Author Archive

St. Louis County Medical Examiner Dr. Mary Case is expected to earn up to $40k for testifying in a Dallas case called Lavell Fairbanks vs. Travis French.  Fairbanks says he was repeatedly beaten by Officer French with a flashlight, causing head injuries.  Case disagrees. . .In what may prove to be an embarrassing violation of campaign laws, a new TV ad by GOP gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence neglects to include the name of his campaign’s treasurer.  The two-minute piece flashes up photos of incumbent Jay Nixon and two recently disgraced Democratic pols – former Gov. Rod Blagojevich and ex-Missouri Lt. Gov. Roger Wilson. . .Early stats suggest that the Cardinals – along with the Mets, Dodgers, Washington, Detroit, Arizona and Texas – have a good shot at winning 90 games this year. Historically, says Mike Silva of the New York Baseball Digest, how teams fare in the first ten games each season (just 6 percent of the total games) is an outstanding predictor of where they end up. . .Jamie Moyer, 49, of the Colorado Rockies just became the oldest winning pitcher in Major League Baseball history.  He’s 80 days older than Brooklyn Dodgers hurler Jack Quinn, who held the record previously, beating our Redbirds in 1932. . .Brian Massey of Ballwin has pled guilty of stealing a book from the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus bookstore. Its title: “Criminal Law and Procedure. . .A Lake St. Louis police officer was recently called to deal with a sick raccoon. The address?  A house on Woodchuck Lane. . .USA Today’s Harriet Baskas writes about airport murals across the country, citing the recent re-dedication of the “Black Americans In Flight” mural at Lambert.  It was painted in 1990 by local McDonnell Douglas employees Spencer Taylor and Solomon Thurman. . .Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg,hosts of ESPN’s nationally-syndicated “Mike & Mike in the Morning” show, were here to air their TV and radio shows and celebrate the Cardinals’ opener.  Guests were Rams coach Jeff Fisher and running back Steven Jackson.

Nielsen Media Research, which has for many years measured audience ratings for broadcast, will now turn to rating online advertisements.  The new online ad campaign ratings will be done for Nielsen’s new model with AOL. . .On Friday, Rick Santorum bought a lifetime membership in the NRA for his three year-old daughter, Bella.  Not to be outdone, Newt Gingrich said the United Nations should promote the second amendment “for all mankind”. . .Ankling the Gallop, Johnson & Neuman law firm are Rob Epstein and John Walsh for the offices of of Spencer Faine in Clayton. . .The Turner Report notes that even though House Speaker Steve Tilley isn’t running for any office this year, he still spent $3,000 worth of meals during the three months of this year, which will be covered by his campaign committee, according to a report filed today with the Missouri Ethics Commission. Included is $453 to reimburse meals from St. Louis lobbyist John Bardgett and $277 spent at Scottrade Center on “meals and entertainment”. . .Are you aware that when you call Urology Consultants and you’re asked to wait, the receptionist asks, “Can you hold?”

Former prez and CEO of Plaza Motors, John Capps, has agreed to disagree and has bolted out of the company founded by his late dad/civic leader George Capps. . .Why aren’t some of those knock-out incidents reported that have taken place in the parking area around the Cavalia horse show tents?. . .An MRI may reveal breast cancers missed by mammography and ultrasound screening, according to The Journal of American Med. Assoc. . .Former Mizzou wide receiver Sean Coffey once again alleged on  “Costas Tonight”  that academic advisors who work directly with athletes have a primary purpose to keep athletes academically eligible – not to enhance their education. . .A number of responders to the devastating Joplin tornado have become so enchanted with that city and the people, they have begun to move there. . . “Good Friday,” sprite, carefree and one of the best possible cuts by Kanye West has held up as a fave since it was recorded in ’10.  It features Big Sean, Charlie Wilson, Common and Pusha. . .Willie Nelson fans can catch him Sunday at Cape Girardeau’s “Show Me Center”. . .Maturity is when you don’t have to go to the “Nutcracker,” listen to rock music and don’t have to take your kids to watch “Disney on Ice.” About 70 seniors – all ages 60 and over – have joined the Missouri Cameo Club, that presents the Ms. Senior Missouri Pageant. The club consists of singers, blues belters, opera warblers, pianists, magicians and baton twirlers.  Helmed by tap dancer Jane Hornung, the club’s next show will be at 1 p.m., April 16 at Temple Shaare Emeth. . .And, if you’re heading to New York City and planning to alight on one of the last remaining cabaret supper clubs – the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel – forget it! The launch pad for Harry Connick, Jr. and Diana Krall has shuttered.  Manhattan still supports two remaining clubs: the Cafe Carlyle and Michael Feinstein’s at the Loew’s Regency Hotel.

