Posted in Excessive Force on May 30, 2013

The Anchorage Press reports, “The city has agreed to pay $60,000 to settle a lawsuit brought by a man who claims Anchorage Police Department officers harassed and then assaulted him during a September 2010 altercation downtown. The city has also agreed, as part of the settlement, to provide training for all APD patrol officers in… read more…

Posted in Negligence on May 29, 2013

The residents of Ocate, NM have banned the practice of fracking in their county.  The residents are concerned about the practice because they get their drinking water from wells. In April, Mora County, which includes Ocate, described as a “poor, conservative ranching” area, became the first county in the US “to pass an ordinance banning” fracking…. read more…

Posted in Americans With Disabilities on May 14, 2013

This week a federal court judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma issued two rulings favorable to a man living with HIV who filed suit against the Payne County Board of County Commissioners and Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc., a for-profit corporation providing contract-based medical services at the Payne County… read more…

Posted in Uncategorized on May 9, 2013

Who is responsible for ensuring that an arrestee receives a probable cause hearing before a judge within 48 hours of his or her arrest?  In Wilson v. Ortiz, the Tenth Circuit concluded that it depends upon state law, but liability may rest with the arresting officer. In Wilson, the Tenth Circuit analyzed the failure to… read more…

Posted in Civil Rights on May 9, 2013

Officials with the Oklahoma Correctional Professionals Association met with legislators yesterday to warn them of the dangerous staffing levels at DOC facilities.  According to the DOC, Oklahoma prisons are currently staffed at 62% while the inmate population at the facilities are hitting maximum capacity. Inadequate staffing can substantially impair the safety of both staff and… read more…

Posted in Excessive Force on May 8, 2013

Did excited delirium result in the death of an Oklahoma City man? Are law enforcement equipped and trained to deal with mental distress and mental illness? An allegedly delusional man was arrested on May 2, 2013 near 1400 block of NW 99 of Oklahoma City, OK.  The man was apparently in a state of mental distress… read more…

Posted in Uncategorized on May 8, 2013

The numbers regarding suicide by cop are shocking. Forensic pathologist Dr. Kris Mohandie published a study of officer-involved shootings that occurred between 1998 and 2006 in the Journal of Forensic Science.  Mohandie determined that of 707 officer involved shooting incidents, 36 percent resulted from suicide by cop situations.  More problematic is that 97% of these… read more…

Posted in Uncategorized on May 8, 2013

According to reports, “A California judge has opened the door for the American International Group to pursue a fraud claim of more than $7 billion against Bank of America for losses it suffered on mortgage securities sold under duress after the federal government rescued A.I.G. in 2008.” The ruling, issued on Monday, “is a setback… read more…

Posted in Uncategorized on May 8, 2013

A Tulsa-based company has settled a discrimination claim for $50,000.00.  Former memo clerk Rhonda Jones filed suit against Fabricut, Inc. pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act for using family medical history to make an employment decision. According to the lawsuit, Jones claims that Fabricut unlawfully asked questions about her family history during a pre-employment… read more…

Posted in Civil Rights,Excessive Force on May 7, 2013

Did excited delirium result in the death of an Oklahoma City man?  Are law enforcement equipped and trained to deal with mental distress and mental illness? An allegedly delusional man was arrested on May 2, 2013 near 1400 block of NW 99 of Oklahoma City, OK.  The man apparently was in a state of mental distress… read more…