You’re pudding me on: its the great Jello caper!
These oldsters were buying jello pudding, keeping the mix and filling the box with sand, and returning the boxes for $1.40 per box refund. The cops apparently felt that arresting them was appropriate (really, guys?).
At least they’re not eating dogfood. Bill Cosby’s representative, Ol’ Weird Harold, had no comment.
The moral of this story: if you steal jello pudding, you’ll be arrested and given your just desserts.
Check the story at http://www.fox8.com/news/wjw-news-jello-arrest,0,7710208.story.
Do you think I care what you say about me on Craigslist?
Numerous fine people have called to report the trashing of me that is going on via the website Craigslist. I saw it – pretty funny. It’s anonymous (coward) but contains the following challenge to me:
Joe you know who I am. you cost me 18 months in FSP. all things come full circle
Of course I know who you are! You’re so funny, being all cryptic and sly. You have no problems telling the world about our troubles, so why shouldn’t I?
Why I shouldn’t I go though your numerous arrests over the last ten years, for driving under the influence and possession of controlled substances?
Why shouldn’t I post the video of you falling over during field sobriety exercises – to the point of almost passing out while standing and keeling over (yes, I kept it because it is SO UNBELIEVABLY BAD)? Why not post the record of the case I represented you on, where your first attorney pled you to JAIL and I HAD THAT PLEA WITHDRAWN? Maybe I should post the history of that DUI and possession case, where I went to court for well over a year and a half (probably dozens of times), took depositions, retained an expert, fought tooth and nail in a suppression motion, and even WENT TO TRIAL for you when YOU REJECTED the State’s offer of a reckless driving (despite the comical poorness of your DUI video)? Why dont I tell the world what a reasonable price I charged you, and never asked for another dime despite losing money on you and your case?
If we did that, then we would have to put all the trial testimony out there, which included hours of testimony of YOUR treating psychiatrist, and all the gory details that go along with that. Of course, we could also talk about what the State’s expert said about you, too. Maybe that would be fair for the world’s consideration, eh?
In fact, why not have the prosecutor and judge from your case weigh in, to talk about how much effort I put into defending you?
Apparently you liked me enough to handle your appeal. Again, I charged you a reasonable fee because I felt bad for you – why not tell everyone how little I charged you? And then show them the incredible brief I wrote, and your letters telling them how good it was and how much you liked it?
Now, part of this is that while you were on PROBATION (not in prison after a losing at a jury trial like most people are – no, I got you a probation sentence), you were caught on film drinking beer at a party out of county. When the people who took the photos of you went to your probation officer and you were violated . . . tell everyone who you called . . . that’s right, JOE BODIFORD. Unfortunately for you, the judge really didn’t care too much for what YOU did and sentenced you to 18 months. That had nothing to do with me, my friend. That was all on you – the judge offered it, and you took it.
Florida Department of Corrections tells everyone that you were released in July 2007. Now, almost three years later, you decide to trash me on some website that apparently is used mostly for selling used golf clubs and hiring call girls? Please! Too funny!
So, I say let’s let it ALL hang out – in public, in full view, and let the ENTIRE truth be known. See, I wasnt there when you were arrested, and I wasnt there when you violated your probation. But I was there for you during the lengthy fight, and you hired me over and over. But to you it’s all my fault, and you to blame me by hiding behind the computer screen, hoping that people will actually believe your little posts. Do you know why I know about them? Because nice people who DON’T EVEN KNOW ME called my office to let me know – I can prove it, because I have them on an answering service recording.
So, if you are up to the challenge, reply to this blog post. There will be no parameters other than the entire truth comes out. Then the world will know the truth and they can make their decision about me based on fact, not your cowardly tirade from the dark recesses of whatever closet you are hiding in with your laptop.
My friends, please see this knucklehead’s post for yourself: http://tampa.craigslist.org/hil/rnr/1682128801.html. See, I’m not afraid! Why are you?