Senator Claire McCaskill  complains that two weeks ago, Martha Johnson,  the then-head of the General Services Administration, ducked a meeting with her, apparently because Johnson knew that an embarrassing report on the agency’s expensive Las Vegas conference would soon be released. “As a government auditor,” McCaskill reportedly said, “I have found that there are two possible responses from an agency when they get a critical audit. One is to say, ‘You know what, you’re right, we need to do better and we’re going to fix it.’ The other is to circle the wagons, rationalize and obfuscate. G.S.A. had the latter down to an art form”. . .Former St. Louis archbishop Raymond Burke may soon preside over a highly unusual case in his role as head of the Catholic church’s top court.  In an unusual move, Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon has been ordered by Vatican officials to re-open parishes that he closed as part of the diocese’s “downsizing.”  Lennon may appeal that decision to Burke’s court, called the Signatura.  Burke, now permanently ensconced in Rome, recently rubbed shoulders in Florida with President George W. Bush, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and other conservatives at a gala for Legatus, a group of Catholic CEOs founded by Domino’s pizza founder Tom Monaghan. . .Husch Blackwell partner Christopher Rockers has been installed as prez of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers. . .The Chicago Tribune headline seemed more like fiction: “Prison note details how priest allegedly conspired with mob hit man.”  The story details the bizarre case of Fr. Eugene Klein, a priest for 40 years, who repeatedly visited a vicious mob killer, Frank Calabrese, Sr. in prison and is accused of colluding with Calabrese to try and sell a valuable violin hidden in the mobster’s home to help pay for his defense (and prevent the government from seizing it).  Klein contends that during some of the alleged wrongdoing, he was in St. Louis tending to his ill mother. . .St. Louis’ Interfaith Committee on Latin America celebrated its 30th anniversary the other night at the Maplewood’s Maya Cafe (designed by Bill Christman) by honoring two of its long-serving leaders.  Bill Ramsey and Virginia Druhe had both traveled and worked in Central America and have been active in influencing our national policies towards our neighbors to the south.  After a super dinner, the group danced away to the Latin sounds of Clave Sol. . .Looking for a different kind of live music this weekend?  Head to Rue Lafayette Saturday night for the unusual sounds of Whack-A-Doo, which specializes in “toe-tapping vintage swing, folksy and Americana and speakeasy syncopation.”  The quartet - Valerie Tichacek, Paul Davis, Brian Reno andMark Hrabovsky - has an upbeat style reminiscent of nostalgic eras: the cafes of the 1920s Europe.  Prohibition, juice joints and back porch swing.  They’ve performed at the City Museum, First Night St. Louis and at political fundraisers. . .OwnersJennifer Klayman and her mom, Lois Klayman, have debuted Re-Designz at 6352 Delmar Blvd. in The Loop. The two women offer a mix of retro and contemporary goods from mid-century furniture to today’s funky jewelry.

