Messages

Over the last few days I've been monitoring the Deseret News, the Salt Lake Tribune, and the Daily Herald for cases we may want to publicize. All of these are local (Utah) cases. Below you'll find descriptions of what I've turned up. I would very much like to have your feedback on which of these cases you would be interested in us investigating and publicizing further.

1. William Barsballe, ticketed for "criminal mischief" when he fixed a road repair outside his home that he considered shoddy. He paid $3000 to fight the issue in Sandy court and list.
(http://www.sltrib.com... )

2. Michael DeSmet, a Sugar House resident arrested in February for - Sugar House resident arrested in February for possession and intent to distribute meth... for having 1/2 an ounce. He denies distributing or having any intent to do so -- the supposed "buyer" was a former friend paying back $40 owed DeSmet, and just threw the money on the ground and walked away. DeSmet was fired from his job and the gov't confiscated his pickup truck with a $4000 stereo and $7000 in construction tools locked in back. He was evicted from his home. After firing him, his employer hasn't paid him for his work (about $40,000 owed). He goes (went?) back to court on May 5. DeSmet says he was taking the meth to help boost his energy at work and keep in check the emotional and physical pain of living with Stage 4 melanoma (skin cancer). He claims to have amassed quite a pile of evidence that the charges of dealing meth are false.
(http://deseretnews.co... -- "High Society: U.S. Drug Policy a Total Failure", Deseret News)

3. West Valley grandmother V. Maurine Harward is filing suit in U.S. District Court against the Utah Division of Child and Family Services. Her grandchild was taken from its mother at 18 months, and Harward made clear her desire to the child placed with her, but DCFS has insisted on placing it with foster parents who have no connection to the family.
(http://www.deseretnew... -- "Grandmother contests DCFS policy", Deseret News)

4. Bruce Dallas Goodman, convicted of second degree murder in 1986, then exonerated by DNA evidence in Nov. 2004 after 19 years in prison. He has received no compensation.
(The Innocence Project)

5. McKesson Corp. mugged for $13.25 million for respecting their customers' right to privacy and failing to act as spies for the DEA. (The DEA alleges McKesson Corp. failed to report the sale of controlled substance pharmaceuticals to Internet pharmacies who sold the drugs online to people who have no prescription.)
(http://www.deseretnew... -- "Distributor settles in suspicious drug sales investigation")

I'm actually applying to McKesson for a job right now, and my friend (in New Hampshire) is a consultant for them.