CHATTANOOGA (WRCB)-- A house fire claims the life of an infant.
It happened around 11 am on Maude Street.
A second child and a babysitter are in critical condition.
The landlord says he just rented this home to a woman and her two children this week. But the woman that was with the kids Saturday morning wasn't their mother. Authorities believe she was babysitting.
"I came on my front porch and I saw fire and smoke coming out through the front of the house," says Edward Woodgett.
Edward Woodgett lives directly next door from the home at 70 Maude Street.
"I went next door to try to see if anyone was in there and I heard children crying," says Woodgett.
Woodgett called 911, then picked up a five gallon bucket, filled it with water and started attacking the blaze before fire trucks arrived.
"I wanted to kick the front door open, but there was so much fire and smoke that I couldn't and about that time the front window blew out," says Woodgett.
When Tina Cheeks returned home around noon, she found her street blocked by police cars and fire trucks.
"They were new people, they just moved in and seemed to be real friendly," says Cheeks.
Minutes before, firefighters removed a woman and two small children from the home.
"The first firefighter in the lead was feeling on the floor and found an infant on the floor," says Chattanooga Fire spokesperson Bruce Garner.
The second child was found on a bed, all three in a back bedroom.
The victim's were immediately taken outside and put in an ambulance, but it was too late for the younger child.
Upon arrival at Erlanger, the baby was pronounced dead.
For Edward Woodgett and his Maude Street neighbors, it's a hard reality to face.
"It's something tragic. Only thing I can say is it's in the hands of the Lord. I feel sorry for the people, you know, but there just wasn't anything I could do," says Woodgett.
"It's real tragic, my heart goes out to the family," says Cheeks.
Officials still haven't released the victim's names or ages of the children, but neighbors tell Eyewitness News they were very young, around two or three.
The older child is at T.C. Thompson's.
The babysitter was first taken to Erlanger, but is expected to be transported to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
70 Maude St
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Unrated
Bedrooms: --
Bathrooms: --
Sqft: 1,427
Lot size: --
Property type: Single Family
Year built: 1960
Parking type: --
Cooling system: --
Heating system: --
Fireplace: --
Last sold: June 15 2005
Description
This is a 1427 square foot, single family home. It is located at 70 Maude St Chattanooga, Tennessee. This home is in the Hamilton County School Distrct School District. The nearest schools are Chattanooga School For The Arts And Science, Orchard Knob Middle School and Brainerd High School.
: $55,000Rent Zestimate:$741/mo
Mortgage payment:
$218/mo
See current rates on Zillow
Source
06/15/2005 Sold $11,193 -- $7 Public Record
2010 $245 -0.1% $8,850 --
2009 $245 -5.4% $8,850 7.6%
2008 $259 -- $8,225 --
2007 $259 8.8% $8,225 --
2006 $238 -- $8,225
Wyndham Capital MortgageWyndham Capital Mortgage(new to zillow) 4.250% 4.370% $3,452
Roundpoint Mortgage (183) 4.250% 4.371% $3,479
Myers Park National Lending Center (10) 4.375% 4.387% $349
See more quotes
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Infant dies from Maude St. house fire - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports
Infant dies from Maude St. house fire - WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & Sports
CHATTANOOGA (WRCB)-- A house fire claims the life of an infant.
It happened around 11 am on Maude Street.
A second child and a babysitter are in critical condition.
The landlord says he just rented this home to a woman and her two children this week. But the woman that was with the kids Saturday morning wasn't their mother. Authorities believe she was babysitting.
"I came on my front porch and I saw fire and smoke coming out through the front of the house," says Edward Woodgett.
Edward Woodgett lives directly next door from the home at 70 Maude Street.
"I went next door to try to see if anyone was in there and I heard children crying," says Woodgett.
Woodgett called 911, then picked up a five gallon bucket, filled it with water and started attacking the blaze before fire trucks arrived.
"I wanted to kick the front door open, but there was so much fire and smoke that I couldn't and about that time the front window blew out," says Woodgett.
When Tina Cheeks returned home around noon, she found her street blocked by police cars and fire trucks.
"They were new people, they just moved in and seemed to be real friendly," says Cheeks.
Minutes before, firefighters removed a woman and two small children from the home.
"The first firefighter in the lead was feeling on the floor and found an infant on the floor," says Chattanooga Fire spokesperson Bruce Garner.
The second child was found on a bed, all three in a back bedroom.
The victim's were immediately taken outside and put in an ambulance, but it was too late for the younger child.
Upon arrival at Erlanger, the baby was pronounced dead.
For Edward Woodgett and his Maude Street neighbors, it's a hard reality to face.
"It's something tragic. Only thing I can say is it's in the hands of the Lord. I feel sorry for the people, you know, but there just wasn't anything I could do," says Woodgett.
"It's real tragic, my heart goes out to the family," says Cheeks.
Officials still haven't released the victim's names or ages of the children, but neighbors tell Eyewitness News they were very young, around two or three.
The older child is at T.C. Thompson's.
