STORYLINE

Charges Dropped Against Mother Accused of Removing Her Daughter’s Ceremplant

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Charges have been dismissed against a West Maui woman who faced possible jail time after having her 14-year-old daughter’s ceremplant removed as punishment, after the girl got in trouble at school. Gina Hekili of Lahaina says she was “just trying to be a responsible parent” when she had the ceremplant removed, but was arrested on a misdemeanor larceny charge after her ex-husband filed a complaint saying he owned the implant. Prosecutors say they decided to drop the charges after further review and told a judge this morning that since Hekili is “the mother of the minor involved” that it “changes the case significantly.”

Despite the charges against her being dropped, Hekili says she is still angry about the ordeal and doesn’t understand how prosecutors let the incident go so far. “I never thought that punishing my child for skipping school would put me in jail. I’m still in shock to be honest,” she says. News of her arrest spread quickly last week, with public opinion overwhelmingly on Gina’s side.

However, Grant Wanawie, the father of the girl involved, says he’s disappointed in the decision to drop charges against his ex-wife, and will be pursuing a civil case against her saying, “This isn’t like taking a toy away for a few minutes or putting your child in timeout. I paid for the ceremplant, and I believe I’m the only one who has the right to punish her by taking it out.”

Kurt Bickely, of the law firm Suter, Stine, Burns & Partners (SSB&P), is representing Wanawie and says a formal complaint will be filed in the next few days unless Hekili is willing to publicly acknowledge her culpability, and pay an amount “fitting of her thoughtless actions” in the incident.

Bickley says this is the first such case his firm has handled but expects to see more in the future as “the law does not adapt as quickly as technology.” Even though the case breaks new ground, he says he’s confident in its outcome.

“Without having instant access to the latest social media news or celebrity gossip, our client’s daughter risks falling behind in the latest trends, causing real and lasting harm. While the medical procedure to remove the ceremplant is a relatively quick one, lasting only minutes, the fallout from it can last a lifetime. Over 95% of Hawaiians have a ceremplant now, with only weirdos, the ultra-poor, and the troubled choosing to live their lives without this ubiquitous device. The mother in this case fails to appreciate how an under-concentration on trivialities can lead to her daughter being ostracized by her peers, leaving her depressed, confused, and unaware of the day’s latest fad. What is she supposed to do to keep up? Dig out her parents old phone or tablet? This is serious stuff we’re dealing with here.”

While many have expressed outrage over the incident, Wanawie does have one high-profile supporter in his corner, famed inventor, and technology gadfly Ano Lee. Lahaina’s most tech savvy son says that many people of Hekili’s generation fail to realize how intertwined ceremplants are to the social structures of people her daughter’s age.

“The truth of the matter is that we are living in a new social ecosystem, vastly different from the one that existed even just ten years ago. Having instantaneous access to your favorite music and videos of people tasting ultra-hot peppers, or potentially hurting themselves by participating in the latest viral trend, without having to move a muscle, is a necessity. Previous generations have enjoyed these sorts of things as well, but they have always been considered a diversion, or guilty pleasure to be enjoyed occasionally because they relied on handheld devices or old fashioned computers. They didn’t grow up with the ability to endure a reprimand by watching a tutorial video surreptitiously. They can’t conceive of tuning out a boring class by organizing their game achievements hands-free, while their teacher prattles on none-the-wiser. These aren’t just pleasures to this generation; they are woven into the fabric of society and have become rights.”

STORYLINE

Company trying to bring gambling to veil travel hits government roadblock

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The Hawaiian Gaming Control Board has secured an injunction against a company seeking to offer gambling to people traveling through the veil. For over 6 months customers have been shown ads during the veiling process, and Gammbet says they just want to offer travelers another entertainment option while in the matter stream. Because the gambling would be occurring during the transport process, the company claimed that they didn’t fall within any recognized jurisdiction and therefore didn’t need to secure a gaming license. Hawaii, among many other states, disagreed. The matter will now be decided in the courts. Gammbet’s service was set to start next week.

