LA arson suspect cursed US days before fires
Criminal Law
Harry Burkhart watched as his mother was arrested last week on fraud charges from their native Germany, and a day later he exploded in an expletive-laced rant against the U.S. at her court hearing.
That's when, authorities believe, Burkhart, angry over his mother's legal troubles, went on a nighttime rampage of arson attacks starting Friday that terrorized Los Angeles and caused $3 million in damage.
Court documents unsealed Tuesday said Dorothee Burkhart, who is in her 50s, was charged with 19 counts of fraud in Frankfurt, including failing to pay for a 2004 breast-augmentation surgery and pilfering security deposits from renters.
In a brief court appearance, she appeared perplexed, wondering aloud if her son had disappeared or was dead. At one point, she said, he is mentally ill and questioned whether Nazis knew where she and her son lived.
Related listings
-
Alleged White House shooter due in court Friday
Criminal Law 12/14/2011A federal judge has set a new court date to hear more evidence about the mental health of a man accused of firing shots at the White House in November. Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernandez of Idaho appeared Wednesday in federal court in Washington, where a ...
-
Calif. salon shooting suspect due for arraignment
Criminal Law 11/29/2011A man charged with killing his ex-wife and seven others in a shooting rampage at a Southern California hair salon was due back in court Tuesday. Scott Dekraai was expected to be arraigned in Orange County Superior Court on eight counts of murder and ...
-
Utah-to-Boston passenger denies child porn charge
Criminal Law 11/28/2011A University of Utah professor has pleaded not guilty to viewing child pornography on his laptop during a flight from Salt Lake City to Boston. Grant Smith, of Cottonwood Heights, Utah, was ordered held on $75,000 bail Monday and told to have no unsu...
Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.