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Violent Weather Dominates Holiday Weekend Forecast; Pontiff Butler Arrested for Leaking Confidential Information From Vatican; Are Bain Capital Employees Funding Ads Attacking Romney?; TAPS Camp Good Grief Helps Families of Fallen Servicemembers; Woman Sues Former Employers for Firing for Her Looks; Man Gets Dumped, Sues Ex-Fiance

Aired May 26, 2012 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Well, it is, indeed, a holiday weekend but it's also a big hassle for folks trying to get around, trying get to the coast, et cetera. This Memorial Day weekend is not unlike many prior to it. Violent weather is hitting almost every region of the country.

Meteorologist Bonnie Schneider is tracking all of it from the CNN Weather Center. So we know a lot of folks are on the road and the last thing they want to do is run into some crazy weather. That's what they will find on the East Coast.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, AMS METEOROLOGIST: That's right, Fredricka. Unfortunately for those of you that are on the Carolina coast we're monitoring the tropics. Now I know it's not officially hurricane season. That will begin June 1st. But we're already up to letter B in the alphabet.

This is a subtropical storm, meaning this storm has characteristics, tropical characteristics and cooler characteristics. So it's kind of a hybrid. A typical subtropical storm, a lot of the convection is further away from the center of circulation. Not to say that that convection or thunderstorm activity won't impact the U.S.

We are expecting more of a westward movement. So this storm, by the time we get to Sunday and Monday, should bring substantial rainfall to northern Florida. That's something we're watching. It will be beneficial because the region has been hit by a drought.

Well, here's something that hasn't been beneficial. More severe weather in Kansas. We have some pictures to show you of some of the tornadoes, these are storm reports that popped up yesterday. It was a real volatile day for Kansas.

Look at that tornado. Incredible pictures coming to us from storm chasing video. It's really -- when you see the light behind it, you really get a nice viewpoint of what the tornado looks like with the narrow vortex coming down at the bottom. And, incidentally, that's when the tornado's strongest winds are right at the end of that tornado. It looks like this one -- yes, you can hear the hail.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Still here. Is it working? SCHNEIDER: You can hear the hail. It's hard to say whether that one particularly touched down. But we had at least one injured, as you can see from this report, and a home leveled. We're in the heart of severe weather season. So we're not over yet.

Something else that's also a danger, and it's kind of known as the silent killer, because you may not think that heat is as dangerous as a tornado. But actually more people die every year typically from heat related injuries, illnesses, rather, than we do see in severe weather. So keep in mind today heat is dangerous. High temperatures will be in the 90s for many areas, and that's 10 degrees above normal.

However, if you're heading to the beach for some relief, we have some good news for you. The water temperatures' in the low 80s around the Gulf, and through much of Florida. Today the weather is fine along the Carolina coast. It's more tomorrow we're anticipating the impact of Beryl.

And also in the Northeast a nice looking weekend, I know there's some clouds for Cape Cod. But overall it's going to be nice out there for the holiday weekend.

Fredricka, the water temperature, though, is in the 60s so a little cool to take a dip in the ocean off the Jersey shore.

WHITFIELD: Yes, I guess so, cool but then a little refreshing if you're looking at the air temperature in some places, too.

SCHNEIDER: That's true.

WHITFIELD: So, Bonnie, how unusual is this, though, we're already on B, the second letter in the Atlantic hurricane storm list and we haven't even officially gotten to hurricane season.

SCHNEIDER: It is unusual. We've seen now storms both on the Pacific side and Atlantic side, now a total of four named storms before the hurricane season began.

The Pacific season already did begin. It's not an indication per se of a very active year but just a reminder it's important to be prepared. Hurricane season is definitely on the way and we're already getting activity that will impact it. The impact will be felt this weekend.

WHITFIELD: All right. And that's right. People can read about that and get those storm preparation tips from your book, because that's your specialty.

SCHNEIDER: That's right, "Extreme Weather".

WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Bonnie.

SCHNEIDER: Sure.

WHITFIELD: Appreciate that.

From stormy weather to dangerous fires, flames are racing through an area of Michigan that normally would attract a lot of visitors this Memorial Day weekend. The upper peninsula along Lake Superior, a wildfire has scorched 21,000 acres there.

