UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News

Woman's cellmate named divorce cohabitant

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- An attorney for an incarcerated woman said his client lost out on alimony from her Florida husband because a court ruled her cellmate is a cohabitant.

Attorney Steven Cripps said he was disturbed by Andrew Craissati's attempt to avoid alimony payments to his ex-wife, Patricia, by claiming her current cellmate honored a cohabitation clause in their divorce agreement, The Palm Beach (Fla.) Post said Wednesday.

But Cripps said that notion was nothing compared to the impact the 4th District Court of Appeal's support of the request could have on the legal community.

"It goes to show the most winnable case is losable and the most losable case is winnable," the attorney said after Wednesday's ruling.

Under the terms of their divorce, Craissati could stop alimony payments to his ex-wife if she remarried or was deemed to have lived with a cohabitant for at least three months.

The Post said Patricia is serving a nine-year prison sentence in relation to a driving under the influence accident.

Cripps said he will request an appeals court rehearing on the matter.

Fragrance line inspired by college smells

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A Pennsylvania chemical engineer said she is working on a line of fragrances aimed at those who are nostalgic about their university years.

Katie Masik said her Harrisburg-based company, Masik Collegiate Fragrances, has already created scents for the University of North Carolina and Penn State University and plans to have fragrances for the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University and other schools on the market next year, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Thursday.

Masik said she visits the schools and speaks with students and alumni before settling on the scent that best defines the school.

"I get a lot of requests for beer smell and sweaty football players," Masik said.

Why did the alligator cross the road?

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 11 (UPI) -- It was apparently the chicken's day off as a 5-foot alligator was spotted crossing a downtown Orlando, Fla., road, witnesses said.

Passersby said the reptile was first spotted motionless on the median of Primrose Drive near the city's downtown and began crossing the road as the crowd of onlookers grew, WFTV, Orlando, reported Thursday.

"Not something you expect to see in downtown Orlando for sure," one witness said.

An off-duty police officer with alligator trapping experience was called to the scene. He said he managed to tape up the reptile's mouth and legs but the alligator continued to struggle as it was shoved into the back of a police patrol car.

"You know, with all of the kids and stuff over here, we just need to get him out of here," the officer said.

The reptile was turned over to trappers, who said the animal will eventually be released back into the wild, the broadcaster reported.

Italian court mandates divorce cell phones

ROME, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Italy's top court said Thursday that children involved in a divorce must receive cell phones as part of maintenance payments.

The Italian news agency ANSA reported that, according to a Cassation Court ruling, divorced parents will be required to buy their children cell phones to use as daily forms of communication.

The court's ruling came from a case involving a 51-year-old divorced father identified only as M.D.

The father had been accused of avoiding payments to his ex-wife, Luise, regarded as maintenance payments for necessary supplies for his son, Lorenzo.

The court ruled that maintenance payments should extend beyond mere lodging and food, but should also include cell phone services and similar daily services.

ANSA said the court ordered M.D. to pay more than $13,300 in missing maintenance payments during the last four years.