Court: Inn can be sued for burns to girl’s feet from bonfire on beach
ARCADIA, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan appeals court says an inn near Lake Michigan can be sued for injuries suffered by a girl who burned her foot in the hidden leftovers of a beach bonfire.
The court overturned a decision by a Benzie County judge who said the century-old Watervale Inn was protected by a Michigan law that limits liability on businesses that provide recreation.
In a 3-0 decision, the court says that law doesn’t apply in the case of a 10-year-old girl. The court says the potential for injury while hunting or fishing is much greater than the passive activity of making sand castles.
The Watervale Inn argued that hot coals were hidden under sand. Nonetheless, the court says there’s evidence that the inn knew guests sometimes made fires on the beach.
19-year-old woman accuses Warren police of mistreatment
DETROIT (AP) — A 19-year-old woman alleges that Warren police officers roughed her up while arresting her on charges of underage possession of alcohol and disturbing the peace.
Gabrielle Stokes said it happened at a small party she hosted at her apartment on Jan. 3. Stokes, whose mother is R&B singer Sara Stokes, said police dragged her from the party screaming.
The Macomb Community College basketball captain spoke of the incident at a news conference Tuesday with her right arm in a sling and casts on both wrists and forearms.
“This whole situation is just a nightmare,” said Gabrielle Stokes, who is black. “I never thought that I would even go through something like this.”
The Rev. W.J. Rideout of Detroit and the Stokes family called for a federal investigation of the police department and for the officers involved to be fired.
“They have damaged this young lady,” Rideout said. “We’re not going to stand for the abuse, the racism, the discrimination that the Warren Police Department, these police officers, have placed upon this dear precious child.”
Warren police declined to comment on the allegations because the investigation is ongoing. However, Sgt. Stephen Mills said the department hadn’t received a formal written complaint from Gabrielle Stokes.
Stokes’ lawyer, Adam Clements, said his client pleaded not guilty during her arraignment and posted a $1,000 cash bond.
Detroit Mercy presents the McElroy Lecture on Law and Religion
The Office of Alumni Relations will host the annual McElroy Lecture from 5-6 p.m. on Thursday, March 2 in Room 226 at the Detroit Mercy Law Campus, 751 East Jefferson Ave. in Detroit. This year’s lecturer is Intisar A. Rabb, a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and Director of its Islamic Legal Studies Program. Register online at www.law.udmercy.edu.
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