And in Florida a raging brush fire caused major problems this weekend for people trying to get to another major tourist attraction. That would be Disney World. Heavy smoke and flames forced police to shut down traffic in both directions along a major highway near the amusement park. The road has since been reopened. Good news there.

All right. One of the men closest to Pope Benedict XVI is under arrest for allegedly leaking confidential church documents. Italian media identified him as the pontiff's butler. He was one of only a handful of people with access to the pope's desk. You can see him here actually riding in the front seat of the Popemobile.

The Vatican launched an investigation after hundreds of the pope's personal letters and other confidential papers were leaked to a journalist. CNN senior Vatican correspondent John Allen is following the developments from Rome. He's joining us right now by phone.

So, John, first off, better explain the role of this butler. This is really someone who operates closely with -- we're seeing the images again -- he's riding alongside the pope in the Popemobile. So this is someone who has great access to not just the pope but everything that's important and personal to the pope.

JOHN ALLEN, SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: Hey, Fredricka. Yes, that's absolutely right. I mean, popes, like presidents and prime ministers tend to sort of live in a bubble. Most people don't have daily access to them.

The only exception to that would be the members of his personal household, that is the roughly dozen or so folks that work directly in the papal apartments. He's got a couple of priest secretaries there. There are four consecrated lay women who prepare his meals and then he's got two or three butlers and personal assistants.

The guy in question -- and by the way his identity is no longer just a matter of rumors in the Italian media. The Vatican issued a statement today confirming it, that it's Paolo Gabriele (ph), one of those papal butlers, who has direct daily unmediated access to the pope.

So this is someone who works directly in the papal household, and someone the pope would have perceived as a member of his personal family.

WHITFIELD: So these documents and papers of the pope's was leaked to a journalist. Did the journalist actually publish or make public these documents and that's how this was uncovered?

ALLEN: Yes, the leaks started rolling out in January and February via an Italian television program called "The Untouchables;" they then started showing up in a number of Italian papers.

This week, this journalist you're referring to, a guy by the name of John Luigi Nuzzi (ph) published a book called "The Secret Letters of Benedict XVI," collecting hundreds of these leaked documents with photocopies. So it wasn't simply reports on the documents but actually the hard copies of the documents themselves, which meant it was the real deal.

The Vatican launched an investigation back in February, but didn't make much headway. What happened with the release of the book this week, is that it became clear that some of these documents couldn't just have come from a variety of Vatican offices but they had to come directly from the papal apartment, which allowed investigators to narrow their focus to the people who had direct access to the pope.

WHITFIELD: Does it appear as though this was one giant leak, one big bulk of information or was it over a period of time that there were dribbles of papers and letters that this butler allegedly had been giving to this journalist?

ALLEN: Well, Italian media are reporting that when the Vatican security services searched Gabriele's (ph) apartment, they found not only stacks of documents but they also found fairly sophisticated reproduction equipment, photocopying and cameras and so forth, which would suggest that he had been taking documents and reproducing them over a fairly considerable arc of time.

It's also the case that these leaks started happening just after the beginning of the year and they have unfolded ever since --

WHITFIELD: (Inaudible) --

ALLEN: -- which would also suggest that this wasn't just a once and for all thing but, in fact, these documents were being taken as they appeared and then leaked sequentially.

WHITFIELD: And so real quickly, John, in about 15 seconds or so, of these documents, this information leaked, anything rather incriminating, anything particularly revealing about the pope, or very personal, even embarrassing?

ALLEN: Well, certainly the documents about Vatican finances has been -- those leaks have been very embarrassing for the Vatican,. because of course they are trying to persuade the world they have turned a corner in the direction of transparency, they're trying to get on the European white list for anti-money laundering compliance. These leaks have obviously not been helpful from that point of view.

WHITFIELD: OK. John Allen, senior Vatican analyst, joining us. Thanks so much for your time, appreciate an insight. We'll see you later on.

All right. Back in this country, after 33 years, police have finally charged a suspect in the Etan Patz case. Pedro Hernandez told police he lured the 6-year-old with promise of a soda, choked him to death and then dumped his body in a trash can. He's in a Manhattan hospital on suicide watch. Hernandez' attorney says he has had mental problems over the years.

