Baltimore boosts Obama’s TV ratings
October 31, 2008
According to Thursday’s Nielson ratings, the Baltimore market was the largest audience for Barack Obama’s Wednesday night infomercial, with a household rating — the percent of U.S. households that tuned in — of 31.3. According to Nielson, one ratings point equals 1 percent of a given market’s total television households, meaning close to one-third of Baltimore’s television households watched the paid program.
The national household rating for the infomercial — the first political telecast from a presidential candidate since Ross Perot in 1996 — was 21.7. Nielson monitored viewing for six major networks in 56 local television markets, including Philadelphia, which came in second with a household rating of 29.0, and Portland, Ore., which had the lowest household rating of 14.2.
Interestingly, the highest- and lowest-rated markets were both located in historically Democrat states. Are the residents of Baltimore buying what Sen. Obama is selling?
EMILY ARNOLD, Special Publications Editor
Sphere: Related ContentGilchrest in an Obama administration?
October 31, 2008
Around election time, Washington players and reporters do a lot of speculating about who will win plum posts when the new president comes to town. Although these types of things interest me, political appointments at the national level rarely affect my work directly at The Daily Record, so I tend to do a little less nosing around.
However, this year, word has it that environmental-industry types are whispering that Maryland’s own U.S. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest could snag the job of director of the Environmental Protection Agency if Sen. Barack Obama, a Democrat, is elected president.
The combo seemed slightly odd to me, since Gilchrest is a Republican, albeit a champion of the Chesapeake Bay who recently received kudos from the Maryland League of Conservation Voters. With a little digging, I found out that Gilchrest — who lost in the primary to Andy Harris — endorsed Obama in September.
For a little authority on the topic, I talked to Frank Maisano, a wind-development advocate, who initially tipped me off to the Gilchrest rumor. Here’s what he had to say:
“You look for people that are qualified and would be interested in filling the spot, and in all circumstances, Wayne Gilchrest fits the bill. He’s very well liked by the environmental community for a Republican. All of those things make him a very likable and interesting guy for a position, especially if Obama wants to pick someone who is highly respected by enviros.”
“By the way, I think Wayne Gilchrest is out of a job as of next year.”
Maisano had no tips on any Marylanders Republican nominee Sen. John McCain might pick if he’s elected.
DANIELLE ULMAN, Business Writer
Sphere: Related ContentJudge tells his side of the story
October 30, 2008
It’s got to be hard to be a judge. Your job is difficult and how well you do it depends a lot on how well your assistants do their jobs.
And when you do get peeved at a staff member and deliver a mini-tirade in open court, it’s in the public record. Eleven years down the line, when the defendant is before the second-highest court in the state and you’ve forgotten the whole episode, the court can issue an opinion containing the testy exchange.
You may be saying to yourself, “Hm, this doesn’t seem like a purely theoretical blog post.” Good eye.
The Court of Special Appeals issued an opinion this week in a case called State v. Latham, which was about an ineffective assistance of counsel claim. During jury deliberations at his trial in 1997, the defendant told Judge John Themelis that a juror had seen him in shackles.
The judge had told the lawyers in the case that they did not have to stay for jury deliberations, but that they should stick close enough to come back within five minutes if called. The judge asked his law clerk to find the lawyer, and this exchange ensued:
The Court: Did you find Eaton? Where is he?
Law Clerk: He said he was still in his office.
The Court: Did you tell him to get here or would you like me to send a sheriff for him? I told him to get here. Did you tell him to come here? You mean you had him on the phone and you didn’t tell me you had him on the phone?
Law Clerk: No, I didn’t because you were releasing the jury.
The Court: Unbelievable. Get him here, Sir. I don’t care what you do, but get him here…. As soon as you get him, tell him to get here immediately. He’ll be here….
(Recess)
Law Clerk: Judge, they’re telling me that he left.
The Court: I can’t believe it. Now what if you have a problem with the jurors, Jim? What are you going to suggest we do then?
It goes on for a little longer. The word “unbelievable” made another cameo. “Great blunder” was in there too.
I called Themelis yesterday to ask him about the exchange. He hadn’t seen the opinion, but he pulled it up on his screen while we were on the phone. He read the exchange out loud, at one point interrupting himself with, “I wish I hadn’t said that.”
