Library to offer free legal clinics

The chesterfield County Library System will present a series of free legal clinics Sept. 23-Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. in the meeting room of the Chesterfield Library.

The clinics will allow residents of Chesterfield County to get answers to their questions about many common legal issues. Each clinic will consist of a 45-minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session where audience members can ask a lawyer for advice.

The program is free of charge and is open to the public.

The first clinic will be held Sept. 23. It will cover health care powers of attorney. Living wills, DNR orders and powers of attorney. The clinic will be conducted by Andrew McLeod of Harris, McLeod & Ruffner Law Firm.

The second clinic, on Sept. 30, will discuss family law and will be conducted by Trey Cockrell of Cockrell Law Firm.

The financial clinic on Oct. 6 will cover wills, estates and probate and will be conducted by Andrew McLeod.

“I hope that everyone will come and take advantage of these opportunities to have their questions about legal issues answered, “ said Drusilla Carter, director of the Chesterfield County Library System. “We are especially grateful to Andrew McLeod and Trey Cockrell for donating their time and expertise.”

The program is funded by the South Carolina Bar Association.

For information, call the Chesterfield Library at 623-7489.

http://www.thecherawchronicle.com

One-time state attorney general candidate dies at 83

DANVILLE -- Charles O'Brien, the 1970 Democratic candidate for state attorney general who narrowly lost to Evelle Younger, died Sept. 3 at his Danville home. He was 83.

O'Brien was born Sept. 1, 1925 in Lawrence, Mass. He enlisted in the Army at 17, serving as an infantry machine gunner in World War II, where he earned a Purple Heart. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was part of the effort to liberate Nazi concentration camps, said his son, Brennan O'Brien of Walnut Creek.

After the war, O'Brien received his law degree from Harvard University and began practicing law in San Francisco. He worked as a defense attorney at first, but "switched sides" to become a prosecutor after a particularly troubling case. According to his son, O'Brien successfully defended a man who had gotten drunk and hit a woman with a car, breaking both of her legs. "It was because the other lawyer was completely incompetent that my dad was able to get (the driver) completely off. After that, he said, 'I'm not doing defense anymore,' " Brennan O'Brien said.

Charles O'Brien joined the attorney general's office in 1959 and stayed through 1970, leaving for brief stints to serve as executive secretary to Gov. Pat Brown in 1960 and to help with Attorney General Stanley Mosk's campaign for re-election in 1962. He served as second in command at the attorney general's office under Mosk and his successor, Thomas Lynch.

In 1970, O'Brien was the Democratic candidate

to succeed Lynch. A central campaign issue was how best to deal with student unrest over the Vietnam War, Brennan O'Brien said. "My dad's position was that we need to show (protesters) that they have a place at the table, that the system is capable of addressing their concerns if they come to the table," he said.

Charles O'Brien and Younger also disagreed on policies regarding the mafia. There was widespread concern at the time that East Coast gangsters might expand their influence to the West Coast, a worry O'Brien shared and sought to address via state law enforcement.

Younger argued that the attorney general's office was wasting muscle power fighting an unfounded concern, Brennan O'Brien said.

Brennan O'Brien, who at the time was a student at Green Valley Elementary School in Danville, recalls how, during the campaign, the media and Secret Service descended on the then-rural San Ramon Valley. Security guards escorted him and his siblings to school.

"It was very surreal to see reporters surrounding my dad, just this regular guy," he said.

Charles O'Brien lost the election by 86,000 votes out of more than 6.2 million votes cast.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marie Theresa Fox; his children: Brennan O'Brien, Devin O'Brien of Moraga and Erin O'Brien of San Jose; and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Monday.

Memorial donations can be made to Community Solutions, a nonprofit human services organization run by Erin O'Brien, at P.O. Box 546, Morgan Hill, CA 95038.

Reach Jeanine Benca at 925-847.2125 or jbenca@bayareanewsgroup.com.

Decision time nears

While Rep. Frank Pallone was surely playing politics the other day about U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, his point was not a bad one: Is it a conflict for Christie to be both U.S. Attorney and a de facto Republican candidate for governor?

Pallone, a Middlesex County Democrat, wants the U.S. attorney general to look into what he says is Christie's dual role of law enforcement official and political candidate. Whether Michael Munkasey, the attorney general, will do that is debatable. But we gather that Pallone really doesn't care. We think he's raising the issue to make a point here in New Jersey. That point is that as long as Republicans are talking about a gubernatorial candidacy for Christie, his law enforcement role is being compromised.

