBI, that act constituted trafficking
in child pornography. I could not believe I had heard this argument and
asked both US Attorney Paula Casey and one of the attorneys prosecuting
the case what specific act was the basis for the trafficking in child pornography
allegation. After a few minutes of listening to Paula Casey engage in
evasive babbling and my repeating the question, she finally admitted that
she did not know what the basis of the trafficking allegation was. She
also refused to answer when I asked if she had made the decision to prosecute
Dr. Parker. The prosecuting attorney's answer was that I should read the
- The final reason I am certain this was a malicious prosecution,
occurred when I looked at the prosecuting attorney table and at Paula Casey
sitting in the back of the courtroom when witnesses broke into tears pleading
for mercy for Dr. Parker, including Dr. Parker's daughter who broke down
pleading for her Father to come home with her. There was not a flicker
of human emotion on any of their faces. Not a sign of sympathy. Not a
sign of regret. Nothing. This vacuum of emotion occurred in the context
of grown men among the spectators openly crying. Nothing human could have
sat unmoved in that courtroom.
- Perhaps Alexander Solzhenitsyn's insight that for men
to do evil they must first believe they are doing good combined with a
fact presented by Defense Attorney Greene can inform about why this case
has sobering implications for all of us. Attorney Greene stated that he
had reviewed all the federal prosecutions in child pornography cases and
never before had a person who reported receiving child pornography to authorities
ever been prosecuted. Dr. Parker is the test case for new methods of manipulating
otherwise decent people to believe an innocent person is guilty. A handy
tool for corrupt government employees who might want the ability to destroy
citizens who become perceived threats to their misdeeds and excesses. This
is new policy created ad hoc out of the destructive opportunities perceived
and exploited in the particulars of Dr. Parker's unique situation. That
is why US Attorney Paula Casey was there observing what transpired. This
is a doubly diabolical policy device designed to further damage social
stability. This new policy has two easily identifiable destructive consequences.
First, it will instill fear in people who might think about reporting
criminal activity, especially child pornography and child molestation.
The primary beneficiaries of a policy that intimidates people who might
report such crimes are child pornographers and child molesters. An important
question to be answered is why US Attorney Paula Casey would want to implement
a policy that benefits child pornographers and child molesters by discouraging
people from reporting them?
- When word spreads about what happened to Dr. Parker,
as a result of his attempting to reported a crime, potential crime reporters
will legitimately worry about whether or not the law enforcement officer
will properly document their report and if reporting and cooperating in
improperly documented investigations will result in their being arrested
and prosecuted for the crime, like Dr. Parker.
- The second identifiable consequence can be observed in
any of the historical Holocausts you care to examine, for example Jews
in Germany or Armenians in Turkey. One of the tools for setting up someone
for destruction is to depict them as a moral degenerate. This works, because
no one wants to risk damaging themselves by coming to the defense of someone
labeled a moral degenerate, whether it is true or false. Paula Casey dusted
off an old tool for a new policy, label people you are seeking to destroy
a child pornographer and no one will dare challenge you.
- I believe I can safely assert it is generally recognized
that using the power and resources of government to maliciously destroy
lives is evil. US Attorney Paula Casey has no business either developing
or implementing methods, procedures and polices that exploit public revulsion
of child molesters and child pornographers to destroy human lives in pursuit
of some personal agenda of her own or the agenda of organized interests
with which she affiliates or identifies.
- Such behavior was wrong in Nazi Germany. It was wrong
in Turkey. It is wrong in the United States today. Paula Casey, and any
other government officials using their position to commit such evil deeds,
need to be removed from office and prosecuted for crimes against humanity,
just as their predecessors in Nazi Germany.
- The necessity of such action has been stated in word
more clearly than any I have been able to put together, "But if for
no other reason, Evil must be destroyed so that we can once more guide
our own destinies." (The Darkest Day: cited on Famous and Infamous
- We may have no chance of bring these people to justice
under the current administration, but the day will come when we can. Until
then, let everyone watch, remember, and oppose them as best you legally
can. Your turn on the docket could very well be next.
- The Paula Casey's of today, who have undeservedly gained
access to government power and resources, are not going to let citizens
live their lives in a manner they do not approve of, and that is only if
they refrain from using government power and resources to kill independent
or "uncooperative" citizens outright, as has been done numerous
times in history. If you think these observations are foolish or unwarranted,
remember one of the numerous similar statements made by President Clinton,
who appointed Paula Casey, "the purpose of government is to reign
in the rights of the people." (Bill Clinton, 1993 MTV interview,
- James Roger Brown
- You will not believe this judicial atrocity. This case
comes about as close to absolute proof the criminal justice system is totally
out of control as you are likely to find. _____
- Sometimes, reporting a crime to the FBI might be the
last thing you want to do.
- By Mara Leveritt
The Arkansas Times
- You open your e-mail one day and find pornographic images
of children. What should you do?
- Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Johnson does not hesitate
- "You should contact the FBI and arrange for them
to come and take possession of the material immediately."
- But Johnson, an assistant to U.S. Attorney Paula Casey
in Little Rock, is not so quick to answer why, after a Little Rock physician
called the FBI - not once but three times - to report having received such
illegal images, federal agents failed to "come and take possession
of the material" at all, and months later, Casey's office prosecuted
the physician for the felony of possessing it.
- Casey defends the decision and takes exception to the
doctor's characterization of his actions. And a federal jury found the
doctor guilty. But the story of how this case was handled - by officials
at the FBI, the U.S. Customs Service, Casey's office, and the federal court
- emerges as a cautionary tale for every computer owner who receives illegal
material by e-mail and considers reporting it.
- For the full story:
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Title I is a federally funded program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as reauthorized by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA). The purpose of Title I is to provide all children a significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education and to close educational achievement gaps. The restricted grant provides supplementary funding to improve the teaching and learning of students. Funds are to be used only for programs that supplement, and do not supplant, the services that would be provided in the absence of these funds.All Title I schools benefit from centralized program services that include instructional support, professional development, technology support, and parent and family engagement initiatives.
Basically, Title I is a federal education program that supports low income students throughout the nation. Funds are distributed to high poverty schools, as determined by the number of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. The funds can be used to hire additional teachers or teaching assistants, to provide computers or software, to fund before, after and summer school programs, and to purchase additional materials or equipment.
Our school was selected because of the percentage of our students who qualify for free or reduced lunch and breakfast.
Because all of our Title I schools are designated as “school-wide” Title I schools, all children in the Title I schools are eligible for services. When data indicate the need for interventions either because of low performance or at-risk behaviors, any student is eligible for Title I services. Your child may qualify for tutoring, before or after school programs, technology support, a classroom with fewer children or summer school. In addition, when Title I schools receive additional programs, they are available to all students for which they are designed regardless of their free or reduced lunch status.
All children in Title I schools benefit from the additional teachers and assistants. Because there are more adults to help children, all children receive more individualized and small group instruction. The goal of Title I services is to accelerate academic achievement so that all children meet or exceed state and federal standards of performance.
A major purpose of Title I is to increase the involvement of parents in a child’s education. Under Title I regulations, all schools receiving Title I funds have developed a compact, an agreement between the school and the parents. The compact is designed to help parents and teachers work together to provide the best possible education for each student. Parents have opportunities each fall to provide input and participate in the School/Parent Compact.
Parent , Family and Community Engagement is very important and affects student achievement. Research shows that when a student’s parent or guardian is involved, the student is more successful in school. G. James Gholson Middle School understands the importance of parent and family engagement at our school. Parent and family partnerships afford an opportunity for strengthening the academic program as well as including parents/guardians as equal partners in educating our children. As a Title I school, we are committed to providing programs, activities, and procedures that will enhance opportunities for engaging parents and families in the learning process that are consistent with Title I, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). In addition, the school accepts and aligns this plan with the PGCPS Parent and Family Engagement Board Policy. Annually, the Parent & Family Engagement Plan is developed or revised and shared with parents/guardians for input. These documents serve as a means to solidify our partnership with the school community and serve as a calendar for upcoming parents and families events. Parents are welcome to provide input/suggestions related to the continuous school improvement process by submitting information to a school administrator verbally, via email communications, and/or through surveys and evaluations.
There are many ways to get involved in your child’s education. To begin, Title I funding is based on the percentage of children who qualify for free or reduced lunch. You can help your child’s school by filling out the Federal Lunch Program application and turning it in at our main office. You can also help by volunteering in your child’s classroom or by serving on the school School Planning and Management Team and Parent Teacher Organization. These groups make decisions about school programs, safety, goals and how funds are used in your child’s school. You can also help by telling other parents and attending the many workshops and meetings offered during the school year. To volunteer, contact the school office or school principal.
Please read all of the documents hyperlinked below for helping and supporting schools in their efforts to encourage and promote parent engagement.
|ESSA Parent & Family Engagement Policy- English||Política de participación de padres y familias de ESSA - Español||Politique d'engagement des parents et des familles de l'ESSA - Français|
|Parent Right to Know Letter- English||Carta sobre el derecho de los padres a saber: español||Lettre sur le droit de savoir aux parents - Français|
|Parent Engagement Plan- English||Plan de Compromiso de Padres- Español||Plan d'engagement des parents - Français|
|Gholson School-Family Compact- English||Pacto Escuela-Familia Gholson - Español||Gholson School-Family Compact - Français|


