Capital punishment is a sensitive, controversial, and hotly-debated topic in America. But whatever your personal stance on the matter may be, one fact remains objectively true: the death penalty vanished from New Jersey in 2007. That year, then-Governor Jon Corzine abolished capital punishment in the Garden State, with Senate Bill 171 substituting the former death penalty with a sentence of life without parole. Since then, other states have followed suit, including Maryland, Connecticut, and Illinois. But now, some voices are calling for New Jersey to revert back to its old laws. In the aftermath of Jersey City Officer Melvin Santiago’s tragic shooting death, Assemblyman Ronald Dancer (R-Jackson) is pushing New Jersey to bring capital punishment for “cop killers” back to the table.
23-Year-Old Officer Gunned Down in Police Cruiser, Comments Spark Outrage
On the 13th of July, Jersey City police officer Melvin Santiago was shot and killed as he sat with his partner in a police cruiser outside of a Walgreens. He was a rookie cop, new on the force, responding to a call that the pharmacy was being robbed.
The shooter, Lawrence Campbell, was immediately gunned down by Santiago’s partner, who escaped the incident without serious harm. But for Santiago, it was already too late. He was 23 years old when he died.
Campbell, too, lost his life at a young age: he was just 27 years old. And, just as Santiago is being mourned by his community, so too is Campbell. One mourner in particular — Campbell’s widow, Angelique — incited outrage and controversy after remarking, “He should have taken more with him. If they were going to stand over my husband and shoot him like a f***ing dog, he should have taken all those m*********ers out.”
The comment triggered scathing criticism from none other than Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, who called her words “ignorant” and “disgusting.”
“I Just Think There Needs to Be a Deterrent, and That Deterrent is the Death Penalty”
Campbell and Santiago came from completely “opposite sides of the tracks.” In life, Santiago was an officer, while Campbell was allegedly affiliated with the notorious Bloods gang and had already accumulated a rap sheet including homicide and drug charges. He reportedly waited for officers to arrive on the scene after the robbery was reported, and took the opportunity to shoot whoever responded. That turned out to be Melvin Santiago.
“Melvin was the best kid,” says Santiago’s stepfather, Alex McBride. “He never did no harm to nobody. And he was full of life.”
“Melvin was an officer who represented everything one would want to see in a police officer,” says Mayor Fulop. “I know the entire city’s thoughts and prayers are with the Santiago family during this difficult time and we mourn together.”
But Santiago’s death has triggered even more than an outpouring of anger and tears — it’s also revitalized Assemblyman Ron Dancer’s years-long push for reinstating the death penalty in New Jersey. Dating back to 2011, Dancer has been a strong proponent of renewed capital punishment for people convicted of killing police officers. Supported by co-sponsors Assemblyman Parker Space and Assemblywoman Alison McHose, Bill 2429 says in its synopsis, simply, “Restores the death penalty for certain murders.”
Those “certain murders” would be the murders of police officers like Melvin Santiago. Assemblyman Dancer feels that if the death penalty had been “on the table” as a deterrent on July 13th, perhaps the shooting never would have happened in the first place.
“These criminals,” says Dancer, “can have life in prison with health care, with three meals a day, with all the activities, recreational and social. I just think there needs to be a deterrent, and that deterrent is the death penalty.”
Dancer adds, “We will have no order in this state if our law enforcement officers are murdered and there’s not a price to pay. These men and women who are putting their lives on the line for us deserve to have us protect them.”
In addition to bringing back capital punishment for “cop killers,” Dancer’s bill also seeks reinstatement for people convicted of murdering children, and for murders which are classified as terrorism.
Currently, the laws in New Jersey related to penalization for murder can be found under 2C:11-2 (criminal homicide). Under 2C:11-2, “A person is guilty of criminal homicide if he purposely, knowingly, [or] recklessly… causes the death of another human being,” while the offense itself encompasses “murder, manslaughter or death by auto.”
Under 2C:11-3 (murder), “If the victim was a law enforcement officer and was murdered while performing his official duties or was murdered because of his status as a law enforcement officer, the person convicted of that murder shall be sentenced… to a term of life imprisonment, during which the person shall not be eligible for parole.”
