“The Hills” Stars Stalker is Out of Jail But Restrained

Audrina Patridge, one of the stars of MTV’s reality show “The Hills,” reported an alledged stalking last month to Los Angeles police. Twenty-four-year-old Zachary Loring appeared at her home numerous times and also gave her a packet of letters and drawings, including an illustration of a woman being strangled.

Loring first appeared at Patridge’s home on August 26 and returned over a period of several days. He was arrested on August 30 and released from custody a day later. A judge subsequently granted Patridge a restraining order against the alleged stalker. However, the order was served to Loring while he was in jail yet again, after being arrested a week later on unrelated charges – two outstanding warrants that were issued when he failed to appear at court-ordered anger management classes.

Loring has since been released again, under the condition that he finishes the classes as ordered. Out of jail, he can now go wherever he likes – as long as it is at least 100 feet away from Patridge.

However, Patridge has had more trouble recently than just Loring. Another man, 18-year-old Nicholas Prugo, was recently arrested on suspicion of burglary, in connection with break-ins at the home of Patridge as well as actress Lindsey Lohan.

Patridge’s attorney has noted that she is traveling temporarily, as she fears for her safety in LA. This may be understandable, as stalking has been a persistent problem in Hollywood. In fact, California was the first state to criminalize stalking in 1990 after a number of high-profile cases. The most well-known of these is the 1989 murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer by an obsessed fan who stalked her for three years leading up to her untimely death.

Every state now lists stalking as a crime. A government report released earlier this year estimates that approximately 14 out of 1000 adults is a victim of stalking – over 3 million during a 12-month period.

Lawsuits Mounting in Zinc Poisoning from Denture Cream

Lawsuits are mounting as consumers who have been using denture cream for years, or even decades, are being diagnosed with severely debilitating neurological disorders. PoliGrip lawyers have already filed several individual and class action lawsuits against the large drug corporation GlaxoSmithKline, makers of the Super PoliGrip product line. Unfortunately, users of their major competitor Fixodent, from Proctor & Gamble, are being diagnosed with painful diseases and maladies as well. Although the companies have reaffirmed that their products are safe for daily use, some believe that they may lead many people to spend the rest of their lives in constant pain, unable to walk or hold objects in their hands.

Victims of denture cream injury allege that both GlaxoSmithKline and Proctor & Gamble failed consumers in several ways by:

* Not adequately warning customers about potential risks
* Not adequately examining the dangers associated with regular use over time
* Not properly labeling products about the existence of metallic ingredients

Even though they still claim that proper use is not dangerous, both companies have responded to these accusations on their websites, and have agreed to create packaging and labeling that warns users about possible risks associated with what they call “overuse.” They claim that their lines of denture cream adhesive are only dangerous if too much paste is applied to the dentures.

The problem is that many people cannot afford to purchase dental prosthetics that fit properly. Since they have less money to spend on their teeth, they have older, worn dentures that slip or slide around in the mouth when they talk or eat. The cheapest solution to the problem is to use a thicker layer of denture adhesive. Some victims have used up to three tubes of product per week for years, thinking that it was a safe, cheap alternative to an expensive new oral corrective device.

But none of the victims thought for a moment that using their dental bonding agent would eventually lead to a painful denture cream side effect. In fact, The Food and Drug Administration doesn’t even require the companies to label their packaging to warn users that regular use may eventually cause illness.

This is especially troubling since a 2008 study published in the Journal of Neurology positively linked zinc, a major ingredient of the adhesives, to the PoliGrip nerve damage and Fixodent side effects.

Fixodent denture cream, as well as in Super PoliGrip, includes zinc as a major ingredient for two reasons. First, it is a binding agent, so it helps hold dentures in place. But it also contains odor-controlling properties, which is excellent for maintaining fresh breath for users.

The study published in the Journal of Neurology shows that zinc can seep from the paste into the gums, where it is absorbed into the blood stream. It is important to note that the human body needs zinc. However, the amount required is very small and can be obtained readily from a proper diet. This amount, when kept in proper balance, helps keep the immune system operating effectively.

