I am always amazed at how some of the most notorious white collar thieves went astray. Girardi negotiated a $53-million settlement in 2013 for a young burn victim named Ruigomez, but told his parents the agreed amount was only about $7.2 million, according to the indictment. Bernie Madoff stole billions of dollars running a non-existent trading operation. Both of these …
Ukraine and Taiwan: Next steps
What do Ukraine and Taiwan have to do with each other? Well, Xi Jinping has stated that he would like his military ready to be at war with Taiwan by 2026. So, the lesson China is learning is that it will take a bit to invade a well-armed motivated neighbor. I studied a lot of history as a college student …
Tua / The Fencing Response / Concussions
If you were watching the Dolphins game recently and saw Tua Tuagvailoa hit, you saw something that doctors call the fencing response. To my untrained eye, it certainly looked strange and concerning and my first thought was that he had a dislocated finger or fingers. Sadly, this response of flexed and rigid fingers with arm posturing is a sign of …
USA Pretty Weak At Preventing Roadway Deaths Compared To Developed Nations
Here is an interesting article from the people who publish Wordle. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/27/upshot/road-deaths-pedestrians-cyclists.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare If you are TLDR, then here is a summary. If you don’t know TLDR, then time to catch up with the current world racing past you. Per the NY Times’ article, “Much of the familiar explanation for America’s road safety record lies with a transportation system primarily designed …
A New Addition to The Firm
Edie, a new yellow Labrador Retriever has arrived at Chez Neuwirth. My older lab Louis went over the rainbow earlier this year and we were concerned that Yukon, who is also a yellow lab was lonely. We may have misjudged that. Edie is 9 weeks old and rather freestyling with her peeing and whining and generally being an infant. …
FOX News, Quack Treatments, and the Law
If you are interested in how far down a rabbit hole Fox News can send you, kindly see the attached Shoemaker v. UPMC case. Our Superior Court had to take its time and overlook routine procedures to make the point that just because you want a treatment to be given to you, the Hospital does not have to give …
Judge Max Baer Died
Judge Max Baer, the Chief Judge of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court died over the weekend. He was, by all accounts, a good judge who had risen to the highest level of the judging part of our profession. I expect that there will be a big fight over the next person elected to the Supreme Court. Judge Debra Todd, by virtue …
PROBLEMS IN PHILADELPHIA AND MY PERSPECTIVE
How you look at the world is colored by your background, education, race, politics, etc. Many of my clients initially see me as an overfed (meaning the diet is not working) white lawyer and think I am a trump fan, which I am not. But, that is their perspective. Pre-Covid, I would meet every client in their home, regardless of …
GAZPACHO 101
I am the cook in my family. Summertime is for tomatoes and gazpacho. It is easy and awesome, as long as you have a blender. Here is the recipe. I found it in the NY Times years ago. 2 large fresh red tomatoes or three medium with cores removed. Chopped to fit blender 1 large cucumber/ ends …
THE DONALD TAKES THE FIFTH
Former President Trump invoked his fifth amendment protection against self-incrimination today in the investigation by the New York Attorney General’s office into civil fraud claims. Most likely, he was asked: “Did the Trump Organization provide one value to taxing authorities for Property X and a different value to financial institutions? Answer: I invoke my right not to answer. Why is …