Some Obama campaign ads are blasting Mitt Romney's old firm Bain Capital. You won't believe who may have paid for them. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: The private equity firm that Mitt Romney used to run is compared to a vampire in a recent ad from the Obama campaign. But wait until you hear who have -- who's paid for those ads bashing Bain Capital. CNN's Dana Bash has that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's start with --

DANA BASH, CNN CONTRIBUTOR (voice-over): The Obama ads are harsh.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They closed it down. They filed for bankruptcy.

BASH (voice-over): Testimonials like this about Bain Capital, the private equity firm Mitt Romney used to run.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was like a vampire. They came in and sucked the life out of us.

BASH (voice-over): The irony: some of the money to pay for this TV ad may have come from inside the very company Team Obama is demonizing in it, Bain Capital. It turns out employees of Bain Capital have given $124,900 in donations to the Obama campaign in this election cycle.

And three of those Bain Capital donors, Mark Nunnelly (ph), Steven Paliucca (ph) and Jonathan Levine (ph) have given the president's re- election efforts the maximum amount allowed by law, $35,800.

In the case of Levine (ph), he didn't just write his own check to the president, he's what's called a bundler, a fundraiser who helps the Obama campaign raise money from others. One hundred twenty-five thousand is a lot of money from people who work at a company the Obama campaign and his allies vilify, like in this super PAC ad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bain Capital always makes money. If we lost, they made money. If we survived, they made money. It's as simple that is.

BASH (voice-over): All of the nearly $125,000 in donations to the Obama campaign from Bain employees were made in 2011, well before the president's team started accusing Romney of killing jobs while at Bain.

Still the Obama campaign tells CNN they do not intend to return any campaign cash from Bain employees. No one aside from Mitt Romney is running for president, highlighting their tenure as corporate buyout specialist as one of job creation when, in fact, his goal was profit maximization, said Obama campaign spokesman Ben La Bolt.

But isn't it hypocritical for the Obama campaign to keep money from employees of a company it goes after as job killers? Here is the Democratic chairwoman's answer.

REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, DNC CHAIRWOMAN: Accepting a contribution from some -- from a particular person involved in venture capital and criticizing Mitt Romney, who has made his record as a venture capitalist at Bain, the central focus of his credibility and his qualification for being president are completely different things.

BASH: We put calls into the Bain Capital employees who donated to the president to ask if they will demand their money back now. No one returned our calls. A spokesman for Bain Capital did get back to us and said in a statement that it is not a political organization and does not take a position of any kind on candidates.

He also said that Bain Capital celebrates the fact that its employees are, quote, "active in civic affairs and philanthropy across a range of organizations with various policy and political views." -- Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And in an industry dominated by men, how can a woman compete and grow her business? One woman knows. You'll meet her.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: In this week's "Smart is the New Rich," a blueprint for success. Christine Romans talks with a small business owner who has seen tremendous growth in her business, despite being one of only a handful of women in her field.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): In tough times and in a tough business, Aerial Design and Build has found a blueprint for growth.

RUPILA SETHI, AERIAL DESIGN AND BUILD: We felt there was a big need for a construction company that catered to mid-sized projects, that was professional, transparent.

ROMANS (voice-over): The construction firm has grown from revenue of $400,000 a year to $4 million, and from two employees to 12 in just two years. So how did Rupila Sethi and her partner, Julie Kelly, do it? They say the first thing they did was think bigger.

SETHI: Right now it feels like Aerial Design and Build has its own individuality. It's its own person, it's no longer just attached to my name and Julie's name.

ROMANS (voice-over) Sethi got help with that from Count Me In for Women's Economic Independence, a nonprofit founded by Nell Merlino.

NELL MERLINO, CEO, COUNT ME IN FOR WOMEN'S ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE: I think what she was missing was just that push, the permission and the vision to grow it much bigger. She certainly had the capability.

ROMANS (voice-over): Second, Sethi says, learn to say no. The construction business is fiercely competitive, even more so since the recession. That's put the squeeze on profit margins for contractors.

SETHI: They want to you knock off your price and knock off that extra 30, 40, whatever the thousand dollars.

ROMANS: Don't you turn down business sometimes?

SETHI: Sometimes. Yes. The first time we had to say no.