Christie, a former Morris County freeholder and a Mendham Township resident, has said he likely will make a gubernatorial candidacy decision after the November election. On that, he's been consistent.

Pallone is right, however, in suggesting that many Republicans are acting as if a Christie candidacy is a sure thing. For instance, the Morris County Republican establishment has just about ignored the gubernatorial candidacy of Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Mendham Twp., because its favorite is Christie. Various polls show Christie running in a statistical dead heat with Gov. Jon Corzine.

The problem is that being the state's chief enforcer of federal law and a gubernatorial candidate are incompatible. While it's true that the average voter is thinking about the presidential election, not the gubernatorial election, the noise coming from political insiders may make it imperative for Christie to make a decision about 2009 sooner rather than later. That will render criticisms like Pallone's moot.

[Thanks: http://www.dailyrecord.com]

New laws allow greater IVF access

SINGLE women, lesbians and infertile couples will have greater access to fertility treatment and surrogacy under new laws introduced into State Parliament.

The laws, which will face a conscience vote of MPs before they can be passed, will mean infertile couples will no longer have to travel interstate to have babies through IVF, donor insemination and surrogacy.

The laws will also give legal recognition to the parents of children born through assisted reproductive technology, that is, the non-biological parents of such children.

The changes were among the recommendations made by the Law Reform Commission after a four-year review of the Infertility Treatment Act, and were introduced by Attorney General Rob Hulls into Parliament yesterday.

"This is about updating our laws, bringing them into the 21st century but ensuring that the interests of children born of these arrangements are absolutely paramount," he said.

Potential parents who had committed "serious" crimes, such as child sex offences, would not be eligible for treatment or surrogacy but would have the right to appeal against any decision.

The new laws would allow surrogate parents to apply to the County Court or Supreme Court to be recognised as parents.

Under the current law, single women and lesbians have to be declared clinically infertile to be eligible for IVF in Victoria but, unlike infertile heterosexual couples, they cannot use donor sperm from a clinic.

Melbourne IVF medical director John McBain said this meant many women travelled to states where they are allowed access, such as NSW, to be impregnated.

Felicity Marlowe of the Rainbow Families Council applauded the Government's move. However, Rob Ward, state director of the Australian Christian Lobby, questioned whether the laws were "really in the best interest of children".

[Thanks: http://www.theage.com.au]

Porn Can be Found on Hard Drive by Computer Forensics and Used to Imprison You!

Police Investigators are now cracking down on illegal porn and throwing hundreds of people in prison for having illegal images and videos on their computers... Illegal porn can be found by Computer Forensics in minutes... no matter how hard you try to get rid of porn and try to delete it they will still find it. It can cost you your job, family and even imprisonment!

Yep you read right! Computer Forensics can now easily find traces of porn that you downloaded! It could take them some time but they can gather every piece of porn that you downloaded or uploaded from cds to your computer and use this as evidence against you in court! As you know porn is highly illegal in some countries especially things like child pornography, bestiality and other stuff that sounds pretty discusting but i am pretty sure that there are some people out there who gets off on that stuff...

All of this stuff can and will put you to prison if it is found on your computer by Computer Forensics and no matter how hard you try to get rid of porn from your computer and delete porn fragments from your pc it will still leave traces of files buried deep in your hard drive and Forensics or even an average IT can find it in a matter of minutes... ALL OF IT!

Do You Get The Point...? Its time to get rid of porn from your computer for good and there is only one known way that can actually delete porn no matter how spread out it is on your harddrive and clean out all porn fragments and sub categories. You can Download it and test it for FREE and its called Porn Terminator... It will delete porn forever and if you happen to get under suspicion from police for having illegal pornography on your computer you will be in the clear but you better hurry and get rid of porn from your computer right this instant with PORN TERMINATOR!

The Police and the Government is cracking down on illegal porn, especially child pornography so i sugget you do something about that and delete it before you may go to prison! Thousands being caught this year already for child porn and other illegal graphics so i suggest you get rid of porn as fast as you possibly can !

By: Valeri Tkatchenko

What is Cybercrime?

It's complicated. Cybercrime cannot be described by any one word. Just like crime as we know it, cybercrime has many different applications and can occur anytime and anyplace. Identity thieves and other criminals use several different methods, depending on how much they know and what their objective is. Cybercrime is 'crime' involving some sort of a 'computer' or 'cyber' factor.

