LAWSUITS IN THE NEWS

The first lawsuits are now on file growing out of the brawl at Auburn Hills between the Indiana Pacers and the fans behind their bench. According to recent news reports, Mr. William Paulson has sued the Pacers, Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O'Neal for the injuries he suffered after the trio opened up a can of whup ass on him. The injuries were not specified.
Speaking of the brawl, what precisely was that short, fat guy with the goatee thinking when he went on to the floor and engaged Artest? I think even Artest was confused by the guy - but not too confused to bludgeon the poor sap into submission with a couple of punches. That idiot deserved what he got. As Mike Ditka was quoted after decking a guy who had run out onto the football field during a Bears game: "That guy didn't belong out there".

And Mr. Republican Bruce Willis has filed one of those personal injury lawsuits the Republicans are always moaning about. He is claiming he suffered substantial mental and physical injuries in October of 2002 when he was struck in the forehead by a projectile while filming "Tears of the Sun". Well, that explains why the guy is always wearing hats.

And finally kudos to the the Justice Department for their dogged prosecution of that medical marijuana case in California. Federal agents apparently raided a private home in California to seize marijuana from a woman's home. The woman was suffering from cancer and had been given a prescription for the dope after trying some 30 other pain medications that didn't help. The Feds had a 3 hour stand off at the home because local law enforcement personnel tried to stop them, showing them documentation that the marijuana was for medical purposes. But the Feds wouldn't be dissuaded. They ultimately grabbed the stash and arrested the woman. The charges were ultimately dropped and the woman sued. I may be wrong, but I think she won at the trial level and the Feds appealed. What an enormous waste of tax dollars. Ashcroft, [or whoever approved this tragicomedy] should be ashamed of themselves. Terrorizing some poor sick woman who isn't selling the pot and only smokes it to ward off excruciating pain. These guys are starting to make Ken Starr look like the voice of reason.