ROMANS: What a privilege.

SETHI: It was very hard.

ROMANS (voice-over): Finally, you can't get bigger without some help.

SETHI: My advice would be to (inaudible) grow their business, start by hiring even a part-time employee, and then a full-time employee so that you can focus on marketing and doing what you're best at.

ROMANS: By bringing in more employees, does that help bring in more business.

SETHI: Absolutely. A lot of our employees have a lot of connections that they have made over the last two years that they worked in industry.

(CROSSTALK)

ROMANS: You (inaudible) advertise --

SETHI: -- word of mouth.

ROMANS: It's word of mouth. It's really face-to-face doing business with people that gets you more business?

SETHI: Absolutely. We have a reputation of being on budget, on schedule and providing quality workmanship. I think people like to hear that. When they actually -- we achieve that, they are very thrilled and that leads to more word of mouth.

ROMANS (voice-over): Christine Romans, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: An actress, Sharon Stone, is at the center of a lawsuit by her former nanny, who claims the actress insulted her Filipino heritage. Among other things, our legal guys are ready to weigh in on this case.

And if you have to go out today, just a reminder, you can continue watching CNN from your mobile phone, you can also watch CNN live from your laptop. Just go to CNN.com/TV.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Sharon Stone is being sued by her former live-in nanny for wrongful termination violating labor laws. And she also claims the actress insulted her Filipino heritage. Let's bring in our legal guys.

Avery Friedman, a civil rights attorney and law professor in Cleveland, good to see you.

AVERY FRIEDMAN, CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY: Hi, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: And Richard Herman, a New York criminal defense attorney and law professor, joining us from Las Vegas. Good to see you.

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Hi, Fred.

WHITFIELD: OK. So Erlina Elemen (ph) says she was fired February of last year because of her Filipino heritage -- this is her accusation -- and because of her accent, also alleging that the actress is guilty of racial harassment, sweatshop conditions and wrongful termination. That's the basis of the lawsuit. How difficult will this be to prove?

Or, Richard, I should say, how will Erlina (ph) go about trying to prove this?

HERMAN: Well, the first mistake Sharon Stone made here, Fred, was not to convince her nanny to make her some great lopia (ph) and adobo, like Alisa Nana (ph). I mean, that's great good, great Filipino food.

Anyway, this is a very difficult case for the nanny to prove. She worked there for five years, Fred. It's going to be her word against Sharon Stone's word. This was an employment at will. There's no written agreement here.

Five years she worked. Then she tried, when she got terminated, she tried to get workers' compensation, then she tried to get disability, she got rejected on all that. Eighteen months later she brings this lawsuit. I don't think it's going anywhere. At best there may be a minimal out of court settlement. But if she pushes it to the hilt, I don't think she's get a dime.

WHITFIELD: OK. And, you know, Avery, Sharon Stone has called it, quote, "an absurd lawsuit" with, quote, "made up and fabricated claims" filed by a, quote, "disgruntled ex-employee who was obviously looking to get money any way she can."

So just as Richard said, this is going to be kind of she said, she said?

FRIEDMAN: Well, it may very well be. In many of these cases an employee will document events. Whether Erlina Elemen (ph) documented anything or shared the events with anyone we do not know.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Or maybe some recordings?

FRIEDMAN: But significant to me are two -- well, that's right. There may be that also. But what's significant to me, is that if they had that kind of smoking gun evidence, it seems to me they wouldn't have waited 18 months to bring suit. They may have tried to negotiate.

But the bottom line is, there was a press conference where the lawyer said this is on behalf of all people who are underpaid or not paid enough.

I mean, no, it's not. It's a case involving Erlina Elemen (ph). And so is there a different agenda? Is there an agenda not set forth in the lawsuit? I don't know. I would hate to agree, but I think this case had a really tough way to go against Sharon Stone.

WHITFIELD: Yes, do you think it will be accepted by the court to even proceed?

FRIEDMAN: Oh, yes, the case will go forward, sure. But the question is what kind of evidence surfaces. And at the point where they can't produce it, the case may dispose of it before it ever gets to trial.

WHITFIELD: Wow. All right. Let's go on to another case, this is out of New Jersey. This is involving men and women, Linda and David Kubert, who were on their motorcycle when they were hit by Kyle Best.

