The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 3

Writer in bits 4-BJ Saturday, Oct. 8, 1988 The Philadelphia Inquirer 15D Book publisher is cleared in suit over dieting death By Jerry W. Byrd attorney for her family said she died by the author, Dr. Robert Linn, and In March 1983, Linn's insurer, A publicity blurb in the book's Blackburn had written on book Inquirer Staff Writer of cardiac arrest "immediately upon that the publisher, Lyle Stuart, did without admitting liability, paid hardcover edition, first published in proofs. In April 1977, Patricia Smith of Norstarting to consume real food." not make suggested changes in the $100,000 to Smith's estate.

In May of July 1976, said Stuart himself had "He specifically pointed but that ristown visited her physician with Thus began what Montgomery book although he knew beforehand this year, insurers $19.000 on followed the diet and lost 70 pounds claims to science and medicine were news of a liquid protein fasting diet County Court officials describe as that diet was seriously deficient. behalf of five other defendants, inunder Linn's care. Rutter said. citing helped her shed 66 pounds perhaps the most complicated legal At the time the suit was filed, the cluding the manufacturers and may have been able to settle Blackburn's videotaped deposition. Bathree months.

battle ever to be fought at the courtfederal Food and Drug Administratributors of the protein used in the cheaply, but Lyle Stuart is a man of "There was a substantial risk that The physician, Howard Rosenfeld, house in Norristown. tion was reporting links between at diet. That left Lyle Stuart the great principle," Gerber said. "He you would get very ill or die. was concerned.

But the 5-foot-5-inch A wrongful-death suit was filed in least 15 unexplained deaths and liqSecaucus, N.J., publishing firm that won't pay five cents to settle a case if "If you know that that which you Smith, who had once weighed about April 1979; today, three thick court uid protein dieting. is named after its founder, as the sole he believes he's right." are publishing carries a substantial 240 pounds, was determined to confolders are filled with thousands of The protein specified in the diet is defendant. In his opinion, Vogel wrote: "To risk, you are liable." tinue the daily regimen of three pages of exhibits, agreements, and to prevent the body from cannibalizOn Wednesday, President Judge hold Lyle Stuart liable for relying on Lyle Stuart was out of the country four ounces of the protein, part of a depositions from authorities on diet ing muscle tissue. William W. Vogel filed a 31-page his own author, a medical doctor and could not be reached for comroutine prescribed in the best-selling and nutrition.

Rosenfeld said in depositions that opinion that dismissed the case experienced in the area of weight ment. His daughter, Sandra Lee, a book The Last Chance Diet. When The case may have ended Wedneshe had told Smith that the diet was against Stuart. David Smith's attorloss, would be to frustrate the purjournalist who helped Linn write Everything Else Has Failed. day, when a Common Pleas Court "not medically sound" and that she ney, Thomas B.

Rutter, appealed to pose of the First Amendment and The Last Chance Diet, said in an judge issued a decision dismissing had ignored his advice to quit destate Superior Court. impose an overwhelming burden on interview that the publisher took than three months later, in the suit against the book's publisher, spite bouts of vomiting, cramps and Albert B. Gerber, the Less attorney for the free flow of ideas in our society." care to warn readers to proceed unlast visit to Rosenfeld, Smith was the only defendant left. The six othdizziness. Stuart, contended her down to 141 in an interview Rutter, however, says Stuart der medical supervision.

pounds. That was July 7, ers had settled. "Her goal was 135 by July" for a that the book accurately presented sought the opinion of Dr. George "Everyone was surprised when 1977. The suit, filed by Smith's husband.

visit to her parents in Michigan, RoLinn's diet while readers to Blackburn, a noted Harvard Medical they sued the publisher," she said. Nine days later, on the day before David, al alleged that she starved on senfeld said. It was on that visit that proceed only under medical superviSchool nutrition researcher, but "It seems to be a clear First Amendher 35th birthday, she was dead. An the "protein-sparing fast" promoted she died. sion.