“What I was doing, I was taking out my frustration with what happened and I should not have done that…,” he said. “I tend to do that sometimes. It gets so hectic and you’re bombarded with so many things at the same time when you’re trying to move cases along and protect everyone’s rights. It becomes problematic sometimes.
“I wish I hadn’t talked to my clerk in those tones and I’m sure I apologized for it immediately after,” he added.
The Court of Special Appeals, by the way, rejected Latham’s claims and reinstated his conviction.
CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related Content1st District race may be closest in the state
October 30, 2008
Here at The Daily Record, we’re busily preparing for Election Day coverage (from a business-and-legal perspective, of course). Only 5 days to go!
Arguably the closest - and most interesting - race in Maryland is unfolding in the 1st Congressional District, where Democrat Frank Kratovil is battling it out with Republican candidate Sen. Andy Harris. Incumbent Wayne Gilchrest lost to Harris in the primary election.
Since this is sure to be a closely-watched race come Tuesday, take a minute to watch the video profiles of both candidates below. The interviews were conducted by Kate Amara of WBAL-TV here in Baltimore.
And check back in on Tuesday to find our Web and multimedia coverage of Election Day. If you have any suggestions, comment on the post below.
Trial lawyers get a bad rap
October 30, 2008
People just don’t like trial lawyers. And they love to make this perfectly clear by throwing out a lawyer joke or two at cocktail parties. (Why won’t a shark eat a lawyer? Professional courtesy!)
Perhaps recognizing that a name change would result in better PR , the Association of Trial Lawyers of America changed its name to the American Association for Justice in 2006. And just last night, the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association followed suit.
Members voted to change the organization’s name to the “Maryland Association for Justice.” Member John Bratt explained the change, writing:
“Apparently nobody likes trial lawyers, but everyone is in favor of justice. I guess there’s a reason the Patriot Act wasn’t named the Civil Rights Deprivation Act of 2001.”
I must confess that comment made me laugh aloud. Though I’d never laugh at a lawyer joke (well, it would have to be really amusing…).
Hat Tip: the Baltimore Injury Lawyer Blog.
CHRISTINA DORAN, Assistant Legal Editor
Sphere: Related ContentCostume comp
October 30, 2008
It’s almost Halloween, the scariest day of the year — for labor and employment lawyers.
Litigation lurks around every corner on All Hallow’s Eve, according to a National Law Journal article. Lawyers are darkly warning employers to beware of lawsuit-inducing costumes.
Some of the costumes that could haunt supervisors are obvious, like “sexy nurse” or “French maid.” (I guess sexy prosecutor is out too, huh?) Some of the other costumes likely to make bosses sit-bolt-upright-in-the-middle-of-the-night-screaming panicky are less predictable.
For instance, occult figures like ghosts and goblins are a no-no because they might offend someone’s religious beliefs. And the Obama or McCain mask you planned to wear tomorrow? In a politically charged time like this one, it’s bound to offend. Tarzan, togas and construction workers are also a problem.
But here’s my favorite part of the story:
If the devil slips on his own tail and gets hurt, he could turn around and sue the owner of the premises, [Bryan Cave partner Dennis] Donnelly said. Fat pumpkins can also trigger a slip-and-fall claim.
“The great big pumpkin costume might look great at the party, but if they trip on their way out the door, it doesn’t look so good,” Donnelly said. His advice: “If you’re going to permit wearing costumes, be sure that managers as well as employees are reminded of their responsibility to be circumspect in what they do,” Donnelly said. “I think where employers have sort of run afoul of things is where the holiday spirit sort of overtakes good judgment.”
Uh-oh. No sexy costumes, scary costumes, costumes with a tail, toga costumes, Tarzan costumes, construction worker costumes or giant pumpkin costumes. And the article doesn’t mention it, but I imagine these would pose a problem, too.
Looks like we arrrr all going to have to suck it up and dress like this. (But not this.)
CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentProposed red line gains some momentum
October 29, 2008
At a press conference earlier today at UMB Biopark hosted by the GBC, a number of medical institutions and colleges voiced their support for the Light Rail Red Line Alternative 4C.
The Alternative 4C plan would create an east-west light rail line that would stretch 14.6 miles from Woodlawn to Johns Hopkins Bayview. The plan calls for two tunnels—one under Cooks Lane and another under downtown Baltimore and Fells Point.