Augusta National is perfect setting for Tiger Woods to return | detnews.com | The Detroit News
First, I must credit my brother Steve for my interest in this topic. He gave me this theory long before I read this article. I know that his conculsion was his own and not influenced by the Detroit News article referenced herein. I know this because there is no way he saw this article on the internet because he never uses a computer. So there.
Why is Tiger playing at Augusta? Why not the Buick or TPC of Tampa Bay?
This article, by Jery Green of the Detroit News, explains why, and hits it dead center. First, he explaing how Augusta National – where the Masters is played – runs its operation:
Augusta is the ideal venue for the return of Woods because the pompous muck mucks who run the Masters insist on genteel behavior from the crowds and from the media. Patrons are required to stroll from hole to hole — running is forbidden. Squawkers are apt to have their admission tickets confiscated and get booted from the grounds.
Beyond that the members of Augusta National don’t give much of a hoot about negative publicity.
Augusta National controls and limits the number of media personages receiving credentials. We the media are essentially censored. It is the only major tournament that forbids inside-the-ropes access to working journalists. Post-match press conferences are orchestrated by Augusta National officials, acting as masters of ceremony.
Woods might be harangued by persistent questioners, but in all likelihood he will opt to refuse answers to any questions other than those about his golf game. And if the interrogator persists she, or he, would be in danger of being stripped of press credentials.
Even CBS, which pays for the right to televise the Masters, has been warned and threatened for certain harsh criticisms in its commentaries.
The author goes on to say that Tiger has the right to play just as everyone else has the right to judge him, and that anything he did is a private matter. Whether you agree or not, Tiger IS going to play this week. He’s going to be in a very controlled environment where he is completely protected from distractions.
Interestingly enough is the very fact that Tiger IS playing. This is a golf and country club that has traditionally excluded blacks and women, stripped the press credentials of a renowned golf commentator (Gary McCord, in 1994, for saying that the greens on the 17th green looked like they had been stipped with bikini wax - click here
No, no, Tiger, keep your clothes ON!!
for the story), and only allows people to get its tourney tix by essentially inheriting them from a dead relative (not for sale to the general public, sorry).
Don’t think for a second that they would have any hesitiation on telling the world’s most infamous infadel to stay home if they thought he was bad for business. Soooooo, the logical conclusion is that he is NOT bad for business, and the truth is that he is GREAT for business, and ratings, and everything else Augusta National and CBS like.
So, Tiger flexes his fame muscle (not his infamous muscle) and gets the warm fuzzy blanket of Augusta. Why he showed up with 90 – yes, 90 – bodyguards is beyond me. Maybe its a smokescreen, made to look like Tiger has to protect himself instead of AG doing it for him. . . after all, genteel Southerners may frown upon such shenanigans as that . . .
And, in turn, Augusta National gets two things: one, an enormous payday from CBS, which will be making more money that the law allows with the attention Tiger has brought to the 2010 Masters.
The other thing? The satisfaction of knowing that they call the shots, and that to play ball with Augusta National, you have to play be their rules. It’s good to be the king, wouldn’t you say, fellas? Now go pee on the azalea bushes and mark your territory.
Here’s the article: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100320/OPINION03/3200410/1048/beta/Augusta-National-is-perfect-setting-for-Tiger-Woods-to-return#ixzz0kLiBv0Ck
Bodiford to lecture at Hillsborough County Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ 4/1 Meeting
Tampa attorneys: On Thursday, April 1, I’ll be presenting a lecture entitled “Bridging the Gap from Trial to Appeal.” It’s approved for 1 hour of general CLE and 1 hour of ethics CLE. Join us at NOON in Room 202, Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, Florida (in the training room attached to the big jury pool room on the second floor by the cafe).
No, this is not an April Fool’s Day joke!