Met Police PC David Carrick denies 44 sexual offences - including 21 rapes - and will face trial
and live on Freeview channel 276
A Metropolitan Police officer will go on trial next year facing 44 charges, including 21 rapes, over a period of 17 years.
He appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Friday, May 27, and remanded in custody.
A trial is slated to begin at Southwark Crown Court on February 6, 2023.
Carrick was arrested by Hertfordshire Constabulary in October 2021, and immediately suspended.
Prior to his suspension, he was attached to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “We recognise the very serious nature of the offences that Carrick is accused of.
“The Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards (DPS) continues to monitor developments closely and misconduct proceedings will continue following the conclusion of the criminal case.
“We will continue to provide whatever support we can to Hertfordshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service as they prepare for the upcoming trial.”


The Court of Appeal recently dismissed an appeal brought by the Commissioner of Inland Revenue (CIR) in CIR v Diamond  NZCA 613. At the heart of the case was the issue of the meaning of “Permanent Place of Abode” (PPOA). Section YD 1 of the Income Tax Act 2007 states that a person is [...]
Commerce and Consumer Affairs Consumer Guarantees Act CCCFA Managed Investment Schemes Undue Influence Property Law Special Conditions Securities New Zealand Commerce Commission FMA Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2011 Land Transfer Act Companies Act Companies Financial Reporting Act NZCC Digital Communications Trade Marks Insolvent Transaction Merger Disclosure Documents Sale and Purchase Agreement Oppressive Conduct Consumer Credit Contract and Commercial Law Act 2017 Residency Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 Restraint of Trade NZX Securities Markets Act 1988 Permanent Place of Abode Acts Insurance Tax Contracts Copyright Building Societies Act 1965 Wills Product Disclosure Liquidation Acid Test Contract Law Financial Services Fair Trading Act Property Schemes Health and Safety Act Meth Testing Commissioner of Inland Revenue NZBORA Lien Commerce (Cartels and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2017 Trusts Bill of Rights Gifting Similar Work Regulations Hazardous Substances Credit Overseas Investment Act Consumer Protection Bright-Line Test Treaty Settlement Employment Relations Authority Employee Share Schemes Income Tax Act 2007 Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill PPSA Criminalisation Deed of Guarantee Asbestos Companies Office Credit Fees Company Directors Financial Markets Conduct Act
This page does not comprise legal advice and its accuracy and completeness are not guaranteed. If you require legal advice on any of the topics canvassed on this page, please get in touch with your usual contact at Macalister Mazengarb.


Reductions in force, mostly through attrition, have already reduced the San Mateo County Superior Court workforce by 30 percent, the judge said. Management has consolidated traffic and small claims courts and cut the court clerk's availability to the public, she said.
"Trial Courts should not be dismantled, justice should not be rationed and communities should not be denied a rational, accessible and credible means to resolve disputes," she said.
The judges are going public with these warnings "well in advance so that the court can work with its justice partners and community leaders to restore funding and minimize these actions, if at all possible," the statement said.
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The NSW Attorney General, Mark Speakman SC MP today announced reforms to sexual consent law in NSW six months after the Law Reform Commission finished its detailed review.
The NSW Government will introduce an affirmative model of sexual consent which means the accused will have to have done something or said something reasonable in the circumstances to ascertain consent.
“What this means in practice is that you cannot assume consent. You must check in with the person you’re with to ascertain whether they consent to a particular sexual activity,” explains Hayley Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Women’s Safety NSW.
“One cannot assume that another is consenting just because they haven’t said or done anything to resist, or because they have consented to the same activity in the past, or because they have consented to a different type of sexual act.”
Women’s Safety NSW welcomes this landmark decision which places the onus on the person seeking consent to have taken steps to determine that consent has been given, alongside the other changes which have been recommended by the NSW Law Reform Commission, accepted by the NSW Government in whole or in part.
However, concerns remain that there have been no new moves to specialise courts hearing sexual assault matters, nor to expand and extend sexual consent education.
“A law change on its own will not address the traumatic nature of the court process, and the fact that so many victim-survivors of sexual assault do not want to be dragged through a long, drawn-out process where they will likely have their credibility torn to shreds on the stand,” continues Ms Foster.
“It doesn’t change the fact that the justice you access can depend upon the judicial officer your matter is heard by.”
“Nor does it change the fact that evidence of similar past conduct on the part of the accused will often not be admissible, making it so much more difficult to secure a conviction.”
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller acknowledged the “harrowing journey” of victims throughout the court process and the Attorney General Mark Speakman acknowledged that “we will continue to have victim-survivors not satisfied” with the process.
However, instead of introducing the much-needed reforms to address the re-traumatisation of victim-survivors going through court as recommended by women’s safety bodies and advocates, the NSW Government has announced another research project to look into these issues.
“The NSW Government cannot say they are not aware of this experience and what is needed to remedy it,” says Ms Foster. “Women’s safety organisations like ours and those who are part of the NSW Women’s Alliance, alongside victim-survivors of sexual assault themselves, have been briefing the NSW Government on this for many many years.”
Women’s Safety NSW reinforces the urgency of this reform.
“This is urgent,” says Ms Foster. “We cannot just kick the can down the road with another research project.”
In terms of consent education, Women’s Safety NSW notes there have not as yet been any new announcements to ramp up sexual consent education in schools. Instead, Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, Sarah Mitchell MLC announced the Department would be updating on existing education to include the new definition.
“We do need to see an expansion of consent education in schools”, says Ms Foster. “It needs to be comprehensive, and it needs to be delivered to students of all ages in an age-appropriate manner.”
“It also needs to be provided in every school, including those that are private and independent.”
Last month, women’s safety organisations in NSW wrote to the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian to demand urgent action to tackle unprecedented rates of sexual assault outlining nine reforms needed to achieve this end.
The full list of recommendations were as follows:
- Introduce affirmative consent laws in NSW.
- Introduce changes to evidence and procedural law to make the court process more accessible, safer, and trauma-informed for adult sexual assault complainants.
- Better recognise sexual assault in the context of domestic and family violence in our laws, including introducing jury directions on domestic violence.
- Develop a model for the practical implementation of court specialisation for matters involving domestic, family and sexual violence in NSW, including attached support services for victim-survivors and offenders.
- Fund sexual assault case management teams to operate out of currently funded domestic and family violence specialist services and supports for young offenders.
- Fund independent legal representation for sexual assault complainants in criminal trials.
- Introduce mandatory reporting and systematic audits of sexual assault complaints in aged and disability care settings, and develop a trauma specialist, survivor-led response to disclosures.
- Fund a comprehensive, whole-of-community primary prevention strategy for NSW, in line with the national framework Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia, including a roll out of whole-of-school community education on consent.
- Examine alternative pathways to supplement the criminal justice system in holding perpetrators to account and delivering justice for victim-survivors, noting that the overwhelming majority of victim-survivors of sexual assault do not want to report to police or engage in current court processes but do want access to justice.
“Today’s announcement is an important step forward in the state’s response to sexual assault,” says Ms Foster. “These consent laws have been hard won and we want to acknowledge all the advocates and organisations who have worked so hard to get us where we are today.”
“This is not, however, the end of the line.”
“We will continue to advocate alongside partner organisations and survivors of sexual assault for a comprehensive reform package which will increase access to justice for victim-survivors, hold offenders to account, and prevent such injustices occurring in the first place.”


