Joe Pesci is suing Fiore Films, after gaining 30 pounds to play a role he was promised, only to find out later that he would be playing the part of a much slimmer man.

Pesci (most famous for his mobster roles in such films as Goodfellas and Casino) put on 30 pounds to play a part in the new film Gotti: In the Shadow of My Father. He was offered the role of Angelo Ruggiero, an enforcer of John Gotti Sr., as well as a $3 million paycheck.

Then Fiore Films pulled the old bait and switch on Pesci. The actor was informed, after gaining 30 pounds of weight, that he would instead be playing a much lesser role, for a slimmer paycheck of $1 million. And he would have to shed the 30 pounds he had just gained for the role.

Pesci claims the studio offered him the role to as a publicity stunt to market the film. He is suing Fiore Films for $3 million.

Mark Fiore, CEO of Fiore Films claims that Pesci walked away before a deal was ever made. He is also considering filing a countersuit because Pesci never actually signed a contract to play a role in the movie.

It may be especially difficult for Pesci to win this case since there is no written contract.

Related Sources:
MSNBC.com

Check out this fun and informative video about what NOT to do if pulled over for DWI.





Learn more about DWI Don’ts.

A new DWI Smartphone app. was recently released. The application, EmergInfo, assists people who’ve been pulled over for drunk driving, and it’s completely free to download and use! Here are the main features of the EmergInfo DUI application:

Immediate Emergency DWI Information

Emerginfo provides quick, easy to read DUI information, giving you the confidence to help make difficult decisions in approximately 30 seconds! It will answer such questions as:

• Do I have to blow?
• Is there a difference between blowing on the scene or at the precinct?
• What are the consequences of blowing or not blowing ?
• Am I entitled to talk with a lawyer before making a decision to blow and what information do I need to tell the officer in order to speak with a lawyer before blowing?

Quick Click Notification

Notify family and friends with one quick click to alert them that you are about to be arrested with the location of the arrest so that they can make the appropriate arrangements to secure bail and legal representation. The quick-click notification will also notify local DWI attorneys who can call you and explain your legal criminal and DWI rights before you make any harmful decisions that may adversely affect your case.

Quick Click Recorder – Record your conversation with Police

Some police officers lie about statements a defendant may have made while in police custody. In DWI cases, police officers falsely claim or distort statements to help the prosecutor prove their case. With the quick-click recorder you will never have to worry about statements manufactured by the police. If you can show that a police officer lied about statements you allegedly made, you can destroy that police officer’s credibility and the rest of the prosecutor’s case.

The Approxilizer™

A blood alcohol tester, The Approxilyzer™ will provide you with most accurate approximation of your level of intoxication based on your alcohol consumption input and your personal physical description. While no chemical test is 100% accurate, you will be given all of the information you need to make an informed and intelligent decision about whether you are or are not legally intoxicated or impaired. In the event that you are impaired, the Approxilyzer™ will tell you your estimated safe time to drive home.

Call a Cab

Had too much to drink? Need a sober cab home? No worries! With the Emerginfo App you have access to all registered cab companies in your immediate area to help get you home safely.

Download the EmergInfo app. now for iphone, or Android. It’s free, easy to use and it could save you a lot of legal trouble!

On Wednesday, July 20, New York police busted a massive prostitution & drug ring that allegedly earned more than $7 million in three years. Five corporations and seventeen people have been connected with the operation and charged.

The ring in question, High Class NY, offered high end prostitutes to wealthy businessmen who paid anywhere from $400 to $4,000 an hour for sexual services and drugs like cocaine. Many would spend $10,000 in a single night. According to the 144-page indictment, the company concealed their client’s credit card charges in monthly billing statements by using the names of five shell corporations in place of High Class NY.

The indictment cited High Class NY’s owners: Mikhail Yampolsky; his wife, Bronislava; their son, Alexander; and a stepson, Jonathan Yampolskaya. They face a possible 25 years imprisonment.

The company required escourts, or “models,” to sign contracts prohibiting sexual contact with clients. This was done to hide the true nature of the business.

Joseph Mure, the Yampolsky’s defense attorney, intends to fight the charges. “If any models were engaged in sexual activities, it was beyond the scope of their employment,” Mure said.

Despite the fact that most everyone involved in the operation has been arrested, the websites used to sell High Class NY’s services (such as highclassny.com, angelofyourchoice.com and descreteclub.com) are still up and running.

“It’s interesting that this company has independent contracts with its ‘models’ that prohibit sexual contact,” says Criminal Defense Attorney, Avery Appelman. “This may insulate them from liability. It’s also interesting that this case is being prosecuted by the state, not the feds. Perhaps the feds didn’t think the evidence was strong enough to obtain a conviction.”


Related Sources:
CNN.com
NBCnewyork.com

There are countless myths and misconceptions about ways to sober up fast. Many believe these myths and end up with DWI charges as a result. This article will debunk those myths by providing scientific explanations for alcohol’s effect on Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) and the human metabolism.

