In an act of protest against fossil fuels, civil rights champion and attorney David Buckley committed suicide via self-immolation. The attorney was a mere 60 years old and had devoted the early part of his second act to environmental causes. His actions, according to a note found by his body, and emails he sent before carrying out his plan, attempted to raise awareness of mankind’s destruction of the environment via burning fossil fuels....
In an action against a city for sexual assaults allegedly committed by firefighters, summary judgment for defendant is affirmed where the assault was not conduct within the scope of the firefighters’ employment and could not support a finding that the city was vicariously liable for the harm. Read M.P. v. Sacramento, No. C057324 Appellate Information Filed August 31, 2009 Judges Opinion by Judge Scotland Dissent by Judge Nicholson Counsel For Appellant:...
What can you buy with a BerkShare? How about a Bay Buck? Anything, apparently. A number of cities across the country have founded their own private currencies – two of which go by the names above. The goal is to keep money in the community and encourage local spending. The exchange rates are pretty friendly, too. But is it legal? Can you make your own currency? If it’s a joke amongst friends, you’re probably fine....
Bean, beans, the musical fruit: The more you eat, the more you toot. Unfortunately for the people of Malawi, where beans are a common food staple, time has proven this old playground rhyme true. While people in the United States are up in arms over the recent smoking ban in New York parks and beaches, citizens of Malawi are being legitimately attacked by the air quality police. And the farting police....
In the quiet town of Webster, Massachusetts, a small claims case is causing some squawking. A resident who lives on Webster Lake is seeking to hold a local woman liable for feeding the seagulls that frequent the lake. The man claims that the seagulls, after being fed, poop all over his dock and boat. Though people can’t really control where a wild animal poops, cases such as these rely on the legal theory of nuisance....
How do you pay your water bill? By cash, check, or credit card? According to The West Volusia Beacon, a mystery man in Florida decided to do so by cocaine. Or, was it just a generous donation to the water department? If so, somebody still needs to pay their bill. The man, currently unidentified, walked into the water department office earlier this week and handed the cashier an envelope. The envelope contained a white powder, which triggered hazmat teams to respond....
Georgia residents Nicholas Modrich and Jamie Hughes gave acid to their dog, a long-haired dachshund named Oscar. The poor dog was reportedly struck and killed by a car about a half mile from Modrich and Hughes’ residence. The couple might face charges of animal cruelty. The bizarre and tragic events unfolded over the weekend. Modrich and Hughes were both reportedly running around naked along a road. They were “tripping pretty hard,” according to Georgia police Captain Harold Thomas....
Interested attorneys can now take a glimpse into life at disbarred Florida attorney Scott Rothstein’s law firm. Transcripts of his December 14 deposition testimony were released this week. And boy did the place sound seedy: hookers, cops, and criminals all strolled around freely in the firm’s heyday. Rothstein was the brains behind a billion-dollar Ponzi scheme in Florida. He was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison over the fraud....
Did you know that it’s possible for you to become a lawyer without having first earned a J.D. at a law school? It’s true. It’s called “reading the law” and it’s an alternate route that many students have considered when faced with few options, but a real burning need to become an attorney. Still, it’s a tough choice for many to make, and the statistics can be discouraging. Here are a few points you should consider....
In a First Amendment challenge to a public school district policy prohibiting political communication via school mailboxes, the denial of the writ of mandate sought by Plaintiff is affirmed where the mailboxes were a nonpublic forum, and the regulation was content-neutral. Read the full decision in San Leandro Teachers Ass’n. v. Governing Bd. of the San Leandro Unified Sch. Dist.No. S156961. Appellate Information: APPEAL from a judgment of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, Rolf M....
