News & Media
Virginia Spam Case Commentary
By Christopher Harbin, Legal Satyricon Correspondent I detest legendary spammer Jeremy Jaynes. As the 8th largest spam operator in the world, Jaynes has made a living cluttering up people’s inboxs and pumping them for money through get-quick-rich schemes. In April 2005, Jaynes was convicted of “felony spam” in violation of Virginia’s anti spam statute and sentenced to NINE YEARS in
First Amendment Juggernaut
I’m beaming with pride at being called a “First Amendment Juggernaut” by the Citizen Media Law Project. That’s even cooler than “Rock and Roll Juggernaut.”
In Memoriam – David Wasserman
First Amendment lawyer David Wasserman died Thursday, Sept. 25 by his own hand. He reportedly suffered from depression for the past 16 years. The Orlando Sentinel reports: Wasserman, 52, was a passionate defender of the First Amendment who loved a good fight and reveled in speaking his mind, those who knew him said. He was the Christian Coalition’s nightmare, a
The Great Schlep
Sarah Silverman hilariously tries to convince Jews to visit their grandparents in Florida to vote for Obama. After their landslide stupidity in 2000, I’m pretty sure that the butterfly-ballot-stymied set could use a little instruction from their grandchildren. The Great Schlep
More Pwnage for Ciolli – Pennsylvania Case Continues
Anthony Ciolli, former defendant in the AutoAdmit case (and my former client) was dismissed from that action. Thereafter, he took the offensive, filing claims against Heide Iravani, Brittan Heller, the law firm of Keker Van Nest, Mark Lemley, Reputation Defender and Attorney David Rosen for including him in the action in the first place. Defendants Keker & Van Nest LLP,
Kentucky Seizes 141 Domain Names
A Kentucky state court judge has issued an order seizing 141 domain names that Kentucky claims “are being used in connection with illegal gambling activity.” (source) The Order states that “The Domain names shall be immediately transferred by their respective registrars to an account of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.” This is unprecedented. A review of the 141 domain names in
Court Rules Transgendered Ranger Has a Right to Kick Terrorist Butt, Just Like Everyone Else
By Jessica Christensen, Legal Satyricon Employment Law Correspondent Last month I reportedon the trial in Schroer v. Billington (Library of Congress), a case involving allegations that the federal government refused to hire a highly decorated former Airborne Ranger for a Terrorism Analyst position because she is transgendered. Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Robertson issued his decision after trial, ruling that
Marty Klein on Gender Politics
Marty Klein takes the gender-identity politics set to task in Sarah Palin is not a “Woman” America is in bad enough shape without using the tribal allegiances of a Kosovo, a Rwanda, Macedonia, or South Ossetia to choose our leaders. I don’t care if the finger on the nuclear button sports nail polish or calluses; I want the finger attached
Lawyer 2 Lawyer on the MBTA Hack Case
I recently appeared on J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi’s show, Lawyer 2 Lawyer. We were discussing the MBTA hack case, which I blogged on here, here, and here. Here is the summary of the piece. It all started when three MIT students put together a presentation for their Network Security Class at MIT about their findings regarding the security
Lap Dances for Legal Fees
No, you can’t swap lap dances for legal fees. WSJ Blog.
Lemon Party! Las Cruces, New Mexico Prevails in Establishment Clause Case
While I am a rabid Atheist, and I despise government sponsorship of or entanglement with religion, I think that some of my fellow humanists take things a bit too far. Paul Weinbaum and Martin Boyd in Weinbaum v. Las Cruces, __F.3d__(10th Cir. 2008) went a little too far. When the government endorses religion, that violates the Establishment Clause and should
Auto Admit Motion to Quash Granted
In the latest chapter in the AutoAdmit case follies, Anthony Ciolli filed a pro se motion to quash a subpoena filed in the Western District of Virginia. The response is here. As they say, this is TTT. Apparently the Court agreed. Motion to quash granted.
Public Citizen Jumps into Jones Day Trademark Fray
A follow up to Jones Day – Big Law Firm, Tiny Pink Ethics Jones Day, a national law firm, found it objectionable when BlockShopper.com, a web site that reports on real estate transactions in tony neighborhoods in several cities, published artilces on condo purchases by two associates in its Chicago office. It sued BlockShopper claiming that by mentioning the firm
Yeah, I Want My Money Back Too
Scott Greenfield has a point over at Simple Justice. if my government wants to use my tax dollars to save the American banking and investment banking system from collapse, to provide liquidity to the markets, to maintain business infrastructure, I understand. But I have something to ask in return. (source)
Don't Learn Internet Law from Bill O'Reilly
The analyst has it dead-on correct. Bill O’Reilly is, as usual, dead wrong. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCSaF4KC3eE] The analyst does gloss over one detail in 18 U.S.C. s 1030 — that the hacker needs to have done $5,000 worth of damage to be subject to the statute. However, I don’t think that she should be criticized for that — when you are on
Grisham Libel Suit Tossed
Dennis Fritz and Ronald Keith Williamson were convicted of the murder of Debra Sue Carter. Fritz got life in prison, and Williamson received a death penalty sentence. Four days before Williamson was to be put to death, he was exonerated by DNA testing. Both men spent 11 years in prison for a crime that they did not commit. Stay with
Palin Email Hacked
Wired reports that Anonymous (the group that has been PWNING Scientology for years) hacked Sarah Palin’s personal email account and posted some messages online — messages that prove that she’s been using it to circumvent public records laws that apply to her official email address. Some screen shots are here, at Wikileaks. Naturally, the FBI is incensed and investigating. The
Ed Stross Case Reversed
A few months ago I posted on the Ed Stross mural case. In that posting, I discussed a positive First Amendment decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals regarding a mural artist who put the word “LOVE” on his mural — something his town’s elders found to be a violation of a local ordinance. The Michigan Court of Appeals tossed
Virginia Spam Case Reversed on First Amendment Grounds!
One of the new Satyriconistas will be commenting on the case in depth, but the prior decision by the Virginia Supreme Court affirming a nine year prison sentence for a spammer has been reversed. The original decision is here, but the Supreme Court of Virginia appears to have removed it from their website. The new decision is here.
Dozier Does it Again
By Christopher Harbin and Marc J. Randazza Dozier Law Firm, P.C. recently escalated its war of words and attrition with cyber-critic Ronald Riley by suing him for trademark infringement. A bit of background: Dozier became entangled with Riley after sending Riley a cease and desist letter on behalf of their client Inventor-Link. Riley retaliated by registering domains containing various combinations
