Regional Roundup: 'Caylee's Law' Introduced in Georgia, Elderly Targeted in Burglary Scam, and Kroger Loses Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit

'Caylee's Law' Would Require Parents to Report Missing Children Within 18 Hours -- Lilburn Patch

"Caylee Anthony's Law," legislation introduced by State House Rep. B.J. Pak of Lilburn this week, would require parents to report a missing child within 18 hours.

“Many, including myself, were outraged by the outcome of Casey Anthony’s trial,” said Rep. Pak. in an emailed release. “We felt that justice was never served for the death of Caylee."

HB 974 has two measures: Parents or guardians of children under the age of 13 would be required to stay in contact or to verify the child's safety. If 18 hours pass without contact of verification, parents must report the child as missing to law enforcement. "Willful, knowing or ciminally ngeligent" failure to report would carry a penalty of one to 10 years in prison, according to the release.

The law would also require parents or guardians to report the death of a child younger than 16 within 12 hours of death, and intentional failure to report could be punished with one to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of as much as $5,000. The minimum fine would be $1,000.

Similar legislation has been introduced in at least 14 states, including Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee, the release said, and 12 more states are planning to introduce such legislation.

Police Warn of Rising Home Burglary Scams -- Loganville-Grayson Patch

Police are warning citizens about a home burglary scam in which the suspects either act like they know the victims or pretend that they are at the residence to work.

At the February TRIAD meeting in Loganville, Chief Deputy Bruce Wright and  Chief Mike McHugh warned local seniors to be on the lookout for similar type scams.

"We know seniors are the easiest people to scam," Wright said. "If something doesn't look right, call a neighbor, call one of your children or call 911."

"We would rather you call 911 and come out to find it was something legitimate than have you not call," McHugh added.

In Gwinnett, two such cases were reported recently in Lilburn, Cpl. Jake Smith said in an email. In both, the suspects used the same mode of operation, pretending they were there to work.

"In each case a Hispanic male lured the victim to the back of the home to inspect the property line," according to the email. "The suspect spoke on a walkie-talkie in Spanish to an unknown person while with the victims. The victims later reported that they were missing jewelry and cash."

The suspects appear to target elderly, white females.

Douglasville Man Awarded $2.3 Million in Lawsuit Against Kroger –Douglasville Patch

Douglasville resident Craig Walters, 49, received an award of $2,365,238.40 after a Gwinnett County judge determined that Kroger destroyed and manipulated evidence.

A jury awarded Walters the money Jan. 27 based on an incident that happened in May 2008 while he was shopping at the Kroger grocery store on Ridge Road in Douglasville.

According to that news release from the Bell Law Firm, Walters slipped on some crushed fruit on the floor near the grocery's deli area and fell on his back. He suffered a spinal injury that required back-fusion surgery and the placement of rods and screws to stabilize his spine.

Walters had almost $135,000 in medical bills and couldn't work. 

Gwinnett State Court Judge Joseph Iannazzone determined Kroger had destroyed the video evidence and “acted in bad faith in failing to preserve the evidence and manipulating evidence to excuse its actions,” the news release said.

As a result, the judge determined as a matter of law that Kroger was 100 percent negligent for the fall.