A mother who sued an Artesia motel after her two young daughters were exposed to a pornographic film on television was awarded $85,000 by a jury Friday. In August 2006, Edwina McCombs of Nashville was visiting Southern California with her daughters, who were 8 and 9 at the time. The family stayed at Value Lodge at 11854 Artesia Blvd. McCombs went to take a bath while the girls were watching a children's TV show. Soon after, the girls somehow changed the channel to a porn film, said Eliot F. Krieger, McCombs' attorney."It was unclear how long they were exposed to it, but they knocked on the bathroom door and said, 'Mommy, something's wrong,' " Krieger said. During the trial, a hotel expert testified that he had never heard of a family-style hotel or motel that did not require adult verification to access pornographic films, Krieger said. The motel owner, Charles Su, argued that guests were encouraged to tell the front desk to block access to the adult channel, said Max C. Chiang, Su's attorney. "We offered to settle for $50,000 before the case, so it's just $30,000  more. We're OK," Chiang said. The jury at Superior Court in Norwalk awarded McCombs $65,000 in economic damages, which include medical and legal bills, and $20,000 for emotional distress , Krieger said."The jury did the right thing and are sending a message  to other hotels," he added. Mom who sued motel over porn film wins $85,000

AGGRESSIVE CRACKDOWN As the Justice Department steps up an aggressive crackdown on Internet child pornography, a little-noticed provision of a sex offender law is making it harder for defense attorneys to review some of the most important evidence against its suspected purveyors and consumers.In response to a section of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, judges and prosecutors are requiring defense attorneys and computer forensic experts to examine digital pornography images on computers at government facilities, rather than receiving their own copies. Often, FBI agents stationed in the rooms monitor their activities.The new provision has triggered an emotional debate about the constitutional rights of suspects who are accused of some of the most heinous crimes.Supporters say the measure is needed to prevent children from being revictimized by unnecessary copying and distributing of the digital contraband. Many of the images gathered as part of the evidence depict very young children being raped and beaten. Lawyers: New law makes child-porn defense tougher

ANYONE CAN GET IT The politically correct mantra about HIV/AIDS is that “anybody can get it.” This half-truth is as bizarre as pointing to the tragic death of professional naturalist Steve Irwin, best known as “The Crocodile Hunter,” and saying “anyone can die from the barb of a stingray.” There is an obvious missing piece in both instances. You’re not going to die from a stingray’s barb unless you dive in waters that are home to stingrays. Likewise, unless you (1) Have intimate sexual contact with someone who is infected with the HIV/AIDS virus, (2) Share contaminated needles to do drugs, or (3) Are a healthcare worker who comes in direct contact with the body fluids of an infected person (or as in the heartrending

case of Kimberly Bergalis, who contracted AIDS from her infected dentist), you will not, I repeat, you will NOT contract HIV/AIDS. Anybody Can Get It?

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