The babysitter was first taken to Erlanger, but is expected to be transported to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
70 Maude St
Chattanooga, TN 37403
Unrated
Bedrooms: --
Bathrooms: --
Sqft: 1,427
Lot size: --
Property type: Single Family
Year built: 1960
Parking type: --
Cooling system: --
Heating system: --
Fireplace: --
Last sold: June 15 2005
Description
This is a 1427 square foot, single family home. It is located at 70 Maude St Chattanooga, Tennessee. This home is in the Hamilton County School Distrct School District. The nearest schools are Chattanooga School For The Arts And Science, Orchard Knob Middle School and Brainerd High School.
: $55,000Rent Zestimate:$741/mo
Mortgage payment:
$218/mo
See current rates on Zillow
Source
06/15/2005 Sold $11,193 -- $7 Public Record
2010 $245 -0.1% $8,850 --
2009 $245 -5.4% $8,850 7.6%
2008 $259 -- $8,225 --
2007 $259 8.8% $8,225 --
2006 $238 -- $8,225
Wyndham Capital MortgageWyndham Capital Mortgage(new to zillow) 4.250% 4.370% $3,452
Roundpoint Mortgage (183) 4.250% 4.371% $3,479
Myers Park National Lending Center (10) 4.375% 4.387% $349
See more quotes
New Details In East Ridge Murder | murder, ridge, jail - WTVC NewsChannel 9: Chattanooga News, Weather, Radar, Sports, Lottery
New Details In East Ridge Murder | murder, ridge, jail - WTVC NewsChannel 9: Chattanooga News, Weather, Radar, Sports, Lottery
East Ridge Murder Investigation
Police arrest a man in connection with an elderly woman's death.
Most Viewed Stories
'Down by the River on a Friday Night'
Seized Property to be Sold in Bradley County
Fire Department Ratings
UPDATE: Crews Find Body of Missing Boater
Sneak Peek at Kellie Pickler
New Details In East Ridge Murder
June 17, 2011 5:12 PM
Karen Zatkulak
One man is in jail in connection with a 70 year old woman's murder, but the case is far from over. We're learning new details about Jane Stokes murder, and we're also taking a closer look at how the case was handled.
While one arrest has been made in the case, investigators are still busy. They say there's evidence who robbed Stokes, but they're still unsure who killed her.
70 year old Jane Stokes died violently. The medical examiner's report says she was killed by suffocation, found bound on her bedroom floor. Police say Randall Reed stole her credit cards, and turned himself in Thursday night. East Ridge Police Spokesperson Erik Hopkins says, "As of right now, Mr. Randall Reed has been charged with theft, but not in connection to the homicide."
Police say there were no signs of forced entry into Stoke's home. Neighbors tell us a tree had fallen on her home during the tornadoes, and several men were working to fix her chimney. Police aren't yet releasing whether Reed was one of those workers, or if he even knew Stokes.
We do know that he rented an apartment nearby in East Ridge with another woman. But, police say they had checked into the Travelodge for 2 nights, the day Stokes body was found.
Plastic wraps covered Stokes face and her hands were tied behind her back, so we wanted to know why police waited 29 hours to tell the public a killer was on the loose. Hopkins says, "Everything was pending because we didn't know it was a murder, we didn't know if there was going to be a murder investigation."
Here's a timeline of the investigation. The affidavit says someone entered Stokes home sometime Wednesday morning, and assaulted her. It says within an hour and fifteen minutes, Reed used Stokes credit cards.
At 11 that morning, police found her body, then released a statement 3 hours later, reporting her death.
An hour and a half later, they sent another release, saying the case was suspicious.
It wasn't until 4 the next afternoon, that police told the public they were looking for a suspect. Hopkins says, "We didn't want to falsely alarm anyone either, we wanted evidence to speak for itself, and that's what we were wanting on."
We've learned that Reed has a lengthy criminal history, including 14 theft and 13 forgery charges, but, he has no prior counts of violent offenses.
Police aren't saying whether there are any other suspects right now in the murder.
New Details In East Ridge Murder | murder, ridge, jail - WTVC NewsChannel 9: Chattanooga News, Weather, Radar, Sports, Lottery
New Details In East Ridge Murder | murder, ridge, jail - WTVC NewsChannel 9: Chattanooga News, Weather, Radar, Sports, Lottery
East Ridge Murder Investigation
Police arrest a man in connection with an elderly woman's death.
Most Viewed Stories
'Down by the River on a Friday Night'
Seized Property to be Sold in Bradley County
Fire Department Ratings
UPDATE: Crews Find Body of Missing Boater
Sneak Peek at Kellie Pickler
New Details In East Ridge Murder
June 17, 2011 5:12 PM
Karen Zatkulak
One man is in jail in connection with a 70 year old woman's murder, but the case is far from over. We're learning new details about Jane Stokes murder, and we're also taking a closer look at how the case was handled.
While one arrest has been made in the case, investigators are still busy. They say there's evidence who robbed Stokes, but they're still unsure who killed her.
