Linkfest: "Frivolous, "Oppressive" or Just "Weird"?
Some bizarre, and in a few instances scary, law enforcement and litigation stories over the past day or two:
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ITEM: The family of a New Zealand woman who was dependent on an oxygen pump claims she died after the electric utility shut off her power over an unpaid $122 bill. Damn greedy capitalist murderers! (Oh wait, it's a state-owned utility — never mind.)
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ITEM: You may have heard by now about the patently preposterous dram-shop lawsuit by the parents of professional baseball player Josh Hancock, who are blaming their son's 0.157 BAC, "he was hammered, he was speeding, and he was talking on his cell phone to his girlfriend at 12:30 in the morning" (i.e., self-imposed) DUI death on the poor schmucks that he drunkenly missiled himself into on the highway. For a quick and clean summary of the damnably frivolous case, see this excellent analysis from Sports Law Blog. ("The negligence claims ... sound like something from a torts exam.")
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ITEM: A panhandler in upstate New York is challenging his recent arrest under the state's no-begging law, citing the pesky fact that the law was already declared unconstitutional — 15 years ago. An anomalous mistake by law enforcement? Maybe we should ask the 2,300 other people who have been arrested under the apparently void law over those 15 years. (Related posts here.)
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ITEM: A blogger is apparently being sued for defamation — over his blogroll. ("I'm reportedly being sued for maintaining a blogroll that links to a site that links to a site that contains some allegedly defamatory third party comments.") Don't worry, I don't understand it either. (And it's Canada, so who cares anyway?) (Via Slashdot.)
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ITEM: Finally, for those who miss having Mike Nifong around to lambast —
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ITEM: The family of a New Zealand woman who was dependent on an oxygen pump claims she died after the electric utility shut off her power over an unpaid $122 bill. Damn greedy capitalist murderers! (Oh wait, it's a state-owned utility — never mind.)
---
ITEM: You may have heard by now about the patently preposterous dram-shop lawsuit by the parents of professional baseball player Josh Hancock, who are blaming their son's 0.157 BAC, "he was hammered, he was speeding, and he was talking on his cell phone to his girlfriend at 12:30 in the morning" (i.e., self-imposed) DUI death on the poor schmucks that he drunkenly missiled himself into on the highway. For a quick and clean summary of the damnably frivolous case, see this excellent analysis from Sports Law Blog. ("The negligence claims ... sound like something from a torts exam.")
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ITEM: A panhandler in upstate New York is challenging his recent arrest under the state's no-begging law, citing the pesky fact that the law was already declared unconstitutional — 15 years ago. An anomalous mistake by law enforcement? Maybe we should ask the 2,300 other people who have been arrested under the apparently void law over those 15 years. (Related posts here.)
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ITEM: A blogger is apparently being sued for defamation — over his blogroll. ("I'm reportedly being sued for maintaining a blogroll that links to a site that links to a site that contains some allegedly defamatory third party comments.") Don't worry, I don't understand it either. (And it's Canada, so who cares anyway?) (Via Slashdot.)
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ITEM: Finally, for those who miss having Mike Nifong around to lambast —
Doug Burns, reigning Mr. Universe, was recently involved in an encounter with Redwood City police while experiencing severe low blood sugar; during the incident, he was handcuffed and clubbed by police who mistook him for inebriated. On May 2, 2007, Doug was arraigned in court on charges of assault and resisting arrest.If an epileptic seizure can be a valid criminal defense (and it can), then surely insulin shock can too. (Another account of the events here.) (Via Kevin, M.D.)
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The District Attorney asserts that based upon current evidence, Doug was not in an altered mental state due to low blood sugar, although Doug has reportedly submitted substantial medical documentation to the contrary. Several diabetes advocacy groups have rallied to support Doug, who hopes that his current dilemma will contribute to furthering education about diabetes and hypoglycemia.
Posted by Kip on
30 May 2007
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With regard to the insulin shock episode: would you consider a medical reaction to steroids to be a similarly valid legal excuse?
Cheers!
Jeff Deutsch