A Chicago-area man is facing six months in jail for yawning, albeit loudly, in court. 
 
According to news reports, Clifton Williams was in the audience during the sentencing of his cousin for a drug charge when he made a yawn-like sound that angered Will County (Ill.) Judge Daniel Rozak.  Williams was charged with criminal contempt and could serve a maximum of six months.
 
"This was a very loud, boisterous, deliberate attempt on the part of this individual to disrupt the proceedings and show disrespect to the court," Charles Pelkie, spokesman for the Will County state's attorney's office said.  "It was not a guy who involuntarily yawned.  This guy was making a statement -- a very loud statement -- in court."
 
Williams' family disputes the charge, saying it was "not an outrageous yawn."  
 
—Source:  Chicago Tribune

According to a recent lawsuit filed on behalf of three New Jersey plaintiffs by the meat-free diet promoter, Cancer Project, hot dogs should come with warning labels.
 
"Warning:  Consuming hot dogs and other processed meats increases the risk of cancer," is the warning the vegan advocacy group seeks to compel manufacturers to put on all hot dog packages sold in New Jersey.  The class action suit cites the role of nitrites, preservatives used in cured and processed meats such as hot dogs, in the development of cancer-forming agents.
 
"Just as tobacco causes lung cancer, processed meats are linked to colon cancer," said Neal Barnard, president of the Cancer Project.  "Companies that sell hot dogs are well aware of the danger, and their customers deserve the same information."
 
The industry counters that the lawsuit is unfounded.  "Hot dogs have been enjoyed by consumers for more than 100 years," said Sydney Lindner, a Kraft spokeswoman.
 
The lawsuit acknowledges debate over how the consumption of some types of meats leads to greater cancer risk, but it argues that that doesn't negate the need for warnings on hot dogs.
 
—Source:  latimes.com

A Polish woman is suing an Egyptian hotel after her daughter returned home from a vacation expecting a baby. 

Magdalena Kwiatkowska claims her 13-year-old daughter got pregnant after coming into contact with "stray sperm" while swimming in the hotel pool.  Tourist authorities in Warsaw, Poland confirm that a lawsuit was filed and that the mother is seeking compensation. 

"The mother is adamant that her daughter didn’t meet any boys while she was there," a travel industry source said. 

—Source:  The Daily Mail (UK)

A state appeals court in San Francisco, California, refused to reinstate a lawsuit filed by a man who fell into a fire at the Burning Man festival held in the Nevada desert.  The Court stated that anyone who takes part in an event with obvious dangers – downhill skiing, mountain climbing or walking up to a bonfire – knowingly risks injury.

It was the third time that California resident Anthony Beninati attended the annual festival that encourages participants to throw objects into a bonfire.  According to news reports, Beninati, a college-educated real estate manager, walked nearly 10 feet into the burning embers, with flames on either side of him, to throw in a picture of a deceased friend.  Beninati’s hands were burned and one arm permanently injured when he proceeded further, tripping and falling into the fire.  Beninati accused the festival organizers of negligently allowing people to approach the fire without safe pathways.

The First District Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s ruling that Beninati assumed the risk.  “By continuing to walk into the fire, Beninati assumed the risk that he might trip and fall,” presiding Justice Ignazio Ruvolo said in the 3-0 ruling.  “The risk of falling and being burned by the flames or hot ash was inherent, obvious and necessary to the event.”

—Source:  SFGate.com