The Council of Europe's Cybercrime Treaty uses the term 'cybercrime' to identify offenses ranging from criminal activity against data to content and copyright infringement [Krone, 2005]. Others [Zevar-Geese, 1997-98] have stated that the definition is not that confined and include fraud, unauthorized access, child pornography, and cyberstalking. The United Nations have authored the Manual on the Prevention and Control of Computer Related Crime and they include fraud, forgery, and unauthorized access [United Nations, 1995]. Obviously cybercrime comes in many different packages and different types of cybercrime are going to require different defences if your computer is going to be safe.

Internet security software giant Symantec draws from the various definitions of cybercrime and define it as 'any crime that is committed using a computer or network, or hardware device'. Symantec says that 'the computer or device may be the agent of the crime, the facilitator of the crime, or the target of the crime'. The cybercrime may occur just on the computer or in addition to other places. To help us understand this complex group of crimes, Symantec has divided it into two categories and they are Type I and Type II cybercrime

Type I cybercrime contains the following properties:

Typically it is a single event (in the mind of the victim). An example would be when a victim downloads a Trojan horse, without knowing it, and then the horse installs a keystroke logger into his or her machine. Or the victim could receive an e-mail that carries a link to a supposed known entity, but instead it is a link to a hostile website. Type I cybercrime is often enabled by crimeware programs like keystroke loggers, viruses, rootkits or Trojan horses. Software flaws or vulnerabilities will usually provide the anchor that the identity thief/criminal is looking for. An example would be a group of criminals having control of a website and then taking advantage of a vulnerability in a Web browser that would allow them to place a Trojan horse on an un-suspecting persons computer. Type I examples include but are not limited to phishing, theft or manipulation of data services by way of hacking or viruses, identity theft, and bank or e-commerce fraud.

Type II cybercrime includes, but is not limited to cyberstalking and harassment, child predation, extortion, blackmail, stock market manipulation, complex corporate spying and planning/carrying out terrorism. The properties of Type II cybercrime are a set of circumstances etc. that are an on-going series of events where there are repeated interactions with the target. One example is a target being contacted on a social networking site or chat room and because of the calculated time and effort of the criminal, a relationship is formed. Inevitably the target is exploited in a criminal manner. Another example is a group of identity thieves, terrorists or other criminals using hidden messages to communicate in a public forum to plan activities or discuss money laundering locations. Type II cybercrime is usually enabled by programs that are not classified as crimeware where conversations may take place using IM (instant messaging) or files may be shared using FTP.

By:Randy Vezina

Investigating Dog Bite Cases

In most instances of dog bites in California, the dog's owner is held liable. However, in an attempt to avoid liability, and the financial penalties that go along with it, many owners will attempt to deny liability through various methods. Often, these methods will include accusing the victim of provoking the attack, or proving that the dog has never bitten anyone else if the incident happened in a state that uses the "one bite" criteria as law. In states that use the "one bite" law, the victim must prove that the dog has previously bitten someone else. Fortunately, this is not a legal loophole through which Californians have to jump.

If an investigation is necessary, a dog bite attorney can help you locate the best people for evidence to support your case. Someone who is experienced in litigating dog bite cases in California will know the proper avenues to go through for questioning potential witnesses. Any evidence that supports your claim will be beneficial, and anyone who has had experience with the dog could help provide that evidence.

Your dog bite attorney will most likely want to speak with people who have interacted with the dog from its birth. This will include (but will not be limited to) the breeder of the dog, the dog's veterinarian, the kennel or boarding facility where the dog might have been kept, neighbors, delivery truck drivers who have delivered packages to the dog owner's address, and utility workers who might have come into contact with the dog at some point.

Even within the state of California, any evidence gained by your attorney to prove that the dog has attacked another person will help your case in court. Often, victims of dog attacks do not report the incident to animal control or the police department, and careful investigation might be necessary to uncover information about the true disposition of the dog. The "one bite" rule that many states use in litigation is not always fair; the dog could have well bitten someone else previously, without a paper trail as proof of the incident.

You will want to have documented proof as the result of an investigation. Such documents could include complaints to homeowners associations, police reports, animal control reports, or animal behaviorists' records. Additionally, you will want to have copies of any previous files or paperwork relating to previous litigation, or menacing dog petitions. A qualified California dog bite attorney will be able to locate and acquire this information for you to help you fully prepare for your lawsuit.