Both David and Linda lost their legs. Kyle apparently was texting his girlfriend at the time of the accident. And so the Kuberts wanted to include the girlfriend in this suit and hold her culpable to negligence here. But a New Jersey judge ruled that the woman who was texting the boyfriend cannot be held liable for this crash.

So what now, Avery?

FRIEDMAN: Well, I appreciate what David Rand (ph), who was the judge in Morris (ph) County did and his ruling came down yesterday, the first of its type.

But I think the issue in this case, the Kubert case is much larger than the decision, because one of the arguments that was made was that Shannon Colonna, who was the girlfriend of Kyle, the motorcycle driver -- or the car driver was not there physically present, but she was electronically present.

And while the court was right in making sure that Kyle, the motorcycle driver, was liable, will be on the line, I think the court should have thought more deeply and decided whether or not Shannon distracted him, as if she were in the car.

I think the case, the decision will stand. But I think legislatures and courts are going to be dealing with this more and more, because text messaging and driving ultimately creates a problem. I think both courts and legislatures are going to start dealing with it.

WHITFIELD: Yes, and I guess it's a two-way street. If you're actively texting to someone who is actively responding right away, then they are virtually kind of present.

So, Richard, if the judge has ruled that Shannon, the girlfriend, was not aware of the risk, how do you go about that argument, in that she likely knew that he was driving. So was she not aware of the risks involved in this constant back and forth while the car was moving?

HERMAN: You know, the Fred, the sole person responsible for operating pursuant to the rules of the road is the driver. So that's where the judge came down here. The physical presence versus electronic presence, that was an issue that was raised. And I agree with Avery, I think future legislatures and courts are going to deal with cases like this.

But the judge was very fearful of opening a floodgate of cases where drivers are going to claim they were distracted, either by a billboard or by some group on the side of the road or any kind of distraction. Are you going to be able to call them co-defendants in a case like this? I don't know.

Horrible, horrific injuries here, loss of limbs. And that is significant to me that hasn't been mentioned yet, the driver did not get his license suspended or revoked, so he continues to drive. Horrible case, minimal insurance coverage for these poor people that were victimized by this truck driver. He's pled guilty to criminal charges of operating and -- it's just a horrible, horrible case --

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: The court is actually requiring the car driver to go from high school to high school to talk about what can happen when you're texting while driving.

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: I think that's an important part of the sentence.

WHITFIELD: Yes, trying to make it a teaching moment. But as you said, the other two lost their limbs. But in the end, it's a tragic case, no matter which way you look at it.

OK. So we're going to see you again, gentlemen, in about 20 minutes, we're going to talk about another pretty fiery case, this one involving a woman who claims that she was fired from her job for being too sexy.

All right. And sometimes when soldiers come home, they find their world has changed. Our CNN Hero helps veterans cope with life and find new meaning to it. We'll tell you that story.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: On this Memorial Day weekend, we honor those who died serving their country. We also want to remember those who served and came home.

Today's CNN Hero is a former Marine who has made it his mission to help fellow vets find a new purpose by giving them a new way to serve.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JAKE WOOD, CNN HERO: In the military everyone's taught how to lead, taught how to follow, solve problems. We really pride ourselves on being ready and willing go everywhere. I started in the Marine Corps, deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. When I first saw the quake that hit Haiti, a lot of the images before driving through the streets of Fallujah. I knew I could actually help out. I put on Facebook, I'm going to Haiti, who's in, 27 hours after that, we were on our way to Port-au-Prince. We got to work setting up a triage clinic. We realized veterans are really useful in these types of situations.

I'm Jake Wood and I want to help veterans transition to civilian life and help others in need. It really started as a disaster relief organization, and then we realized we can help the veteran communication as well. We bring these veterans together to be a part of a team once again. They are almost recharged.

When you get out, you have a feeling what are you doing that's important in the world. It's a great opportunity to help people in need. Most of the work we do is international. We've got to Chile, Sudan, Pakistan. Here at home we've been in Tuscaloosa, Joplin, doing debris, clearing operations, search and rescue. We have about 1,400 volunteers and about 80 percent of them are military veterans. Helping other people is part of the healing process.

