Law and Disorder 11-12
A 20-year-old Tustin man, who was allegedly intoxicated and driving the wrong way on Highway 101, is under arrest for the death of two Goleta residents whose car he struck in the early morning hours of 11/7. The man’s vehicle was spotted driving southbound down northbound Highway 101, but authorities were unable to reach it before it struck oncoming traffic. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other died at the hospital. Two teenagers in the northbound car also sustained serious injuries.
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Laura Tibbin pled no contest on 11/9 to felony grand theft and felony failure to file a tax return for allegedly embezzling in excess of $300,000 from her former employer, law firm Rogers, Sheffield, and Campbell. A bookkeeper for the firm from 2000-2006, Tibbin has until May 2010 to pay her former employers $150,000 of the $339,614 she reportedly stole-or face a prison sentence of up to four years and eight months. She was ordered to pay the rest of the amount at a later date. If she does make the payment, she will face a probationary sentence that includes jail time.
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UCSB clerical employees have filed an unfair labor practice charge against the University of California. The CUE union, or Coalition of University Employees, charges the university with not properly negotiating the terms of a furlough program. Union members are also reportedly upset that the university wants to start temporary layoffs. University officials countered that they have suggested several programs to CUE to “offset the deep cuts in state funding” for university core operations.
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A class action lawsuit was filed this week against KEYT television by two former employees who allege the company wouldn’t pay overtime and also didn’t provide for meal and rest periods over the course of an eight-hour work day. In the suit, Carolyn Diacos, who worked as a part-time producer, and Darren Penquite, who was a news director and eventual studio manager, allege they were instructed to complete time sheets by entering eight hours of work, no matter how long they worked, and one unpaid meal break per shift.
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A Nevada couple was able to walk away uninjured after their single-engine airplane crash-landed at Santa Barbara Airport on 11/6. The plane was reportedly trying to land when the pilot lost control of the aircraft, skidding to a grassy area adjacent to the runway. Responding fire crews attended to the couple, who refused medical treatment. According to fire department spokesperson Rich Griguoli, the FAA will conduct an investigation into the incident.