70 year old Jane Stokes died violently. The medical examiner's report says she was killed by suffocation, found bound on her bedroom floor. Police say Randall Reed stole her credit cards, and turned himself in Thursday night. East Ridge Police Spokesperson Erik Hopkins says, "As of right now, Mr. Randall Reed has been charged with theft, but not in connection to the homicide."
Police say there were no signs of forced entry into Stoke's home. Neighbors tell us a tree had fallen on her home during the tornadoes, and several men were working to fix her chimney. Police aren't yet releasing whether Reed was one of those workers, or if he even knew Stokes.
We do know that he rented an apartment nearby in East Ridge with another woman. But, police say they had checked into the Travelodge for 2 nights, the day Stokes body was found.
Plastic wraps covered Stokes face and her hands were tied behind her back, so we wanted to know why police waited 29 hours to tell the public a killer was on the loose. Hopkins says, "Everything was pending because we didn't know it was a murder, we didn't know if there was going to be a murder investigation."
Here's a timeline of the investigation. The affidavit says someone entered Stokes home sometime Wednesday morning, and assaulted her. It says within an hour and fifteen minutes, Reed used Stokes credit cards.
At 11 that morning, police found her body, then released a statement 3 hours later, reporting her death.
An hour and a half later, they sent another release, saying the case was suspicious.
It wasn't until 4 the next afternoon, that police told the public they were looking for a suspect. Hopkins says, "We didn't want to falsely alarm anyone either, we wanted evidence to speak for itself, and that's what we were wanting on."
We've learned that Reed has a lengthy criminal history, including 14 theft and 13 forgery charges, but, he has no prior counts of violent offenses.
Police aren't saying whether there are any other suspects right now in the murder.
East Ridge Police Arrest Man In Connection with Stokes Death Investigation | WDEF News 12 | News, Weather and Sports for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley
East Ridge Police Arrest Man In Connection with Stokes Death Investigation | WDEF News 12 | News, Weather and Sports for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley
East Ridge Police Arrest Man In Connection with Stokes Death Investigation
Submitted by WDEF News 12 on June 17, 2011 - 7:09am. News | Crime | Hamilton County News
Release from East Ridge Police:
East Ridge Police criminal investigators have identified the suspect in the ATM photograph released yesterday afternoon.
The suspect has been identified as Randall Reed, a 43 year old, (DOB 11/19/1967) white male, of East Ridge, TN.
Mr. Reed was arrested and transported to Hamilton County Jail where he was charged with the theft of Jane Stokes credit card. Investigators have also executed a search warrant and performed multiple searches of the suspect’s motel room and vehicle.
The homicide investigation is still ongoing as detectives continue to process evidence and follow up on additional leads. Mr. Reed is scheduled to appear in East Ridge Municipal Court on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at 5:00 pm.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the East Ridge Police Department at 423-867-3718. After business hours contact East Ridge dispatch at 423-622-1725, or the Confidential Tip-Line at 423-867-0016.
» email this page | printer friendly version
Thank goodness they caught this man
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on June 17, 2011 - 4:14pm.
I am so happy they caught this guy so quick. This is one of the saddest stories I have seen in a long time. I can not imagine what she went through and my thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and neighbors.
» reply | email this page
The police caught a huge
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on June 17, 2011 - 11:49am.
The police caught a huge freakin' break with that ridiculously good picture they got of him (ATM maybe?).
My camera doesn't even take pictures that good
» reply | email this page
East Ridge Police Arrest Man In Connection with Stokes Death Investigation | WDEF News 12 | News, Weather and Sports for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley
East Ridge Police Arrest Man In Connection with Stokes Death Investigation | WDEF News 12 | News, Weather and Sports for Chattanooga and the Tennessee Valley
East Ridge Police Arrest Man In Connection with Stokes Death Investigation
Submitted by WDEF News 12 on June 17, 2011 - 7:09am. News | Crime | Hamilton County News
Release from East Ridge Police:
East Ridge Police criminal investigators have identified the suspect in the ATM photograph released yesterday afternoon.
The suspect has been identified as Randall Reed, a 43 year old, (DOB 11/19/1967) white male, of East Ridge, TN.
Mr. Reed was arrested and transported to Hamilton County Jail where he was charged with the theft of Jane Stokes credit card. Investigators have also executed a search warrant and performed multiple searches of the suspect’s motel room and vehicle.
The homicide investigation is still ongoing as detectives continue to process evidence and follow up on additional leads. Mr. Reed is scheduled to appear in East Ridge Municipal Court on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, at 5:00 pm.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the East Ridge Police Department at 423-867-3718. After business hours contact East Ridge dispatch at 423-622-1725, or the Confidential Tip-Line at 423-867-0016.
» email this page | printer friendly version
Thank goodness they caught this man
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on June 17, 2011 - 4:14pm.
I am so happy they caught this guy so quick. This is one of the saddest stories I have seen in a long time. I can not imagine what she went through and my thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, and neighbors.