A Fiancé Visa allows a person to visit the United States and marry an U.S. citizen resident of Gallatin TN.
Applying for a fiancé visa will require you to show proof of your U.S. citizenship, proof of permission for you both to marry, and evidence of the fiancé relationship such as meeting in person within the last two years.
File a Fiancé Visa Petition in Gallatin Tennessee
A fiancé petition must be filed within the United States; these cannot be filed abroad. Even though you plan to live in Gallatin all of your immigration papers need to be filed at the correct regional USCIS office. The address for this office can be found on your current form, or you can also ask a local immigration lawyer.
Once approved by the USCIS, your fiancé will need to file certain forms with the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country to show they meet certain standard immigrant visa requirements.
Getting Married After Your Fiancé Petition Documents Are Completed
Once completed and when your fiancé has entered the country, the wedding must take place within 90 days. After this is done an applicant can amend their immigration status to reflect their marriage. Qualified Gallatin, TN Fiancé Visa Attorneys can help to reduce the confusion associated with this complicated process.


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Future Group: The Clock Ticks For Lenders As Deal Awaits Green Light
Delays in Future Group's deal with Reliance Retail could lead to more of the group's debt turning unsustainable, fear bankers.
As the closure of a proposed deal between Kishore Biyani's Future Group and Reliance Retail Ltd. continues to drag out, lenders are starting to get nervous. The Future Group is having to take on more debt to keep operations running, particularly amid a pandemic-induced slowdown, leaving bankers questioning whether a larger share of the debt will now be unsustainable.
For every month of delay in closing the transaction with Reliance Retail Ltd, the Future Group is adding about Rs 200 crore in additional debt due to working capital needs, two people in the know told BloombergQuint. The people spoke on condition of anonymity.
The delays are largely due to a legal challenge mounted by Amazon.com Inc. against the deal with Reliance Retail. If the delays continue and the economy remains weak, more of the Future Group's outstanding debt could become unsustainable, the first of the two people said, adding this will also impact enterprise value.
As of now, the total debt for Future Group stands at around Rs 30,000 crore, according to the people cited earlier. In April, lenders to Future Group had recast the company's debt under the Reserve Bank of India's one-time restructuring scheme, allowing the group's companies more time to repay.
Even that may prove to be inadequate if delays with the Reliance Retail deal persist.
As per the deal announced in August 2020, Future Group agreed to sell its retail, logistics and warehousing businesses at an enterprise value of around Rs 25,000 crore. Debt worth Rs 12,700 crore would be transferred to the Mukesh Ambani-owned company's balance sheet, the first person said.
The deadline to conclude the deal has been extended from March 31 to Sept. 30, to account for the delays caused by the legal challenges from Amazon Inc. The transaction has received approvals from the Competition Commission of India and the Securities and Exchanges Board of India.
Arbitration proceedings in Singapore resumed this week. In India, the matter is pending in the Supreme Court before a three-judge bench of Justice RF Nariman, Justice KM Joseph and Justice BR Gavai.
Future Group declined to comment. Future Group's largest lender State Bank of India didn't respond to queries mailed.
In Wait & Watch Mode
According to the first person, lenders led by SBI are closely monitoring developments as covenants within the one-time restructuring plan may be breached if debt burden becomes unsustainable again. While the one-time restructuring plan has eased the repayment schedule, Future Group does need to make certain bullet repayments by December 2021, the person said.
There are two scenarios the lenders are working with currently, the two people cited earlier said.
The first being an early resolution of the legal issues from Amazon, which would allow the Reliance Retail deal to go through. In this case, lenders continue with the restructuring plan for the remaining businesses as currently planned.
Even if that doesn't happen and cash flows improve with a pick-up in the economy, the current plan can remain in place, the people said.
The lenders are also watching asset sales proposed during the restructuring scheme, where Future Group had agreed to sell its two insurance businesses and the small format retail store business. The sale proceeds are expected to reduce the group's debt burden and also infuse cash into its remaining businesses.
While sale processes have been initiated for these sales, a definitive plan is yet to emerge.
Currently, SBI General Insurance is in talks with Future Group to fully buyout Future Generali India Insurance, the second of the two people cited earlier said. The discussions have been on since last year, when Future Group had announced its intent to exit the insurance businesses.
Separately, Italy's Generali Group has also expressed its intention to raise its stake in Future Group's insurance businesses as 74% foreign direct investment is now permitted. According to the second person cited earlier, discussions with Generali Group are still on.
If none of these scenarios play out as expected, lenders will have to review the restructuring plan implemented in April, the people said.


