We have often discussed dram shop actions and liability for “over-serving” patrons at bars and other businesses. Royal Caribbean appears willing to go where few other businesses are now willing to venture. The cruise line has introduced a new one-price, all-you-can-drink cruise package. I wonder how much legal analysis occurred before this floating dram shop case was launched.
Continue reading “Swill and Swim: Royal Caribbean Offers “All-You-Can-Drink” Package”
Sgt. Jeffrey Sarver who is currently deployed in Afghanistan has sued over his alleged portrayal in the hit movie “The Hurt Locker.” Sarver says that movie was based on him and shows him committing unprofessional acts and practices. This has led, he alleges, to comments and teasing from other soldiers.
Continue reading “The Hurt Lawsuit: Soldier Sues Makers of “The Hurt Locker” Over His Portrayal in Movie”
The Obama Administration has again yielded to a powerful lobby over objections from citizen groups. We have been following the increasing draconian and excessive copyright claims made in the United States. Now, President Obama wants to make it a crime — a change long sought by the Chamber of Commerce and so-called “copyright hawks.”
Continue reading “Obama Yields To “Copyright Hawks” and Lobbyists To Seek Criminalization of Copyright Violations”
We have been following the trend toward using criminal penalties to handle pranks and simple misconduct by students in our schools. Now, three high school students in New Jersey are facing criminal charges for a simple senior prank of releasing chickens at the school. They may also be barred from graduation. It is part of the criminalization of our society where we are turning our children into little felons because school officials blindly call police at every little infraction.
Continue reading “Fowl Play: New Jersey Teens Criminally Charged With School Prank”
This red Tibetan mastiff is quite a looker but the question is whether it is a $1.5 million looker. Big Splash (or Hong Dong in Chinese) was purchased by a Chinese coal baron for 10 million Chinese yuan.
Continue reading “Meet Big Splash — The World’s Most Expensive Dog”
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all of the leprechauns of the blog from the Turley Clan.
Continue reading “HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY”
A judge in Minnesota has handed down a controversial verdict of guilty in the case of former nurse, William Melchert-Dinkel, 48, who encouraged people to commit suicide online. Civil libertarians and right-to-die advocates have criticized the prosecution as an assault on free speech. I share those concerns and believe that there is a strong basis for appeal in this case.
Continue reading “Minnesota Court Rules Against Ex-Nurse in Assisted Suicide Case”
Iowa lawmakers have introduced two bills (SF 341 and HF 431) that would make it a crime for activists to procure evidence of animal abuse by factory operations. Many of the past disclosures of abuse by circuses and industry have been the result of activists gaining access to factory operations through employment (as here). This law would specifically target such investigations to protect these companies.
In a moment reminiscent of Susan Boyle, judges on “Thailand’s Got Talent” were left stunned by the performance of Bell Nuntita.
Continue reading “Meet Bell Nuntita: Thailand’s Susan Boyle”
The bus accident this weekend that killed 15 people has taken a potential turn toward criminal charges with new disclosures about the bus driver, Ophadell Williams. Williams has reportedly stated that he was hit by a truck before losing control of the bus. Witnesses have now contradicted that account and police have learned that Williams has a long and disturbing record.
Continue reading “Bus Driver in New York Crash Had Long Record”
[Warning: Language]
This is the latest work of our talented students at George Washington Law School. This hilarious video was done by GWU students including Peter Biberstein of our highly respected Promissory Notes group. The group sings at many of our events. You will have to forgive the language of the video, but it is pretty funny. It seems on the verge of going viral with over 300,000 views on YouTube.
Continue reading “Meet the GWU Law Revue”
As entrance in top schools has become more and more competitive, parents are becoming more aggressive in seeking to guarantee every advantage for their children. In the case of Nicole Imprescia, this means going to court to sue a school over its failure to prepare her daughter for the Ivy League. Her daughter, Lucia, is four. The school is the York Avenue Preschool. It seems that there are “Tiger Moms” but then there are “Tiffany Moms.”
This year’s ranking of law schools by U.S. News & World Report have been released for 2011. The rankings have become increasingly important for law schools in steering applicants and encouraging alumni support. Most professors are highly critical of the rankings. For example, in responding to the drop of Missouri law school again in the ranking,Dean Larry Dessem stated “This is magazine marketing masquerading as social science.” I certainly understand such frustration but I have always viewed these ratings in a more positive way. While flawed in some respects, this is a far better resource that I had in applying to law schools. Back then, you had to ask your undergraduate advisers about the best law schools — a highly imperfect source of such information. GW is ranked 20th. The rankings of the top twenty-five schools and their tuition rates are below:
Continue reading “U.S. News and World Report Rankings For Law Schools Released”
Alexandra Wallace has caused a firestorm of controversy and recrimination after she posted a Youtube video denouncing “Asians in the library.” The original video is below. The tirade attacks Asian students for talking on cellphones and even having their elderly parents show up on weekends to do their clothes and cook their food. The question is whether Wallace should be punished by UCLA, which is looking into the matter.
Continue reading “UCLA Students Triggers Firestorm With Anti-Asian Video”
In a little discussed release, National Public Radio has identified some alarming edits in the video footage released by James O’Keefe III — purportedly capturing NPR officials slamming conservatives and seemingly agreeing with radical Islamic funders. The analysis linked here shows a series of edits that produce a highly distorted picture, including the removal of statements defending conservatives and expressly warning that NPR’s coverage could never be influenced by financial support.
Continue reading “NPR Fires Back: Analysis of O’Keefe Video Shows Highly Distorting Edits”