There's really no limit to what veterans can do. We have the ability to help and want to serve. I think it's a win/win situation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: To find out how a fellow veteran's death shaped Jake's mission go to CNNheroes.com. Remember, heroes are chosen from someone you tell us about. If you know someone like Jake Wood who has made a difference, go to CNNheroes.com. Your nomination could help them help others.

Families of fallen servicemembers are spending this Memorial Day weekend together at a camp unlike any other.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Checking the top stories.

Bad weather brewing in the Atlantic with storm warnings issued from northern Florida to South Carolina. You're looking at Subtropical Storm Beryl, with sustained winds of up to 45 miles an hour. Experts say it's likely to strengthen into a tropical storm over this holiday weekend dumping heavy rain wherever it lands.

A tense holiday weekend for former presidential candidate, John Edwards. Jurors in his corruption trial failed to reach a verdict on their sixth day of deliberations. They won't convene again until after the Memorial Day holiday. Edwards is accused of violating campaign finance laws by using nearly a million dollars in donations to hide his sexual affair with Rielle Hunter.

See those majestic ships sailing into New York Harbor? They are all part of Fleet Week. That's when Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard dock in the harbor and explore the city. This year, the parade of seafaring vessels is celebrating the bicentennial of the 1812 War.

In Arlington, Virginia, family members of fallen servicemembers are getting together a unique camp. It's called Camp Good Grief. It's giving them something no ordinary camp can.

CNN's Athena Jones is at that camp right now.

So, Athena, what is this annual event all about?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. Well, this is a four-day weekend. It's chook-full of events. They have been doing this for 18 years, this organization, TAPS. It brings together, as you mentioned, the families of fallen servicemembers. They may have lost a member of the military who was killed in action or on a training incident or even a suicide. They don't discriminate against how a person was killed or where. They bring these family members together to relate to others going through the same thing. There's a whole list of things.

For adults, they can talk to grief counselors. They're offering seminars where they can talk about how to move forward after the loss of a loved one. For children they get together with mentors, veterans or people who lost someone. They go on activities, Arlington Cemetery, museums. They'll have a picnic. There's also art therapy, dance therapy, yoga, massage therapy. There will be a banquet at the end. There's a chance for children to write messages to loved ones and attach them to a balloon for a big balloon release later on. The whole idea is to bring the people together, spend time with others going through what they are going through and who can understand where they are coming from.

We had a chance to speak earlier with founder, Bonnie Carroll, who founded TAPS back in 1994. Here is what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BONNIE CARROLL, FOUNDER, TAPS: Grief is not a mental illness. Grief is not a physical injury. Grief is a wound of the heart. And the absolute most therapeutic comfort for someone grieving the loss of a loved one is to talk with another young widow who was pregnant at the time of a loss, a mom grieving the loss of her only child, a family struggling to honor their son's service.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: And you know, Ms. Carroll talked about the importance of peer to peer, talking to one another. As we know, 364 people died in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We're talking about family members of people who were killed in relation to those wars but not necessarily on the battlefield. At least 10 times the number of people killed, so more than 60,000 people have been affected by the loss of these family members. They're all coming together.

One thing we heard people say, I wish I had not met this person or that person under these circumstances, but I'm really glad I did meet them. People develop lifelong friendships here. Many of them carry on and they stay in touch with people who live in their general area, plan events and that sort of thing back home in Texas or Mississippi or wherever they may be -- Fredricka?

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much. Athena Jones. Appreciate that. In Arlington.

He thought they were going to walk down the aisle and say, "I do." Now their next date will be in a courtroom because she said, "I don't," and broke off the engagement. Our legal guys have some pretty strong opinions about this one.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: A New Jersey woman claims she was wrongfully fired from her job at a Manhattan lingerie distributor. Lauren Odes said it had nothing to do with her performance. She says it was because of how she looked and what she wore.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAUREN ODES, SUING FORMER EMPLOYER: When I was first told that I was, quote, "too hot," end quote, and that my breasts were too large, I was shocked. I thought that I was dressed appropriately every day for my job.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WHITFIELD: And now she is suing her former bosses for discrimination.

Our legal guys are back with this one -- Avery Friedman, in Cleveland; Richard Herman, in Las Vegas.

All right, gentlemen.