Metabolism is the process by which the body expels alcohol. It involves many stages, one of which is called oxidation. Oxidation in the liver detoxifies alcohol and removes it from the blood to prevent any damage to cells or organs. The liver metabolizes alcohol at a steady rate that is dependent on numerous factors including body size, mass and height, and the amount of metabolizing enzymes in your liver.

While these factors influence alcohol absorption and your metabolism, most of the sources that people commonly believe effect this process are inaccurate. The following are very common sober up quick myths:

1. “If you take a quick nap, you’ll be fine.” This is not true. Sobering up is really just a time game. Theoretically, you could play Nintendo for two hours and that would be just as effective as a two hour nap. The only way sleeping is effective is if you sleep long enough for your body to fully metabolize the amount of alcohol you have consumed (the average person metabolizes one standard drink per hour*).

 

2. “Eat something. It will absorb the alcohol and sober you up.” This is not true. If you eat prior to or during the consumption of alcohol, the food in your stomach will slow the rate at which alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream, however, the idea that you can drink excessively and then eat to sober up is false. Once alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream, nothing you put in your stomach will decrease your BAC.

 

3. “All you need to do is drink some water.” Once again, not true. Alcohol is metabolized through urine, sweat, and breathing. Water does not and cannot change the level of alcohol in your blood because it does not directly affect any of those bodily processes. Water has no effect whatsoever on the rate at which your body metabolizes alcohol.

*A standard drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 6 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits, all of which contain the same amount of alcohol.

Please be mindful of these myths, and do not drink and drive.

Related Sources:
Webmd.com

Ikenna Njoku was jailed for four nights and five days after trying to cash a check at Chase Bank in Auburn, Washington.

After purchasing his first house a year ago, Njoku had qualified for a federal rebate for first-time home buyers on his tax return.

He requested to have the rebate deposited directly into his Chase bank account. When a hard copy of the IRS rebate arrived, Njoku discovered that Chase had closed his account because of overdrawn checks. The bank took $600 to cover the overdrawn checks and mailed him a cashier’s check of $8,463.21 to cover the difference.

When Njoku made the effort to cash the check, the teller immediately became suspicious.

“When I walked in, the teller looked me up and down and asked if I worked for Chase,” he said. “She asked me questions like where did I get the check from. I sat there for half an hour while they researched the check.”

Njoku became impatient and left the Chase bank branch to run an errand while they researched the check. But when he returned the bank was closed. Chase’s customer service told him to return the next day. When he did, bank officials insisted the check was fake. The police soon followed and arrested Njoku on forgery charges on Thursday June 24, 2010. While he was in jail, Chase realized their mistake and called the Auburn police detective handling the case. Unfortunately it was the detective’s day off and Chase did not make any other effort to set things straight.

He was held in jail for four nights, during which time his car was towed and ultimately auctioned off. He also missed work on Friday and was fired.

“He had two forms of valid ID, a check issued by Chase, he walked in there during normal business hours. I don’t see any valid basis for suspicion in the first place,” said Felix Luna, Njoku’s lawyer. The Seattle attorney took on Njoku’s case two months ago.

The first apology from the bank came only after local news source, KING 5, ran Njoku’s story more than a year after the incident. Njoku now holds an account at Wells Fargo and hopes no one else gets the same treatment he received over a year ago while further action is taken against Chase.

“This is ridiculous and appalling,” says Criminal Trial Lawyer, Avery Appelman. “This man lost his car, his job, and his dignity because the police and Chase rushed to judgment without any investigation whatsoever. They should be ashamed of themselves.”


Related Sources:
MSNBC.com

Rodney King, who became the symbol of police brutality being beaten by four officers after a car chase in 1992, has been arrested on suspicion of DUI.

He was pulled over in Riverside County, California Tuesday evening after police cited the 46-year-old with “multiple infractions.”

He was left with brain damage after that Los Angeles beating and has previous driving convictions. King was taken into custody on Tuesday, July 12th and was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Southern California.

A police statement explains, “A preliminary evaluation of the driver indicated he was probably driving while impaired.”

Police have not yet divulged what substance King was allegedly under the influence of at the time of the arrest. But, King told authorities that he had a drinking problem.

20 years ago King sued the city of Los Angeles after a video caught four policemen beating him up following a car chase. The judge awarded King $3.8 million in compensation.

At the time of the beating he was in his early twenties and was an important figure in the subsequent trial of the four officers for police brutality. After they were acquitted, riots broke out in Los Angeles which left more than 50 people dead.

“Alcohol and drug addiction can touch everyone regardless of race, religion, or celebrity status,” says DWI Attorney, Avery Appelman. “It appears that Mr. King is struggling with some chemical dependency issues. The best course of action is to have a professional conduct a chemical dependency assessment and have Mr. King follow the recommendations for treatment.”


Related Sources:
BBC.com

NFL star Hines Ward was arrested for DUI on Saturday, July 9th in DeKalb County, Georgia. He was released shortly after on a $1,000 bond.