» reply | email this page
The police caught a huge
Submitted by Guest (not verified) on June 17, 2011 - 11:49am.
The police caught a huge freakin' break with that ridiculously good picture they got of him (ATM maybe?).
My camera doesn't even take pictures that good
» reply | email this page
Buena Vista Park neighbors wary after body found
Buena Vista Park neighbors wary after body found
San Francisco's Buena Vista Park was quiet as daylight broke Friday. The only sounds along the steep ascent of one of the park's many hills were the chirpings of birds, the steps of a lone dog walker and a rustling from the brush.
Out of the bushes emerged Dave Thompson, 24. Wearing a brown plaid shirt and tan overalls with a rip in the back, he dragged with him a dusty black sleeping bag, a backpack, and the scent of last night's cigarettes and this morning's hangover.
The presence of young homeless people like Thompson is nothing new in the Haight-Ashbury park, but after a smoldering body was discovered early June 10 north of the tennis courts, frequent park-goers have become a little more wary of the illegal campers.
As the mystery behind the body grows - police still have not made an identification - so do the park-goers' suspicions and concerns.
"My first thought was that it was probably a homeless person," Orion Pitts, 60, said of the man who police believe was a homicide victim. "There are so many homeless and indigent and young kids here."
Two kinds
Richard Magary, the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association steering committee chair, said he sees two populations among the park campers. There are the hard-core homeless, the majority of whom suffer from mental disorders or substance abuse issues - and then there are the street kids.
This time of year, the number of people living in the park increases, mostly because of an influx of younger people, said Capt. Denis O'Leary, head of the Police Department's Park Station.
"We can cite as many as 25 and as little as five" per week, O'Leary said. "It has to do with the weather, it has to do with concerts, it has to do with other events."
O'Leary wouldn't comment on the investigation into the charred body. But Thompson said the crime doesn't sound like something that a homeless person living in the park would commit.
Violent aspects
Thompson says he has lived all over the country for the past 11 years and spent the past two nights in the park. He doesn't think of himself as homeless, but rather, "houseless" - a "global citizen" who carries his home on his back.
Thompson admitted that violence is a fact of life in his world. A scar runs down his right cheek from when a homeless man took a scalpel to his face. His left earlobe is torn as if someone ripped an earring from it.
But murder? "Nothing ever goes that far," Thompson said. "There are some wing nuts out there, but not the street kids."
Last week's death wasn't the first homicide in Buena Vista Park, however. In July, a homeless man stabbed to death another homeless man in the park in a dispute over a woman.
Unpredictability
Walt Bell, 49, runs the nearby Black Nose Trading Company pet services store and walks his dogs in the park. He says many of the park's illegal campers are harmless, but he can never be sure.
"It's sort of, 'What do you know, what don't you know?' " Bell said. "You run into some who are 'pharmaceutically adjusted.' One guy just came running at us. Another guy came out of the bushes, his pants around his ankles, stoned out of his mind."
Officers from Park Station run patrols starting at 4 a.m. and ending at 9 p.m., O'Leary said. Magary said he sees officers going in during the day and their headlights searching during the night.
But in the two days Thompson spent camped in Buena Vista Park, he said, he didn't encounter any police officers telling him to move along.
Buena Vista Park neighbors wary after body found
Buena Vista Park neighbors wary after body found
San Francisco's Buena Vista Park was quiet as daylight broke Friday. The only sounds along the steep ascent of one of the park's many hills were the chirpings of birds, the steps of a lone dog walker and a rustling from the brush.
Out of the bushes emerged Dave Thompson, 24. Wearing a brown plaid shirt and tan overalls with a rip in the back, he dragged with him a dusty black sleeping bag, a backpack, and the scent of last night's cigarettes and this morning's hangover.
The presence of young homeless people like Thompson is nothing new in the Haight-Ashbury park, but after a smoldering body was discovered early June 10 north of the tennis courts, frequent park-goers have become a little more wary of the illegal campers.
As the mystery behind the body grows - police still have not made an identification - so do the park-goers' suspicions and concerns.
"My first thought was that it was probably a homeless person," Orion Pitts, 60, said of the man who police believe was a homicide victim. "There are so many homeless and indigent and young kids here."
Two kinds
Richard Magary, the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association steering committee chair, said he sees two populations among the park campers. There are the hard-core homeless, the majority of whom suffer from mental disorders or substance abuse issues - and then there are the street kids.
This time of year, the number of people living in the park increases, mostly because of an influx of younger people, said Capt. Denis O'Leary, head of the Police Department's Park Station.
"We can cite as many as 25 and as little as five" per week, O'Leary said. "It has to do with the weather, it has to do with concerts, it has to do with other events."
O'Leary wouldn't comment on the investigation into the charred body. But Thompson said the crime doesn't sound like something that a homeless person living in the park would commit.
Violent aspects
Thompson says he has lived all over the country for the past 11 years and spent the past two nights in the park. He doesn't think of himself as homeless, but rather, "houseless" - a "global citizen" who carries his home on his back.