But too much of anything in the body has negative effects, and regular use of the denture creams may allow too much of the metal into the body, causing zinc toxicity. Obvious symptoms include:

- Numbness in extremities, especially legs
- Tingling in extremities, especially legs
- Loss of balance
- Loss of feeling or sensation
- Unexplained pain anywhere in the body
- Decreased or shrunken walking stride
- Increased falling or stumbling
- Loss of strength in legs or feet

Over time, as the substance accumulates in the body, victims start to show signs of a zinc overdose, which includes the neurological problems listed above.

Although it can be effectively treated if caught early, zinc poisoning can be a life-long battle with pain for discomfort. The symptoms vary in severity, with some people saying it feels like they are wearing an invisible glove or sock, while others spend the rest of their lives in wheelchairs, unable to walk.

Either way, if your doctor determines that you are exhibiting the symptoms above, and that they may be the result of using denture cream, contact a lawyer immediately. You may be able to pursue a personal or class action lawsuit against the company that made your dental adhesive.

“Balloon Boy” Drama Could Land Family in Court

Two decades ago, the world watched as rescuers worked for days to free 18-month old Jessica McClure (from then known as “Baby Jessica”) from the bottom of a well. At the time, CNN was a relatively new news outlet, and their around-the-clock coverage of the event contributed to the market niche that the network formed for itself. However, the “media circus” of the event also prompted some criticism.

Now, twenty-two years later almost to the day, the world watched again, fearing for the life of a six-year-old boy as a giant balloon floated for fifty miles – only to discover that the “Balloon Boy,” as the media dubbed him, was not actually inside. The sheriff in Larimer County, Colorado where the family lives has since called the incident a “hoax,” alleging that the entire event was staged. It turns out that the family may have learned something from Baby Jessica and similar situations that followed – that a child in trouble is a very good way to get media attention. In fact, a researcher has come forward stating that he helped the boy’s parents develop a plan for a reality TV show earlier this year, a plan that may have included “drumming up media interest” with a launched weather balloon.

The sheriff stated in a press conference on Sunday that he expects to file charges in the case. So what legal trouble could the family be in if the allegations of a hoax are true? The potential charges mentioned include conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and attempting to influence a public servant. These are all felonies, though the sheriff also says that he will recommend a charge of filing a false police report, a misdemeanor.

Both of the felony charges would be somewhat unusual applications of the laws; for example, contributing to the delinquency of a minor typically involves situations like keeping a child out of school or allowing a child to be involved in the sale or use of drugs. If the allegations of a hoax are proven true, should the family face criminal charges? What about restitution to the government for the expense of a rescue attempt? After all, it was more than just the public who were “taken for a ride” in this situation; the authorities may have been as well.Both of the felony charges would be somewhat unusual applications of the laws; for example, contributing to the delinquency of a minor typically involves situations like keeping a child out of school or allowing a child to be involved in the sale or use of drugs. If the allegations of a hoax are proven true, should the family face criminal charges? What about restitution to the government for the expense of a rescue attempt? After all, it was more than just the public who were “taken for a ride” in this situation; the authorities may have been as well.

Woman Arrested for Facebook Poke

With the growth of online social networks has come a barrage of new ways to communicate with friends – or even enemies. One such method is a feature on the social networking site Facebook called a “poke.” Receiving a poke from another Facebook user is both a simplistic and ambiguous message, as it conveys no other information than that it was sent.

However, simplistic or not, this is still a form of communication – which means that it is very likely enough to violate a restraining order. A Tennessee woman recently learned this lesson the hard way when she was arrested for allegedly violating an order of protection when she sent a Facebook poke.

Of course, the order of protection itself is fairly unambiguous, stipulating “no telephoning, contacting or otherwise communicating with the petitioner.” As cyberstalking is becoming an increasingly prominent problem, not only with respect to strangers but also in domestic violence cases, judges are often quick to remind respondents that this includes electronic communication as well – no texts, no emails, and apparently, no pokes.

In Tennessee, violating an order of protection is a Class A misdemeanor, which means that the maximum jail sentence is 11 months and 29 days; it also carries a possible fine of up to $2,500.

Did the Tennessee woman in question realize that a “poke” would violate the order of protection? Perhaps this case is a reminder that changing technology can quickly affect legal issues; the number of ways that we are “otherwise communicating” with each other seems to increase every day.
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