JONATHAN TURLEY

A fascinating case has been filed in New York. James Livingston sued after he learned that bone implanted in his neck to relieve back pain was stolen from a corpse. Continue reading ‘Stolen Neck Bone Implanted in Patient’

In what is likely to become a torts case, a nursery has been closed for taping a pacifier to the mouth of a child — an abuse allegedly committed on other children. Continue reading ‘Nursery Closed for Taping Pacifier to Mouth of 4-Month Baby’

Archbishop Francisco Chimoio, head of the Catholic church in Mozambique said on Wednesday that some European-made condoms were deliberately infected with the HIV/AIDS virus to kill African people. Continue reading ‘Catholic Bishop Alleges Condoms Intentionally Infected with HIV/AIDS to Kill Africans’

Scott Clark, a guest at an Embassy Suites Hotel in St. Paul, is accused of ripping the head off a duck that lived in the hotel’s pond inside its lobby. Witnesses said that Clark ripped its head off and turned to onlookers and said: “I’m hungry. I’m gonna eat it.” Continue reading ‘Animal Cruelty and Animal Liability: Man Pulls Off Head of Duck in Hotel Lobby’

Anthony Anderson appeared in court in England to plead guilty to a shocking attack on a dying woman. While shouting, “This is YouTube material!,” he urinated on 50-year-old Christine Lakinski, who died on the street of pancreatic failure. Johnson also doused her with a bucket of water and covered her with shaving cream. He pleaded guilty to “outraing public decency,” a surprisingly low-grade offense for the conduct. Continue reading ‘British Man Faces Minor Charges After Urinating on Dying Woman for Youtube Video’

Under the common law, owners are strictly liable for attacks by wild animals or by domesticated animals with violent or dangerous propensities. How about a man dressed as Pluto? For the video, click here According to witnesses, the boy began the encounter with a kick in the groin. I suppose he was lucky he did not mess with Grumpy who would have gone medieval on the kid.

The video of a student who was hit with a taser is another example of how this device is being widely misused by law enforcement and campus police. This student was clearly obnoxious and clueless in the length of his comments. He was also resisting. However, at no point did he warrant the use of the taser. For the video, click here The most disturbing fact is that this occurred in front of hundreds of witnesses. Most such abuses occur with only the officers and the victim as witnesses.

An interesting product liability case may be brewing over widespread reports of people, particularly children, having their toes crushed or ripped off by escalators while wearing the popular soft crocs footwear. If these shoes cannot be worn on escalators safely, they may be deemed to have a design defect. However, courts usually do not find such defects for obvious risks. For example, what is the difference between a croc and a fip-flop when it comes to this particularly danger? The softness of the rubber may prove the key to any liability. For the story, click here

An 81-year-old Milwaukee man has sued the Brut cologne company after the product allegedly ignited when he used a campfire. Continue reading ‘Wisconsin Man Sues Brut Cologne When It Ignites Near Campfire’

One of the privacy related torts is the misappropriation of a name or likeness of a celebrity. Perhaps the most interesting (and in my view wrongly decided case) was the successful challenge by Vanna White against Samsung: arguing that a robot turning cards was a misappropriation of her likeness for commercial purposes. Others like Johnny Carson sued over his trademark phrase, Here’s Johnny. Now Paris Hilton is suing over her likeness and trademark phrase (“I’t Hot”) due to a card put out by Hallmark. For the story, click here

The common law has long been harsh on those who practice a profession without a license. One rules imposed the professional standard of care in any injuries that result. Continue reading ‘Practicing Without a License: Two Arrested in California for Home Cosmetic Surgery Operations’

Cars for Kids, a charity, has been sued and may go insolvent after an accident at a parade. Continue reading ‘Parade Accident Leads to Tort Case’

It appears that Nepal Airline has been having technical problems. It is less clear whether part of its response would reassure passengers: sacrificing two goats to Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god.
For the full story, click here