Thompson admitted that violence is a fact of life in his world. A scar runs down his right cheek from when a homeless man took a scalpel to his face. His left earlobe is torn as if someone ripped an earring from it.
But murder? "Nothing ever goes that far," Thompson said. "There are some wing nuts out there, but not the street kids."
Last week's death wasn't the first homicide in Buena Vista Park, however. In July, a homeless man stabbed to death another homeless man in the park in a dispute over a woman.
Unpredictability
Walt Bell, 49, runs the nearby Black Nose Trading Company pet services store and walks his dogs in the park. He says many of the park's illegal campers are harmless, but he can never be sure.
"It's sort of, 'What do you know, what don't you know?' " Bell said. "You run into some who are 'pharmaceutically adjusted.' One guy just came running at us. Another guy came out of the bushes, his pants around his ankles, stoned out of his mind."
Officers from Park Station run patrols starting at 4 a.m. and ending at 9 p.m., O'Leary said. Magary said he sees officers going in during the day and their headlights searching during the night.
But in the two days Thompson spent camped in Buena Vista Park, he said, he didn't encounter any police officers telling him to move along.
Call leads to possible human trafficking scheme
Call leads to possible human trafficking scheme
(06-17) 17:41 PDT Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (AP) --
San Bernardino County sheriff's officials are investigating a possible human trafficking scheme in Rancho Cucamonga.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman says a dispatcher got a phone call from a Spanish speaking man on Friday who said he and several others were being held against their will at a home.
The cell phone call dropped before the dispatcher could get more information.
Detectives worked with the cell phone company to narrow down the caller's location to a residence which they searched on Friday afternoon.
They arrested two men and are interviewing six Hispanic victims found at the home.
Bachman says they appeared to be in good condition.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Call leads to possible human trafficking scheme
Call leads to possible human trafficking scheme
(06-17) 17:41 PDT Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (AP) --
San Bernardino County sheriff's officials are investigating a possible human trafficking scheme in Rancho Cucamonga.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachman says a dispatcher got a phone call from a Spanish speaking man on Friday who said he and several others were being held against their will at a home.
The cell phone call dropped before the dispatcher could get more information.
Detectives worked with the cell phone company to narrow down the caller's location to a residence which they searched on Friday afternoon.
They arrested two men and are interviewing six Hispanic victims found at the home.
Bachman says they appeared to be in good condition.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Parvin found guilty in death of his wife - WTVA.com
Parvin found guilty in death of his wife - WTVA.com
ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) - A Monroe County jury found a Starkville man guilty in the death of his wife.
David Parvin was charged with the shooting death of his wife Joyce at the couple's home in Aberdeen in 2007.
He had pleaded not guilty, and in February of last year the trial was delayed.
But, on Monday of this week, the trial began in Aberdeen for the former MSU professor.
Assistant District Attorney Paul Gault tells WTVA.com that the case was presented to the jury for deliberation around lunch on Friday and returned a verdict around 3:30.
The judge then sentenced Parvin to life in prison.
Parvin found guilty in death of his wife - WTVA.com
Parvin found guilty in death of his wife - WTVA.com
ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) - A Monroe County jury found a Starkville man guilty in the death of his wife.
David Parvin was charged with the shooting death of his wife Joyce at the couple's home in Aberdeen in 2007.
He had pleaded not guilty, and in February of last year the trial was delayed.
But, on Monday of this week, the trial began in Aberdeen for the former MSU professor.
Assistant District Attorney Paul Gault tells WTVA.com that the case was presented to the jury for deliberation around lunch on Friday and returned a verdict around 3:30.
The judge then sentenced Parvin to life in prison.
Montel Williams is the New Face of Predatory Lending - COLORLINES
Montel Williams is the New Face of Predatory Lending - COLORLINESMontel Williams is the New Face of Predatory Lending
by Jorge Rivas ShareThis | Print | Comment (2)
Thursday, February 11 2010, 1:27 PM EST Tags: pay-day loans, predatory lending
Share
Since his partnership with that crazy psychic Sylvia Browne didn’t work out, Montell Williams now has a new venture with “payday loans” provider Money Mutual.
According to Money Mutual:
“When it comes to financial assistance Montel Williams understands that people will find unexpected and needed expenses from time to time that are difficult to pay for due to lack of funds or credit.”
What they didn’t say is that he also has no problem taking advantage of folks in need and endorsing a company that loans money with 459% + APR rates.
It’s no accident Money Mutual chose Montell to endorse the company. Pay day loan shops are mostly in poor, predominantly Black and Latino urban neighborhoods where he’ll be easily recognized and more likely to make a connection with those who see the advertisements.
Renee over at Womanist Musings sums it up best:
Payday loan lending institutions are benefiting and Montel Williams is benefiting, while poor Blacks are once again footing the bill.