City govt officials, workers to get one month PMI
WHEN it rains it pours!
Aside from receiving Christmas bonus, city government workers will have another financial windfall.
The City Council headed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin V. Uy on Monday approved Supplemental Budget No. 5 and 2 of the General Fund and Special Account: Local Economic Enterprises, respectively for 2017 for the payment of Personnel Motivation Incentive (PMI) equivalent to one month basic salary rate salary of all officials and employees of the city government.
The incentive is pursuant to the provisions of Rule X of the Omnibus Rules implementing Book V of Executive Order 292 and Civil Service Commission (CSC) Memorandum Circular No. 01 S., 2001 as revised under CSC Resolution No. 010112 dated January 10, 2011.
It will be implemented by virtue of Executive Order No. 129-15 of Mayor Oscar S. Moreno.
The grant of the PMI was highly recommended by the Performance Management Team (PMT) and Program on Awards and Incentive for Service Excellence (PRAISE) Committee in consideration of the overall performance of the city government.
It may be recalled that Cagayan de Oro received several commendations and awards these past two years.
The city was adjudged as one of the Top 10 Next Wave Cities by the Department of Science and Technology and Technology Information and Technology Office (DOST-ICTO), Information Technology Business Association of the Philippines (BPAP) and Leechiu Property Consultants.
Last year, the city was also No. 1 in Mindanao in Local Revenue Generations.
Aside from these, the city won the Gawad Kalasag Award and International Network for Urban Agriculture Award.
This year, Cagayan de Oro bested other cities landing in the top ten Most Competitive City, and a Gawad Pook awardee. It also acquired the Seal of Good Education Governance by Synergia Foundation and Seal of Good Housekeeping.
According to the PRAISE committee, the grant of PMI is in recognition of the officials and workers for their very satisfactory accomplishments, services in the public interest, which contribute to the efficiency, economy and improvement in government operations, leading to organizational productivity.


ALBANY >> The state corrections department improperly permitted 64 prison superintendents and 16 other staff to use state cars mainly for commuting to work, New York’s inspector general reported Friday.
Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott said the investigation, which The Associated Press first reported almost two years ago, has been completed and corrections officials agreed to return cars to the agency vehicle pool instead of assigning them to top staff.
Her report, made public Friday, cited “scant” evidence superintendents and agency executives used state cars to respond to after-hours prison emergencies, which was a justification for assigning them vehicles.
“The use of these vehicles for commuting and non-business purposes was a waste of taxpayer dollars that should never have been sanctioned,” Scott said. A review found that between 2009 and 2010, a million miles collectively were driven commuting in those cars, which several officials also used to transport friends and family.
Scott noted a 2009 directive under Gov. David Paterson to all state agencies and authorities eliminating the assignment of vehicles to specific state employees except in extraordinary circumstances. The report said DOCCS had failed to follow that directive. Then-Corrections Commissioner Brian Fischer didn’t change the policy at his agency, which had 1,440 vehicles including 124 assigned to individuals. Instead, he requested exemptions for himself, other top officials and the superintendents, noting superintendents had driven them for 20 years, according to the report.
Fischer, who retired in May, said he assumed that was acceptable since the prison superintendents were considered constantly on call to return to work as needed.
Investigators also found that 16 people used state vehicles to attend a June 2011 retirement party in western New York and 14 also charged the state expenses for an overnight stay, citing nearby state business.
The corrections department, in response to the report, said it has issued a new directive advising executive staff and superintendents they’ll no longer be assigned cars, that state vehicles shouldn’t be used to attend social events like retirement parties, and that staff with state cars must log all non-business travel.
“As noted in the report, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, under new leadership, has taken corrective action,” spokesman Tom Mailey said Friday. “No one has been disciplined, but our review for any further action is ongoing. The cars are now pool vehicles to be used solely for state business.”
Watch commanders, on-call supervisors, sergeants and others are the first responders who are called to emergencies, and vehicles will continue to be assigned to them to ensure security at prisons, according to the inspector general’s office.
The investigation followed complaints about personal use of state cars by the superintendents at Gouverneur prison in northern New York and the Lakeview shock camp in western New York. They respectively used their state cars for roundtrip commutes between home and work of 83 miles and 183 miles, respectively, the report said.


the Assassination of General Soleimani should be considered by the UN Security Council. This statement was made by the representative of the Iranian foreign Ministry Abbas Mousavi. According to him, Tehran has already initiated proper meeting in the security Council. Meanwhile, Washington has threatened Iran with new strikes in the event of an escalation of the conflict from the Islamic Republic.
the Ambassador of Switzerland — a country that represents US interests in Iran since the seizure of hostages at the American Embassy in 1979-m to year, — summoned to the foreign Ministry of the Islamic Republic for the third time in the last few days. Current about threats from Donald trump to strike in case of escalation of conflict with Iran.
“Iran is very safe to say about the attack on certain assets of the United States, to avenge what we have rid the world of their terrorist leader… Let this serve as a warning: if Iran strikes on Americans or American targets, we chose the 52 Iranian targets, symbolizing the 52 hostages held by Iran many years ago. And we very quickly and very hard hit these targets on Iran. USA don’t want to hear threats.” – said the American President.
According to the tradition of eloquent message trump the Iranian authorities have left unanswered. Commander of the Iranian army Abdolrahim Mousavi doubt that Washington will be able to back up words with deeds. And foreign Minister Javad Zarif reminded that the destruction of cultural heritage is a war crime and a violation of international law. Like the assassination of General Soleimani.
“grave breach of international law vile murder on Friday, Donald trump threatens to commit a new offense. The attack on cultural heritage objects is a war crime. Anyway, the end of the ill-fated US presence in West Asia has already begun,” wrote the tweet Javad Zarif.
the American press writes that Washington has begun to transfer to the middle East of American soldiers. According to various data from three to four thousand soldiers. Interestingly, to date, more than 170 Iraqi parliamentarians have signed a draft law calling to expel U.S. troops from Iraq.
Experts say that the murder Soleimani and subsequent aggressive statements trump will damage relations with its traditional allies. If London, which Washington has promised a new trade agreement after Brekzita, supports the position of the United States, the Berlin alleges a violation of international law. And Denmark and Sweden all decided to suspend their mission in Iraq under the US-led coalition. Meanwhile, the EU foreign Minister Josel Borrell has invited his Iranian counterpart in Brussels. And the Central theme this time will not save the nuclear deal and prevent a full-scale armed conflict, which will cause damage not only European, but also global security.