Ward’s agent said Saturday that he is confident the facts will illustrate his client was not driving while impaired.

“(Ward) cooperated fully with the police and truthfully answered all of their questions,” agent and manager, Andrew Ree, said. “We are currently in the process of ascertaining all the facts. From our preliminary investigation we can tell you that we are confident that the facts will show that Hines was not impaired by alcohol while driving. However, Hines is deeply saddened by this incident and apologizes to his fans and the Steelers organization for this distraction.”

Hines Ward, a 35-year-old Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, has two Super Bowl rings, was the most valuable player in Super Bowl XL, and was selected four times for the NFL Pro Bowl.

He is also under the public eye for winning the latest season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” as well as his philanthropic endeavors. His Helping Hands U.S. Foundation focuses on improving literacy among children. He also has a foundation in South Korea (his birthplace) dedicated to targeting discrimination against biracial children.

Perhaps shedding light on the potential reason behind his arrest, Ward posted items about his bad habit of texting while driving on his Facebook page Friday.

“As a Cleveland Browns fan, it is my expectation that the State of Georgia will use the full arsenal of resources at its disposal to ensure justice is served,” says Criminal Defense Attorney, Geoff Saltzstein. “There are certainly times when police and prosecutors get overzealous when charging celebrities with criminal offenses. Hopefully the State doesn’t plan to introduce his egregious use of illegal blocking techniques and flagrant cheap shots on the field as evidence of someone who has no regard for rules.”


Related Sources:
CNN.com

Minnesota Timberwolves star forward, Michael Beasley, was cited for possession of marijuana and speeding in Minnetonka.

In the early morning hours of June 26, Beasley was pulled over by police for going 84 mph in a 65 mph zone. The officer allegedly smelled marijuana from inside the vehicle and, after a vehicle search, found roughly a half ounce of the drug under Beasley’s front passenger seat. Beasley claims it belonged to a friend he had just dropped off.

The officer tested Beasley and found no illegal substances in his system. He was cited for marijuana possession and released.

This is not Beasley’s first run-in with the law. Since being drafted by the Miami Heat in 2008, he has had several arrests and citations. In February of this year, Beasley was issued a speeding ticket for going 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. In 2008, he was fined $50,000 by the NBA for being in a room where marijuana was found. He spent time in a rehab facility in 2009.

Despite his problems off the court, Beasley has been one of the Timberwolves’ strongest players. He averaged 19.2 points per game during his first season with Minnesota, second only to Kevin Love.


Related Sources:
StarTribune.com

America has some pretty awful prisons. But, most of our jails don’t even compare to these five prisons from around the globe.


5) Mendoza Prison, Argentina:
To begin our list, Mendoza Prison houses 1,600 inmates in a facility designed for 600. As many as five inmates are packed into each four square meter cell. Septic tanks are limited, leaving the majority of the inmates to defecate in plastic bags and urinate in plastic bottles. To top it all off, there are no medical records for the prisoners and medical staff is only called in after an inmate has died.


4) Nairobi Prison, Kenya:
Inhumane conditions characterize this prison. Populations of 3,800 inmates inhabit a space designed for 800. Moreover, 250 short-term prisoners occupy a temporary space for periods of time designed for 50. Prisoners lack basic necessities such as proper food, clothing, mattresses, and medical assistance. Because of the overcrowding, there is limited medical help and many die in agony from disease.


3) La Sabaneta Prison, Venezuela:
Trumping both Nairobi and Mendoza Prisons for most congested, The Sabaneta Prison in Venezuela houses 25,000 prisoners in a facility meant for 15,000. Corruption runs rampant among the judicial system and the most powerful and wealthy inmates attain rooms with more space and better conditions, leaving the rest to overcrowding and harsh conditions. The prison is also wildly understaffed. There is only about one guard for every 150 inmates, leaving the door open for corrupted practices and violence among guards and inmates.


2) Diyarbakir Prison, Turkey:
The shady past of this Turkish prison leaves it at number two. Events such as the incarceration of children for lifelong sentences, to overcrowding, to hallways flooded with sewage help explain why this prison made the list. Notorious violence between guards and prisoners creates a hostile environment. A 1996 incident between guards and prisoners left 10 inmates dead and 23 injured with 9 in critical condition.


1) Bang Kwang Prison, Thailand:
Also known as the “Bangkok Hilton,” Bang Kwang is the central, high-security prison for men. It maintains all of the characteristics of a poor facility including, but not limited to, overcrowding, understaffing, and corruption. Also, criminally insane inmates are confined and tormented by leg irons as they spend their first months in prison. What’s frightening here is the high number of foreign population serving outrageous sentences within the prison. For example, one recorded case involves a young man from England caught at the border between Cambodia and Thailand with £130.00 (about $213.00) of amphetamine pills. He was initially set to serve a life sentence but pleaded guilty and is currently serving 30 years.


Related Sources:
Listsoplenty.com