Avery, you first.

She's alleging that they fired her because she's, in her words, "too hot, too sexy." They knew who she was. If it was about her, I guess, image, didn't they assess and think about that when they hired her? What might have changed?

FRIEDMAN: Well, I don't know because she was a temp worker. She was there for two days, Fredricka. That was it. What's very interesting, unless some employees at the lingerie company are going to back her up, I don't know how one proves that. She claims they wanted her to tape her breast down and minimize her mammaries, be less sexy or something like that. But at the press conference, which was a bit tasteless -- I don't know if the lawyer could have gotten closer to the plaintiff than she did. The bottom line is that it's an intriguing issue of whether or not Lauren Odes was picked on because of her gender and because of religion. She claims that the bosses were orthodox people and they were very conservative. But it was a lingerie company. So I think it's --

(LAUGHTER)

It's pending at the EEOC.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Conservative isn't usually the word that goes with lingerie company. Is that what you're saying?

(LAUGHTER)

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: Yes, something -- I don't know. I don't know.

WHITFIELD: Richard, she says it can't be about qualifications. She has a bachelor's degree in business administration. As far as she knows she was doing a good job. What does she need to prove her case that she was discriminated against because of her image, her body?

RICHARD HERMAN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY, LAW PROFESSOR & CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Fred, a day and a half she worked. A day and a half. This case is a bust, Fred. Come on. You know it is.

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: What do you mean?

FRIEDMAN: What does that mean?

HERMAN: She's got a --

(CROSSTALK)

HERMAN: -- in Vegas will fix her up. Listen --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: She's alleging they asked her to tape down her breast to make them smaller.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Those are her words on the complaint.

HERMAN: How do you get -- how do you get to sexual discrimination and religious discrimination here is beyond me. The fact that Gloria All- wrong is in this case has tells you --

(CROSSTALK)

HERMAN: Relax.

(LAUGHER)

HERMAN: This is ridiculous. This case is so stupid. To waste the court's time and anybody's time with this employee --

(CROSSTALK)

HERMAN: -- employee, at-will employee, no written agreement. No employment contract. No nothing. Come on. She says --

FRIEDMAN: So what? HERMAN: -- my performance was great at work. A day and a half. Come on. They had every right to fire her. They fired her. This case is going nowhere.

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: That's not true.

WHITFIELD: OK, Avery, what part of that do you disagree with?

FRIEDMAN: Well, I mean, look, we're assuming facts. If some of the managers and employees back her up when the EEOC does an investigation -- it is not in court --

HERMAN: Oh, yes, that'll happen.

FRIEDMAN: -- for the agency, then there may be something there.

Look, I think it's unlikely. But you know what, give the young woman a chance. It sounds ridiculous. Yes, there was a tasteless press conference, but it's got nothing to do with the merits. Give her a shot. Give her a chance.

WHITFIELD: OK, we did reach out to the distributor, Native Intimates. They have no comment on the lawsuit as of yet.

Meantime, let's move onto another case that has a lot of people talking and thinking what would I do in their shoes. A young couple, planning to walk down the aisle. Stephen Silverstein (ph) and a young lady by the name of Kendra Platley (ph) were planning -- had a lot of plans in place to get married. She apparently broke off the engagement and now he is suing her for something in the area of $50,000, Richard, for deposits that were put down, flowers, the venue of the wedding, and for half of the rent, back rent, he says.

(LAUGHTER)

So this is rather unusual. We heard of definitely a bride or groom jilted, wounded, being upset. We're talking about a lawsuit. I'm suing you for breaking off the engagement? Is this a legitimate suit?

HERMAN: Hell hath no furry, Fred. I don't know. She told him, I'm a Cali girl, not a New Yorker. This is the second time around for this couple on the verge of getting married.

WHITFIELD: Yes. They broke up before.

HERMAN: Deposits -- right -- deposits for the photographer, videographer, hotel. Come on. She stole $54,000 from their joint account --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: Well, that's what he says, that he alleges.

HERMAN: Well -- (CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: It was a joint account, so are you stealing?

FRIEDMAN: Come on.

HERMAN: It's going to be easy to prove she took that money. She definitely owes him --

FRIEDMAN: It's a joint account.