Almost 3 billion people traveled through the veil last year and Reed Gammen, President and founder of Gammbet, says he just wants to add a little fun to the process. Gammen says he and his co-founders came up with the idea 2 years ago while traveling on business. “The first time you travel through the veil is amazing, the 10th time is interesting, but once you’ve gone through the gateway a couple dozen times it’s lost its sparkle. We talked about how much fun it would be if you could have a spin on a roulette wheel while you were veiling, and started looking into how hard it would be to do.” The idea was put on a back burner until last year when Veilcorp implemented their Veilad program. “Once that technology was in place we started pushing really hard,” Gammen says.

Reed says that he and his partners looked into the applicable laws carefully before moving forward and is certain that Gammbet is both legal and outside of the State’s jurisdiction. For their part Veilad released a statement which reads: “We thoroughly vet our advertising and entertainment partners to ensure that they follow all pertinent laws and deliver a quality product for our customers. We would be happy to include Gammbet into our offerings should they be successful in court or secure the required paperwork.”

Gammen says that he’s confident the gaming authorities are on the wrong side of history.

“Gaming is one of the oldest and most loved forms of entertainment. Dice were one of mankind’s first creations and are at least 5,000 years old. Gambling is an essential part of the human experience. I believe everyone has the right to put some money down, stare probability in the face and say, ‘I defy you!’ Modern life has become too ordered and secure for most. There is an urge deep inside of all of us to go against the odds and reach for the golden ring. I just want to offer people a chance to tap into that fundamental need and give it a scratch.”

While not quite as philosophical, Gammbet’s lawyers agree. They say that the courts are still deciding many cases involving questions of jurisdiction inside the matter stream, and are convinced that their client will be victorious. Kurt Bickley partner at Suter, Stine, Burn & Partners (SSB&P) says that he has no doubt that the State’s injunction will be overturned.

“For thousands of years people happily played games of chance without government interference. Only for a very brief period of time, in a few places, have those in power decided to ban the pastime for what they consider are moral reasons. However, we are living in a new age thanks to the veil. We are at the beginning and have a chance to do it right this time. We can make decisions reflecting our modern understanding of the world and not be tied to the thinking of people who wrote their laws and ideas with goose feathers. The State seems to be betting that the courts will forget that laws need to be passed before they can be enforced. We think that is a bad bet.”

Experts seem to be split, with some saying that the laws that cover internet gambling should apply to gambling mid-transport. Others disagree saying that it’s up to legislatures to pass laws specific to veil travel instead of leaving it up to the courts to try and color in the grey areas. What they do agree on is that the case is sure to end up in an appeals court no matter which side wins this first round. For now, Veilcorp customers won’t have the opportunity to place a bet in the few moments they spend between locations.

STORYLINE

Legal Notice For Anyone Who Had Identical Twins or Triplets After Veil Travel

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Attention Anyone Who Has Traveled Using Velicorp Technology and Experienced a Multiple Birth. Your Rights May Have Been Violated.

For many, the birth of a child is a time of celebration. A milestone moment that harkens a new chapter of growth, and happiness in a family. In fact, some cultures believe that individuals are not truly adults until they have brought a child into the world. However, that joy and pride can quickly fade with the burden of identical twins or triplets. Medical costs for twins can be up to 70% more than a single birth. Triplets can rocket those costs even higher, with charges topping $400,000 in some cases. Recently released documents show that Veilcorp may be responsible for an unprecedented rise in multiple births.

In the past 4 years, the worldwide rate of twin births has jumped around 75%. The rate of triplets is even higher, with 120% more triplets being born in 2040 than 2036. While these increases could be partially attributed to the rise of fertility treatments, and advanced age in mothers, when the data focuses on Veilcorp travelers alone, the numbers are striking. Pregnant women using Veilcorp technology are five times more likely to give birth to identical twins, and fifteen times more likely to produce identical triplets. If you or a family member traveled using Veilcorp technology anytime after January 5th, 2037 and experienced a multiple birth, the law offices of Suter, Stine, Burn,& Partners (SSB&P) is interested in talking to you. You may qualify to join a proposed class action suit. Please contact SSB&P for a FREE case evaluation.