The alternative line, which is projected to cost $1.6 billion, would carry 42,000 passengers per weekday - more than triple the number of riders that are currently using existing bus routes in the corridor, according to Donald C. Fry, CEO of the GBC. It would take 41 minutes to take the red line from one end to the other, half the time of the current bus route.
But what seemed to be the paramount issue today was the importance of keeping area college students happy enough to stay in Baltimore after they graduate.
According to Kristen Campbell of the Baltimore Collegetown Network, the most important issue to area students is transportation.
With a red line, there would be connecting stops to both the existing light rail and metro systems, making it easier to get to areas such as Fells Point and Hopkins Bayview from schools in the county.
What’s the next step, you ask?
Next month, there will be four public hearings, beginning on Nov. 6. After the hearing process closes on January 5, the Maryland Department of Transportation will meet with the governor with the information gathered. They will then announce a locally preferred option that gets submitted to the federal government.
It might sounds like it’s a ways off, but from a budget standpoint, the building of the line could start as early as July 2012.
Below is a video from the press conference. Click here for more information on the public hearing dates.
RICHARD SIMON, Multimedia Reporter
That’s the way the golf-ball bounces
October 29, 2008
“The most famous 17-hole championship golf course in the country” is not a title you want to use in an advertising campaign. But it’s how The New York Times accurately described the internationally known Winged Foot Golf Club in upstate New York, after one of the holes was determined off-limits.
A state Supreme Court judge issued a temporary restraining order banning play on sixth hole of the club’s East Course after a man whose house abuts the par 3’s putting green sued the because errant golf balls were a threat to his family.
Anthony Pecora moved into the house in 2003. The club cut down several trees between the sixth hole and his house in 2006; since then, he’s suffered $14,000 in damages, including five broken windows this year alone, The New York Times reported. Pecora also had to pay more than $3,300 for emergency surgery after his dog ate a golf ball last year, his lawyer told the Times.
Members, including Donald Trump, are none too happy about the re-designed course. One member stated what seems to me to be the obvious: “If you buy a house on a golf course, you have to assume there may be a couple of errant shots that are going to land in your yard.”
For analysis of the lawsuit, check out the great Norman Chad’s most recent column. Fore!
DANNY JACOBS, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentReligion and the real estate agent
October 29, 2008
The Post had a story the other day on Christian real estate agents who market themselves to other Christians. Not that it’s an exclusive phenomenon — there are Jewish referral networks and agencies that cater to observant Muslims, for example — but in recent years, the Post says, “an increasing number of real estate agents have begun using Christian messages to market their businesses.”
From the article:
Nonetheless, groups such as the Christian Real Estate Network, or brokers such as [Philip] DeLizio, are walking a fine line, even if they use a disclaimer, said Connie Chamberlin, president of Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, a nonprofit group dedicated to fighting housing discrimination.
“If this said black real estate network, or white real estate network — looking for a white real estate agent to buy or sell a home? — how would that sound?” Chamberlin said. She added that eventually the courts will weigh in. “Some day one of these things is going to be litigated all the way to the Supreme Court — because there is so much of it.”
What do you think? Have you seen this type of religion-centered pitch among lawyers?
CARYN TAMBER, Legal Affairs Writer
Sphere: Related ContentGot plans for election night?
October 29, 2008
No one should be alone on election night.
At least that’s what the owners of the Morton’s steakhouses in Baltimore and Annapolis say. Now, instead of obsessing over exit poll numbers and watching the broadcast media race to call states for the candidates in the dark confines of your TV room, Morton’s is hosting a Super Bowl-like evening dedicated to watching the general election results.
Guests can join other political junkies in the restaurants’ boardrooms while watching the results and ordering from a prix fixe election menu priced at $52.95. For election night only, Morton’s is also offering three cocktails — the Republicantini, the Democratini, and the Undecided-tini, all for $11 each.
Realistically speaking, dinner and just a couple of drinks will run about $100 including tip. And since the event is from 5:30 – 11 p.m., I’m betting many people there won’t have just a couple drinks. Depending on your perspective, the cost either isn’t worth it or just a drop in the hat for the chance to watch election results with other rowdy politicos.
Not to feed into a political stereotype (but I guess I am), based on the average cost and the upscale location, which party do you think will be more represented? Democrats or Republicans?
Either way, kudos to Morton’s for setting up the event — it’s a great way to capitalize on what’s sure to be a highly electric night.
LIZ FARMER, Business Writer
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