then ignored the warnings that ment Jury: Firm Maximum term violated in cocaine case spirit of law By Vernon Loeb ous occasions looking for stolen CONTRIBUTIONS, from 1-B Inquirer Staff Writer property. He lived high and fell hard. Keaney said Da'ood was a "big general election. Neither Shapiro Russo was a target of the inquiry. That is probably the best way 10 fence" who had been convicted on nor The grand jury found an "unusual describe Mikal Da'ood, businessman numerous occasions for receiving pattern" of $800 contributions to guand neighborhood drug kingpin who stolen property but never sent to jail.

sold a lot of cocaine in his little Da'ood moved "what would be the bernatorial candidates by the unnamed company's employees, their corner of North Philadelphia. paper trail" of his drug business out spouses and relatives, in donations Da'ood drove a blue Cadillac El of Lehigh Discount, Keaney said, solicited by company supervisors Dorado convertible with a vanity transferring his business records to that said "Mikal." He took lavthe little room on the 1500 block of and officials. plate At one of the company's offices, the ish vacations to the Bahamas. He Glenwood Avenue. gold around his neck to In that little room, in addition to report said, nearly the entire profeswore sional staff made contributions of stock a jewelry store window.

He the pounds of cocaine, police called himself "the King." found $15,000 in cash dozens of $800 to a candidate for governor. At another office, the report said, lived high, sure," said police crude business ledgers written on most all professional staffers, Sgt. Thomas J. Liciardello. the back of cigarette cartons daily And he fell hard late ledgers noting the distributing of many of their spouses and the relatives of a Thursday night when Common Pleas Court specific quantities of cocaine to cercompany supervisor made $800 conRicardo C.

Jackson sentenced tain individuals and the amounts tributions. Judge Company supervisors lent more Da'ood, 43, of Norwood, Delaware they owed. than $25,000 to employees, their County, to to 21 years in prison. Police also found a photo album of spouses and other relatives so that The sentence was the maximum alDa'ood and his girlfriend, Hope they could make contributions, the lowable on charges of possession Miles, containing pictures from a vareport said. Employees testified, with intent to deliver cocaine, concation they took to the Bahamas.

sometimes under court order, that spiracy, and possession of drug Mikal and Queen Hope at the they got interest-free cash loans phernalia. Bahamas. We had a lovely time." from company supervisors, the Jackson convicted Da'ood of the reads an inscription inside the front grand jury said. Some of the money charges in May. cover.

came in $100 bills, and one superviDa'ood is a huge man, 6-foot-5 and Miles, 22, of the 2300 block of North sor who made loans brought the cash 250 pounds, with an affinity for Broad Street, was convicted with to the office i in a gym bag. leather clothes and heavy, ornate Da'ood of the same three charges and The grand jury said that supervigold jewelry. A photograph confissentenced Thursday to to 23 sors who handed out the money kept cated by police shows Da'ood remonths in prison. A third co-defendno records of who got loans or who splendent in a jogging suit with an ant, Steven A. Johnson, 24, of the 2300 repaid them.

They testified they inscription on the back that reads, block of West Firth Street, was senmade the loans from cash that was "Allah is God, Mikal is King, Undertenced to to five years for the "kept around the house." stand that." same charges. The campaign contributions were When police arrested him in his collected by company bosses in the Cadillac in July 1986, he was wearing to the report. The checks were forpieces in his trunk. The value of the space of "only a few days," according 25 pieces of jewelry and had 17 more Nuns waiting warded to the executive secretary of jewery was later put at $42,693. the cer for company's delivery chief to the executive candidates.

officers His arrest searched a came as rowhouse narcotics in the offi1500 for response block of Glenwood Avenue that "Although there is no evidence that Da'ood shared with his girlfriend candidates for governor had knowland used as a safe house for storing from Vatican edge of the scheme described here," drugs. the grand jury said, "actions taken by In small bedroom, the By Michael Moran a upstairs company supervisors to further what officers found pounds of cocaine Associated Press they believed were the interests of with an estimated street value at MORRIS TOWNSHIP. N.J. Five company and its chief executive the time of $700.000 as well as nuns who barricaded themselves in the officer had the unfair effect of creatphotographs, other personal effects their monastery to protect their ing the appearance of an effort to and voluminous business records. cloistered lifestyles intend to con'buy' for nomination and The records pertained to Da'ood's tinue their protest until they hear candidates election as governor of New Jersey." flourishing drug business and the 24- from the Vatican, one of the nuns It is illegal for any person or corpohour convenience store he still owns said yesterday.

