April 2011

Clap On, Clap Off, Case Dismissed

This post at Wired magazine presents a few good examples of dopey warning cases, including the famous hot-coffee lawsuit; the one accusing Apple of failing to warn that if you turn the volume up too high on your iPod, you…


New Orleans Docket: Wasp-Related Negligence

John B____ v. Vasamth Bethala, Manager; LQ12 LLC dba LaQuinta Inn & Suites; James River Ins. Co., No. 2011-12066 F (22d Dist. Jud. Ct. La., filed Apr. 7, 2011). Negligence action. While the plaintiff was staying on the third floor of the…




A New Contender for Worst Legal Brief

In considering whether something could be the "worst legal brief" ever filed, we have to recognize that there are different kinds of badness. Many briefs are filed every year by people who are, evidently, insane. If it is fair to…


We Wouldn’t Be Much Worse Off, Either [UPDATED]

On a lighter TSA-related note — — the Washington Post is also running a Peeps diorama contest. Notice the Peeps being peeped at by security Peeps on the naked-Peep scanner (top right). Update: The contest is over, it seems. Although…


At Long Last?

Two videos, both worth watching. This one is frankly a little hard to watch:   This one is easier and should be watched over and over again:   Different context, obviously, but I think the basic sentiment applies: When are…



Attempted Firebombers Thwarted by Window, Lamppost

The video caption below will tell you most of what you need to know, but here's a little more detail. For reasons that remain unclear, these two gentlemen attempted to firebomb an English pub one night in May 2008. They devised…


Florida Teen Claims Baggy Pants Saved Him From a ‘Gator

Here's another public-policy factor that Florida legislators considering a ban on saggy pants need to consider: they may offer a defense against gator attacks. According to WKMG in Orlando, a teenager in St. Petersburg said that he was taking a shortcut…