On Monday, Irene McCormack Jackson filed a complaint for damages against the City of San Diego, and Mayor Filner, for sexual harassment/employment discrimination. Filner’s former communications director, Jackson claims that Filner allegedly created a hostile and intimidating work environment. Among many allegations, Jackson cites examples of inappropriate touching: patting her behind, kissing on the cheek, and putting her in a head lock. She further alleges that on many occasions the Mayor made inappropriate comments including asking when they would get married, when they would consummate the marriage, and even asking her to work without her panties on....
There’s no doubt that law school is stressful and that pets are great for reducing stress. It would seem that the two are a perfect pair. However, pets require a certain level of attention and care that might be too much for some law students. Depending on the pet and the law student’s living situation, it can be really beneficial or an additional stressor, especially if the pet is not suited to the environment, or solely dependent on the law student for care and attention....
In a class action suit brought by “indie rock” musicians whose band names were included in an editorial in a Rolling Stone issue, claiming unauthorized use of their names for a commercial purpose, trial court’s denial of defendants’ anti-SLAPP motion is reversed and remanded where: 1) the trial court erred in concluding that a triable issue exists as to whether the editorial feature that is the subject of this litigation constitutes commercial speech; and 2) plaintiffs have failed to present evidence sufficient to establish that they have a probability of prevailing on the merits....
An Indiana high school student attacked his teacher over a bag of flying Cheetos. The bag of Cheetos was thrown outside the school’s library as students were waiting for classes to begin. The Cheetos hit the school’s Assistant Principal Roger Francis. He tried to find out who threw it. He asked an unnamed student to come to his office, according to the Huffington Post. The student refused. “Cheetos went flying everywhere,” said Lafayette School Corp....
People v. Jones, C059440, concerned a challenge to a conviction and sentence of defendant for being a felon in possession of a firearm and other crimes. In affirming, the court held that the information in the affidavit supporting the search warrant was not stale and supported the trial court’s probable cause finding. Also, defendant is barred from arguing that the sentence violated Penal Code sectin 654 because the trial court sentenced him within the maximum term negotiated in the plea agreement....
A bit of well-tended sod might get torn up in the coming weeks as the result of a ground-breaking lawsuit filed in San Francisco on October 12. Lana Lawless, a transgendered woman and 2008 Long Drive golf champion, is suing the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) to be allowed to compete. Currently, the rules of the LPGA require anyone competing in its tournaments to be “born a woman.” Dolan Law Firm, which filed suit on behalf of Lana Lawless, is charging the LPGA and co-defendants the Long Drivers of America, CVS Pharmacy and other corporate sponsors violated California civil rights law (the Unruh Act), unfair business practices laws and illegally interfered with Lawless’s economic interests....
A peeping tom was arrested at Rangers ballpark in Arlington, Texas back in May. Now it appears he will face both state and federal child pornography charges. Michael Manske, a registered sex offender, wasn’t exactly subtle when he started checking out boys in the restroom. Someone noticed his inappropriate glances and reported it to a police officer. The officer found Manske and questioned him. That questioning led to some interesting discoveries....
It seems like the US Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have a very good sense of humor. Ars Technica reports that on top of their dislike of regulation and skepticism on climate change, they are now suing the comedic activist group called the Yes Men for fraud over the group’s parody of the Chamber for their position on climate change. The US Chamber of Commerce came under fire back in April because it filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency that evidence for climate change should be presented in public hearings....
One side thought it was helping to prevent driver fatigue and improve highway safety. The other side thought the action was overblown and unnecessary. Now, the tension over a government rule changing the hours-of-service regulations for commercial truck drivers may be headed to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently published the rule reducing the maximum number of hours in a week a truck driver can work by 12....
The Clarence Thomas bobblehead has hit the street just in time for the dozing justice’s 20th anniversary on the bench. In contrast to his typically reclining form, wide-eyed and standing atop pizza boxes and a tractor-trailer, the Thomas bobblehead denotes some of the more interesting statements that Thomas has made over time. But they completely miss the true essence of the Thomas tenure. Take, for example, the following quotes: I write separately to observe that our case law has drifted far from the original understanding of the Commerce Clause....