What should be included in a will? Private Wealth
A will should clearly lay out who you want to benefit from your will, who should look after any children under 18, who will be your executor (the person responsible for sorting out your estate and carrying out your wishes), and what should happen if the people included in your will die before you do.
There are certain criteria which must be met to ensure your will is legally valid. You must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Be making a will of your own free will (voluntarily)
- Be of sound mind
- Make your will in writing
- Sign the will in the presence of 2 witnesses who are both over 18 and UK citizens
- Have the will signed by the same 2 witnesses, in your presence
In England and Wales, the signing of a will can be witnessed either in person or by video call and other remote means. In both instances the will maker and witnesses must sign the same document and you must have a clear view of the person and the act of signing.
It is important to know that witnesses cannot be beneficiaries within a will, nor can their partners. However, they can be named as executors.
At its core, a will is a document which makes it clear what should happen to your property, money, assets, and children if you die. Therefore, there is no specific right or wrong way to write a will. However, it must meet the conditions above to be deemed legally valid.
What makes a will invalid?
If a will is found to be invalid following your death, it can be quite costly to resolve. For this reason, many people choose to seek out professional help in writing their will to minimise the opportunity for disputes to arise.
There are several things that can make a will invalid. These include:
Lack Of Testamentary Capacity
At the time of making a will you must be aged 18 or over and have testamentary capacity. This means that you have the capacity to understand the size and extent of your estate, that your listed beneficiaries will receive your assets, the implications of including/excluding certain people as beneficiaries, and that you are not being influenced in to making any decisions.
A will is deemed invalid if you are found to have lacked testamentary capacity at the time of making your will. Testamentary capacity can be impeded by certain illnesses and conditions, such as dementia or old age.
To avoid your testamentary capacity being called into question, it is possible to ask a GP or doctor to witness your will.
You Are Unduly Influenced
Your will should be made voluntarily. If a person makes a will and it is found that they have been manipulated, it can be deemed invalid. While you can ask for help and advice in creating a will, only you should decide what goes in it, without fear of emotional or physical repercussions.
The Will Is Incorrectly Witnessed
A will must be signed in the presence of 2 people who are both 18 or over and UK citizens. Your witnesses must not be named as beneficiaries in the will or married to someone who is.
Witnesses must be present, either physically or by remote means, at the time of signing the will. If they are not in the room at the exact moment the will is signed, or something impedes their view of the signing, this leaves the validity of the will open to dispute.
If a person has reason to believe that a will is forged, and they can prove this, then it is no longer valid.
Furthermore, there are certain occasions where a will can be ‘revoked’. In essence, this means that specific will is cancelled and no longer valid.
For example, when you create a new will to replace an old one, you would include a clause which makes it clear that the new will overrides any previous wills. Similarly, if you wish to revoke a will altogether, it is possible to invalidate the old will by making a written declaration and physically destroying the will document.
Wills & Estate Planning Help & Advice
There are many aspects to consider when drafting a will. For that reason, lots of people find it helpful to work with an expert who can guide them through the best options for their situation.
If you would like help and advice with creating a will and putting your affairs in order, our team of specialist private wealth solicitors are here for you. From will drafting to family home protection and beyond, we’ll help you set the wheels in motion for securing and protecting your family’s future and making your wishes clear.


Lawanda Gail Rigsbee, 56, struck and killed by bus that drove onto sidewalk and hit utility pole on West Pettigrew Street in Durham, North Carolina
"Worst thing I've seen in my life:" Durham bus crashes into pole, strikes pedestrian
The bus jumped the curb and struck a woman who was standing on the sidewalk, according to investigators.
After a serious or fatal pedestrian accident, take these steps to help the recovery process
When someone is seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, the first days and weeks are spent getting medical treatment and dealing with the new reality of injuries, pain, lost work, and disruption to normal life. When someone dies in a collision with a vehicle, family members are forced to deal with grief, anger, and loss as they struggle to move forward.
After a serious or fatal pedestrian collision, an injured person, or the family left behind, incur damages including the cost of current and future medical expenses, lost work and wages, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. Go here to learn how to protect the rights of pedestrian accident victims and their families.
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By Lance Guma
[twitter-follow username=”lanceguma” scheme=”dark”]
HARARE – A group of Zanu PF thugs believed to be from the Chipangano gang on Thursday night assaulted a Mbare family for hosting Zimbabwe radio legend Eric Knight who is the aspiring MDC-T candidate for the volatile area.
Nehanda Radio understands Sunny Zvenyika Chibanda and his wife who stay at the Shawasha Flats in Mbare hosted Knight at their home and this did not go down well with the hooligans who have turned Mbare into a warzone.
Only the intervention of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) team prevented matters from getting worse. Despite a police report being made at Matapi Police Station no arrests, as usual, have been made.
The disturbances did not end there however.
We understand that soon after the JOMIC team left, two more people, Frankie Kanyenze and Lampard Matava, who had accompanied Chibanda were also assaulted while at the Police Station by the Zanu PF thugs.
Chibanda managed to escape from the rowdy thugs.
In what has become a familiar feature of partisan policing in Zimbabwe, the police proceeded to arrest one of the victims in Matava. He remained detained at Matapi Police Station at the time of writing.
Kanyenze has since been hospitalised at a Harare Hospital.
The perpetrators have since been identified as Gift Riot, Kudakwashe Ngomera, Tatenda Ngomera, Everson Ngomera, Chamu Makova, Martin Muunze, Danmore Njitima, Kekenani Bhasikolo, Talkmore Mafurirano, Hebert Nzira and another hooligan identified only as Mbada.
Sten Zvorwadza, another MDC-T aspiring candidate said “I am disturbed by the levels of impunity here in Mbare. Now one person is in custody for being assaulted yet the goons are walking scot free in the community,” he said.
Meanwhile Makoni South MP Pishai Muchauraya said police are moving door to door in Gandanzara, Ward 23 in search of shortwave radios. Muchauraya told Nehanda Radio the police are intimidating villagers in search of the radios.
On Friday police in Bulawayo raided the Radio Dialogue offices and confiscated 180 solar and kinetic energy propelled radios from the premises. Police from Hillside police station as well as Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) and Criminal Investigations Department (CID) operatives carried out the raid.
Part of the search warrant they used read “…possession of smuggled radio receivers”. The crackdown is seen as part of a wider plan to restrict access to alternative news provided by external radio stations. Many Zimbabweans have turned off listening to or watching pro Zanu PF broadcasts in the state media.


ben_tilly at hotmail.com
Mon Jan 29 21:51:41 UTC 2001
Dave J Woolley <david.woolley at bts.co.uk> wrote:
> > From: Alexander Eichler [SMTP:alexander.eichler at wfm.de]
> > in US, it needs copyright law to act like it does. Conclusion is, that
> > is only a possibility to give the right to use to somebody else.
> > beneath this still exists. So GPL is a license agreement. As any other
> GPL is founded on copyright. In fact, I've heard that
> the FSF will insist that copyright ownership is made
> very clear before accepting something under the Gnu
If you are not the copyright owner you have no possibility
of assigning any copyright statement to software, nor do
you have the right to grant the various permissions that
the GPL is meant to guarantee.
This does not prevent the GPL from simultaneously being a
contract between the copyright holder and the would-be
modifier or distributer.
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
More information about the License-discuss


President Trump on Monday ordered the declassification of select classified documents relating to the Russia investigation, including the secret court order and supporting interviews that allowed for the surveillance of former campaign adviser Carter Page. The selection of documents, which includes unredacted text messages from former government officials Trump has pegged as mortal enemies—including former FBI director James Comey, deputy director Andrew McCabe, former FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, as well as interviews with Justice Department official Bruce Ohr—amount to a one-sided data dump under the auspices of “transparency” that’s designed to provide ammunition to Trump allies in congress to discredit and derail the Mueller investigation.
Trump allies in the House have for months been sparring with the intelligence community in its efforts to try to obtain what are essentially cherrypicked documents to validate Trump’s claims that he is the subject of some sort of widespread conspiracy, rather than an investigation into wrongdoing by Trump or his associates. It’s a political fight that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has faced most publicly, telling congress the DOJ “is not going to be extorted” in select members’ push to gain access to classified records. “When the President issues such an order, it triggers a declassification review process that is conducted by various agencies within the intelligence community, in conjunction with the White House Counsel, to seek to ensure the safety of America’s national security interests,” the Department of Justice said in a statement Monday. “The Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are already working with the Director of National Intelligence to comply with the President’s order.”
The circumstances surrounding the FISA warrant granted to monitor Carter Page have been used by the right as evidence that the agencies were out to get Trump dating back to the campaign and the current investigation is therefore inherently biased. “The Justice Department had turned over thousands of pages of materials to Congress, though its leaders had made clear there was a line they would not cross because making some materials public might put sources at risk or harm an ongoing investigation,” the Washington Post notes. “The Justice Department already has released thousands of texts from Lisa Page and Strzok, and it has also made public a heavily redacted version of its application for a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court order to monitor Carter Page.”
“Legal experts and former government officials said the move represented an extraordinary level of presidential involvement in an investigation that has notched guilty pleas from five of Mr. Trump’s associates,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “Former government officials said the documents wouldn’t necessarily immediately become public but would instead likely be transmitted to committees in Congress that have requested the information, particularly the House Intelligence Committee. Lawmakers could then choose to release the information. It also would become subject to freedom of information laws.”


