News & Media
Yeah… ummm…. hmmm…..
Word to the wise, if you are going to urinate in your neighbor’s yard, understand that you might get arrested. If you get arrested, there might be photos. Dress for the occasion. Brace yourself and click here. Orlando Sentinel article on the, err… umm… issue and another Blog on the subject.
Nice Work, Polk County!
As anyone who has been paying attention knows, Grady Judd has been on a moral crusade to repeal the First Amendment in his fair Polk County, Florida. He had his attention turned to arresting Chris Wilson (either for posting a few dirty pictures on the internet, or for posting war photos — you decide) (source), and put out a crime
Water Law Case – South Carolina v. North Carolina
Water law is one of those areas of law that simply fascinates me. I don’t know too much about it, I don’t think I will ever do a water law case (but one never knows), and I have no specialized knowledge in that area. Nevertheless, when a water law case pops up, it is always fascinating, especially when it is
Fox v. FCC – Is Common Sense and Liberty Coming Back Into Vogue?
Could it be? Has the pendulum that the “values voters” swing upon so giddily to and fro finally started to swing back toward sanity? Is common sense and liberty coming back into vogue, coincidentally, at the same time that all the rats that were on the Bush ship seem to be jumping off, trying to avoid its impending submergement? If
Largo’s City Manager
The city of Largo, Florida has voted to terminate its city manager because he has decided to have trans-gender surgery. I have no ability to understand what happens inside a person’s head that makes them want this kind of surgery. Yes, I must admit, the thought of it makes me uncomfortable. I would definitely need some counseling myself if one
Murphy v. Boston Herald Updated
I recently wrote a posting about the Murphy v. Boston Herald case, in which Reporter David Wedge found himself on the wrong side of a defamation case. At the time, I was very persuaded by the Massachusetts Supreme Court’s decision and findings of fact. Who wouldn’t be? Nevertheless, I have done some more reflection and research, and I have updated
Killer Teddy Bears! Libel Suits! Oh My!
I wish that I had the requisite volume of creative juices to make this stuff up. CNN reports: A math teacher whose name is used in a student film featuring an evil teddy bear that orders other stuffed animals to kill a teacher is suing the four children who made it, alleging it defamed him. Daniel Clevenger’s lawsuit, filed May
Funny note of the day
A friend of mine sent me this photo. I wonder why she thought I would find it funny…. After some brief research, I found where it must have originated… one of the funniest blogs on the internet: passive-aggressive notes from roommates, neighbors, coworkers and strangers
Censorship, its not just for Republicans anymore!
Found this story on Likelihood of Confusion (highly recommended blog, by the way). The Democratic National Committee has a pretty good horse in the contest for most ill-considered demand letter of the year. His entry is here. Here is the post he is complaining about. I didn’t need to get more than one sentence into it before I was able
Give Extensions – Don’t be a Jerk
A lesson in practicing with civility. Beyond the letter and purpose of the legal standards, conscientious judges and attorneys attempt to implement our litigation system with reasonable efficiency, civility, and common sense. This episode illustrates an egregious breach of those professional and cultural values. Counsel for Perrina Construction Company, a large Boston firm, has engaged in a mean-spirited and wasteful
No wonder the public hates lawyers
This is the most amazingly shady thing I’ve ever seen lawyers do. A pox on Foley Hoag. On the dark side are: Gary Crossen, an attorney with Foley, Hoag & Eliot (who hilariously served as ethics counsel to two of Massachusetts’ former Republican governors), Richard Donahue (“a former President of the Massachusetts Bar Association, chair of its Commission on Professionalism
NFL Drops “Big Game” Trademark Bid
In one of the most foolish (but not the MOST foolish) trademark maneuvers I’ve ever seen, the NFL was seeking to trademark “The Big Game.” Article here. Jeffrey Standen, a professor of Sports Law at Willamette University blogged about it here, where we also had a nice discussion about the issue. Ron Coleman wrote a great entry about this as
Is Ron Paul for Real?
I still don’t think I would vote for him, but I can’t help but shake this feeling that there might actually be a Republican presidential candidate who isn’t a fascist. More importantly, it seems that the mainstream media is trying to stuff the Ron Paul candidacy, but some of the poll results suggest that he might not go away. Check
Massachusetts Libel Case – Murphy v. Boston Herald (Updated)
One does not need to be too close to me to know my opinion about defamation actions. Most of these cases are frivolous, unfounded, and the result of a plaintiff abusing the legal system (and a lawyer ignoring his professional responsibilities). Some free speech absolutists go even further than I do and advocate the complete abolition of the torts of
Related Group v. Stranahan House update
As promised in this earlier post on Related Group v. Stranahan House, I have reviewed the complaint in this matter. My conclusion? Garbage. There are some points in the complaint, that (if true) might theoretically support a cause of action, but they are few and far between. Finding bits of merit in this complaint to say it is a proper
Sherri Williams’ Sex Toy Case
This article demonstrates why “conservatives” need to do some soul searching and boot the Hannitys and the neo-cons out of the movement. Government shouldn’t judge morality for us By LEONARD PITTS JR. lpitts@MiamiHerald.com “Government is not the solution to the problem. Government is the problem.” — Ronald Reagan, 1981 Sherri Williams took sex toys to the Supreme Court last week.
Court gives Houston strip clubs a reprieve
This is ongoing litigation involving my firm, therefore I won’t directly comment upon it. Nevertheless, the Houston Chronicle ran a pretty good story on the case, which I have reproduced below. May 25, 2007, 11:42PM Court gives strip Houston clubs a reprieve 5th Circuit stay may allow some to avoid a shutdown by city — for now By MATT STILES
Get a First Life
First of all, ha! http://www.getafirstlife.com Freakin ha! Funniest Demand(?) Letter Ever(??) Oh, and WOW! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM] Back to HA! Click here for more HA.
Patent Bar v. “Trademark Bar”
I have always found it annoying that no matter how smart you are, how much you might know, or whatever other circumstances might exist, lawyers are not permitted to take the Patent Bar exam unless they meet certain educational requirements that have NOTHING to do with patent law, nor to do with law at all. In fact, you can be
Quote for the Day
“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids equally the rich, as well as the poor, to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets and to steal bread.” From The Red Lily by Anatole France (Jacques Thibault) (Thank you to Jeffrey Douglas for bringing this quote to my attention).