A Chicago federal judge declared a mistrial last week in a sex-trafficking prosecution after a masseuse who worked for the defendant and testified for the prosecution recognized the defense lawyer as a client.
After stepping down from the stand, masseuse Liudmyla Ksenych told prosecutors she recognized defense lawyer Douglas Rathe, report the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.
The revelation prompted U.S. District Court Judge Robert Gettleman to declare a mistrial in the case against a massage parlor owner accused of threatening immigrant women to extort money and force them to into sex trafficking.
As it turned out, not only was the prosecution witness a professional masseuse but, according to her client, the defense counsel, she holds a bachelors degree in law from her native Ukraine. The lawyer failed to recognize her name on the witness list because she had worked as a masseuse under an assumed name.
Considering how law firms have been unleashing torrents of young, unemployed lawyers in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and the recession it deepened, I have to admire the gumption of a young law graduate from central Europe coming to this country and contributing to the American economy by dint of hard work. There was no evidence presented that Liudmyla Ksenych performed anything but massages for the defense attorney or for anyone else.
I wish her well in her future legal studies and I hope the defense attorney has the intestinal fortitude to withstand the national teasing that his proclivity for massages has brought about. Being a defense attorney, especially in Chicago, is stressful enough. I think he deserves some empathy. But then, Im not his wife.
#3
Germans pride themselves in having police and bureaucratic regulations for all things. My favorite was a 500DM fine for stepping on the third rail of a streetcar, which equitably worked out to about a DM per ampere that would be flowing through your still standing earthly remains.
#1
While I applaud my Hawks honoring our Local Hero, I would prefer a Half-time honoring. Or perhaps Pre-game. Concerned about the Dogs reaction when the home crowd roars.
Posted by: Charles ||
08/31/2011 12:19 Comments ||
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#2
Don't disagree with you but I'm guessing Rover has heard some loud noises before.
Posted by: Bangkok Billy ||
08/31/2011 12:40 Comments ||
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A massive disturbance broke out at Playland Park in Westchester County, New York, Tuesday when a group of Muslim visitors grew angry over park rules forbidding the use of "headgear" on some of its rides. The headgear, in this instance, was the traditional Muslim head covering -- often called a hijab -- worn by women.
Authorities from allegedly nine different agencies descended on the fun-park after county police responded to the disturbance, which by that time, involved some 30 to 40 people. Local reports indicate some 3,000 Muslim-Americans had gathered at the park.
By 4:30 p.m., nearly two hours after the altercation broke out, some three dozen police cruisers blocked Playland's entrance and a helicopter was seen flying overhead. A reporter allegedly counted roughly 60 cruisers on the scene from various agencies.
According to reports, twelve men and three women were arrested, mostly for disorderly conduct, and two park rangers were injured in the scuffle. So far two have been charged with felony assault after officials asserted they attacked park rangers.
Lohud reports that the group of Muslims were at Playland to celebrate the Islamic holiday of Eid-ul-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The outing was allegedly organized by the Muslim American Society of New York.
Playland spokesman Peter Tartaglia stated that park officials were clear in expressing to MASNY the safety reasons behind the headgear ban but said the rules might not have been communicated by the organizer to some of the attendees. The ban, implemented nearly four years ago, is intended to keep hats and other head coverings from falling onto the tracks and derailing rides. "It's a safety issue on rides. If it's a scarf, you could choke," Tartaglia said.
#1
Playland spokesman Peter Tartaglia stated that park officials were clear in expressing to MASNY the safety reasons behind the headgear ban but said the rules might not have been communicated by the organizer to some of the attendees.
Oh, ummmmmm...we "forgot".
I think they saw a golden opportunity to play the seething card dropped in their laps.
#3
I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role religion played in that case. But I think it's fair to say, number one, any of us would be pretty angry; number two, that the Playland Park Rangers acted stupidly for not allowing Muslims to wear their headgear; and, number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of Muslim-Americans prevented from riding Amusement Park rides disproportionately. That's just a fact.