Not only is the murder of law enforcement officers penalized harshly — so is assault. Under 2C:12-1 (assault), “A person is guilty of aggravated assault if he… commits a simple assault upon any law enforcement officer acting in the performance of his duties while in uniform or exhibiting evidence of his authority or because of his status as a law enforcement officer.” Aggravated assault against a police officer is a third degree crime, and can be penalized with up to five years in prison and a hefty fine of up to $15,000.
Contact Our New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyers
If you have been charged with simple assault or assaulting a police officer, you could be facing extremely serious penalties. You need to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as you possibly can. To schedule your free and confidential legal consultation, call the law offices of New Jersey assault lawyer Joseph Lombardo at (609) 445-4300, or contact us online today.
Along with clowns and spiders, dentists terrify most Americans. Most of us will quietly tolerate various solutions, injections, and surgeries to other parts of our bodies, yet the moment our sensitive teeth enter the equation, the fear factor shoots through the roof. If you’re one of the many who are already nervous about tooth care, you may want to duck out of reading this blog post while you still have the chance — because in this entry, we’ll be looking at some devastating cases of dental malpractice.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Kaitlin Olsen and Rob McElhenney, who play Dee and Mac on the show, have been sued after an alleged dog bite incident at the couple’s home. The mother of the injured child is seeking unspecified damages to cover damages including past and future medical bills. The mother, Julie DeLagarde, states that he daughter will be permanently scarred unless she undergoes additional reconstructive surgeries. While the events occurred at a Father’s Day party at the couple’s actual home in Los Angeles, for a moment let’s suspend belief and imagine that these events occurred in the Always Sunny universe where Dee and Mac were throwing a party in South Jersey.
We’ve all rolled our eyes at frivolous lawsuits, but this one really breaks the bank. No — really. Even the most outraged claimants tend to gain some embarrassed self-awareness around the nine-zero mark, but Anton Purisima has no patience for silly thousands, millions, or billions. He wants undecillions. Never heard of that word? Don’t worry — that’s only because it’s a brain-melting eight levels above one trillion. And Mr. Purisima would like two of them, please.
Dog Bite Prompts 36-Zero Personal Injury Lawsuit
What sort of tragedy could have befallen New Yorker Anton Purisima to launch his demands so far into the stratosphere? Assault? Arson? Murder?
Not quite: try a dog bite.
Now, dog bites are no laughing matter. The American Humane Association reports that roughly four and a half million people are bitten every year, with 885,000 of those bites requiring medical care. Dog bites have been known to kill (there were 38 fatalities in 2012), and some cities have even gone so far as banning “aggressive” breeds altogether. And, to be fair, Purisima’s injuries were less than frivolous — he did lose an entire middle finger, a significant and costly wound.
Nonetheless, let’s try to put these numbers into perspective. Two undecillion dollars is expressed as a two, followed by a regal train of no fewer than 36 zeroes. Here are some items which are valued at less — much less.
- The Hope Diamond. (A paltry $250 million.)
- The Mona Lisa. ($100 million. Pathetic!)
- Building the Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made structure on the planet. (A modest $1,500,000,000. That’s it?)
Purisima Files 22-Page Lawsuit Against Everyone, for Everything
Purisima filed his hand-written suit in a Manhattan federal court last month, after alleging he had been infected by rabies from a dog bite on a city bus. But the suit isn’t limited to the dog’s owners, the bus company, or even the city of New York. This ambitious 22-page tome levels accusations against defendants ranging from chain cafe Au Bon Pain, to LaGuardia Airport personnel (who apparently overcharged Purisima for coffee, intentionally caused emotional distress, committed conspiracy to defraud, and even attempted murder), to K-Mart, to a hapless “Chinese couple” who reportedly snapped unauthorized photos of Purisima’s hand while en route to the hospital, to thousands of additional unnamed New Yorkers who were somehow involved with the incident, to the city of Hoboken in nearby New Jersey.
Interestingly, this sprawling legal saga is far from Purisima’s first venture into the world of lawsuits. Over the past several years, he has also filed against JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, and even the People’s Republic of China.