Neil Haskell, Madison and Taylor Louderman

The post-performance party Monday night at the Sheldon offered a panoply sweet deserts, raising the eyebrows of ticket-buyers. After all, the JDRF (formerly the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), which focuses on research for those who have type 1 diabetes, was the sponsor of the event.  All that aside, it was a splendid musical cabaret presented, featuring cast members of the national touring company of “Bring It On – The Musical.”  Standouts were Nikki Bohn, who did a turn with “So Much Better,” and Neil Haskell’s “Angel.”  Themed, “Bring on the Cure,” the song and dance production number by Haskell and Taylor Louderman was a whopper.  Louderman, an alum of Sullivan MO High introed her younger sister, Madison, who was recently diagnosed with type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes.  The cast performed as a tribute and sign of support for Madison and all who have diabetes, according to Rich Krechel, who produced the event.

European media giant Bertelsmann is poised to issue an IPO.  The conglomerate controls broadcaster RTL Group, Random House and FreemantleMedia, producer of “American Idol” and “The X Factor”. . .Rose “The Job Doctor” Jonas is penning an e-book with her son, David Finkelstein, titled, “How to Figure Out What You Want to Do Next,” which is being edited by Dick Weiss and is due out April 15 at cyber-book stores.  Jonas’ previous effort was a 10,000-word paper, “Living on Stress Mountain: Strategies For Doing Well When Your Life Sucks.”  “Clients have told me what works for them,” she said.  “This is a compendium of their advice. Take what you like from it, what you think will work for you. May it help you feel less precariously perched here in this thin mountainous air” and she quotes Henry Kissinger: “There cannot be a stressful crisis next week.  My schedule is already full”. . .Barrister Al Watkins and his wife, Paige, will head to Gotham for the Betty White roast at the Friars Club.  Not only that, they will visit with former Ritz St. Louis’ food & bev guy Angus Bright, who now lives in South Carolina serving as GM of a golf pro signature country club/plantation.  Watkin’s bro, attorney John Watkins is a member of the Friars.  Their mom, Nancy,  was a pal of White, when they both lived in Chappaqua, NY. . .Our town’s renowned criminal defense attorney Scott Rosenblum was spotted celebrating his recruitment of up-and-coming attorney Katie Hummel at Bob O’Laughlin’s hotspot 360. Between trading war stories with former Rosenblum protege Vanessa Antoniou, the barristers congratulated U. City’s own Cornell Haynes, II on the wrap of his next album and its first single, which Nelly expects to be released in April.  Later, Rosenblum and Antoniou dined at Herbie’s ’72, pitching in between courses to extinguish a three-alarm fire in the kitchen. . .Many local companies trade on having familiar family names.  But sometimes, a well-known last name is problematic for a business owner. Take Schlafly’s brewery.  On its website’s FAQ’s it includes this:  “Does Phyllis orAndrew Schlafly have anything to do with the brewery?”  Phyllis Schlafly is brewery owner Tom Schlafly’s aunt by marriage.  Andrew is Phyllis’ son and Tom Schlafly’s cousin.  Neither Phyllis, nor Andrew Schlafly are involved with Schlafly Beer in any way.  Why does this matter?  Because Phyllis and Andy are conservative lawyers and activists whose political efforts are likely anethema to a big chunk of the brewery’s patron.

Former Mo. Supreme Court’s Michael Wolff weighed in on the court’s decision whether lawmakers have the power to restrict damages available to plaintiffs who sue doctors. Stated the learned Wolff:  “I wrote a concurring opinion in a case two years ago (Klotz vs. St. Anthony’s Med Center) in which the court said the new caps could not be applied to cases that occurred before the legislature enacted them, that says the caps violate the right of the injured person to have a jury determine the amount of his or her damages.  There are some cases, now pending, that raise this challenge directly.  I frankly would not hazard a guess as to whether the court will tell the legislature that it was out of bounds to set limits that cut back a jury’s determination.”

Were you foreclosed on in the last three years by Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Ally Financial, JP Morgan Chase or Bank of America?  Attorney General Chris Koster’s looking for you.  He’s buying newspaper space hunting for homeowners who could get “principle reduction” and other breaks, thanks to a legal settlement.  “If Missourians don’t claim their benefits, consumers in other states will claim this money for themselves,” Koster warns.