Senate Bill 2641, which was passed in April, would require p2p car rental groups such as Turo and Getaround to abide by taxes and regulatory burdens included in the Automobile Renting Occupation and Use Tax Act. According to Illinois Policy, this includes a 5% tax from the state on the company and the individual renting.
Additionally, it would require p2p groups to pay county and city taxes, and obtain “certificates of registration.”
The American Car Rental Association’s Greg Scott told the Alton Daily News that the pending legislation “makes sense” and that p2p rentals should also pay airport fees and be subject to safety regulations.
However, Michelle Fang, general counsel for Turo, told the news source that the bill will suppress innovation and reduce competition.
The bill is still waiting on Governor Bruce Rauner’s signature.


ALBANY, Jan. 5 - A 70-year-old diabetic man with dementia, bedridden in a Rochester nursing home, depended on nurses to turn him over to prevent bedsores.
But as a hidden camera showed, those nurses rarely came; instead, they watched videos and socialized, allowing his wounds to fester, according to a lawsuit filed against the nursing home by Attorney General Eliot Spitzer on Thursday.
Mr. Spitzer announced the suit and the arrests of 19 employees from the Rochester nursing home and a second, in Cortland, on criminal charges of neglect and falsifying records. The arrests followed a monthlong investigation using hidden cameras in the bedrooms of two patients.
The investigation showed that staff members at the homes routinely moved call bells out of patients' reach so that the employees could watch movies, sleep or socialize rather than check on patients or give them medicine, Mr. Spitzer said.
"There are instances when people are sitting in their own urine and feces for hours and just being ignored," he said in a telephone interview. "These are the kind of inadequacies family members fear."Continue reading the main story
Fourteen of the arrested employees worked at the Rochester home, the Jennifer Matthew Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Eight of those have pleaded guilty to neglect and falsifying records related to the case, and are cooperating with prosecutors; the others are awaiting trial. The other five arrested employees are from the Northwoods Rehabilitation and Extended Care Facility in Cortland, about 30 miles south of Syracuse. They are charged with falsifying business records.
The Jennifer Matthew nursing home has received about $20 million in Medicaid payments since 2000, according to the civil lawsuit, which seeks repayment for care that it says was not provided. It was filed in State Supreme Court in Albany.
Allegations of abuse in nursing homes are often hard to prove, Mr. Spitzer said, and the Rochester and Cortland cases are among the first to rely on evidence from hidden cameras. The families of both patients who were monitored consented to the use of video cameras.
"Ordinarily you are dealing with witnesses who are frail and are at the whim of the individual who may be responsible for hurting him or her," Mr. Spitzer said. "This is the same kind of technique we would see in a drug case, but it had not been brought to bear on a nursing investigation."
David Lenefsky, a lawyer representing the Jennifer Matthew home, said it had fired all 14 of its arrested employees as soon as it became aware of the complaints.
"We have a staff of 130 people who are giving excellent medical care, in full compliance with Medicare and Medicaid standards," he said.
Dorothy Zegarelli, the administrator at Northwoods, said in a statement that the home had "designed and implemented a comprehensive program for the retraining of its nursing staff." She would not comment on whether the five arrested Northwoods employees had been fired.
Mr. Spitzer also released a report analyzing the staff sizes at more than 600 nursing homes across the state. The report found that 98 percent of the homes did not meet federal recommendations for nurse staffing levels. The finding may reignite a debate on health care spending while the state is under pressure to curb the costs of Medicaid.
In a 2001 study, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found that a patient can suffer with less than 4.1 hours of attention from nurses and nurses' aides each day. Other states, including Florida, California and Vermont, have set their own nurse staffing level requirements, but no such standard has been set in New York.Continue reading the main story


Our Colorado readers have probably seen previous posts here that noted how it seems to be more common for women in traditionally male-dominated professions to become the victims of harassment. Sexual harassment, in particular, is a concern in some of these professions, and law enforcement jobs may be one of the toughest of all for women.
According to a recent report, this appears to have been the case for one female police officer, and as a result she has filed a lawsuit against her employer. The female officer has alleged that a male officer - who was in a superior rank - on at least two occasions over the course of four years subjected the female officer to unwanted sexual advances while they were both actively on patrol and on the job. The female officer has alleged that these incidents took place after the male officer had requested that she meet him in a "secluded area."
On a positive note, it appears that after the female officer complained about this behavior to the police department the situation was addressed. However, the manner in which it was addressed was entirely unsatisfactory, according to the female officer. She has claimed that while the male officer was demoted because of his behavior, the demotion actually led to a situation where the female officer and the male officer who harassed her now have to share the same office. This appears to have been the last straw for the female officer, and it led to her sexual harassment lawsuit.
Pursuing a sexual harassment claim after a situation has already been addressed in the workplace can be tricky. However, if the response was inadequate, as the officer in this case claims, the case could lead to a positive result for the plaintiff.
Source: Herald-Mail Media, "Martinsburg police officer files sexual harassment suit," Matthew Umstead, April 9, 2014


The EU AI Act was proposed by the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, on 21 April 2021. The proposal will become law once both the Council (representing the 27 EU Member States) and the European Parliament agree on a common version of the text.
- 6 August 2021 – A study analysing the use of biometric techniques from an ethical and legal perspective commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs is published.
- 6 August 2021 – the public consultation period on the AI Act by the European Commission ends. The Commission received 304 submissions which can be read here.
- 20 July 2021 – Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union organises a virtual conference on the regulation of artificial intelligence, ethics and fundamental rights.
- 21 April 2021 – the Commission publishes a proposal to regulate artificial intelligence in the European Union.
For more updates, you may consider subscribing to Politico’s AI: Decoded newsletter. This newletter by Melissa Heikkilä provides weekly updates on the legislative process. Information about where the Act is within the European Parliament process can also be found on this useful page, created and maintained by the parliament’s own research service.


Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is not being asked to explore possibilities, he is being asked to commit to rebuilding the armoury.
Third subject: following the tragedy that cost the lives of four fishers from the Magdalen Islands, the bereaved families of the victims want the truth. They want to understand. The government is offering to have the Coast Guard investigate the Coast Guard.
Will the Prime Minister promise to hold a truly independent investigation or not?