According to Purisima, the injury he sustained “cannot be repaired by money,” thereby justifying a “priceless” claim.
Other allegations contained within the suit include discrimination based on national origin, civil rights violations, fraud, and harassment.
While Purisima’s claims represent the lighter side of litigation, dog bites and animal attacks are a serious issue. If you or someone you love has been hurt, you may be entitled to rightful compensation for the damages against you. To schedule a free and private legal consultation, call the law offices of personal injury lawyer Joseph Lombardo at (609) 445-4300, or contact us online.
Frivolous personal injury lawsuits are a widespread problem in New Jersey and throughout the United States. Even people who have never set foot in a courtroom know the “Don’t sue me!” jokes, and the tiniest mistakes by restaurants or other businesses have become fodder for opportunists to claim suffering. Frivolous lawsuits waste time, waste money, and take resources away from people who truly need them.
Frivolous or Legitimate?
Lawsuits arise across a vast spectrum of payout size, media publicity, and background detail. Individuals can sue businesses or each other, and vice versa. There are a thousand ways to be physically, emotionally, or financially injured — and a thousand ways to exaggerate (or even fake) such an injury in the interest of reaping a huge financial reward.
In most cases, we can give the plaintiff the benefit of the doubt. After all, many injuries, certainly those of the emotional ilk, are not visible to the naked eye. However, in some cases, the presence of dishonest motives seems almost painfully obvious.
“Seriously Injured” Man Topples 1-Ton Boulder
Boy Scout leader Glenn Taylor has been appearing in recent news as the latest frivolous filer. Taylor was hiking with a troop of Scouts through Goblin Valley State Park in Utah this month when he decided to topple a massive boulder, one of the “goblins” for which the park is named. He cited the precarious placement of the boulder as his reason, saying, “One gust of wind, and a family’s dead.” The ancient status of the rock formation, which was millions of years old, seems reason enough for the incident to be criminal. But the real crime is a layer deeper.
Because just one month prior to shoving the 2,000 pound boulder from its perch, Taylor filed a lawsuit — a lawsuit claiming “serious, permanent, and debilitating injuries.”
The defendant in the suit is Alan MacDonald, who, along with his daughter, was involved in an auto accident that purportedly “permanently injured” Taylor back in 2009. The accident did not lead to any hospitalizations.
MacDonald is dubious about Taylor’s claims. “Someone with a bad back,” the defendant argued, “who’s disabled, who can’t enjoy life, to me, doesn’t step up and push a rock that big off its base.” He went on to say, “I was just a little surprised, because he looks like a fairly strong, able-bodied guy to me,” adding that he was “highly offended” by the whole incident.
“You didn’t see how hard I pushed,” Taylor said.
Mark Stubbs, Taylor’s attorney, stands by his client’s claims, and insists Taylor is still recovering from the injuries he claims he sustained back in 2009.
Whether or not Taylor is telling the truth, here’s something to think about: the United States spends over $250 billion annually on civil litigation. Italy, the next runner-up, spends a tenth of that amount at $27 billion — and in America, New Jersey ranks #5 for most attorneys by state.
Call Our New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyers Today
If you or someone you love has been injured, you may be entitled to compensation. The skilled attorneys at Lombardo Law can discuss the details to determine if you have a case. Call us today at (609) 445-4300, or contact us online.
Spring is here, which means more motorcycle accidents and serious injuries. It’s a sad fact, but it’s true. When the weather warms up, motorists need to prepare themselves to share the road with motorcycles, but many choose to ignore them until it’s literally too late. Think it’s all the motorcyclists’ fault? Here are number of ways we can all reduce our motorcycle accident risk without sacrificing our mutual right to the road. (more…)
Tripping and falling down in a public place is embarrassing. The second it happens, you just want to be invisible, and you pray no one had a cell phone out to the film the crash. If you’re lucky enough to have someone to help you up, you may be quick to make an excuse for the incident – should’ve watched where you were going. The soreness happens immediately, but you dismiss it. You fell down; of course, you’re in a little pain right? Ignoring those early symptoms, and not telling anyone about the hazard that caused your fall, could leave you with a serious injury and no way to obtain rightful compensation for your damages after your slip-and-fall accident. (more…)
Why do people keep crashing into the Somerville 7-Eleven?
