Long, blunt, amusing warning and disclaimer by the folks who run the Nelson Rocks Preserve, a private wild area in West Virginia. “Live with it or stay away. … Don’t think it can’t happen. …You’re on your own.” Update: more about the disclaimer here.
Archive for September, 2006
The war over “W”
The wildly popular oval “W” stickers sported nationwide by supporters of President Bush’s 2004 re-election bid are at the center of a federal copyright case in Texarkana. This week, a judge set a Nov. 7 trial date.
Jerry Gossett of Wichita Falls claims the stickers are based on his idea, which he copyrighted in 2001. He accuses the Republican National Committee and campaign material maker Spalding Group of stealing his concept after he pitched it to them.”
A plaintiff’s expert has estimated damages at $100 million, defense attorneys said….
Texarkana, where Bill Clinton appointee David Folsom presides as the federal judge, has a reputation as a plaintiff-friendly venue, but Altman [Gossett attorney William Altman of Wichita Falls] said he simply sought a speedy docket.
(Mark Babineck, “Designer of a Bush logo seeks a ‘W’ in courtroom”, Houston Chronicle, Sept. 9).
New Point of Law featured discussion
It’s between two of legal academia’s best-known bloggers — Gordon Smith of The Conglomerate and Steve Bainbridge of the eponymous blog — and it concerns who should be more the boss in corporate governance, directors or shareholders. Catch it here.
Oz: “Opera fan’s gift bitten by legal bills”
One of the more notorious lawsuits in modern Australian history finally reaches a conclusion as rival opera troupes agree to split the bequest of the late Melva Thompson, who died four years ago at 95. Of her A$2 million benefaction, more than $800,000 has been eaten up on legal fees. (Corrie Perkin, The Australian, Sept. 6).
Demand: $114 million for cancelled Starbucks coupon
Five years on
For our coverage at the time, start here (scroll down a little, up a lot). Much of this site’s later coverage of 9/11 litigation is to be found (for reasons of association, if not exactly logic) on our aviation page.
Latest “nicotine-spiking” panic
Well debunked by Jack Shafer (“Press box: Nicotine madness”, Slate, Sept. 1).
Neglect your kid now, sue for $5 M later
Reader D.B. of Cincinnati writes, regarding “not about the money” lawsuits (Sept. 1, Sept. 7, etc.):
You may be interested in the tragic story from Cincinnati. Three year old Marcus Fiesel was taken from his mother. She had three children by three fathers and they lived in a flea infested place which was smeared with feces and lacked food. She told police that the children were “their problem” now. The children were put into foster care. Marcus was placed in a home where he should not have been, as the foster father had a police record that was not discovered. His foster mother pretended to faint at a local park, and when she awoke she said Marcus was missing. There was a huge community search, but Marcus was never found. Later police discovered that the foster parents had wrapped him in a blanket and left him in a hot closet for 2 days while they attended a family reunipn.Then the foster father burned his body. The birth mother is suing everyone she can for $5 million and saying it is “not about the money.” There is outrage in Cincinnati first over the circumstances of his death and now over this outrageous lawsuit. The Cincinnati press has covered the story for the last 2 weeks with almost daily updates. Here is a report on the lawsuit and a Cincinnati Enquirer editorial.
Update: Sept. 26.
Junk fax law trips up lawyer
Manhattan solo practitioner Andrew Lavoott Bluestone claimed to be sending out informational advisories on legal issues, but a judge ruled that he was promoting his practice and implicitly proposing a commercial transaction. (Anthony Lin, “Judge Rules Attorney’s Faxes Are Prohibited Advertising”, New York Law Journal, Sept. 6). More on junk fax law: Jul. 31, etc.
Airline sued over singer’s performance
“Passengers on a flight from France to Mauritius have filed suit against Air France after musician Bonnie Tyler performed a song at the request of the co-pilot. … The complaining passengers reportedly claimed they were traumatized by the experience and had feared for their safety during the celebration.” (“Passengers complain after Tyler sings”, UPI, Sept. 3). Flyertalk pages us (Sept. 5) and David Lat also notes the case (Sept. 6).