This story struck me as relevant to the discussion that we just had in class about strict liability for wild animals. The common law makes a possessor of a wild animals strictly liable for any bites or injuries. This liability is often based on the lack of animus rivertendi, or habit of return — the notion that you cannot completely domesticate a wild animal. That is a lesson that Marius Els, 41, learned too late in keeping his pet hippopotamus, Humphrey.
Continue reading “Humphrey The Hippo and the Wisdom of Strict Liability For Wild Animals”
Category: Bizarre
Tennessee state Rep. Rick Womick has gone public with his view of a necessary reform of the U.S. military to make our country safer: bar all Muslims from military service. The openly bigoted proposal was accompanied by equally bigoted rhetoric and insulted not just all Muslims but dishonored the many Muslims serving honorably in our armed forces. His website proclaims that “[o]thers may regard politics as a basis for gaining power and influence, but Rick sees politics as a chance to provide conservative leadership that will uphold our state’s slogan and ensure, ‘Tennessee…America at its Best!'” You can judge if Rep. Womick represents America at its best.
Continue reading “Tennessee Legislator Calls For All Muslims To Be Removed From The Military”
Michael Avery, a professor at Suffolk University Law School, has found himself at the center of a raging storm after he sent the four-paragraph email below to colleagues complaining about the “shameful” program at the school to send care packages to U.S. troops abroad. Avery, a constitutional law professor, objected to send such packages to people “who have gone overseas to kill other human beings.” As you might imagine, the response has superheated with even Senator Scott Brown (R., Mass.) attacking the professor.
Continue reading “Suffolk University Law Professor Triggers Firestorm With Criticism of Care Packages To U.S. Troops”
For people who value the Rule of Law, the last Republican debate reached a new low. One would think that the promise of war and torture has now replaced work and taxes as the main issues for voters. To their great credit, John Huntsman and Ron Paul stood against torture as “unAmerican.” However, as noted in prior blogs, Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann called for the use of torture in the resumption of the waterboarding program. In the meantime, Gingrich called for yet another war: this time against Iran unless it yields to our demands. He and Santorum appeared to add promises of the murder of scientists as part of their package of promised presidential acts. I will be moderating a debate on torture this week organized by Ralph Nader’s “Debating Taboos” program.
Continue reading “War and Torture: The Platform of the Future?”
Now this is an interesting negligence case. An estimated 33,000 people in Rhode Island have been left without medical records after Dr. Nomate Kpea, a dermatologist, left for Nigeria to run for political office — leaving their files in foreclosed properties in the state.
Continue reading “Rhode Island Doctor Accused of Abandoning 33,000 Patients To Run For Office In Nigeria”
In Ramsgate, England, police are looking for this man shown outside of a pub swinging a cat by its tail. It is reminiscent of the earlier search of the woman shown dumping a cat in a dumpster. In this case, the cat, called Mowgli, survived and was not left injured.
Continue reading “British Search For Cat-Swinging Man”
There is an interesting controversy out of the Republican debates where Rep. Ron Paul was given just 90 seconds to speak during a 90 minute debate. I have never hidden my admiration for Paul for his courageous positions on issues like torture and his opposition to the various wars. What is particularly troubling is that Paul used his limited time (as did John Huntsman) to speak out against torture. We have previously discussed whether the mainstream media is actively marginalizing the candidate. On this occasion, however, it appears to have been an intentional decision by CBS in the South Carolina debates.
Continue reading “Ron Paul Get 90 Seconds in 90 Minute Debate”
This week, as a Chicago native, the euphoria of the Bears continuing their resurgence on the field with a win over the Detroit Lions yesterday is being dampened by this video from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). On the video, a young man knocks out an elderly man as others laugh and cheer.
Continue reading “Video Shows Chicago Youths Laughing After Elderly Man Is Knocked Out on CTA Platform”
For years, Palestinians have complained about the use of force at roadblocks by the Israel Defense Force. This week a tragedy has highlighted those concerns for the Israeli populace after the IDF killed a 55-year-old Israeli rabbi and settler, Dan Mertzbach, after he failed to stop. Notably, according to reports today, “[t]he Defense Ministry announced to the National Insurance Institute on Friday that Mertzbach will be recognized as the victim of a ‘terror event.'”
The article below includes an incredible video that shows Stephanie Moreland stuffing a $6500 fur coat from Alaskan Fur Company into her underwear on New Year’s Eve. What is remarkable is that she was able to conceal the coat in her underwear for three days before turning it over. The police failed to discover the coat during her processing.
The investigation into the Solyndra debacle took an embarrassing turn for the White House after emails show Biden staff . . . well . . . passionate over the prospects of funding the company with more than a half billion dollars in government loans awarded to Solyndra. Not only do emails shows a powerful donor did heavily lobby the White House, but one email says “They about had an orgasm in Biden’s office when we mentioned Solyndra.”
Continue reading “I’ll Have What She’s Subsidizing: Biden Staff Described as Orgasmic Over Solyndra”
The terrible thing is that the cat probably convinced the dog that this was the most logical sleeping arrangement.
Continue reading “Cats Versus Dogs: The Eternal Struggle Continues . . .”
Texas Governor Rick Perry appears to want to streamline government . . . if he can just remember which major agencies will be eliminated. I include this tape not to mock Perry — I have previously stated my disregard for politicians in both parties. Rather, in my classes, I have a policy that students cannot read from their notes or their computers in presenting a case. The reason is that I often see lawyers in court who read from notes out of habit. It is a habit formed in law school. What I have found is that students who are barred from using notes tend to develop excellent skills of presentation and quickly become comfortable with speaking without a crutch. I am not saying that this is Perry’s problem who simply appears to have the type of mental block that we all experience from time to time. However, for lawyers and law students, it is a familiar problem in oral presentations. It is a painful 53 second to watch, but it is not an uncommon problem for public speakers and lawyers alike.
Continue reading “A Lack of Education or Energy? Perry Gaps on Third Agency To Be Axed”
As discussed in a prior column, many civil libertarians view President Barack Obama as betraying core civil liberties in expanding on Bush-era surveillance programs, secrecy orders, and other measures. Now, even conservative justices are questioning the Administration’s demand to be able to engage in round-the-clock surveillance of citizens without a warrant using GPS technology. The sweeping new claim would gut the protections of the Fourth Amendment in the latest attack on civil liberties by Barack Obama.
Continue reading “Obama Administration Argues For “Orwellian” New Powers To Track U.S. Citizens”
Now here is an interesting case of false advertising. Barona Casino in Lakeside, California claimed to have a duffel bag filled with $250,000 as part of a promotion. Four men were so enthralled by the promotion of a giveaway that they entered the casino, shot open the display with an AK-47, and wrapped a chain around the display and yanked it out. They ultimately found, however, that it was less of a giveaway than a bait-and-switch. The bag did not contain $250,000 as advertised by a mere $2,000.