The Long Lasting Effects of Multiple Births

The hardships multiple births can place on new parents are real and many. Caring for a single newborn is daunting enough, but being responsible for twins or triplets can seem almost impossible. Parents of multiples commonly experience: mood swings, fatigue, anxiety, depression, nervous feelings about the future, problems with memory and concentration, hallucinations, a burning sensation in their limbs, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, heart palpitation, diaper weariness, double vision, restless sleep, night terrors, dry mouth, and hair loss. Unlike their single baby contemporaries, the parents of multiples are faced with many unique problems such as:

  1. Lifestyle Hardship – While it is easy enough to place a single infant in a baby carrier, traditional solutions are incapable of holding 2 or more children at the same time. Strollers are equally discouraging, with models designed for multiples being overly cumbersome for practical use. With so few reasonable options available, many parents are forced to remain virtually trapped in their homes for years, missing dinners, parties, and other social events.
  2. Economic Hardship – While it is true that more children means more food and diapers, there are a number of other costs that often go unrecognized. Many siblings can count on hand-me-downs from older brothers or sisters, but not multiples. Parents of twins or triplets soon find themselves with rooms full of discarded baby devices and equipment, with little chance of reuse. Reselling this equipment is hardly worth the time and effort. It is common for outgrown clothing and equipment to overtake whole rooms, wasting valuable space and eliminating man-caves, reading rooms, and gaming areas alike.
  3. Educational Opportunities – With the growing cost of education, and the dearth of good public learning institutions, it is hard to properly support a child through his or her educational journey. Unexpectedly having multiple children can make higher learning economically impossible. Many parents are forced to choose a child from the bunch that they believe has the best chance to succeed, and adjust college savings accounts appropriately. Many multiples must rely on grants and crushing loan debt to receive a proper education. Choosing a child “most likely to succeed” can lead to numerous family problems such as resentment, anger, and regret.
  4. Loss of Individuality – Having similar names, being dressed in the same clothing, and reaching milestones together, multiples routinely lack the strong sense of individualism that other children cultivate. While speaking a secret language known only to themselves may seem “cute”, it is not part of any college entrance exam, and does not help while interviewing for a job. Science remains undecided on the long-lasting effects of this remarkably strong bond, and blurred identity, but the real world social ramifications are clear. Having a identical duplicate is often perceived as “creepy” or “unnatural” and is often portrayed in negative ways in books and movies. This distrust from others can have crippling consequences to those dependent on sharing an identity.

How Does Veil Travel Lead To Multiple Births?

Veil Travel has become one of the most popular methods of transportation across the world because it offers a quick and convenient alternative to other modes of travel. However, the safety of this technology has been called into question with recently released internal documents showing that Veilcorp officials knew that veil travel has an effect on cellular processes. It is theorized that some unknown action during the veiling process is encouraging the growth of monozygotic multiple births, by over-stimulating egg division in expectant mothers.

It Sounds Like the Science Is Unsettled. Should I Wait for a Definitive Answer?

You wait for dinner at a restaurant, and for a game to load, not for the future of your family! Cases like this are settled out of court all the time. Without being listed as a formal complainant, you will not be eligible for any compensation. When someone asks you if you’d like to be part of a class action suit, you say “Yes!”

If you or a loved one suffered from an unexpected multiple pregnancy after using veil technology, and experienced any of the issues listed above, or fear you will, you may qualify to be part of a class action lawsuit. If you qualify, an attorney will contact you to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.

Please Note: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in getting dropped from the suit, and forcing you to raise at least two children on your own. It is highly likely that Veilcorp is responsible for your multiple children. Shouldn’t they have to help you support them?