A Jim Thorpe native, James Ottavio Castagnera, J.D., Ph.D, who, along with his daughter, Claire, pens a weekly TIMES NEWS column, "Generation Gasp," has recently published his 19th book, "Counter Terrorism Issues: Case Studies in the Classroom."
The book was published by CRC Press, a division of Taylor & Francis.
Counter Terrorism Issues: Case Studies in the Classroom presents a panoramic view of the American judiciary's handling of domestic terrorism in the past 20 years.
Drawing extensively upon trial transcripts, witness statements, and judicial opinions, the book brings the underlying events back to life and demonstrates how the criminal justice system has sought to grapple with conflicting facts and countervailing legal rights and responsibilities.
The book examines some of the most notorious recent cases - the two attacks on the World Trade Center, the Oklahoma City bombing nd the Ford Hood massacre. It also looks at lesser known, but equally important incidents, including those involving animal rights radicals who harass university researchers and corporate executives, as well as the victims of terroristic attacks to sue state sponsors of terrorism.
Through the words of witnesses, judges, and the attorneys who tried these cases in America's courtrooms, the book provides important commentary on the related back stories and historical-political contexts of these events, enabling readers to understand the significance of these infamous attacks on U.S. soil.
Castagnera has 30 years of experience in law, labor relations and risk management. He has been the director of university communication at Case Western Reserve University and a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and the Widener University School of Law. For the past 17 years, he has served as the associate provost and associate counsel for academic affairs at Rider University, where he is an associate professor of legal studies in the College of Business Administration. He has published 18 previous books, as well as numerous journal, magazine and newspaper articles, primarily on higher education and human resources law, as well as on aspects of risk management.