Montel Williams is the New Face of Predatory Lending - COLORLINES
Montel Williams is the New Face of Predatory Lending - COLORLINESMontel Williams is the New Face of Predatory Lending
by Jorge Rivas ShareThis | Print | Comment (2)
Thursday, February 11 2010, 1:27 PM EST Tags: pay-day loans, predatory lending
Share
Since his partnership with that crazy psychic Sylvia Browne didn’t work out, Montell Williams now has a new venture with “payday loans” provider Money Mutual.
According to Money Mutual:
“When it comes to financial assistance Montel Williams understands that people will find unexpected and needed expenses from time to time that are difficult to pay for due to lack of funds or credit.”
What they didn’t say is that he also has no problem taking advantage of folks in need and endorsing a company that loans money with 459% + APR rates.
It’s no accident Money Mutual chose Montell to endorse the company. Pay day loan shops are mostly in poor, predominantly Black and Latino urban neighborhoods where he’ll be easily recognized and more likely to make a connection with those who see the advertisements.
Renee over at Womanist Musings sums it up best:
Payday loan lending institutions are benefiting and Montel Williams is benefiting, while poor Blacks are once again footing the bill.
Cleveland Daily Banner - Appeals Court rules on Fort Hill
Cleveland Daily Banner - Appeals Court rules on Fort Hill
Appeals Court rules on Fort Hill
by DAVID DAVIS, Managing Editor 14 days ago | 829 views | 0 | 7 | |
The Court of Appeals at Knoxville ruled Betty Saint Rogers did not prove intentional infliction of emotional distress by Fort Hill Cemetery owner Joe V. Williams III and Louisville Land Company in a case that has been in Bradley County courts since 2004.
Bradley County Chancery Court Judge Jerri Bryant had previously awarded Rogers $250 for breach of contract, $45,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress, $250,000 in punitive damages, $37,306 in attorney’s fees and $556 in discretionary costs in February 2010.
In a decision written by Judge D. Michael Swiney, he said intentional infliction of emotional distress was not proven and reversed that judgment and punitive damages.
“We also find and hold that because Plaintiff abandoned her statutory claim, she was not entitled to an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to the statute, and we reverse the award of attorney’s fees,” Swiney stated. “We further find and hold that Plaintiff did prove breach of contract, and we affirm the award of damages for breach of contract, and the remainder of the Trial Court’s final judgment.”
Swiney wrote, “The outcome of this appeal is not what this Court would have preferred. We sympathize with Plaintiff who clearly has had a difficult time, first tragically losing her son, and then dealing with Defendants ... Unfortunately, however, given the evidence in the record before us on appeal as applied to the controlling case law, we are constrained to decide as we have.”
Rogers sued Louisville Land Company and Joe V. Williams III alleging claims under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, the Tennessee statutes governing cemeteries, outrageous conduct, and breach of contract, among other things.
Attorney David Hensley, of Chattanooga, represented Williams and Louisville Land Co., in the 2010 proceedings and in the appeals process.
Cleveland attorney James Logan represented Rogers throughout the lengthy trial.
Hensley said Thursday he wasn’t sure how fair it was to ask Bryant or any other judge to rule on a case that continued so long.
“I don’t know how fair it was to ask any judge to hear proof, then make a decision five years later,” he said.
Logan said this morning he would be appealing to the Tennessee Supreme Court with the hope the justices “will reinstate the principle of law that when a company or individual ignores their responsibilities, they subject themselves to reasonable remedies and punitive damages.
“The proof in this case was overwhelmingly clear and almost indisputable that Louisville Land Company and its sole proprietor, Joe V. Williams, turned a blind eye to the sanctity of the sepulcher.”
He said they would continue to monitor the cemetery and bring any failures of the cemetery to the court’s attention.
Rogers sued Williams and Louisville Land Company in April 2004 as owners of a portion (the south end) of Fort Hill Cemetery. The northern portion of the cemetery is owned by Bradley County and was not involved in the lawsuit.
She buried her son in the cemetery in 2001 and later purchased easements to two additional burial plots in the cemetery.
In April 2004, the state of Tennessee filed a separate suit against Louisville Land Company alleging the company failed to maintain the cemetery as required by Tennessee statutes. The two suits were later consolidated.
The issues involved in the state’s case were tried over several days in 2005 and 2006. Rogers’ claims were tried in February 2010, when only Rogers and Williams testified.
During the trial of the state’s case, extensive testimony was given regarding Williams’ alleged failure to maintain the cemetery. Witnesses testified about defendants’ failure to keep the cemetery mowed, the cemetery roads in good condition and necessary repairs to such things as monuments and signs. After the trial of the state’s case, the chancellor found Louisville Land Company had failed to maintain the Cemetery as required by Tennessee Code so as to reflect respect for the memory of the dead.
During Rogers’ testimony in February 2010, she stated her son died tragically in 2001 and was buried in a plot previously purchased by her husband. After her son was buried, she purchased easements to two additional lots in the cemetery.
“My thoughts at that time was that I wanted to be buried by my son. I wanted to be near him when I died,” Rogers testified. At the time of the purchase, she asked about cemetery maintenance, if it was mowed on a regular basis and kept clean. She was assured that it was, though she admittedly had concerns.
