The perils of nonfiction. As Rita Crosby is being sued for her book on Anna Nicole Smith, John Grisham is being sued for his first nonfiction book on a real crime case in Oklahoma. Continue reading “John Grisham Sued for Defamation over Nonfiction Crime Book”
Category: Torts
Howard K. Stern, the lawyer and companion for former Playboy playmate Anna Nicole Smith has filed a $60 million libel suit against the author and publisher of a new book on Smith’s life and death. Continue reading “Rita Crosby Sued for Defamation by Anna Nicole Smith’s Former Companion”
A woman in Tucson seeking treatment for cancer was left for hours in a CT scanner after a technician apparently forget about her and the clinic was closed. Continue reading “Negligence or False Imprisonment? Woman Left for Hours in CT Scanner”
As if North and South Carolina did not have enough to fight about. When Shannon Whisnant purchased a barbecue smoker recently, she was surprised to later discover a human leg inside. Continue reading “Man Fights to Get Leg Back”
Two parents were sentenced this week for allowing teenagers to drink at a party at their house. In this Illinois case, the husband was sentenced to 14 days in jail and his wife to community service. Continue reading “Parents Sentenced for Serving Alcohol to Teens”
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”
One million Chinese cribs have been recalled due to a design defect that allows assemblers to put one of the sides (which slides down for removal of the infant) on the crib upside down. Continue reading “Design Defect Alleged in Chinese-Made Crib: A Case of Foreseeable Misuse?”
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”
Often in class, we discuss the difference between conversion and trespass to chattel. Often with trespass to chattel the owner seeks the return of the item and any damages to it. However, if the item is damaged heavily or destroyed, they are more likely to allege conversion. Such damage can be alleged if the item is not destroyed or broken but its continued use is obnoxious or practically barred. The example that I have given is someone stealing another person’s false teeth. Now, there is such a case. Click here for the story. Note also the close relationship to criminal and tort conversion in such a case.
An Iowa doctor, Dr. Curtis Hoegh, is accused of accidentally cutting open a tumor removed from her ovary and spilling cancerous tissues or cells into her abdomen. Continue reading “Medical Malpractice: Doctor Cuts Open Cancerous Tumor and Spills Cells into Woman’s Stomach”
Only a day after the Meyer video, a new video shows Rev. Lennox Yearwood being thrown to the ground and arrested by Capitol Hill police outside of a hearing room. The incident occurred September 10th. For a video of the incident, click here. The video of the incident shows little beyond verbal resistance. It is particularly alarming to see that Capitol Hill police are charging him with assaulting an officer. No such assault appears on the tape. Historically, police has treated any contact as an assault — which is an abuse of this category of offense. Continue reading “Video: Rev. Lennox Yearwood Tackled, Arrested, and Injured on Capitol Hill”
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.