“We’re expecting the Supreme Court to take up the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education and potentially beyond,” Damon Hewitt, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, told theGrio.
The Supreme Court’s controversial decision to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion, among other recent rulings, has caused great concern that the high court will continue to strike down longstanding legal precedents. Next up on the high court’s docket is affirmative action in higher education.
A pro-choice activist holds up a sign during a rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in response to the leaked Supreme Court draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade May 3, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Damon Hewitt, president and executive director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, noted that during its next session the Supreme Court will take up cases concerning the use of affirmative action in college admissions – a policy that has long benefited African Americans in higher education. The court is expected to hear a pair of cases on the matter this fall coming out of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina.
“We’re expecting the Supreme Court to take up the constitutionality of affirmative action in higher education and potentially beyond,” Hewitt told theGrio.
Hewitt’s Lawyers’ Committee and other organizations represented Black and Latinx students in defense of Harvard’s diversity admissions program. The legal team won the case and successfully defended its appeal in the First Circuit Court of Appeals before it ended up on the Supreme Court’s docket. He called the high court’s maneuvering on affirmative action in college admissions “aggressive.”
Hewitt also skeptically noted that the conservative justices on the court “scooped up the UNC case to hear it alongside the Harvard case before the Court of Appeals would ever have a chance to hear. He added, “it’s not unprecedented, but it is highly unusual.”
Hewitt lamented that there will likely be a similar outcome in the affirmative action cases as the one in the recent Dobbs decision, which is to “not address the question of whether the particular law [or] provisional policy comports with the existing precedent” and “use this as a way to overrule the precedent altogether.”
A student walks through Harvard Yard on the campus of Harvard University on March 12, 2020 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Public condemnation of the Supreme Court’s most recent rulings – including expanding gun rights and stripping regulatory authority from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – have been loud and forceful. On Friday, before signing an executive order to protect access to reproductive health care services in direct response to the Dobbs case, President Biden called the court “out of control” and accused its conservative judges of “working in conjunction with extremist elements of the Republican Party to take away freedoms and our personal autonomy.”
The sounding of the alarm about the current state of the Supreme Court is especially so for members of Congress. During an interview with theGrio at last week’s Essence Festival in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.), the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in the Sunshine State, told theGrio that the United States is witnessing “the erosion of constitutional rights.”
The three-term congresswoman vowed to “continue to fight for a woman’s right to choose” in the aftermath of Roe v. Wade being overturned. She similarly hinted that the Supreme Court will only continue to roll back once constitutionally-sound rights.
Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Val Demings (D-FL) gives a campaign speech in front of her supporters on June 28, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Octavio Jones/Getty Images)
“I hope people understand that it doesn’t just end with Roe. If they would come after Roe, I think everything’s on the table. So we have a lot of work to do,” said Demings.
In New Orleans, there were calls to bring the community’s focus to the issue of affirmative action, among others, that could also be placed in jeopardy by the conservative majority on the high court. Currently underway are legal efforts to file friend-of-the-court briefs under the required timing before the court’s next session begins on Oct. 1. It will also be the first session of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was just sworn in last week.
The lawsuits that are challenging affirmative action in higher education are orchestrated by conservative Edward Blum, who helped facilitate the financial backing behind the Shelby County v. Holder case in 2013 that led to the Supreme Court gutting the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Demings warned, “We’re in trouble. Our nation is in trouble,” in anticipation of pending cases before the court. The former chief of the Orlando Police Department called on “every true patriot” who “really believes that every person, regardless of the color of their skin, where they live, who they are, their gender, their sexual orientation or religion, deserves to have an opportunity to succeed.
She added, “We’re calling on you to get out and vote for people who think like you think.”
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The post Concerns grow over the future of affirmative action after controversial Supreme Court rulings appeared first on TheGrio.


Property Rights Foundation of America, Inc.
P. O. Box 75, Stony Creek, NY 12878 - www.prfamerica.org
Contact: Carol W. LaGrasse
March 26, 2014
A Twentieth Anniversary Celebration for the Property Rights Foundation of America®
The Property Rights Foundation of America, Inc., will celebrate its twentieth anniversary with a special dinner on Tuesday evening, April 8 at The Century House in Latham. William Perry Pendley, the President and CEO of Mountain State's Legal Foundation will deliver the evening address on "Defending Freedom in an Anti-Constitutional Era."
The Mountain States Legal Foundation in suburban Denver, Colorado, recently expanded coast to coast with its victorious defense of shallow conventional oil producers located in the Pennsylvania Oil Field in the Allegheny National Forest from non-jurisdictional federal regulation.
In February Mr. Pendley announced a lawsuit by Mountain States Legal Foundation against Governor Andrew Cuomo in conjunction with local counsel Scott R. Kurkoski of Levene, Gouldin & Thompson in Vestal on behalf of a coalition of 70,000 landowners who are waiting nearly six years for the Governor to release the final regulations to permit landowners to use their land for energy production from the deep Marcellus Shale
Early in March, the United States Supreme Court handed Mr. Pendley and the Mountain States Legal Foundation a big victory! The court ruled 8 to 1 in favor of Wyoming private property owner Marvin Brandt against the U. S. Forest Service in the "rails to trails" dispute litigated by Mr. Pendley.
Carol LaGrasse, the president of the property rights organization, said, "We'll be giving guest speaker William Perry Pendley a hero's welcome to the Property Rights Foundation of America's Twentieth Anniversary Dinner." The public is invited to join.
The Property Rights Foundation of America, Inc., is a non-profit educational foundation based in Stony Creek, New York, which has played a leading role in Adirondack and New York property rights issues, as well as nation-wide. See the free website: prfamerica.org.
Advance reservations are $25.00 payable to the Property Rights Foundation of America, Inc., P.O. Box 75, Stony Creek, NY 12878. For more information or last minute reservations, contact Ms. LaGrasse at 518-696-5748 or firstname.lastname@example.org
The evening event will be on Tuesday, April
8, starting informally at 5:00 p.m., with the casual buffet dinner
at 6:00 p.m., at The Century House, 997 New Loudon Road, Route
9, Latham (518-785-0931).
PRFA Home Page


Interviewer: What have you seen people do once their case is over to get back on their feet and return to normal life as quickly as possible?
Matthew Murillo: Stay away from alcohol. Most people generally tend to try to stay away from alcohol because they’ve had this experience that they want to forget and they don’t want to be in that position again. If they’re convicted of anything, they’ll complete probation and hope to move on with their life and try to get the cases expunged down the road. If they’re not convicted of anything or if the case is dismissed, then they’re appreciative and move on.
Many People Resort to Counseling to Alleviate Any Issues that They May be Facing
Hopefully we never have to see that person again because they haven’t gotten in trouble again. Most people will stay away from alcohol and stay away from situations like that, that can lead to further issues down the road. I’ve even had some clients who proactively start going to AA meetings or start going to substance abuse meetings to prevent any underlying alcohol issues that might be laying dormant, from surfacing.
Notable Case Studies Of Victorious DUI Cases In The State of California
Interviewer: Are there any particular DUI cases that you can share that you had was victorious or unique?
Matthew Murillo: The one that always comes to mind is this case where there were four outstanding DUI cases against one person and these were after previous convictions for two DUIs. This one was potentially looking at six in total. This person was going through some family tragedies with both ends and it was just the worst time in this person’s life. Three of those DUIs were filed as felonies; one was filed as a misdemeanor. If you’re looking at a misdemeanor with a maximum of one year in jail and felonies with the minimum of 16 months to a maximum of 3 years, you can imagine that this person was looking at a long time in jail.
Sometimes Getting a Person a Reduced Sentence Can be Considered a Victory
This is one of the situations also where whether or not you consider it a win depends on your perspective. This is also one of those cases that being a good person and having a family and those things, they won’t necessarily help on their own but they will contribute to a case. The reason this stands out was because of those personal issues that the person was having. I had a discussion with the judge and the DA, explained what those issues were and explained that this person was a good person and simply need help dealing with the underlying issues because I didn’t feel that there were any underlying substance issues.
Emotional Issues Can be a Mitigating Factor in a California DUI Case
Because of that, the judge agreed and we were able to come to an agreement so that this person would serve essentially no more than six months in jail on all of those cases and then receive the treatment that was needed,
1) For the way this person was dealing with those emotional issues, and
2) Getting help dealing with those emotional issues.