“The conditions didn’t improve. If anything, they deteriorated more. I had vaguely noticed some of the things there that I would like to have seen look better. Mowing was one of the things, and the roads were in bad condition. There was trash at the end of the road, flowers, and that kind of thing lying around.”
She said she and her other son maintained the grave site as she described grass higher than headstones, overturned headstones and roads in very poor condition. Some of the land was open and visibly eroded.
Concerning the impact the cemetery conditions had on her, Rogers said, “You were already grieving because you have lost someone that’s very precious to you. And when you go to the cemetery, you — this should be a time where you are reflecting on memories of that loved one, not a time of going to weed-eat the cemetery, looking as if they didn’t exist, that they didn’t — they’re not cared for. You’re leaving someone — when you bury them, you’re leaving them in the care of the people that you buy their lot from, and this was very degrading; it was disrespectful, to say the least.
“It was very, very emotional, very tearful. I knew that I had to do something to change this, and in 2004 I filed a suit with Mr. Logan; and since then I have seen some changes as a result of that; and I would like to see more.”
The opinion stated that while Rogers felt Williams’ actions, or lack of actions, were degrading and disrespectful, the record was devoid of any evidence she suffered any other physical manifestations of emotional distress regarding the duration of the time she was “very tearful.”
Since no actual damages were awarded, punitive damages may be awarded only if actual damages have first been awarded.
Rogers bought a lot in a cemetery and had the right to assume the cemetery would follow the statutes, rules, and regulations of the state of Tennessee; and this cemetery did not. It was proven the contract with Louisville Land Company was breached when the company did not follow the rules and regulations of the state of Tennessee.
Furthermore, Rogers testified that as a result of defendant Louisville Land Company’s breach of the contract, she had to do her own work to maintain her son’s grave site.
Hensley argued on appeal that the award of $250 was an arbitrary number and that there was no proof of actual damages.
However, damages are prohibited only when the existence of damage is uncertain, not when the amount is uncertain. When there is substantial evidence in the record and reasonable inferences may be drawn from that evidence, mathematical certainty is not required.
Plaintiff proved the elements of her claim for breach of contract.
Concerning the award of attorney’s fees, the court noted Logan announced abandoning claims regarding the state’s lawsuit.
“It is not necessary for us to determine whether Plaintiff would have been entitled to attorney’s fees if she had pursued her claims under the statute successfully, and we make no determination whatsoever with regard to that issue,” Swiney stated.
Cleveland Daily Banner - Appeals Court rules on Fort Hill
Cleveland Daily Banner - Appeals Court rules on Fort Hill
Appeals Court rules on Fort Hill
by DAVID DAVIS, Managing Editor 14 days ago | 829 views | 0 | 7 | |
The Court of Appeals at Knoxville ruled Betty Saint Rogers did not prove intentional infliction of emotional distress by Fort Hill Cemetery owner Joe V. Williams III and Louisville Land Company in a case that has been in Bradley County courts since 2004.
Bradley County Chancery Court Judge Jerri Bryant had previously awarded Rogers $250 for breach of contract, $45,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress, $250,000 in punitive damages, $37,306 in attorney’s fees and $556 in discretionary costs in February 2010.
In a decision written by Judge D. Michael Swiney, he said intentional infliction of emotional distress was not proven and reversed that judgment and punitive damages.
“We also find and hold that because Plaintiff abandoned her statutory claim, she was not entitled to an award of attorney’s fees pursuant to the statute, and we reverse the award of attorney’s fees,” Swiney stated. “We further find and hold that Plaintiff did prove breach of contract, and we affirm the award of damages for breach of contract, and the remainder of the Trial Court’s final judgment.”
Swiney wrote, “The outcome of this appeal is not what this Court would have preferred. We sympathize with Plaintiff who clearly has had a difficult time, first tragically losing her son, and then dealing with Defendants ... Unfortunately, however, given the evidence in the record before us on appeal as applied to the controlling case law, we are constrained to decide as we have.”
Rogers sued Louisville Land Company and Joe V. Williams III alleging claims under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, the Tennessee statutes governing cemeteries, outrageous conduct, and breach of contract, among other things.
Attorney David Hensley, of Chattanooga, represented Williams and Louisville Land Co., in the 2010 proceedings and in the appeals process.
Cleveland attorney James Logan represented Rogers throughout the lengthy trial.
Hensley said Thursday he wasn’t sure how fair it was to ask Bryant or any other judge to rule on a case that continued so long.
“I don’t know how fair it was to ask any judge to hear proof, then make a decision five years later,” he said.
Logan said this morning he would be appealing to the Tennessee Supreme Court with the hope the justices “will reinstate the principle of law that when a company or individual ignores their responsibilities, they subject themselves to reasonable remedies and punitive damages.
“The proof in this case was overwhelmingly clear and almost indisputable that Louisville Land Company and its sole proprietor, Joe V. Williams, turned a blind eye to the sanctity of the sepulcher.”