It’s the equivalent of a bird smacking into a reflective windowpane repeatedly. For the sixth time, according to NJ.com, someone has literally driven their vehicle through the front door of the 7-Eleven on Mercer Street in the South Jersey town. No, there isn’t a drive thru. No, this wasn’t a poorly planned robbery gone obviously wrong. Owners have reportedly paid thousands of dollars to fix the damage incurred from five previous run-ins with motor vehicles, and not it appears they’ll be shelling out yet again. (more…)
Liability in a personal injury claim doesn’t always come down to your actions. Sometimes, the actions of others on property you own can lead to a host of complications should injuries arise from their negligence. Knowing these possible pitfalls ahead of time can save you several thousand headaches with proper preparation and due diligence. Before the worst should happen, our New Jersey personal injury attorneys explain all the ways you can incur liability because you didn’t do enough to ensure a safe environment on your property. (more…)
A crash happens in seconds, but the effects can last for months – maybe years. Forces involved in an impact of that magnitude damage the human body in ways you can’t anticipate. Many accident victims believe they’re not even hurt after the collision, and wave off medical treatment as if it’s unnecessary. They might even tell their insurance company they’re not hurt, a decision that could cost them thousands of dollars in compensation down the road. What might feel like a pulled muscle could actually be a symptom of something far more serious. Here are the signs and symptoms to watch out for in the days following your accident.
1. Tingling in the Fingers and Toes
Tingling or loss of sensation in your fingers and toes are common, initial symptoms of a torn disc in your spine. The crash impact creates a small tear, which allows the gel-like fluid cushioning your spine to leak out and put pressure on surrounding nerves. Because your spine controls sensation impulses for your entire body, damage to a single disc can affect everything from your toes to your eyelashes. This type of injury gets progressively worse over time, and will not heal on its own without medical help.
2. Burning Sensation in Your Legs
The term ‘sciatica’ is a medical misnomer because it doesn’t technically exist. The pain you feel, that persistent burning sensation down your thighs, is inflammation-putting pressure on your sciatic nerve. The car crash could’ve herniated a disc in your spine or torn muscle fibers in your back, which cause the swelled tissues to impinge on the nerve. Addressing the root injury with your doctor can help alleviate the pain in your extremities, but it won’t heal overnight. Without treatment, nerve damage can lead to weakened muscles, loss of coordination, and even partial paralysis.
3. Ongoing Headaches and Dizziness
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury, and one you could easily suffer in an auto collision. A headache that won’t go away, dizziness, confusion or difficulty with your short-term memory could be symptoms that you’ve sustained a concussion because of the accident. You need immediate medical attention to determine the extent of the injury and to rule out other, more serious, complications. The injury might actually be part of a more significant issue, including a fractured skull or bleeding into the brain. Both could carry potentially life-threatening problems if left untreated.
4. Loss of Coordination in Hands
Diminished coordination could be a symptom of a serious injury in the aftermath of a motor vehicle accident. Pressure on the nerves leading to your limbs could be causing muscle death, which can be permanent if not treated promptly. Alternatively, you could be dealing with a brain injury similar to a concussion, which can lead to vision problems and difficulty sleeping. Left untreated, your loss of coordination could worsen making it impossible for you to continue working.
5. Pain in Your Jaw
Pain in the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull can be a symptom of car crash trauma. A tear in the tendons or muscles that form the connection leads to swelling, which creates the pain when you open your jaw or try to chew. The discomfort may only worsen as the days progress, making it impossible to eat or even talk without an extreme throb in the affected area.
Contact Our New Jersey Personal Injury Attorneys
Immediate medical treatment is the key to diagnosing your injuries and developing a treatment plan to affect the quickest recovery possible. Without a doctor’s attention, the insurance company could allege that your injuries aren’t related to the crash, and deny you your rights to compensation. If you’re hurt, our accident attorneys in New Jersey can help you obtain the kind of money damages you deserve.