Puffery and pizza – you be the judge
Have you seen the new Domino’s commercial, where Domino’s claims that Papa John’s claim of “better ingredients, better pizza” is “pufferey”? Domino’s even has an attorney (they had to get a guy that looks like a total desk-jockey, instead of a handsome trial stud like me) standing outside a courthouse with the Domino’s chef, reading the definition of puffery. The insinuation is that Papa John’s lost a court case for using “puffery.” Not true.
The case was Pizza Hut, Inc., v. Papa John’s International, Inc. , 227 F.3d 489 (5th Cir. 2000), and Papa John’s WON the case. According to About.com, in 1998, Pizza Hut sued Papa John’s for false advertising. In a jury trial, Pizza Hut’s lawyers presented scientific evidence “proving Papa John’s ingredients didn’t affect the pizza’s taste.” The jury agreed, and a judge ordered the Papa to stop using the “better Ingredients, better pizza” slogan, and further awarded Pizza Hut $467,619 in damages.
Papa John’s appealed the ruling and made the “puffery” defense, arguing that it had not violated the Lanham Act because its statement was opinion and not fact. In 2000, the Fifth Circuit overturned the trial court decision and delivered a piping hot ruling in Papa John’s favor.
So, now you know the truth about the current pizza war. I like Papa’s, my lovely wife does not . . . Domino’s has recently admitted that their old recipe was terrible, but I liked it . . . so, there is clearly no accounting for taste. And, along the lines of “puffery” as an opinion . . . opinions are like @$holes – everyone has one. Don’t believe the hype – always judge for yourself. “Better experience, better lawyer . . . Papa bLAWgger.”
Clio Case Management Software
SaaS (software as a service) “in the clouds” case management software. Pretty incredible. Great product, great support. Even has PayPal and LawPay components that clients can use to pay e-bills you send them. iPhone accessible. So far, I’M IMPRESSED!!!!
How crazy is he? He’s sane enough to try to avoid sentencing…
Carlos Bello was convicted of killing a police officer in 1987, and sentenced to death. The Florida Supreme Court upheld the conviction but reversed the death penalty in 1989. Bello must be resentenced, but every time he’s up for resentencing, he stops taking medicine for his mental health. Over the years, he has been ruled incompetent about a dozen times.
Hillsborough County Judge Ron Ficarrotta has ruled that Bello will be forced to take psychotropic medications so he can remain competent for sentencing.
According to a TBO.com article (link is below), after Bello’s conviction, a psychiatrist testified that Bello exhibited characteristics of paranoid and catatonic schizophrenia and was mentally ill when he committed the murder. However, a clinical psychologist said Bello was bright, refused to share information with doctors and no longer needed to be hospitalized if given antipsychotic medicine.
The moral of the story? You can’t avoid the inevitable, even by playing possum. Truly mentally ill people will be treated differently, but those who are “malingering” will not be able to keep up the act forever. Even if they grow long white beards – nice try, Carlos.
bLAWgger note: Judge Ficarrotta is an exceptional judge who makes informed, well-advised, thoughtful rulings. There is no doubt that this ruling was no different. Kudos to the judge!
Here’s the link: http://tampabayonline.mobi/tbo/db_17249/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=t4WNBzik&src=cat
Clio case management software
I am one week into my trial.
So far, not so good. Matters, contacts, and billing work well. Interface is nice, easy to use. Calendar is CONSTANTLY arbitrarily moving dates, changing times, etc ON ITS OWN. BIG PROBLEM. Clio’s tech support answer was to use a different browser. Despite several calls & emails today, no answer from tech support, but that is likely becuase developers are at ABA Tech Show in Chicago.
Clio has GREAT potential. Customer service is professional and courteous. But without a calendar, I can’t use it!
No final opinion – more to report after tech support looks into this.
Check out Clio
Bodiford to lecture Stetson Law students on perils of DUI
I’ll be at Stetson College of Law today, presenting a luncheon seminar entitled “DUI: Drinking, Driving, and Your Career.” The goal of the presentation is to enlighten students on how easy it is to get at DUI, and how hard it is to deal with the ramifications – especially with the Bar.