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Author: Paul Luvera

Plaintiff trial lawyer for 50 years. Past President of the Inner Circle of Advocates & Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Member American Board of Trial Advocates, American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy, International Society of Barristers, the American Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame & speaker at Spence Trial College
REMEMBERING FRIENDS & FAMILY WHO DIED IN DECEMBER : Nick Petrish, Elizabeth Barnett & Fillipa Luvera

REMEMBERING FRIENDS & FAMILY WHO DIED IN DECEMBER : Nick Petrish, Elizabeth Barnett & Fillipa Luvera

NICK PETRISH   1937 – 12/19/2011 Nick  Petrish died in Anacortes on December 19, 2011. We had a long friendship. We went from grade school through high school together.We worked together from 1977 until his illness in 2011. He was a friend and a good man. I’ve written about him previously: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2012/12/nicholas-petrish-dec-19-2011.html.html    PHYLLIS FLIPPA LUVERA  1870 – 1946 My dad’s mother died December 20, 1946 in Anacortes. She was an Italian grandmother who looked and sounded like what an Italian grandmother should. she spoke…

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THE BAND SONS OF THUNDER & SAM KINISON

THE BAND SONS OF THUNDER & SAM KINISON

In November of 2009 I published a short post  in this blog about the death of Sam Kinison, the comedian, entitled “The Strange Death of Sam Kinison” https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2009/11/the-strange-death-of-sam-kinison.html   For reasons I do not understand that post five years ago has produced more comment than any other thing I have written about. Not only that, there is controversy in the comments from readers with strong views in his favor and others very critical of him as well. He was controversial in…

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THE NEW YORK POLICE & “I can’t breathe”

THE NEW YORK POLICE & “I can’t breathe”

By now everyone knows a New York state grand jury decided there was not enough evidence to file any criminal charges against the white police officer applying a neck hold and the other police involved in the arrest of a black man that resulted in his death. While the media has spent it's time focused on talking about the grand jury's failure to indict and the "guilt or innocence" of the white police officer or officers, it is more complicated than that. Everyone has a…

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LUVERA FAMILY THANKSGIVING 2014

LUVERA FAMILY THANKSGIVING 2014

We enjoyed Thanksgiving at our home in Scottsdale Arizona where the weather couldn't have been more perfect. All eight of the children, their spouses along with most of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were here with us. My sister Anita Mayer also was with us this year and it was a wonderful occasion.   Thanksgiving day has been an annual holiday in the United States since 1863. George Washington proclaimed a national Day of Thanksgiving in 1789 even though…

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IMMIGRATION REFORM – HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

IMMIGRATION REFORM – HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT IT?

 Last night the President gave his 15 minute speech about immigration reform. Let me digress to say that no matter which way you lean on this issue, as a trial lawyer, I need to comment on his skill of  delivery and how much can be communicated well in only 15 minutes if prepared.  His timing was perfect and his genuine sincerity was palpable. It is a model for learning to give a talk well in a very short time. We are in…

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ANOTHER BEHEADING – WHAT IS THE RIGHT VIEW ABOUT ISLAM?

ANOTHER BEHEADING – WHAT IS THE RIGHT VIEW ABOUT ISLAM?

The most recent ISIS video shown on the  nightly news features  the beheading of American hostage Peter Kassig. Today's media, not stories of 100 years ago, advise us that In Syria women are being stoned to death for adultery at the direction of Muslim religious leaders. We read about unprovoked Muslim genocide of Tahai people for ‘being kafirs.’ All of this with the confident belief they are "doing the Lord's work" in the  process. Muslim religious leaders advocate measures, many outlined in the Old Testament, like cutting off the hand of…

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SO, WHAT WERE AMERICANS THINKING??

SO, WHAT WERE AMERICANS THINKING??

Any time I write about politics it is inevitable that I will annoy and anger somebody. Nevertheless I need to express my concern about this last election. In fact, a syndicated columnist, Ann McFeatters has already expressed my views in an column she titled Voters have no clue how to solve the nation's problems. I know the following photo is an unfair protest photo, but it matches my mood as I write this. She begins by saying: "after the world's most expensive…

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IF YOU ARE FROM ARIZONA DON’T READ THIS

IF YOU ARE FROM ARIZONA DON’T READ THIS

Lita and I are at our home in Scottsdale this week. We arrived during the Arizona political campaigns. When I turned on the TV I thought I had landed on another planet. It is as if aliens have taken over the television channels because the TV advertising is totally and completely dominated by back-to-back repetitive political attack ads. Apparently, in Arizona, campaigns for political office have no connection with the qualifications of the person running for office or relevant issues. You can't find an…

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12th MAN & THE HISTORICAL TACKLE

12th MAN & THE HISTORICAL TACKLE

The New York Times reports that Tommy Lewis has died in Huntsville Alabama. He was 83 years old. Who was he that the NY Times would carry his obituary? He was infamous for one sudden, spontaneous decision he made when he was playing football for Alabama many years ago. Thomas Lewis was a senior and the captain of the University of Alabama's South Eastern conference championship team at the time of the the 1954 Cotton Bowl Classic. The Alabama Crimson…

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NEEDLESS WORRY – THE MODERN CROSS WE BEAR

NEEDLESS WORRY – THE MODERN CROSS WE BEAR

Unless we get rid of our TV's and radios plus stopping reading newspapers we will continue to be  subjected to an infinite number of things to worry about. The  most recent is Ebola, but we have terrorist attacks, unpaid bills, political incompetence and multiple other things both personal, national and international to occupy our worrying. So, here are some thoughts about the subject. Let's start with Scripture. Matthew Chapt 6 says: "I tell you, therefore, do not worry about your life, about…

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