» 2011 » June Ms Sparky

HBO’s “Hot Coffee” Documentary features Jamie Leigh Jones rape case and others

Posted on: June 22nd, 2011 at 7:26 am — by Ms Sparky

Hot Coffee Premieres on HBO, Monday, June 27 at 9 PM (E/P)/8 PM (C)

“Eye-opening indictment of the way big business spins the media.” —Variety

“Stunning debut … Sends audiences out of the theater thinking in a brand new way.” —Washington Post

“Entertaining, informative … vivdly illuminating.” —Hollywood Reporter

Sending Good Thoughts to Jamie Leigh Jones

ThePopTort.com

When Margaret Mead famously said “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,” I’m sure even she couldn’t have envisioned a young woman named Jamie Leigh Jones. As a 20-year-old, Jamie experienced some of the worst horrors one could imagine but rather than cower in the corner feeling helpless and defeated, she has used that experience to change the world. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Jamie Jones vs KBR, LAWSUITS, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, LOGCAP IV - KBR, Media Coverage. Tags: Documentary, Franken Amendment*, HBO, Hot Coffee, Jamie Leigh Jones, Senator Al Franken*, Stella Liebeck. 5 Comments »

KBR’s legal maneuvers denied in SSG Ryan Maseth case

Posted on: June 22nd, 2011 at 5:25 am — by Ms Sparky

Iraqi Law Won’t Apply in Suit Over Dead Soldier

Cheryl Harris and SSG Ryan Maseth

By REUBEN KRAMER – PITTSBURGH (CN) – June 21, 2011 – The parents of a Green Beret who was electrocuted while showering at base camp during his second tour of duty in Iraq can use U.S. law to pursue wrongful-death claims against Texas-based military contractor Kellogg, Brown & Root, a federal judge ruled.

Cheryl Harris and Douglas Maseth sued KBR (PDF) in March 2008, claiming 11 on-base electrocutions of American military personnel in Iraq gave the contractor notice about sweeping electrical problems. But despite this notice, the couple says KBR “did nothing to fix” the “faulty electric infrastructure,” which included the improperly grounded water-pump system that sent a stream of electrified water through the shower nozzle, killing their son, Staff Sgt. Ryan Maseth.

KBR moved on Feb. 4 to apply the Iraqi Civil Code to the case, submitting an expert report that argued Iraqi law does not allow an estate to obtain damages for a decedent’s pain, suffering or emotional distress.

(Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in A Soldiers Story, Cheryl Harris vs KBR, Electrocutions/Shocks, GOV. CONTRACTORS, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, Ryan Maseth-US Army. Tags: Cheryl Harris, Electrocutions, Judge Nora Barry Fischer, KBR, SSG Ryan Maseth. No Comments »

KBR attorneys attack rape victim’s past

Posted on: June 21st, 2011 at 6:20 pm — by Ms Sparky

(If you are having problems viewing this video with your browser click HERE)

KBR attorneys turn focus on alleged rape victim’s past
by Kevin Reece / KHOU 11 News
Posted on June 21, 2011 Updated today at 7:37 PM

HOUSTON — Jamie Leigh Jones spent another day on the witness stand Tuesday in her civil lawsuit against defense contractor KBR and a KBR firefighter. In a civil lawsuit like this the credibility of the accuser is considered an open book and lawyers for KBR are going through that book page by page.

Attorneys for KBR and another legal team representing the KBR firefighter, who Jones has accused of rape, have presented Jones’ sexual history to the jury. On Tuesday attorneys for KBR went through Jones’ medical records showing a history of prescriptions for anti-depressant medication. They also showed inconsistencies and alleged misrepresentations on her paper resumes as they tried to prove a history of being misleading and untruthful.

“Credibility is the bottom line is any kind of sexual assault case, and what we see here I think is a contest of credibility,” said attorney and legal analyst Kim Ogg, who is not involved in the Jones case. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Jamie Jones vs KBR, LAWSUITS, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, LOGCAP IV - KBR, Rape, Hazing, Discrimination & Harassment. Tags: Charles Boartz, Charles Bortz, Jamie Leigh Jones, Jones vs. KBR, KBR, Kim Ogg, Lawsuits Against KBR, Rape. 5 Comments »

Attorney Andrew McKinney attempts to vilify his client’s (alleged) victim

Posted on: June 21st, 2011 at 12:29 pm — by Ms Sparky

Woman’s Iraq rape allegations, history questioned

Jamie Leigh Jones, right, listens to a question along with her attorney Todd Kelly, left, outside the federal courthouse Tuesday, June 14, 2011, in Houston. Opening statements began Tuesday in the civil lawsuit filed by Jones, an ex-female contractor who claims she was raped by co-workers in Iraq in 2005 while employed by a former Halliburton Co. subsidiary and then held against her will when she tried to report the assault.

