Law & Ethics - October 2007

here is a copy of the article (source at the bottom)

The Free Press: Speaking Truth to Power Tue Oct 09 2007

Departments
Election Issues

The dog ate my homework
by Richard Hayes Phillips and Patricia "Paddy" Shaffer
August 3, 2007

The following table is a compilation of excuses for the destruction of some or all of the records from the 2004 presidential election in Ohio. The statements are excerpted from the "letters of explanation" submitted in April 2007, by certain Boards of Election to the office of Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, which were provided to us in response to a public records request.

According to the Columbus Dispatch ("56 Ohio counties failed to keep ballots," August 2, 2007), Brunner stated that there is no evidence that ballots were intentionally destroyed. We respectfully refer her to the "letters of explanation" from Fayette and Warren counties, both of which state, in these exact words, that some or all ballots were "intentionally destroyed." We also refer her to the "letters of explanation" from Allen, Champaign, Fairfield, Hancock, Hardin, Holmes, Logan, Marion, Medina, Monroe, Montgomery, Morrow, Paulding, Perry, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, and Stark counties, all of which state, in other words, that some or all ballots were intentionally destroyed.

Adams � "does not have in its possession"
Allen � "water damage and subsequently destroyed"
Ashland � "mistakenly destroyed"
Ashtabula � (BOE) "inadvertently disposed of"
(Prosecuting Attorney) "inadvertently discarded and destroyed"
Athens � "inadvertently discarded"
Auglaize
Belmont
Brown � "accidentally destroyed or have been misplaced"
Butler � "unintentionally discarded into a Rumpke dumpster"
Carroll
Champaign � "these items have always been destroyed"
Clark � "those ballots were shredded"
Clermont � "unable to locate" "No one remembers specifically discarding the ballots." "There is a possibility that the ballots will surface"
Clinton � "not found"
Columbiana
Coshocton
Crawford
Cuyahoga
Darke
Defiance
Delaware
Erie � "does not have" "unaware we needed to keep"
Fairfield � "They would have been shredded, as we have a contract with Shred-It for disposal of all election materials."
Fayette � "intentionally destroyed"
Franklin
Fulton
Gallia
Geauga
Greene
Guernsey - "destroyed in error, due to the county maintenance worker, when collecting trash"
Hamilton - "inadvertently shredded"
Hancock � "did not have to be retained and these items were destroyed"
Hardin � "destroyed prior to the court order"
Harrison
Henry
Highland
Hocking
Holmes � "a shelving unit collapsed onto a side table holding a working coffee maker. Many of the stored items had to be destroyed due to broken glass and hot coffee"
Huron
Jackson � "may have been destroyed pursuant to retention schedule" "Another possibility is that (the ballots were) accidentally destroyed"
Jefferson
Knox
Lake
Lawrence
Licking
Logan � "we were instructed by the previous Director to destroy"
Lorain
Lucas
Madison
Mahoning � "accidentally disposed of (by) the Mahoning County Green Team"
Marion � "destroyed pursuant to the retention schedule"
Medina � "destroyed following the record retention schedule"
Meigs
Mercer � "were not found" "we will continue to search"
Miami
Monroe � "according to our retention schedule we were allowed to dispose of"
Montgomery � "We did not receive formal notice from the courts prior to preparing the certificate of destruction." "In addition, we contacted our county prosecutor for further authorization."
Morgan
Morrow � "it does not say to in the retention schedule."
Muskingum
Noble
Ottawa
Paulding � "destroyed after the official and the recounts were certified"
Perry � "destroyed shortly after the election"
Pickaway
Pike
Portage
Preble � First: "unable to find" "thought it likely they had been inadvertently discarded" Second: "Ballots are buried in County landfill and are not capable of being replicated."
Putnam � "destroyed for security purposes"
Richland � "destroyed or lost by the movers or by our staff"
Ross � "unable to duplicate these ballots"
Sandusky � "Our ballots were stacked all over our office and we had them picked up at the first opportunity."
Scioto � (some) "unable to locate" "unknown whether the ballots were accidentally destroyed or have been otherwise misplaced." (some) "released and shredded"
Seneca � "The ballots were disposed of during the first week of September"
Shelby � "destroyed pursuant to the retention schedule, do not remember the date they were shredded"
Stark � "destroyed prior to notification of Judge Marbley�s order"
Summit
Trumbull
Tuscarawas
Union
Van Wert � "unable to find" "We assume that these ballots were discarded."
Vinton
Warren � "The ballots were intentionally destroyed."
Washington
Wayne
Williams
Wood
Wyandot

2007-10-09 01:54:03 · 11 answers · asked by janie 7

2007-10-09 01:36:10 · 14 answers · asked by pat93050 1

I just heard about it on the radio and Im having a hard time figuring out why he is still in jail? If DNA has cleared him shouldn't he be released? Anyone know what the laws are about this...Im sure there is some sort of due process about it but please explain the specifics?

2007-10-09 01:15:58 · 7 answers · asked by teezy 2

2007-10-09 01:15:30 · 21 answers · asked by taraudoh 2

What are my rights? She broke it while entering it into her credit card reader. What should I have done?

2007-10-09 01:13:07 · 10 answers · asked by noseque1984 2

I showed up at the "right" time on the wrong day.
I am a hairdresser, and I have no recourse of payment when people miss an appointment.
I just wonder if it is truly LEGAL, or just an intimidation. I know they can refuse to see me again, but make me pay for services I did not receive?

