9-11 UAL Flight 175 Civil Trial Begins in November

As a native New Yorker, I am personally connected to the events surrounding 9-11, and have commented on the Victim Compensation Fund and ensuing litigation for media outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press, and CBS Radio. My position paper on 9-11 Airline Liability and letters to Judge Hellerstein and the NY Attorney General are available at http://www2.gsu.edu/~rmipzb/9-11.htm.

Of the thousands of claims made by victim families, only one family refused to settle, seeking answers rather than money on how the hijackers made it past security at Logan Airport in Boston, MA on September 11, 2001. The trial of Bavis v. United Airlines (Flight 175) is scheduled to begin on November 7, 2011.

I am working on an article about the upcoming trial, which will appear in The Huffington Post in early September 2011.

Judge May let 9/11 Lawuit Pursue Damages for Suffering on Doomed Flight
The final minutes of the passengers on United Airlines Flight 175, the second plane to strike the World Trade Center, were sheer horror, as reported in calls to the ground. The hijackers used pepper spray and knives. A flight attendant had been stabbed; both pilots had been killed.

Roger Clemens' comments can come back to haunt him

Below is what I said about Roger Clemens in 2008:

Famed criminal defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz, a law professor at Harvard, believes Clemens has walked into a perjury trap.

"My strong suggestion to Clemens is that he take the Fifth Amendment, and that he not walk into this perjury trap," he said.

But Hardin has said all along his client plans to testify today. That could be risky, says Perry Binder, professor of legal studies at the Robinson College of Business at Georgia State.

"Any time you've got stuff under oath by someone else or yourself, there's always the opportunity to be impeached with what you've already said," Binder said.

Dershowitz believes it's likely Clemens will face criminal prosecution at some point.

Well, here we are today.

Continue reading from 2008 article: It's T-minus one for Rocket

BRIAN McTAGGART, 02/13/2008 Houston Chronicle

Teacher who dropped out inspires at-risk students

Excellent and inspiring article for students of all ages:

Tears well up in Deborah LaPlante’s eyes as she sits at the back of the Orleans Arena, watching intently as her students file one by one across the stage to receive their high school diplomas.

As with most graduations, it’s a joyful occasion. Parents are smiling, teachers are beaming and students are radiating pride and hope for the future.

LaPlante, a 51-year-old teacher at Chaparral High School, never experienced the triumph of a high school graduation. In 1976, she dropped out of Orange Glen High School in Escondido, Calif., just a few weeks into her junior year. She was 16.

Continue reading: Teacher who dropped out recalls experience to inspire at-risk students
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jun/21/chaparral-teacher-uses-personal-experience-inspire/