Photo - David J. Phillip (AP)

JUAN A. LOZANO – (Associated Press) - June 21, 2011 – Attorneys for military contractor KBR Inc. and an ex-KBR firefighter tried to portray a Texas woman who says she was drugged and sexually assaulted in Iraq at the hands of co-workers as someone with a history of dishonesty and tried to point out to jurors on Tuesday what they believe are inconsistencies in her claims.

Jamie Leigh Jones, 26, is one of several women who worked for KBR and former parent Halliburton Co. who say they were sexually assaulted or harassed while working for the companies in Iraq.

Jones says she was raped in 2005 while working for KBR at Camp Hope, Baghdad. She has sued KBR, Halliburton and a former KBR firefighter, Charles Bortz, whom she says was one of her rapists. The Houston-based companies and Bortz deny Jones’ allegations. The alleged sexual assault was investigated by authorities but no criminal charges have been filed.

Jones has told jurors she was drugged and then raped by a group of KBR firefighters. She said Bortz was in her room the next morning. She says she has no memory of what happened because she believes she was drugged with Rohypnol, known as the “date rape drug,” just before she was sexually assaulted.

(Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Jamie Jones vs KBR, LAWSUITS, LOGCAP III - KBR, Rape, Hazing, Discrimination & Harassment. Tags: Andrew McKinney, Camp Hope, Charles Boartz, Charles Bortz, Halliburton, Jamie Leigh Jones, Jones vs. KBR, KBR, Rape, Todd Kelly. No Comments »

U.S. Gave Military Contracts to Firm (KGL) With Alleged Iran Ties

Posted on: June 21st, 2011 at 5:15 am — by Forseti

MATTHEW MOSK and RICHARD ESPOSITO
(ABC News) – June 21, 2011 – A Kuwaiti shipping company that has done more than $1 billion in business with the U.S. military has also had ties to one of the men indicted in New York Monday for his alleged role in an international conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions against Iran.

Members of Congress have for months been asking the Pentagon if the defense contractor Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport (KGL) may be secretly doing business with Iranian front companies, and those questions took on fresh urgency Monday with the 317-count indictment (PDF). Among those indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance was Moghaddami Fard, an Iranian man whose name appears on dozens of emails with top KGL executives, and who sat on the five-member board of directors of a company that was partially owned by KGL.

“I am deeply concerned by information that suggests the U.S. Army and Defense Logistics Agency may be contracting sensitive military logistics services to an entity tied to Iran’s primary shipping company,” Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) told ABC News Monday.

“We must come down hard on this company so others realize they will pay a price for doing business with Iran,” said Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). “Our sanctions must have sharp teeth.”

(Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests, KLG Logistics, Politics, Reports & Investigations. Tags: Ali Dashti, Ashton B. Carter, IRISL, KGL Logistics, Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport, Moghaddami Fard, RAK Shipping, Rep. Brad Sherman*, Secretary Robert Gates, Sen. Mark Kirk, Senator Claire McCaskill*. 4 Comments »

Jury hears tearful testimony from KBR rape victim (Updated w/video)

Posted on: June 20th, 2011 at 8:42 am — by Ms Sparky

Woman testifies about Iraq rape while KBR worker

Juan A. Lozano, AP

Updated 12:08 p.m., Monday, June 20, 2011

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas woman tearfully told jurors Monday that she was “scared to death” and held against her will by her employer after being sexually assaulted in Iraq at the hands of co-workers for military contractor KBR Inc.

Jamie Leigh Jones, 26, is one of several women who worked for KBR and former parent Halliburton Co. who say they were sexually assaulted or harassed while working for the companies in Iraq.

During her often tearful testimony, Jones said she had been drinking with a group of KBR firefighters outside her barracks before she was raped.

The Associated Press usually doesn’t identify people alleging sexual assault, but Jones’ face and name have been in media reports and she has promoted her case on her own website.

“One of the firefighters he handed me the drink. He said, ‘Don’t worry I saved all the ruffies for Dubai,” Jones testified. She says she was drugged with what she believes was the sedative Rohypnol, widely known as a “date-rape drug” and also known by the nickname “ruffies.” (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in GOV. CONTRACTORS, Jamie Jones vs KBR, LAWSUITS, Lawsuits Against KBR, LOGCAP III - KBR, Rape, Hazing, Discrimination & Harassment. Tags: Camp Hope, Charles Boartz, Charles Bortz, Halliburton, Jamie Leigh Jones, Jones vs. KBR, KBR, Rape, Rep. Ted Poe. 3 Comments »

Faking it in bed and other news

Posted on: June 19th, 2011 at 6:16 am — by Forseti

If you can’t view the video from your browser click HERE

Chinese stymie U.S. hunt for parts
(Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) – June 18, 2011 – Senate investigators are returning from Hong Kong after China on Friday again refused their entry into the mainland to investigate the manufacture of counterfeit military parts for the American F-15 fighter jet and other high-tech defense components.

(Read the rest of the story here…)