Although Bernie Madoff has been behind for nearly two years, several of the financial institutions that he was involved with are being sued by investors that lost millions of dollars in the elaborate ponzi scheme. Madoff, the owner and founder of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC, talked thousands of investors into working with his company starting in the 1970s.

HSBC, which worked with Madoff for decades, was sued by Thema International Fund investors for failing to identify Madoff’s shortcomings. The Thema International Fund funded Bank Medici, which was controlled by then majority shareholder Sonja Kohn. Kohn, who worked closely with Maodff is being investigated by Madoff estate trustee Irving Picard.

Picard is in the process of suing several persons and corporate entities that are believed to be responsible for funding Madoff when they should have known that his numbers were off. Since the 1990s, independent investigators in the securities industry have been suspicious of Madoff and his grandiose claims. Madoff may have been able to amass untold wealth, but he did it at the expense of trusting investors that have since gone bankrupt. Three of Madoff’s former employees have been arrested and charged with felony offenses.

As a result of the losses suffered by investors, HSBC has agreed to settle out of court for $52 million. In the past, HSBC defended itself by stating that the company was only a custodian for accounts placed with Madoff’s firm. Because of mounting legal fees as well as financial uncertainty, HSBC offered to settle the matter with the Thema International Fund before the case could be heard in court. .

In the US, millions of male infants are circumcised in hospitals and doctors officers shortly after birth. The elective medical procedure is deeply rooted in the Jewish religion, however, some parents also believe that it is more socially acceptable. In addition, pediatric doctors say that the procedure makes it easier for parents to wash and care for their male childrens’ private areas. Numerous deaths and debilitating injuries have been linked to this minor surgery. Few states have laws in place that protect male infants from being circumcised by non-medically licensed practitioners. In New York state, rabbis and other religious leaders regularly circumcise infants using crude tools and no anesthesia.

San Francisco lawmakers are planning to vote on a bill that would outright ban the practice. However, the bill may not be enforced if passed because parents may be protected by federal laws that allow them to make all medical decisions concerning their children. Jewish officials have voiced their discontent over the proposed bill. They believe that more safeguards may be necessary in order to protect male children from being harmed during circumcision, however, the practice is a vital part of their religion.

Legal experts believe that there is little chance that the proposed ban on circumcision will be upheld. Civil rights laws give US citizens to follow their religious beliefs with few restrictions. The fact that some male children have been harmed during circumcision is not reason enough to outright ban the practice in San Francisco or any other jurisdiction in the US.

Robert Taffet, a surgeon that lives in Haddonfield, New Jersey, owns an unspecified amount of Rhodesian ridgebacks whom have been linked to at least seven vicious attacks on small children and adults. The latest attach occurred when Mr. Taffet failed to restrain his dogs. New Jersey allows each of its counties to decide whether or not leashes are mandatory. As at least some of the alleged dog attacks occurred on Taffet’s property, he has not yet been ordered to relinquish his pets to animal control agencies.

The parents of Claire McVeigh claim that Taffet allowed his dogs to roam free on his farm before they ultimately attacked their minor child. As a result of the attack, Claire lost one of her ears and sustained other injuries. The McVeighs were invited guests on Taffet’s property back in 2009 when the attack occurred. Taffet regularly shows his animals at dog shows, so it is unclear why or how the Rhodesian ridgebacks have been involved in so many separate attacks on humans.

In Camden County, a judge ruled that Taffet keep his dogs enclosed on his property at all times. No damages were awarded to the McVeigh family. Early in April, Taffet’s dogs allegedly attacked a young girl in his home town of Haddonfield. Taffet immediately put down the animal that was suspected in the attack, but he still owns several highly aggressive dogs. Taffet, who is a surgeon working in New Jersey may eventually face criminal charges if his dogs continue to cause physical injuries.

According to US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the US cannot incur anymore debts until an act of Congress is passed. In less than three months, the federal debt level will be at an all time high, and lawmakers will have to head back to the Capital to renegotiate on the budget again. Legally, the US government cannot pass on any debts after the deficit reaches $14.294 trillion. President Barack Obama is under significant pressure to renegotiate debts owed to foreign powers.

The national deficit, which refers to the amount of money that the US has borrowed from public and private entities, cannot exceed the amount that was approved by Congress. If the number goes higher, the US will have to begin defaulting on its debts. Not only would this prove disastrous for foreign relations, it could also invoke military action.

Federal pension plan investments would be indefinitely suspended and even the most basic of federal services would end if the deficit were to max out. Geithner is proposing a plan that will help to alleviate the federal debt, however, both Democrats and Republicans will need to agree on a vote. There is still some time before the federal debt ceiling is reached, but it may take a legal action before the Congress agrees on a new maximum. Republican will likely use this opportunity to push their own agenda, which will cause the Democrats to bend to their will in an effort to keep diplomatic relations under control and federal pension investments going.

The sequel to blockbuster comedy, “The Hangover,” was recently released in theaters, however, the movie makers face legal uncertainty. Former heavyweight boxing world champion Mike Tyson had a distinctive tattoo put on his face by tattoo artist S. Victor Whitmill several years ago. The tattoo, which was hand drawn by Whitmill especially for Tyson was based on art created by the Maori tribe. Tyson paid for Mr. Whitmill’s services and his distinctive face art instantly became a part of his brand. However, at the beginning of “The Hangover Part II,” one of the main characters is seen sporting an exactly replica of Tyson’s face art.

S. Victor Whitmill claims that the producers for the movie never consulted with him or asked for permission to use his design. Although Tyson is a high profile celebrity, attorneys for the movie studio should have known that they needed permission to license the work of the tattoo artist. In turn, Whitmill has filed a legal injunction to stop Warner Bros. Studios from profiting off of his art. It will be a tough case for Whitmill, but he stands to win millions of dollars.

Mr. Tyson has no given any public statements on the pending legal action, however, he may also be held liable for his part. “The Hanover Part II,” has already made hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, and the movie’s makers also stand to gain untold profits from the sale of merchandise, DVDs and likenesses of the actors.