Legal news, some illegal. All of it interesting
1. School Food Chief Doing Funky Chicken to Prison
New York City’s former public schools food chief is now a jail bird over dirty birds served to children. Prosecutors say Eric Goldstein took bribes from a vendor to re-start serving its chicken tenders. The school system had canceled their contract bacaw an employee choked on a bone in a “boneless” tender. According to authorities, Goldstein demanded and received a bribe to reinstate them and it was immediately poultry in motion – the chicken tenders went back into schools despite repeated complaints of chicken roughness – metal and bone in the meat. Goldstein was sentenced to two years in a federal coop. Birds of a feather – the vendor’s three owners also got prison time.
2. More Tears: J&J Sued Over Music in Drug Ads
We’ve gotten used to drug ads tapping 70s and 80s songs. Announcers offering a long Listerine of potential side effects to life-affirming ear worms, while someone, suddenly clear of plaque psoriasis, hits the flea market, picks up photography again, or dances at a wedding. But in a new lawsuit, a major production music company accuses Johnson & Johnson of overdosing on copyrighted music in dozens of social media ads, without permission. Associated Production Music (APM) says J&J didn’t follow lawyers’ orders and baby shampoo-pooed requests to pay licensing fees. The company’s Benadryl-ing down in court, claiming $150K per infringement is the only Band Aid for their boo boo.
3. John Does Want IDs on Down Low in Brothel Case
Some movers and shakers, whose movers and shakers allegedly landed them in high-end brothels are shaking in their boots. Feds busted two swanky operations last year in Boston and Washington, D.C. Now, dozens of alleged customers, who include elected officials, high-tech and pharmaceutical executives, government contractors with security clearances, and more, are in a boogie fight to keep their names private. Defendants charged with misdemeanors are allowed closed preliminary hearings. But several news organizations argued before the Massachusetts Supreme Court this week that the public should have access to verify no one receives preferential treatment. The John Does countered that open hearings could ruin their lives even if charges are dropped.
4. Why Police Have a UFO Handbook
UFO is so five years ago. It’s Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena now and police have just received a handbook for how to handle close encounters of the whatever kind. The 11-page report issued by U.S. Police chiefs warns officers of the significant safety risks these UAPs may pose. Not because they may be beamed up and kept as food for a terrifying insect-like species – but because rubbernecking at suspected flying saucers can be really dangerous when you’re driving or say, flying a helicopter. However, safety only gets a brief mention. The gist of the guide is a survey of sightings to keep law enforcement up to speed on developments, because you know, the truth is out there.
5. Fighting Fyre With Fyre – He’s Baaaack
Four years in prison for the spectacular Fyre Festival fraud have not doused the flames of Billy McFarland’s ambitions. He’s planning Fyre II. Ticket sales begin next year, ranging from $1,400 to over $1M. It’s set for next April on a private island in the Caribbean. He hasn’t named the island or the logistics and production companies with whom he says he’s working or booked any talent. One of his previous investors – who lost $1M on Fyre I – says in an understatement for our time, that he sees red flags. McFarland, who’s still on probation, promises music, scuba diving, yachts, and maybe a karate combat pit, because of course he does.