ration to give more than $800 to a at 30th Street and Lehigh Avenue, The nuns are members of the Orgubernatorial candidate. The grand Discount. der of Discalced Carmelites. Four of Lehigh jury said that no law was apparently Assistant District Frank them locked themselves in the infirAttorney broken in this case because the law Keaney, who prosecuted Da'ood and mary of the Monastery of the Most is vague about loans that bankroll two co-defendants, said Lehigh DisBlessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carpolitical giving. count was apparently the place from mel on Tuesday, and they were To close what it took to be a loopwhich Da'ood operated his drug busijoined by a fifth nun the next day.

hole in the current campaign-finance ness, distributing cocaine in varying They began their unusual protest beThe Philadelphia Inquirer VICKI VALERIO quantities to small-time associates cause they feared they were about to law, the grand jury recommended that to a potential contributor HEAD IN HAND, two performers from the Makovei right side up. They did their stunts loans who then went out and sold it on the be evicted for resisting attempts by be limited to $1,600. Such loans, the Moscow Circus put on a show for patients at in the hospital lobby yesterday, before visitstreet. the Paterson diocese to liberalize the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. That's ing patients in their rooms.

The circus is on a But Lehigh Discount was hardly a monastery. grand jury said, should be made only Vladimir Anoufriev Alexander tour of the United States. safe place to store drugs and keep "We're just waiting for an answer by check, and clear records should show had lent the money. business records, Keaney said, beto our appeal from the who on top, and 15-city proper auThe jury said the law should be cause police had raided it on numerthorities in Rome," Sister Maria said toughened to ensure that no corpo-: in a telephone interview from the rate employees or union members monastery. "Hopefully, the holy faare coerced by their bosses into givther (Pope John Paul Ill will be ining money to politicans.

And it sa. 1 Coming to the Bo Boardwalk: 8-day bike formed at least of our situation. that any supervisor who pressured race "I don't know how long it will take. an employee should be committing a I hope it's soon." criminal offense. Sainz de Barandal, father general thirdThough degree recommended no crimiBy Joyce A.

Venezia Trump Plaza president Mark Etess nounced, he said, "but the general concept of a cycling race, Etess said. of the Carmelite order, said in a Associated Press said NBC was likely to televise the plan is to start in New York and Hobbs said that two of the bestnal penalties, the jury did say its telephone interview yesterday from ATLANTIC CITY Donald Trump first and last days of the race. move in a counterclockwise direcknown international cycling events Rome that he had not heard of the research should be turned over to has scored big by sponsoring heavyThe race will offer $250,000 in tion through Pennsylvania, Virginia, in the United States are the Coors situation. the state's Election Law Enforcement Commission for investigation of posweight boxing, professional wresprizes, said race Maryland, Bicycle Classic, is in There are 13 nuns at the whitedirector Don Hobbs, Delaware and New Jerwhich based tling and powerboat racing. Now he's who started working in the new sey," he said.

Colorado, and the CoreStates U.S. Pro walled monastery, which was built sible civil wrongs. betting that bicycling will be a Tour de Trump office in PleasantHobbs said there would not be a Cycling Championship, a one-day in 1926 in what was then a remote Efforts to reach officials at First too. ville, N.J., last week. women's race.

"It's difficult to run a road race each June in Philadelphia. rural The nuns said Jersey were unsuccessful. Brennan, crowd-pleaser, area. protesting men's and women's race concurrentwho sold the retail brokerage operaHe said that the details for the race "Cycling is definitely on the uptheir lives were disrupted by the tion in January 1987 to Sherwood Trump, always looking for a way to were not complete but that the plans swing in terms of popularity," Etess August 1987 arrival of a new prioress, ly," he said, "and because this is the Capital Group, also could not be bring people to his casinos, will lend were for 850 miles of racing in daily year plansaid. "We felt it would be a good Mother Teresa Hewitt, who introfirst of the event, it makes reached for comment.