With California dog bite laws constantly changing, and dog bite litigation in any state often resulting in complicated cases that require in-depth investigation, a dog bite attorney will be your best resource in compiling the information you'll need in court. The more prepared you are in proving that the dog bite incident was not an isolated one, the better your chances are in winning your case. A dog bite attorney who is highly skilled in trying dog bite cases in California will know the steps to take to solidify your case before you bring it to court.

By John Bisnar

Statute of Limitations in Dog Bite Cases

Dog bite victims have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit in court, and that amount of time varies by state. California's statute of limitations for dog bite cases is generally two years from the date of the attack (Cal. Civ. Proc. Code 335.1). This statute of limitations is usually shorter for cases in which a government agency or employee might be held liable for the victim's injuries. An experienced dog bite attorney will be able to counsel you regarding the specific dog bite laws and statutes of limitations in California, and advise you on the amount of time you have in which to file a lawsuit.

Most state laws provide for anywhere from two to six years in their statutes of limitations in dog bite cases in which an individual or company (rather than a government agency) can be held liable. Some states: Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee; only allow one year from the date of the dog bite injury for the victim to file a lawsuit with the courts.

There are a few exceptions to the statutes of limitations imposed by each state, and one of the primary ones relates to the claims of a minor. In many states, the statute of limitations does not begin to run until the victim reaches his or her 18th birthday. In these cases, a child could be the victim of a dog bite attack at the age of five, but wait until after his or her 18th birthday to file a claim with the courts.

Other exceptions exist in the statutes of limitations involving dog bite cases in California. When a government agency or employee could be held liable for the dog bite, it is important to file your claim immediately. Victims of dog bite injuries, for which a government entity or employee is liable, may have as little as 60 days from the date of the injury to present a claim to that government entity. It is very important that you have an experienced California dog bite attorney help you with this kind of claim because of the special procedural requirements and substantial content of these claims.

If you have been the victim of a dog bite attack and are unsure of the amount of time you have in which to file a claim, contact an experienced dog bite attorney to help you with your case. Your lawyer will be informed about the applicable statutes of limitations within the state of California regarding dog attack claims, and can guide you through the process of filing your lawsuit.

Protection From Identity Theft Begins Now

Many seek protection from identity theft when it is too late.

They have already compromised their own identity in many different ways, just from their online activities. Protecting your identity should be a preventative measure, not a post action. It is something we all must consider before we ever enter any form of identification of ourselves online.

The identity theft statistics are alarming and on the rise. Just a quick type into any search engine will reveal all the horrors of numerous people who have their entire lives devastated and wiped out right from under themselves because they had not taken the necessary precautions to protect themselves.

What can you do to protect yourself from identity theft?

Never give out your information to anyone over the phone. Phones aren't not secure. You never really know who you are talking to on the other end of the line.

No matter how little the bill or how unneeded you feel that receipt for the meal you bought is, take you receipt with you. Leaving anything like that behind can compromise your financial information and make you a potential target for identity theft.

Shred all important documents once done with them. Don't just throw them in the trash. Think of all the information that is held in your bank statement, your pay stubs or any number of things people commonly throw out without a second thought. Instead ensure all material that contains financial information is shredded. You can pick up a low cost shredder at places like WalMart.

Review your credit report at least once a year to ensure no one is stealing your identity. Nothing is worse than finding out too late that someone has taken your information and used it to destroy your life. Early detection is essential, not only to minimize the damages, but in order to catch the culprit.

Limit the information given on your personal checks. If you can have nothing more then your name and account number do it. Having ones that contain email addresses, street addresses and phone numbers puts you at risk. You need to protect your identity.

And then comes the most important part of protection from identity theft. A nine digit number that should be guarded with your life. Your social security number or social insurance number is from the view of the government, you. Those little numbers can get you a loan, a job, credit, housing and numerous other things. Which means when they are stolen, those numbers can get the offender all those things too. And you get stuck with the bill.

You can also try services like online risk assessment programs. These programs will for a fee tell you exactly how at risk you are for identity theft. A few dollars today can save you hundreds of thousands later, not to mention the pain, trouble and upset of having your identity stolen.

Identity theft prevention begins now. You need to protect yourself and keep yourself safe from identity theft. An ounce of prevention and a few dollars and hours into protection is worth more than anything else in the world when someone has stolen your entire life.

Author: Ed Opperman