Defendant Gone Wild
"He has put a lot of this foolish behavior behind him," said Joe Francis's lawyer in 2007, but guess what? He had plenty left. Back then, Mr. Francis, who some of you may know as the purveyor of "Girls Gone Wild" videos,…
Torts
Dolphins Blamed For Woman’s Slip And Fall
Allecyn Edwards, possibly wanting to prove she could be as creative as her parents were with her first name, alleged in a complaint filed August 18 that the Brookfield Zoo and its dolphins are responsible for injuries she suffered last…
Woman Claims Display Was So Distracting, She Fell Over It
I haven't read the complaint, but at first glance this doesn't seem to make a lot of sense: Lindsay Ross v. Dollar Tree Stores Inc., No. SCV245445 (Santa Clara Super. Ct. July 10, 2009). Slip and fall. The plaintiff was distracted by…
Cyclists Get More Room To Ride, Increased Taunt Protection
In what I personally find to be a very disturbing development, it is now illegal in Louisiana to taunt someone who is riding a bicycle. It is also illegal in at least two states to throw something at such a…
LucasFilm Employee Alleges She Was Called An “Ewok”
From yesterday's report of filings in San Francisco Superior Court: Tabitha Totah v. Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., CGC-09-490959 (7/30/09) Employment complaint for race discrimination, sexual harassment and wrongful termination. The plaintiff was fired because, as her supervisor said, "You needed to…
Another Animal-Attack Lawsuit Fails: Humans Now 0-5
On Point News reports that last week, a West Virginia jury rejected the claims of a man who blamed his employer's negligence for injuries he suffered when he was attacked by a goose. Based on my studies of somewhat similar…
Man Fined After Altercation With Punching-Bag Machine
It hit back, which was its last mistake.
Man Burned at Burning Man Assumed Risk of Being Burned by Burning Man, Says Court
“In his deposition, Beninati admitted he knew ‘fire was dangerous and caused burns’ before he walked into one.”
British Manufacturers Offer Pointless Anti-Stab Knives
Popehat reports that a British manufacturer is planning to offer "anti-stab" knives, driven by an increase in knife-related crime over the past few years in that relatively gunless land. The manufacturer said he had been inspired by a documentary in…
Holy Spirit Lawsuits, Round Two
Receiving the Holy Spirit seems to get more dangerous all the time. In at least two prior cases, worshippers injured in falls after being "taken by the spirit" have sued their churches for negligence, mostly claiming that the churches failed…