Legal Humour News - April 14, 2008

Hi and welcome to this week's newsletter. If it's in the news and it's got a legal slant, we'll do a blawg on it.
 
Do you find that people just are not owning up to their actions? Please read Marcel's blawg, Responsibility R Us,  for his take on this issue. There is hope.
 
And do you get the feeling that the technological obsessive compulsive geeks out there are constantly trying to radically change how you run your law office? Then you'll enjoy reading The Paper Office, containing Marcel's arguments on why we should resist these fanatics and make our grandparents proud.
 
Finally, enjoy this week's feast of weird legal happenings from around the world.

Odd or Amusing Legal Stories from the Past Week:

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1 - See You In Court!

Court Rejects Damages Claim In Kebab Throwing Case
A German court has rejected an employee’s demand that an irate customer pay damages for throwing a half-eaten kebab at her. The claim stems from an altercation in June in which a kebab customer unsuccessfully demanded his money back. He says he then tossed the food behind the counter. The employee claims the customer called her a “stupid cow” and aimed the kebab at her. She says she narrowly avoided the flying kebab and wants at least $390 in damages.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2008/04/07/5217461-ap.html

Oregon's 'MySpace Mayor' Has Filed Suit In A Bid To Get Her Job Back
The lingerie mayor senses a cover-up. Carmen Kontur-Gronquist, the former mayor of Arlington, Oregon, filed a lawsuit alleging election fraud and mishandling of ballots in the February recall that cost her the office. The 42-year-old got worldwide press this winter after some constituents complained about revealing photos the mayor posted on her MySpace page.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2008/04/12/5269106-ap.html

Texas Judge: Stripper 'Pole Tax' Unconstitutional
A $5-per-customer fee on Texas strip club patrons dubbed the "pole tax" has been declared unconstitutional. A state district judge has ruled that clubs can't collect the fee. The charge went into effect in January and was expected to raise about $44 million for sexual assault prevention programs and health care for the uninsured.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2008/04/07/5218121-ap.html

Judges Impose Limits On Frequent Filer
A jail inmate in Nebraska who recently filed more than 60 lawsuits in a day will no longer be able to flood Lancaster County courts with lawsuits. All six Lancaster County District judges signed off on an order limiting the inmate to six filings a year unless he can show he faces immediate harm.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_frequent_filer

2 - Crime and Punishment

Man Accused Of Trying To Use Fake Money For Bail
Police say it was no surprise a bogus $50 bill got a Long Island man arrested: He was trying to use it to pay his bail on a traffic charge.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2008/04/11/5257311-ap.html

Robber Filled Out Job Application Before Crime
Police in Athens, Georgia, say they got a major clue to the identity of a suspect in the armed robbery of a convenience store - his job application. Investigators say Demetrius filled out the application to kill time while waiting for the Golden Pantry store to empty of customers.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2008/04/06/5211446-ap.html

Guitar Thief Hid Instrument In His Pants
Police in Lewiston, Maine, say a man stole an electric guitar from a music store by shoving it down his pants and walking out. Police say the theft occurred and they're actually looking for three men. One of the men shoved a Fender Stratocaster in his pants and pulled a sweatshirt over the top.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2008/04/03/5185016-ap.html

3 - Politics, Law, and Governance

Toddlers Can No Longer Marry In Arkansas
Arkansas' marriage-age crisis is over. A law that mistakenly allowed anyone - even toddlers - to marry with parental permission was repealed by a measure signed into law by Gov. Mike Beebe. Legislators didn't realize until after the end of last year's regular session that a law they approved, intended to establish 18 as the minimum age for marriage, instead removed the minimum age to marry entirely.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2008/04/03/5181141-ap.html

Florida Lawmakers Pass Take-Your-Guns-To-Work Law
Most Florida residents would be allowed to take guns to work under a measure passed by Florida lawmakers. The bill, allowing workers to keep guns in their cars for self-protection, was approved by the Florida Senate by a vote of 26-13. It now goes to Republican Gov. Charlie Crist to sign into law.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_usa_florida_guns

No Happy Returns As School Bans Birthday Cake
Children in a New Zealand school have been banned from bringing cakes to share on their birthdays, due to new government healthy eating guidelines. The Ministry of Education has been on a fat-busting crusade, introducing sweeping guidelines against unhealthy food in New Zealand schools.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSWEL14647920080404

Kentucky City Commission Debates Allowing Woman To Keep Pet Goat
A central Kentucky planning board won't get Gale’s goat, but the city commission might. Officials in Frankfort are discussing whether goats are livestock or pets. The issue came up in October when Gale received a violation notice about the goat and duck she keeps as pets on her residential property. She said the letter informed her that Szokie the goat had to go.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_goat_debate

Navy Medic Who Pulls Over To Help Mich Ambulance Crew Gets $60 Towing Bill
A Navy medic who stopped to calm a woman whose husband was having a heart attack, and helped an ambulance crew perform CPR on the man en route to a hospital, ended up with a $60 towing bill.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/WeirdNews/2008/04/12/5268911-ap.html

4 - And Now for Something Completely Different

Porn Star Unveils Campaign Weapon - Her Bottom
She had no desire to be just another smiling face in Italian politics. So when porn star Milly D'Abbraccio designed her campaign posters, it was obvious she was going to show off her bottom. Targeting her male fan base, the veteran of Italy's adult entertainment industry has plastered images of her derriere all around the Eternal City in a bid to win a seat in Rome's city hall.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1080561820080411

Farmer Cuts Property In Two To Give To Ex-Wife
A Serb farmer used a grinding machine to cut in half his farm tools and machines to comply with a court ruling that he must share all his property with his ex-wife
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/serbia_divorce_dc

Assessor Complains About His Assessment
Harvey might be the last person his neighbours would expect to complain about the assessment on his condominium. After all, he's the county assessor. But Harvey has asked the Nassau County Assessment Review Commission to knock more than $200,000 off the $502,080 value his own office set for his two-bedroom condo in an upscale Long Island development. If approved, the change would shave an estimated $1,700 off his $13,000 property tax bill for 2009-2010.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/assessor_s_grievance

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