The Supreme Court today ruled against the estate of Anna Nicole Smith 15 years after the fight began to get a share of her billionaire husband's estate. This ends forever the case and means her daughter will not reap the benefits of her mother marrying a husband 63 years her senior. In other news, Lindsay Lohan will not be going back to jail for violating the terms of her probation. She was brought into court today on the premise that she tested positive for alcohol. However, the probation department erred in bringing her into court on a violation of the terms of her probation. Her probation terms only covered drugs but not alcohol. However, the judge did say that Lohan used poor judgment in having a party where alcohol was served. Lohan and her attorney breathed a sigh of relief this time. And on the Casey Anthony case, the courtroom was dark again today. Trial resumes on Tuesday in the high profile case of Anthony. Perhaps, the defense will be able to come up with a better … [Read more...] about Anna Nicole Smith Will Not Get Rich Post Death
Archives for June 2011
Michigan Law Aimed At Taking Away Voting Rights is Challenged
Michigan citizens filed a lawsuit on June 22 against Republican Governor Rick Snyder and the Michigan Republican House and Senate for effectively taking away their right to vote for local government officials. Back in March, 2011, the Republican Michigan legislature passed Public Act 4 (PA-4) to appoint emergency managers to take over entire operations of cities, towns and school districts and fire local elected officials without any say from citizens. Journalist and author Naomi Klein calls it a “frontal assault on democracy.” John Philo, lead attorney and legal director of the Sugar Law Center filed the lawsuit saying it establishes a new form of government, unknown anywhere else in the US. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the new law which takes away the right to elect mayors, city councils and school boards with an unelected manager. Philo says “it’s a back door way to end collective bargaining and effectively silence local firefighters, police, teachers, nurses and … [Read more...] about Michigan Law Aimed At Taking Away Voting Rights is Challenged
FEMA Denies Aid to Black Tornado Victims
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) established to provide federal emergency aid to those in need in times of disaster, has once again refused to provide aid to black disaster victims. This time instead of black Hurricane Katrina victims, FEMA is now refusing to provide individual aid to help black families living in the north side of Minneapolis, hit hardest by the tornado on June 5. And this time the president is not George W. Bush. Mayor R. T. Rybak of Minneapolis, a 2008 Obama state co-chair of Obama’s election campaign, traveled to Washington, DC early this week to meet face to face with President Obama to plead his case for his residents. Unfortunately, the story appears to be the same despite the change in presidents and the type of natural disaster involved. And for those black Minnesotans, it’s the same old song. Those hit hardest by the natural disaster are also those hit hardest by the economic disaster, with no help from the federal government agency … [Read more...] about FEMA Denies Aid to Black Tornado Victims
Wal-Mart Wins and Women Lose Again
The Supreme Court in a spilt 5-4 decision almost got it right when it comes to a legal solution to effectively address years of gender wage disparity at Wal-Mart ( and by implication other major corporations). Yet, the High court failed to take a bold legal move to firmly insure a mechanism to hear these cases without the tedious and long one by one method. The Supreme Court felt the class action of 1.6 million women members was too big. But, big required bold action on the part of the court. It's not the plaintiffs fault that Wal-Mart is alleged to have underpaid, under promoted and unfairly treated women for decades. So, now instead of the Supreme Court taking the big and bold move needed to bring closure to these cases before the 22nd century, it took the easy way out by saying the class was just too big. Too big is the real problem. It wasn't the women's class that was too big. Corporations are just too big for the Supreme Court to handle. So, instead of taking them on and … [Read more...] about Wal-Mart Wins and Women Lose Again
Black Women Earn the Same Pay Rate Today As Women Did in 1963
When President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act almost 50 years ago on June 10, 1963, women earned 60 cents for every dollar a white man earned. On the anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, African American women earn 62 cents for every dollar a white man earns. Latina women fare even worse earning 53 cents to what a white non-Hispanic man. The gap translates to a $19,581 per year wage loss for African American women and $24,224 for Hispanic women. Even in comparing African American women to their male African American counterparts, they still earn less at 85 cents. Latina women earn 87 cents for every dollar earned by a Hispanic man. The wage gap is a country wide average and varies state by state. The best state is Nevada for African American women who earn there almost 90 cents of what a white man earns. And the worst state is North Dakota where they earn less than 40 cents. Likewise, Hispanic women do best in Vermont earning 97.4 cents of what a white non-Hispanic man earns. But, … [Read more...] about Black Women Earn the Same Pay Rate Today As Women Did in 1963
Paycheck Fairness Act is Good for Women and the Economy
Almost 50 years ago, on June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed into law the Equal Pay Act prohibiting arbitrary discrimination against women in payment of wages. Today, equal pay is not just a woman’s issue but an issue affecting all of us and most importantly, the economy. In 1963, women earned 60 cents on average for every dollar a man earned. Today, with women earning 77 cents to a man’s dollar, the dream of equal pay for women continues despite more women in the workplace than ever before. Sadly, many women do not even know they are being paid less than their male counter parts. And even sadder, many men refuse to believe that women earn less. With the loss of equal pay for women amounting to approximately $11,000 lost income per year, the sagging economy is affected by that loss. If we equalize pay, a woman could earn tens of thousands of dollars more and by the time she reaches age 65, should earn hundreds of thousands of dollars more. This is not pie in the sky but … [Read more...] about Paycheck Fairness Act is Good for Women and the Economy