FOIA – “Post-Legislative Scrutiny”
What on earth does this mean – you may ask! In a recent speech, the Justice Minister Lord McNally explained “now that the Act has been in operation for nearly seven years it is right that it is examined to see how well it is operating”.
The issue is one of balance – particularly in view of the current economic climate, which has seen public bodies suffer the effects of deep public spending cuts. The cost of compliance with FOIA will need carefully to be measured against the benefits of the transparency which it is intended to ensure and this review procedure, as it attempts to create the right balance, will clearly have an impact on the future development of freedom of information in the UK. Public authorities across the public sector have been consulted as part of the Ministry of Justice review process.
The Government has now published its position as part of this review process; this Memorandum (available at http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140122222456/http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm82/8236/8236.pdf)considers the objectives of the original FOI Bill, attempts to evaluate whether those objectives have been met, as well as highlighting any specific issues identified since FOIA came into force and measuring the performance of FOIA against its original objectives of openness and transparency, greater accountability, better decision making and greater public involvement in decision making.
A consistent message from the majority of respondents was a desire to see the appropriate limit reduced, or for other resourcing elements such as redaction, consultation and reading time to be included in some way. Currently the legislation sets the cost limit at £600 for government departments and £450 for all other public authorities, equating to three and a half person days and two and a half person days of work respectively. There was a general view that the current time given to dealing requests is too onerous, with the issue being particularly exaggerated by the recent budget cuts which have taken place.
We have previously expressed the view that public authorities might be well advised to consider a radical change in their approach to FOIA; proactively look at routine publication of information which would have to be released in response to a request with a view to long-term cost and time savings.
In the meantime, a new plain English guide to Freedom of Information was published by the Information Commissioner on 30 January, 2012. The guide is intended to help public authorities better understand the Act, what is said and how to apply it.


4 teens charged with hate crime in attacks on Hispanic men in Huntington Station
Four teenagers are being charged as adults with a hate crime in a robbery spree that police say targeted Hispanic men.
Police say Kyree Johnson, 14, Justin Stridiron, 14, Nykwon Harrison, 16, and Eric Mann, 16, brutally beat and robbed Hispanic men in Huntington Station. Prosecutors claim the four called it "papi slumping," which involved hitting the victims in the back of the head, punching and kicking them, and then stealing the victims' wallets, cellphones and shoes.
Prosecutors say the boys attacked four victims on Dec. 1 and Dec. 7 in the streets of Huntington Station and on the bridge at the railroad station.
The boys are charged with robbery in the second degree as a hate crime. If convicted, they face a minimum of 5 years in prison and a maximum of 25 years. Prosecutors say there were two other teens also arrested and charged, but that's currently under investigation.


Divorce can be a challenging and sensitive time, especially when it involves high assets.
Protecting your privacy becomes important in such circumstances.
1. Digital discretion
In the digital age, personal information is often just a click away. Begin by reassessing your online presence. Tighten the security settings on your social media accounts to restrict access. Be mindful of the content you share, avoiding specifics about your financial situation. A recent study found that 81% of lawyers have personal social media accounts they use for professional purposes.
2. Financial foresight
Take proactive measures to safeguard your financial information. Consider opening a separate bank account and redirecting sensitive financial correspondence to a secure mailing address. Monitor your credit reports regularly to detect any suspicious activity. Freeze joint credit accounts to prevent unauthorized transactions.
3. Safeguard physical documents
While digital security is important, physical documents also demand attention. Secure important papers, such as tax returns, property deeds and financial statements, in a safe and confidential location. If possible, store them outside the home to minimize the risk of unauthorized access. Shred unnecessary documents to prevent confidential information from falling into the wrong hands.
4. Selective socializing
During a high-asset divorce, the people around you can play a pivotal role. Be selective about who you share information with, even among friends and family. Discourage gossip and avoid discussing financial matters openly. A circumspect approach to communication can prevent sensitive details from becoming public knowledge.
By implementing these practical steps, you can navigate a high-asset divorce while safeguarding your privacy and maintaining control over your personal information. Taking a proactive stance ensures a more secure and confidential transition during this challenging period.


GOUDHURST PARISH COUNCIL
Local Government for Goudhurst, Kilndown and Curtisden Green
To: Cllrs Barry Noakes (Chairman), Chris Ditton, Alan Foster, Antony Harris, Mrs Caroline Richards and Guy Sutton.
I summon you to a Meeting of the Planning Committee at The Jessel Room in Goudhurst Parish Hall on Tuesday, 28 August 2018 at 6.30 pm when the business detailed on this Agenda will be considered.
Members of the Public and the Press are welcome to attend this meeting. At the Chairman’s discretion members of the public may be invited to speak for a maximum of 3 minutes each relating to items on the Agenda.
Anthony Farnfield ………………………………………………………………..
Clerk 22 August 2018
The South Oast at Smugley Farm, Bedgebury Road, Goudhurst TN17 2QU
A quorum for Planning Committee is 3 Members.
1. Apologies for Absence as reported at the meeting.
2. Declarations of Interest
Members are reminded to declare any Personal or Prejudicial Interests relating to the business to be discussed in accordance with Council’s Standing Orders.
3. Planning Applications for consideration
18/02059 The Vine High Street Goudhurst
Listed Building Consent: Alterations to front garden levels, erection of retaining wall, fencing on north elevation and hop poles and posts on the perimeter linked to festoon times lighting (Retrospective)
18/02434 Brandfold Cottage North Road Goudhurst
Erection of a two storey rear extension and single storey side extension
18/02445 Blackberry Cottage Rogers Rough Road Kilndown
Change of use from agricultural to residential for the erection of an outdoor swimming pool
18/02490Fahrenhurst Blind Lane Goudhurst
Proposed replacement f existing porch with a new, replace existing paved area and install external staircase to detached garage to allow access to room over
18/02510 Shernfold Farmhouse Church Road Kilndown
Proposed replacement of timber windows and corner posts to farmhouse
18/02511 Shernfold Farmhouse Church Road Kilndown
LBC: Proposed replacement of timber windows and corner posts to farmhouse
18/02526 Marlingate Granary Bedgebury Road Goudhurst
Proposed single storey rear extension
18/02528 Brandfold Terrace Cottage North Road Goudhurst
Minor Material Amendment in relation to planning permission 17/01251/FULL (Replacement of existing dwelling (alternative to 14/504374)). Changes to approved drawings: re-location of front door; rearrangement of internal living/bedroom spaces and lower ground floor storage area; alterations to fenestration; addition of external staircases; increase in height of retaining wall; minor change to position of garage/store. Provision of mitigation and enhancement survey for biodiversity and protected species (condition 9)
Copyright © 1999-2018 Goudhurst Parish Council