his name and financial support to stages, about 18 teams, and a mixed ning easier." opportunity for Trump Plaza, beduced television, radio, brighter James Manion, a spokesman for the Tour de Trump, an eight-day race field of amateurs and professionals The creator of the race, Jeffersoncause we have long been committed lighting, less prayer, and snacks. The Russo, said that Russo stood ready to that will start May in front of from the United States and outside. Pilot TeleProductions of Charlotte, to bringing world-class events to Atprioress has not commented on the 7 work with Kean to reform the camTrump Tower in New York City and Each team will have about seven N.C., approached Trump about sponlantic protest, and a church spokeswoman, paign-finance law. Shapiro could not end May 14 on the Boardwalk in riders, he said. soring a boxing event, but when he And the name? "The answer is obNancy McLaughlin, said yesterday be reached for comment.

front of Trump Plaza Hotel Casino. The race route has not been andeclined, the company presented the vious Trump is hot. Trump sells." that the diocese had no comment. Judge delays parent-test decision in divorce in December. Twigg.

determined by testing the maternal CHILD, from 1-B daughter of either Regina or Ernest sota." Ellin said, "and that can be 15 arrested at migrant camp The identities of the girl and her At yesterday's hearing, Ellin said grandmother's blood and the father's father The have Twiggs not have been requested revealed. that that the child Twiggs do from not the want father. to "rip blood, because the he will Twiggs find that reared in his all Drugs seized in Gloucester County raid away" as probability, the girl be tested by the Johns Hopthe man's attorneys have charged. daughter." kins delay, By John Way Jennings sion of the drugs with intent to distibute. He was University Immunogenetics "They are willing to share her," Ellin Ginsburg demanded a sayStaff which known for to do his own Inquirer being held in the Gloucester County Jail after he Laboratory, is said.

ing he wanted time procedures of of the Police raided migrant labor 111 Glouceswas unable to post $55,000 bail. Augustus Rose, highly sophisticated He also said the results could be research into the facts case. a camp establishing It Johns what the big ter County and arrested 15 people, mostly for who resides at the labor camp, was charged with parentage. was kept secret, known only to the judge. "I don't understand Hopkins that said that Arlena Twigg rush is." said.

"This child disorderly conduct, after a two-month investigaconspiracy to distribute marijuana. He was all probability, Arlena Twigg is Ginsburg of drug dealing, authorities said. leased on $1,500 bail. could not have been the biological the child of the gentleman in Sarahas been with this father for 10 tion been doing just fine. Forty-six bags of cocaine valued at a total of One man was charged with resisting arrest and years.

They've what's the rush and big $920 and a small amount of marijuana were possession of marijuana, and was released on And big Two are charged in death of man, 82 emergency? Who's thinking about recovered the raid at 6:50 p.m. Thursday at Zee $1,000 bail. Four men and eight women were the child here?" Orchards Inc. on Route 322 in Harrison Towncharged with disorderly conduct and released on United Press International that Walters had ship, near the Glassboro line, Gloucester County their own recognizance. mation in August "I believe the Twiggs are thinking TITUSVILLE, Pa.

Two men have been beaten to death and robbed. about it, Mr. Ginsburg." Ellin broke Prosecutor Richard E. Hickey 3d said yesterday. More than 25 police officers from the Gloucesbeen charged in the death of a CrawTimothy Rainey, 21, of Curwens111.

"They'd like to know if their He said there was no evidence that the orchard ter County Prosecutor's Office Narcotic Task ford County man whose body was ville, Clearfield County, was arrested daughter's living and if it's that owners were aware that drugs were on the propForce took part in the raid, which also included found on the floor of his unheated Thursday on charges of criminal child, and we have reason to believe erty. officers from the Harrison Township and Glasshome in February, state police said. homicide, robbery, burglary and that she is." Vincent Reed, of Glassboro, was charged with boro Police Departments and the Newdlersey said Thursday they initially theft. Identical charges were filed After the hearing. Ellin said the possession of marijuana and cocaine and possesState Police.

Police thought the death of Wilbert Walagainst Daniel Cox. 19. who was judge's ruling delayed "the inevitaters, 82, of Titusville, was accidental. jailed in Virginia Beach. on unble.

I don't think there's any way the But police said they received inforrelated charges, police said. testing can be avoided." he said..