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Arbitrator upholds deputy’s dismissal
Posted by: Jane Friedmann under Whistleblower Updated: December 10, 2012 - 6:03 PM
Wright County was acting within the law when it fired a sheriff’s deputy who shared “private law-enforcement information” with her cousin, according to an arbitrator’s ruling released Monday.
In early 2011, a woman in a custody battle with her ex-boyfriend complained that the deputy, Melissa Lauer, who is the ex-boyfriend’s cousin, gave him some private information about her.
A department investigation into the allegations was inconclusive, but Lauer was warned that she could be fired for similar behavior, the ruling said.
Ten days later, Lauer disclosed information to her cousin about the possibility that his former girlfriend might be arrested, the arbitrator’s ruling said. Lauer was terminated in December 2011.
Garage is eyesore no more
Posted by: Jane Friedmann under Complaint sagas, Neighborhood nuisances, Property problems, Whistleblower Updated: December 4, 2012 - 4:26 PMWhistleblower recently wrote about a garage in north Minneapolis that has been a thorn in the side of neighbors for years. Over time the structure went from barely passable to almost pass-throughable - thanks to a hole in the side.
Neighbors tried to talk with those living at 2901 Dupont Av. N. about the problem and made repeated calls to the city. The city, for its part, sent out inspectors and issued citations and fines. Most citations went unaddressed and fines went unpaid, though the homeowner did correct some violations by cutting tall grass and picking up trash.
But the garage was never repaired, even after a car smashed into it a couple years ago and a thief earlier this year used a truck to yank a motorcycle through a hole in a side wall, sending studs and siding flying. Short of imminent hazards, the city said it can't repair or tear down privately-owned structures without owners' permission.
Officials recently obtained permission to tear down the parts of the garage that hadn't yet succumbed to gravity or vandalism, and by 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, a contractor had wiped all record of the structure off the face of the block. It's unclear whether hazmat suits were required for removal of the knee-high debris festering inside.
"We’re very excited," neighbor Mary Rice said about the end results. "The first thing I did was I went across the street and told Pastor Dale [at St. Olaf Lutheran Church] and he thought that was great. ... Then I just sent a little blurb to [council member] Diane Hofstede saying 'Garage is down, hallelujah.'"
Mary quickly transitioned from elation to reality. "Here’s the thing though," she said. "You see it took four years. Every time we do something around here it takes three and four years. But we persist. And we finally get it done, but it takes so long. This time I know it was calling the mayor and calling you. That’s what did it. Because it wouldn’t have happened otherwise."
Garage BEFORE, with neighbor Mary Rice
Garage AFTER
FTC goes after FTC impersonator
Posted by: Jane Friedmann under Advertising claims, Businesses in hot water, Scams, Whistleblower Updated: December 3, 2012 - 5:34 PMOn Friday, a New York district judge ordered a robocalling operation that was impersonating the Federal Trade Commission to cease its illegal and deceptive practices.
The Cuban Exchange, Inc., and its owner Suhaylee Rivera made prerecorded phone calls that promised help with expediting FTC refunds that “you may not even know were owed to you,” the FTC alleged. Consumers were directed to a website, ftcrefund.com, where they were told to enter bank information.
“To anyone hell-bent on breaking the law by making illegal robocalls, transmitting phony Caller ID information, or impersonating a federal agency, we have two words for you: Stop now. The real Federal Trade Commission will come after you,” the FTC warned.
www.credisure.net is still available online and is allegedly another website operated by Suhaylee Rivera. The judge ordered the website taken down.
Salon fined for lax sanitation practices
Posted by: Jane Friedmann under Businesses in hot water, Whistleblower Updated: November 29, 2012 - 10:19 AMA manicurist and her Chisago City salon were fined $2,500 for dozens of sanitation violations after a customer reported she had contracted a fungal infection from pedicures done at the salon, according to an order last month by the Minnesota Board of Cosmetologist Examiners.
My Lai Thi Tran, owner and manager of Chisago Nails Inc., was told to take a sanitation course to avoid having her licenses revoked.
In March 2011, an inspection of the salon identified 19 sanitation violations, “including porous files, buffers, sand paper bits, toe dividers and flip flops being used more than once, implements not properly stored, pedicure spa screens not clean and improper sanitation of pumps and pipes.” Thirteen more sanitation violations were found 12 months later.
Man put on stand, though lawyer was absent
Posted by: Jane Friedmann under Businesses in hot water, Whistleblower Updated: November 26, 2012 - 6:07 PMA lawyer who represented a defendant in a burglary case was reprimanded and placed on two years’ probation after calling as a witness a co-defendant whose attorney was not in the courtroom, according to a Supreme Court ruling this month.
Susan A. Yager, of Plymouth, called the man to the stand during a hearing for her client, although she had failed to list the man as a witness or notify his attorney of her intentions, an Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility petition stated.
During questioning, the man admitted committing “these burglaries” and said Yager’s client had not. The court halted the questioning after the prosecutor noticed the lawyer’s absence.
In another case, Yager failed to submit a petition for expungement in a timely way.
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recent posts
- Company fined for too much sewage
- State: Tobacco buyer evaded taxes
- 'Get rich slow’ broker is facing discipline
- Area nursing homes cited for violations
- Caregiver had sex with client
- Arbitrator upholds deputy’s dismissal
- Garage is eyesore no more
- FTC goes after FTC impersonator
- Salon fined for lax sanitation practices
- Man put on stand, though lawyer was absent
- Fines accrue, but north Minneapolis garage remains an eyesore
- Did the gas pump rip her off?
- Closed bar owes large sales-tax bill
- Cigarette taxes take her breath away
- Insurer now willing to pay flood claim, homeowner says
- Frustration at long waits in a Minneapolis precinct
- 'Vote No' van parked too close to poll
- Election judge instructions go too far
- Some voters may be asked for ID
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