HERMAN: -- the return him a return of money, whether the rent -- so what. She can't take all that money out based on the rent --

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: Sure she can.

(CROSSTALK)

HERMAN: It doesn't matter who put the money in? That's what's going to happen with these people. He probably put it all in there anyway. He's looking for about $20,000 --

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: That's a lot of presumption. Interesting, OK.

(CROSSTALK)

HERMAN: Just because it's a joint account, you can't drain it. Come on.

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: I don't agree with that.

WHITFIELD: She did have the $32,000 ring that he gave her and she did return it.

(CROSSTALK)

WHITFIELD: So I guess her point of view is -- wait a minute. I'm giving you everything I would think you expect in return for breaking off the engagement and now you're asking me for money. Avery?

HERMAN: That's right.

FRIEDMAN: Well, and that's -- you know what, I don't want to call the plaintiff a sucker. But, you know, you're right. You said it. This is the second time around. Yes, he opened up a joint account for whatever reason after she broke up with him the first time. I think that he's just angry. He's an exec. He's a young guy in New York City and he's going to make her life miserable by bringing this case.

(CROSSTALK) WHITFIELD: Although he has said publicly already that this is not about revenge. He has, on the record, said this is not about revenge.

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: That's what he said. That's what he said.

(LAUGHTER)

Yes, right, OK.

WHITFIELD: OK.

FRIEDMAN: And she's really going to be able to pay the bill anyhow.

The bottom line is I don't know how he's going to establish this. She doesn't have any money. She claims, by the way, she wants to bring a counter-suit over the fact that he kept her makeup.

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: This is just one of the ugly cases of the year.

HERMAN: That's how stupid this is.

WHITFIELD: Yes, this is ugly.

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: So just a couple of very interesting people and it's not going anywhere.

HERMAN: Can you imagine --

(CROSSTALK)

HERMAN: Can you imagine if they actually got married?

WHITFIELD: Yes.

(CROSSTALK)

FRIEDMAN: Yes, what if they got married? Oh, my goodness.

WHITFIELD: I don't know. What would happen?

(LAUGHTER)

All right. Avery, Richard, thanks so much. Good to see you guys. Have a great rest of the holiday weekend.

FRIEDMAN: Have a wonderful holiday weekend.

WHITFIELD: Thank you so much.

FRIEDMAN: Take care. HERMAN: Take care, Fred.

WHITFIELD: All right.

A teenager's scientific discovery wins a major prize. Is that not happy? That's beyond happy right there.

(LAUGHTER)

It was a priceless reaction to the news. And find out why the judges were blown away as well by his invention.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: All right. He may be only 15 years old, but he is already taking the science world by storm.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHEERING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(LAUGHTER)

WHITFIELD: That happiness is contagious. How can you not be thrilled for him? Jack -- wait a minute. Let me say it right -- Jack Andreka (ph). I think that's right. I hope I did that justice. He's the winner of Intel's International Science and Engineering Fair. Congrats to him. The Maryland teen had developed a test for pancreatic cancer that is cheaper and 28 times faster than current tests. Andreka (ph) received a $75,000 award and has applied for a patent on his test. Well deserved. If anything, I just love seeing his happiness over and over again.

Let's not forget our brave military men and women, especially this Memorial Day weekend. One World War II vet is marking the occasion by returning to the battlefield.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WHITFIELD: Memorial Day weekend is a time to reflect on the lessons of war. One way to do that is to do that is visit historic battlefields.

Rob Marciano shows us how one World War II veteran honors his friends in this "On the Go" report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Former Marine Bill McCullough returned to Okinawa to see his best friend.

BILL MCCULLOUGH, MARINE CORPS VETERAN: It was very important to me to be there and see his grave and think back to that day.

MARCIANO: Bill joins the growing ranks of veterans who return to where they fought to reflect on the battle and life that followed.

MCCULLOUGH: To go back and see a graveyard like that and realize that many of the young men have been cut off in the prime of their life, it was a very poignant moment.

MARCIANO: Historic battlefields have become a popular destination, which big anniversaries.

All the years disappeared for Bill the moment he was able to return.

MCCULLOUGH: You'll always remember. You'll never forget just exactly what happened. But then to go back and relive it, it was very important and very meaningful for me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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