2007-10-09 00:55:06 · 14 answers · asked by Cub6265 6

North American Man Boy Love Association. I totally disagree with this so called "Association", it's wrong, disgusting and un-ethical.

2007-10-09 00:33:03 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

This child was adopted out before the man knew that he may be the father. Now that he knows that the child may be his, he wants DNA testing to confirm paternity. The adoptive parents won't agree to testing and the man doesn't have the finances to obtain legal representation. Are there court appointed lawyers in situations like this?

2007-10-09 00:29:02 · 3 answers · asked by thelady 1

My e mail id is arundlyrpt@yahoo.com. Sun Towers residents are requested to unite and file a suit against Shipra Estates as charging more than market electricity charges is ILLEGAL.
I request all residents again to unite and act.

2007-10-08 23:45:49 · 2 answers · asked by Arun S 1

2007-10-08 23:44:12 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-10-08 23:38:09 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous

I have my own business. Someone whom was in a position of thrust embezzeled money from my company. Due to the complexity of the situation the police believe it is not a criminal matter but a civil matter. My legal advisor thinks that it would cost more than to proceed with a civil case than what was taken. Therefore this person can practically steel money and get away with it.

What I want to know is, are there any other ways that I can punish this person or make life more difficult for them.

I must stress that I will not break the law to do this. I am willing to come close to the line but not cross it!

Also I dont need spiritual advice and I am not big enought to turn the other cheek! (I have done that twice already)

2007-10-08 23:28:41 · 17 answers · asked by Daffey 2

http://www.state.mi.us/mdoc/asp/otis2profile.asp?mdocNumber=277711

2007-10-08 23:25:10 · 29 answers · asked by Randy C 2

If I weren't served papers to appear in court, but according to a friend the papers are on the judges desk, am I still required to appear?

Optional Information:
Jackson, Alabama

2007-10-08 23:21:13 · 5 answers · asked by sraj26 2

I went to court last week and won a judgment, the court says its up to me to find what bank he uses to garnish his accounts. How am I supposed to do this?

2007-10-08 23:02:14 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous

If its possible i would like to know the technicalities and under which law/rule it comes under.my friend says it is not possible to transfer funds out of india which i doubt.

2007-10-08 23:01:44 · 2 answers · asked by suresh v 2

if there are a 'group' of people that happened to commit a crime over and over and one of this group hadnt yet would it be ethical to lock him/her away before the crime is commited?

2007-10-08 22:51:06 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-10-08 21:57:52 · 3 answers · asked by ? 3

give some tangible illustrations, and also a substantial evidence... this my college project work please help me!

2007-10-08 21:11:42 · 9 answers · asked by B.A.ADITHYA A 1

Does a political group should obtain a permission from the authorities prior undertaking a mass-meeting, a march or a demonstration? Do authorities can forbid this action because of some reasons, for example, in order to manage without traffic congestions etc?

Thanks.

2007-10-08 21:00:21 · 3 answers · asked by Dims 2

2007-10-08 19:41:57 · 2 answers · asked by Lenore B 1

My mom was hurt at work and had to have a total knee replacement. The medical prtion is not done yet but is getting close so it is getting closer to settlement time.

I was wondering if anyone has a link to a site that listed what diffrent injuries rated money wise upon settlement. Like a chart that would show what an average total knee replacement yeilded at settlement.

She is in illinios if that helps.

Or if anyone else got a settlement for same injury

2007-10-08 19:00:45 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous

I did wedding photography for an African American couple a month a ago, they were supposed to pay me in full 2 weeks before the wedding, its now a month after the wedding, they keep giving me excuses how they dont have money etc, etc. I know I didnt sign a contract with them but I do have a copy of a receipt where I noted the amount of the deposit that they paid me and the balance thats due . Does any one have an idea what legal step I can take to recover the money, its about $700.

2007-10-08 17:54:16 · 11 answers · asked by pbmchicago 1

I am currently mad at the american government and was wondering if i should put an american flag patch on my back pack upside down. would it be disrespectful? Would i be pulled in to the high school principals office. Would this be a good way to show my ways of belief about the president?
any help is apreciated.

2007-10-08 17:39:41 · 8 answers · asked by aryatack 3

let say you sign up to win 100,000 and 50,000 and you have to pay a fee by taking it out of your account and they mail it it may take 4 to 6 weeks for the check to come or or before you take it to the bank to sign it can the bank be suspicious about the money will they ask questions because my mom told me that i might go to jail with that amount of money.

2007-10-08 17:35:19 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous

2007-10-08 17:12:25 · 3 answers · asked by Eamon 2

I don't know what made me think of this, but suppose you're sent to jail for life? What happens to your Social Security payments or other money you may have? (And suppose you have no family to leave it to?)

2007-10-08 17:10:32 · 4 answers · asked by joe-h 1

2007-10-08 16:34:38 · 11 answers · asked by dlmcdonald5 2

for the project insurance, liquidated damages, time for filing lien claims, processing of payments and retain age

2007-10-08 16:33:55 · 3 answers · asked by phiyendang 2

Hi. I am 16 years old and I was arrested for shoplifting 2 days ago. The store (Claires) is pressing charges, because I almost took over $100 worth of merchandise. I would really like to know some details, like when the court summons will come, and what my punishment will be. This is in California.
Thank you.

2007-10-08 16:08:19 · 8 answers · asked by honeyhimiapple 2