Frivolous lawsuit and genuine justice.
Jan. 11th, 2004 09:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dslartooHaven't posted in a while but two recent news stories have me up in arms tonight.
First, word from The Smoking Gun is that Elecia Battle, the woman who claimed that she "lost" the recent $162M winning Mega Millions lottery ticket, and filed a lawsuit against the true winner, has admitted that she made the whole story up (surprise, surprise). She got all weepy and said, "I wanted to win so bad for my kids and my family. I apologize." She added, "I'm not a bad person, I'm really not."
Riiiiight. The same page notes that this isn't Battle's first brush with the law. Her rap sheet dates back at least a decade and includes busts for aggravated menacing, assault, criminal trespass, and credit card fraud (she was arrested for using a customer's credit card number to ring up purchases for herself at the drugstore where she worked in 1998). Somehow, she has managed to avoid anything but short stays in jail up till now.
However, there is yet hope. Since Battle admitted that she made the whole thing up, she's been charged with making a phony police report. With any luck, she'll spend some time in the slam this time. Bitch. How dare she lie, file a frivolous lawsuit trying to steal what is rightfully someone else's, then go back on her story and tearfully claim that she's "not a bad person?" I hope she gets hit with the largest sentence allowable (which, admittedly, won't be much).
Secondly, a story which warms my heart -- or, rather, the judge's sentence warms my heart. A quote:
Prosecutors said Jennifer Langston was drunk and talking on a cell phone in June 2002 when she crossed the center line and hit a pickup truck carrying teacher Glenn Clark and his pregnant wife, Annette. He died, his wife remains in a coma and their son, born by Caesarean section five months after the crash, is being raised by relatives.
Besides vehicular homicide, Langston pleaded guilty in September to reckless endangerment and reckless driving. A judge sentenced her to 30 days in jail, plus house arrest and probation, and ordered her to carry a picture of Clark for five years. Clark's parents gave court officials a photo of their son in his coffin.
Langston's attorney is now whining that the "spirit" of the agreement was that the photo would be of Clark while he was alive. Clark's family is unapologetic and I don't think they have any reason to be sorry. I think it is perfect justice that this woman should have to carry the photo of the man she killed. A photo of Clark while alive lets Langston fantasize that she didn't actually do anything that bad, that he's still around somewhere, somehow. A photo of the coffin reminds her that he is dead because she killed him. I hope the judge doesn't cave on this one and tells Langston's lawyer to piss off.
-- END OF LINE --
Currently playing: Queensryche -- Operation: Mindcrime. One of the best concept albums ever and definitely Queensryche's best album. What a shame they've gone downhill so much since then.
First, word from The Smoking Gun is that Elecia Battle, the woman who claimed that she "lost" the recent $162M winning Mega Millions lottery ticket, and filed a lawsuit against the true winner, has admitted that she made the whole story up (surprise, surprise). She got all weepy and said, "I wanted to win so bad for my kids and my family. I apologize." She added, "I'm not a bad person, I'm really not."
Riiiiight. The same page notes that this isn't Battle's first brush with the law. Her rap sheet dates back at least a decade and includes busts for aggravated menacing, assault, criminal trespass, and credit card fraud (she was arrested for using a customer's credit card number to ring up purchases for herself at the drugstore where she worked in 1998). Somehow, she has managed to avoid anything but short stays in jail up till now.
However, there is yet hope. Since Battle admitted that she made the whole thing up, she's been charged with making a phony police report. With any luck, she'll spend some time in the slam this time. Bitch. How dare she lie, file a frivolous lawsuit trying to steal what is rightfully someone else's, then go back on her story and tearfully claim that she's "not a bad person?" I hope she gets hit with the largest sentence allowable (which, admittedly, won't be much).
Secondly, a story which warms my heart -- or, rather, the judge's sentence warms my heart. A quote:
Prosecutors said Jennifer Langston was drunk and talking on a cell phone in June 2002 when she crossed the center line and hit a pickup truck carrying teacher Glenn Clark and his pregnant wife, Annette. He died, his wife remains in a coma and their son, born by Caesarean section five months after the crash, is being raised by relatives.
Besides vehicular homicide, Langston pleaded guilty in September to reckless endangerment and reckless driving. A judge sentenced her to 30 days in jail, plus house arrest and probation, and ordered her to carry a picture of Clark for five years. Clark's parents gave court officials a photo of their son in his coffin.
Langston's attorney is now whining that the "spirit" of the agreement was that the photo would be of Clark while he was alive. Clark's family is unapologetic and I don't think they have any reason to be sorry. I think it is perfect justice that this woman should have to carry the photo of the man she killed. A photo of Clark while alive lets Langston fantasize that she didn't actually do anything that bad, that he's still around somewhere, somehow. A photo of the coffin reminds her that he is dead because she killed him. I hope the judge doesn't cave on this one and tells Langston's lawyer to piss off.
-- END OF LINE --
Currently playing: Queensryche -- Operation: Mindcrime. One of the best concept albums ever and definitely Queensryche's best album. What a shame they've gone downhill so much since then.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-01-11 07:27 pm (UTC)Just a little bit o' information to end your weekend.
Thanks for the links, btw. I approve of the judge's decision. Shame on the defense for taking offense to it.
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
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From:no subject
Date: 2004-01-11 08:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2004-01-11 08:30 pm (UTC)Since I live in Ohio, I've been following the 'lottery ticket' thing. The chick just figured no one was going to turn it in and SHE might as well get it. Good for the court system...whack her one.
And an 'well done' to the family in the case. From what I read, they supplied the photo and are refusing to supply any others. Good for them.
(no subject)
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From:hmmm
Date: 2004-01-11 09:58 pm (UTC)I'm curious as to what exactly "carrying a picture" of the guy means....does it have to be displayed? or just in her purse? Because, if it's the latter, she can just slip it into some side compartment, and ignore it as best she can....
I just think 30 days in jail is retardely light, house arrest and probation (oooh, that'll scare her straight) for the carnage caused by her actions.
just looked for some more info on the case, and came up with this
http://davidsisler.com/09-29-2003.htm
the guy goes off on drunk drivers in general, the extra info on Langston's sentence is near the bottom....it does say, though, that part of the reason for the light sentence is because idiot cops failed to give her a breathalyzer right after the crime....
Re: hmmm
From:no subject
Date: 2004-01-12 02:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2004-01-12 07:33 am (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 2004-01-12 09:04 am (UTC)(no subject)
From: