With the high-profile arrest and conviction of the NFL's Michael Vick, more people than ever are aware of the illegality of dogfighting. And now, the issue is coming before the United States Supreme Court...sort of. Robert Stevens isn't at the … [Read more...]
Your Privacy Rights on Myspace and Facebook May Be Less Than You Think
Many of us underestimate how much we count on a sort of privacy that relies on others not taking the time or energy to check up on us. It is not real privacy – in theory, someone might pull public records, such as an old citation or lawsuit that … [Read more...]
States Face Prolonged Election Cycle, Waiting for Vote Tallies, Recounts or Runoffs
Election fatigue is a powerful malady, leading many of us to avoid CNN, turn away from poll-watching websites and watch anything on television — anything — other than political coverage. We are tired; we are relieved that it’s over. But, believe … [Read more...]
Case on FCC Fines for Fleeting Expletives Shows Court’s Antiquated View of Evolving Language
It used to be that an isolated “bad word” might simply get your mouth washed out with soap. But after U2 lead singer Bono referred to an award as “fucking brilliant” in 2003, ripples from the case made it all the way to the Supreme Court this … [Read more...]
Florida Decision Rejects False Light Claims, but Media Gains Are Uncertain
Can a true story place a person in a false light? Until last week, the state of Florida had never clearly decided whether to recognize a cause of action called “false light invasion of privacy.” For potential defendants like newspapers, false light … [Read more...]
Feds Tax Reality Show Winnings but Otherwise Do Not Regulate Survivor and Other Competitive Shows
Lea en español In the nearly eight years since Richard Hatch became the first winner of Survivor, he has done a variety of things. He appeared on Late Night with David Letterman and The Howard Stern Show; he was on Hollywood Squares and … [Read more...]
Drafting Mistake in Marijuana Law Creates Problems for Georgia Court
Judges don’t get up in the morning to fix legislative mistakes. They’ll take their best shot at what the word “reasonable” means in a particular context, but for the most part, you can’t ask them to pretend, for example, that the word “more” is the … [Read more...]
Appeals Court Runs Out of Patience for One Man’s Free Litigation
Once again, Tyrone Hurt has been rebuffed. Hurt, who seems to file lawsuits as either a hobby or a compulsion, has appealed lower-court dismissals of more than 70 cases in the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals since 2006. He sues … [Read more...]
Florida Ruling Indicates Bans on Gay Adoption Lack Logic and Relevance
There comes a moment when the view of an unpopular law crosses the line to embarrassing; when the thinking behind it has been so thoroughly repudiated that its defense becomes awkward. In a world where so many children are being raised by so many gay … [Read more...]
Court Upholds Condo Board’s Removal of Mezuzah Despite Discriminatory Effect on Jewish Residents
Lynne Bloch has lived in her Chicago condo with members of her family for more than 30 years. In fact, she’s on the condo board, which passed a regulation in 2001 informally called the “Hallway Rule.” The rule prohibits residents from placing “mats, … [Read more...]