He said they would continue to monitor the cemetery and bring any failures of the cemetery to the court’s attention.
Rogers sued Williams and Louisville Land Company in April 2004 as owners of a portion (the south end) of Fort Hill Cemetery. The northern portion of the cemetery is owned by Bradley County and was not involved in the lawsuit.
She buried her son in the cemetery in 2001 and later purchased easements to two additional burial plots in the cemetery.
In April 2004, the state of Tennessee filed a separate suit against Louisville Land Company alleging the company failed to maintain the cemetery as required by Tennessee statutes. The two suits were later consolidated.
The issues involved in the state’s case were tried over several days in 2005 and 2006. Rogers’ claims were tried in February 2010, when only Rogers and Williams testified.
During the trial of the state’s case, extensive testimony was given regarding Williams’ alleged failure to maintain the cemetery. Witnesses testified about defendants’ failure to keep the cemetery mowed, the cemetery roads in good condition and necessary repairs to such things as monuments and signs. After the trial of the state’s case, the chancellor found Louisville Land Company had failed to maintain the Cemetery as required by Tennessee Code so as to reflect respect for the memory of the dead.
During Rogers’ testimony in February 2010, she stated her son died tragically in 2001 and was buried in a plot previously purchased by her husband. After her son was buried, she purchased easements to two additional lots in the cemetery.
“My thoughts at that time was that I wanted to be buried by my son. I wanted to be near him when I died,” Rogers testified. At the time of the purchase, she asked about cemetery maintenance, if it was mowed on a regular basis and kept clean. She was assured that it was, though she admittedly had concerns.
“The conditions didn’t improve. If anything, they deteriorated more. I had vaguely noticed some of the things there that I would like to have seen look better. Mowing was one of the things, and the roads were in bad condition. There was trash at the end of the road, flowers, and that kind of thing lying around.”
She said she and her other son maintained the grave site as she described grass higher than headstones, overturned headstones and roads in very poor condition. Some of the land was open and visibly eroded.
Concerning the impact the cemetery conditions had on her, Rogers said, “You were already grieving because you have lost someone that’s very precious to you. And when you go to the cemetery, you — this should be a time where you are reflecting on memories of that loved one, not a time of going to weed-eat the cemetery, looking as if they didn’t exist, that they didn’t — they’re not cared for. You’re leaving someone — when you bury them, you’re leaving them in the care of the people that you buy their lot from, and this was very degrading; it was disrespectful, to say the least.
“It was very, very emotional, very tearful. I knew that I had to do something to change this, and in 2004 I filed a suit with Mr. Logan; and since then I have seen some changes as a result of that; and I would like to see more.”
The opinion stated that while Rogers felt Williams’ actions, or lack of actions, were degrading and disrespectful, the record was devoid of any evidence she suffered any other physical manifestations of emotional distress regarding the duration of the time she was “very tearful.”
Since no actual damages were awarded, punitive damages may be awarded only if actual damages have first been awarded.
Rogers bought a lot in a cemetery and had the right to assume the cemetery would follow the statutes, rules, and regulations of the state of Tennessee; and this cemetery did not. It was proven the contract with Louisville Land Company was breached when the company did not follow the rules and regulations of the state of Tennessee.
Furthermore, Rogers testified that as a result of defendant Louisville Land Company’s breach of the contract, she had to do her own work to maintain her son’s grave site.
Hensley argued on appeal that the award of $250 was an arbitrary number and that there was no proof of actual damages.
However, damages are prohibited only when the existence of damage is uncertain, not when the amount is uncertain. When there is substantial evidence in the record and reasonable inferences may be drawn from that evidence, mathematical certainty is not required.
Plaintiff proved the elements of her claim for breach of contract.
Concerning the award of attorney’s fees, the court noted Logan announced abandoning claims regarding the state’s lawsuit.
“It is not necessary for us to determine whether Plaintiff would have been entitled to attorney’s fees if she had pursued her claims under the statute successfully, and we make no determination whatsoever with regard to that issue,” Swiney stated.
Friday, June 17, 2011
ghettonqueen: tired.
ghettonqueen: tired.
tired.
i'm going to shower in a minute and it's going to be fantastic.
We cleaned up the back yard and found some of the pins marking our lot. My love is going to call the best former junkies in town and get an estimate to remove a whole bunch of ivy, brush, and busted concrete. Hopefully our attorney will get back to us sometime in the next century so that we can stick it to the slumlord who owns the boarded up and vacant house next door to us.
ghettonqueen: tired.
ghettonqueen: tired.
tired.
i'm going to shower in a minute and it's going to be fantastic.
We cleaned up the back yard and found some of the pins marking our lot. My love is going to call the best former junkies in town and get an estimate to remove a whole bunch of ivy, brush, and busted concrete. Hopefully our attorney will get back to us sometime in the next century so that we can stick it to the slumlord who owns the boarded up and vacant house next door to us.