I am about to embark on a comp trip to Chicago but I thought I would throw this article at you first, as it looks like there is more evidence that the economic and workers numbers in Hawaii are on somewhat of a downturn:
During this second half of 2008 the registration of new autos are down from the amount registered during the same period of 2007 by 18.5%. During this period in 2008 there have been 23,839 new vehicle registrations and during 2007 there were 29,249 new registrations applied for.
The smallest decline in auto sales was on Oahu with new registrations being 16,917, which is down from 20,027 during the same period in 2007 totaling a 15.5% decrease. Maui showed the larges decrease in 2008, with 2,768 registrations and during the same period in 2007 the registrations applied for were 3,750. This is a 26.2% decrease, which is the largest of the four major islands. In addition, workers comp filings have been up.
These statistics are according to the Hawaii Auto Outlook who has found this decrease to be from the rising price of gasoline, the unstable credit markets and unemployment to be factors as they effect workers outlook in the islands. By the way if you happen to live in Chicago and you are in need of some superlative Chicago workers comp attorney then I recommend the Law Firm of Dworkin & Maciariello. They are really some amazing and capable Chicago workers comp attorney and they not only service workers comp cases in the city of Chicago but also the surrounding localities as well.
This report when on to state that there was a decrease in sales of trucks and SUV’s with buyers changing to small or compact cars and a 15% rise in the sales of Hybrid autos during the first half of 2008.
These decreases and change in auto buyers choices of vehicles is expected to continue during 2009 without as drastic a decline in sales and its believed there might be an increase in auto sales in 2010.
I just got back from Houston so it is back to the blogging…..In legal news out of the state of the Mile High City of Denver, according to some reports Sarah Berry, who is a co-defendant in the starvation case of seven year old Chandler Grafner, has changed her plea to guilty. This comes as her trial is about to start and the fate of the other defendant in the case is in the hands of the jury.
This change in Berry’s plea occurred in the District Court, in an agreement where all the other charges will be dropped against her and she must serve some forty-eight years to the sentence for pleading guilty to second degree murder charges.
The case overall generally focuses on the starvation related fatality which happened on May 6, 2007 of Chandler Gafner, a boy who was in the custody of Berry’s boyfriend Jon Phillips. When he died he reportedly weighted 34 pounds and had just turned seven years old.
Jon Phillips is currently on trial charged with first degree murder, child abuse resulting in death and tampering with evidence and is now in the hands of jurors after testimony from witnesses including Phillips family that testified against Phillips.
The younger brother of Chandler also has talked with one officers from the police department Detective Ken Klaus. Dominick, who is now 6 years old, told Klaus that Chandler was made to stay in a room closet to eat, sleep and as a rest room. When this closet was tested there bottom of the closet tested positive for human fecal matter. I am not sure how the lawyer for the defendent responded to that one.
Phillips brother testified that he saw a faint black eye on the child during an Easter dinner when the child was forced to eat oatmeal as a punishment while the family ate roast pork. This helped to spur action in the case, which has outraged many in the Mile High City. By the way if you happen to live either in the city of Houston, texas or the surrounding are and you need an outstanding Houston Accident Lawyers then you may wish to try the law offices of this fine firm. They are very experienced Houston accident lawyers who covers most of Harris County, as well as Houston proper itself and can also cover you in wrongful death as well personal injury cases as well as auto and motorcycle accident cases. Alright now back to the prime story here: I do not know about you but this case really sickens me I must say. How could you do this to such a helpless child i wonder/ it seems inhuman really if you ask me. I think she should probably be required to do the full sentence buit then again I am not the judge or jury so my opinion here does not count.
In recent legal news out of the beautiful state of Hawaii, a 56 year old minister has been indicted by a Grand Jury with 7 counts of first and second degree assault charges for apparently molesting one of his parishioners kids. The man has been identified as Manuel Guillermo Taboada and his nickname is apparently Memo, according to various reports.
This comes after the Monday arrest of Taboada which took place at the Honolulu International Airport. There are some questions as to whether he was trying to actually evade authorities in this case. He is now being held on a sizeable two million dollars bail. It is speculation at this point in time of course but the high bail amount appears to possibly be due to the possibility of the defendent fleeing the state or perhaps even the country. Of course, the defendent is innocent untill proven guilty by a judge or jury of his peers, should he or his lawyer choose this option.
According to the online and printed news articles, the victime in question has said that she and her family lived with Taboada in a house in the city of Kane’ohe which is also included in the court records. At this time there have been no reports of actual personal injury to the girl, at least not ona physical level, but not all the facts are yet known in this sensitive case.
The molestation allegedly took place during an 8 year period that began when the victim was just twelve years old.
It is reported that the authorities in Hawaii are likewise working with their counterparts in the city of Portland with additional allegations. There is no report on the extent of the allegations or the number of alleged victims that have come forth. Incidentially By the way if you require a Hawaii personal injury lawyer you may want to consider Dan Pagliarini. He is a leading personal injury lawyer in Hawaii. It should be noted that
regarding his personal injury clients there is simply no fee involved if there is no recovery
Members Taboada’s ministry are very surpised and Alex McAngus who is the Chaplin for the Waikiki Chapaincy Ministry where Taboada is also a member stated it was a thunderbolt to him.
It has also been found that Taboada made regular trips to Oregon and Arizona and that in the wake of these allegations some members of the congregation have left Hawaii. The defendents house in Kane’ohe is also up for sale, by the way.
During a court preceding according to Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Vickie Kapp the victim was warned by Taboada that if she reported the molestation to anyone the ministry would fall apart when the molestation began in 1999.