#4
Playland Park Rangers acted stupidly for not allowing Muslims to wear their headgear
I grew up near Playland and went there often as a kid. One concern (which is mentioned in the article) is that you don't want long flowing robes catching on anything metalic and dragging them out of their seats. Then (of course) they would be enraged about not being prevented from hurting themselves.
there's a long history in this country of Muslim-Americans prevented from riding Amusement Park rides disproportionately
See comment above.
Playland used to be a great place for families to take their kids. It breaks my heart to see it shut down by scum like this.
Al
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
08/31/2011 11:26 Comments ||
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#5
Did DepotGuy forget the sarcasm tag?
"Allah did not create man so that he could have fun. The aim of creation was for mankind to be put to the test through hardship and prayer. An Islamic regime must be serious in every field. There are no jokes in Islam. There is no humor in Islam. There is no fun in Islam. There can be no fun and joy in whatever is serious."
- Ayatollah Khomeini, 1979
#6
In early high school time - driving on the snow in my go-cart... and wearing a very long stocking cap... I learned all about cloth getting in a drive chain.
I was lucky but it was not fun... These guys are idiots... it might be wiser to stumble through a mine field then have headgear that can get into machinery.
Posted by: Water Modem ||
08/31/2011 12:26 Comments ||
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#7
I used to go to Playland too. I agree with the headgear ban - would not want to subject my children to the sight of some idiot being yanked from her Wild Mouse seat and hanged to death, or, of course to getting derailed on the body. Maybe Muslims should have their own amusement park - JazzLand/6 Flags here in New Orleans is probably available cheap.
#8
by that time, involved some 30 to 40 people. Local reports indicate some 3,000 Muslim-Americans had gathered at the park
Sounds like a test run, at the rules.
Posted by: Redneck Jim ||
08/31/2011 13:02 Comments ||
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#9
Did DepotGuy forget the sarcasm tag?
Heh, thought the Gates quote was obvious. But I can appreciate FA's misunderstanding. It's not hard to fathom that people are prolly already calling for next years diversity-training at PlayLand to have an entire section on the Hijab.
#12
swks and darth, I agree with you BUT the lawsuits after the tissue removal would be horrendous. This would be like the attractive nuisance problem that swimming pool owners have.
Doesn't matter what you do to prevent a problem but if a kid sneaks in and drowns you're still lible.
#13
Absolutely AlanC, which is likely why the operator hit the shutdown, then attempted to get bullied into running the ride.
I used to frequent one amusement park, they let quite a bit of stuff go, but mess with the safe conduct of a ride and badda-boom ya gone buddy usually fast than you can say Not in the -thump-.
#14
An "I'm different (i.e., better than you) so treat me special" costume is a liability when the wearer does not get to determine what the "special treatment" is...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
08/31/2011 16:55 Comments ||
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#15
There is a relevant historical precedent involving a commie and a scarf:
"Isadora Duncan's fondness for flowing scarves was the cause of her death in an automobile accident in Nice, France when she was passenger in a Bugatti, and her silk scarf, draped around her neck, became entangled around the open-spoked wheels and rear axle, breaking her neck."
Posted by: Herb Smiter of the Leprechauns9394 ||
08/31/2011 18:29 Comments ||
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#16
What do the SHARIA PERTS say - are these Muslim Babes violating Allah's = Mohammeddan Law in an "Un-Islamic" Way when they ...
> Talk to technically "infidel" MSM-NET News Reporters widout acknowledging first that they have the prior consent from their Menfolk.
> Ditto again doing the above but widout any proper Burqua to cover their eyes or face.
D *** NG IT, ARE THESE US MUSLIM BABES ARE PROMOTING SHARIA BY VIOLATING IT - OOOOOOO, YOU JUST KNOW THERE'S AN "HONOR KILLING", BEHEADING OR AK47 SHOT TO THE HEAD, ETC. SOMEWHERE IN THERE???
#17
Given that Islam basically sat out the whole Industrial Revolution, perhaps they can be forgiven for not understanding the whole "don't wear loose clothing and scarves around machinery" thing. As for the punch-up, it wouldn't be a Muslim holiday without a little violence, would it?
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