Lawyers Who Need a Smack

The legal tabloid, abovethelaw.com alerts us to this item at the Texas Lawyer Blog:  http://texaslawyer.typepad.com/texas_lawyer_blog/2009/11/lawyer-sues-church-homeless-day-center-in-houston.html

Yes, a Texas personal injury lawyer is suing a local church that operates a day care center for the homeless near his office.  Attorney Harry C. Arthur "seeks a minimum of $250,000 in damages from defendants Christ Church Cathedral and The Beacon to compensate him for the loss of rentals in his building and the loss of its market value. Arthur alleges The Beacon, which is operated by Cathedral Health & Outreach Ministries, has created a 'health hazard' in the area." 

Mr. Arthur's website notes that he "specializes in soft tissue injuries"--translation:  this is a bottom feeder, folks.  I recognize that I'm pretty hard on the cops, but generally speaking the police, professionally, have it all over lawyers.

Here's the Beacon's website:  http://www.chomhouston.org/default.aspx?name=chom.thebeacon

Running a Homeless Shelter, that'll a Get You Jail!

San Obispo Rancher, Dan de Vaul is going to jail because he runs a homeless shelter for 60;  that just irritates the shit out of the local authorities.  After being convicted of the code violations, De Vaul was offered probation, but he knew that he would  and could not comply with the conditions of probation that included orders to correct numerous building and housing code violations.  De Vaul knew that if he took the probation option he'd be back in court, in no time, on probation violations so he decided to skip that step and go straight to jail.  Superior Court Judge John Trice said deVaul's an arrogant SOB.  No doubt.  No word on what the California Judge Trice thinks of Ghandi, Jesus, or Mandela.  For more:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2009/11/san-luis-obispo-rancher-sentenced-to-jail-for-housing-the-homeless.html  and a link to Sunny Acres, de Vaul's ranch:  http://www.sunnyacresca.com/index.htm