Survivor Jerri Manthey Voted Off US Airways in Luggage Debacle

09 Mar

By USLaw

No stranger to conflict, Survivor television series villain Jerri Manthey was removed from a US Airways flight in Charlotte, North Carolina, for disobeying flight crew’s instructions. In an open letter to US Airways management posted to her facebook page, Jerri attributes the incident, which forced the plane to return to the gate from the runway before departure, to power-hungry, bible thumping stewardesses who are too old to do their jobs effectively.

The text of her letter below:

CHAPTER ONE: CONFUSED, ANGRY, VIOLATED

The time is 2:35 AM, Eastern Standard Time on March 4th, 2010. I have been checked into a hotel near Charlotte airport in North Carolina and am still processing the overwhelming feelings of anger and confusion. I have gone over and over the horrifying scene in my head trying to figure out why the flight attendant on my flight decided to single me out, embarrass me in front of everyone and have me removed from the plane.

My parents, who I just got off the phone with, are happy I am okay, but are still trying to process the fact that I won’t be coming home tonight. They had been waiting at the airport at my final destination in Huntsville, AL when I called.

I feel violated and harassed. Plain and simple.

CHAPTER TWO: MS. STASIO MAKES IT PERSONAL

It started the moment I set foot on the plane. As soon as I turned onto the aisle to make my way to my seat, Ms. Patricia Stasio (badge #JS237548, EMP#015973) stopped me and told me I couldn’t take my carry-on with me and that I would have to leave it to be put underneath the plane. Her reason had something to do with it having wheels (?). I would like to point out that my carry-on is far below regulation size and has NEVER been a problem on the many flights I have taken since I bought it over a year ago – even planes that were much smaller than this one. I explained to her that I’ve never had a problem and reassured her it would fit perfectly underneath the seat in front of me and I was more than willing to show her that it did. I also reiterated what the voice over the intercom had said to all waiting to board, “All carry on luggage must be no larger than the size of a briefcase.” She immediately became argumentative and disagreeable.
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Post-nuptial Advice to Elin Nordegren: Say to Tiger Woods “Pay and I’ll Stay”

02 Mar

By Stacy Schneider, Esq.

Tiger Woods’ press conference was a bust. Now it’s time for him to bust out his wallet and make things better for his suffering wife, Elin. Nothing helps a humiliated wife like a nice, fat check from a billionaire cheating husband.

This is the perfect time for Elin to negotiate a new prenup with Tiger, while he’s got his tail between his legs. He’s under pressure to save the marriage and she’s got all the leverage. After Tiger’s robotic media mea culpa, it’s obvious he’ll say and do anything to protect his brand… and that means protecting his marriage. How Elin publicly treats Tiger will have a big effect on how the public treats Tiger. He needs her more than she needs him… and she should get him to pay for the privilege of staying married.

Since Elin’s payday doesn’t kick in until the marriage survives 10 years (according to reports about their existing prenup, she isn’t entitled to the millions unless the marriage lasts a decade), I have adapted some steps out of my book, He Had It Coming: How to Outsmart Your Husband and Win Your Divorce, to remove some of the sting from staying in this union:

Have Tiger tear up the prenuptial agreement.

Negotiate a new prenup, called a post-nuptial agreement, which is a binding contract entered into while the couple is married.

Get paid for all the time she already served in the marriage. I call this a “Time Served” Clause. A $15 million a year lump sum payment per year of married life completed would be a good start for the years under her belt—years she had to put up with Tiger.

Negotiate a “Misstress Clause”: If Tiger cheats, he writes his wife a multi-million dollar check.

Insert a new clause providing a payment to Elin for every year she stays in the marriage going forward. This way, when he gets paid by his sponsors as a result of her forbearance in continuing the marriage, she will participate directly in the benefits Tiger’s business as a sponsored athletes enjoys therefrom.

Whatever reason Elin may choose for staying in the marriage, that’s her prerogative. If she stays for the money at this point, she’s smart, because she has two young children to protect. And besides, no one says it has to be forever. Tiger certainly didn’t behave as if he intended the marriage to last. My advice to Elin is this: Start treating the marriage the same way Tiger did– as a business arrangement.

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Michael Jackson’s Law Will & Testament

01 Jul

By USLaw

Hightlights:

Executed in Los Angeles, CA on July 7, 2002.

Stipulates that assets be placed in family trust and that his mother Katherine, or Diana Ross if his mother was unable or unwilling, be appointed guardian of his three children.

Lists three executors: lawyer John Branca, music industry executive John McClain.and Barry Siege.

Sole beneficiary Michael Jackson Family Trust.

Beneficiaries of the Michael Jackson Family Trust appear limited to his children and mother. Six other relatives, including brother Tito’s three sons, who are named as “contingent remainder beneficiaries,” would have been beneficiaries if his children and mother were not alive at time of MJ’s death.

Filed Under Evidence Room, Celebrity Justice, Wills, Michael Jackson | Leave a Comment (trackback)

Stephanie Seymour vs. Peter Brant: Supermodel vs. Billionaire Divorce Starts Ugly

03 Jun

By Stacy Schneider, Esq.

Victoria’s Secret supermodel Stephanie Seymour should trade in her lingerie for a full set of body armor. She needs it to defend herself from soon-to-be ex-husband, billionaire Peter Brant. Seymour is suing the polo player for divorce in a bucolic Connecticut courthouse which is no stranger to high net worth splits, and he has already come out swinging. Although the former Sports Illustrated cover girl started the court proceedings, Brant started the battle. And the writing is on the court house wall– Brant won’t be fighting fair.
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Ophrah’s Legal Maneuver Backfires in an Aha Moment

02 May

By USLaw

Oprah Winfrey is trying to lay claim to the “aha moment”. After Mutual of Omaha proclaimed itself the “official sponsor of the aha moment” in a major marketing campaign, the talk show queen sent the insurance a company a request to “cease and desist” use of the phrase on the basis she was the first to popularize it.

In response, Mutual filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming it has the right use the phrase in advertisements as a result of its submission of a federal trademark application in February and Oraph’s prior failure to police use of the phrase. The company claims its “research to obtain its federal trademark uncovered no competing federally registered trademarks, and the trademark application received no opposition.” Yet, Chicagoan Richard Roeper’s research revealed hundreds of examples in which the phrase has been used in pop culture.

While the insurance company’s campaign defines the aha moment as “those amazing, uplifting, inspirational moments that changed [people’s] lives,” what’s most interesting is how scientists have discovered what scientists have discovered about such moments.

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