Tag Archives: Cases
The Case of Celestial Copyright
The facts of this case sound more like an argument your friends might have over a bottle of wine than the basis of a law suit. If an alien came to earth and told you the secrets of the universe and … Continue reading
50 Years After Conquering America: The Beatles and the Law
Do you know the best known legal cases involving the Beatles? A look back at trademark claims, copyright infringement, and record-breaking divorce settlements. Continue reading
The Case of the Black Friday Brawl
A shoving match with a police officer and human beings standing in something called a “cattle chute”? It can only be Black Friday, that feared and revered day after Thanksgiving when shoppers awake in the dead of night to fight over a Crock Pot. This case takes place in the wee hours of the night at a Wal-Mart in Philadelphia. Continue reading
The Case of the Costanza Doppleganger
Costanza v. Seinfeld, 693 N.Y.S.2d 897 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1999). It could have been a plotline from a Seinfeld episode. Michael Costanza sued Jerry Seinfeld (yes, that Jerry Seinfeld) alleging that the George Costanza character from the TV show was based … Continue reading
The Case of the Haunted House
Stambovsky v. Ackley, 169 A.D. 2d 254 (N.Y. App. Div. 1991). If you didn’t get to this one as a 1L, you’ll want to read it now, if only for this quote: “as a matter of law, the house is haunted.” … Continue reading
The Case of the Misplaced Thief
Alkire v. First National Bank of Parsons, 475 S.E.2d 122 (W. Va. 1996). Pity Larry Alkire, the supposed thief. He made the night deposits for two businesses and one deposit fell into a gap between the night deposit box and the … Continue reading
The Case of the Bouncing Baseball
Popov v. Hayashi, No. 400545, 2002 WL 31833731 (Cal. Super. Ct. Dec. 18, 2002). Imagine a popular and controversial baseball player hits his much-anticipated, record-breaking homerun into the stands causing seekers of fame and fortune to scramble wildly in the direction of … Continue reading
The Case of the Drunken Cross-Examination
Fritz v. Fritz, 1894 WL 3291 (Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lancaster County, 1896). If you’re looking to spice up your Evidence class, consider this short case of a witness too drunk for cross-examination. It would take me longer to summarize … Continue reading
The Case of the Fraudulent Coke
Oshana v. Coca-Cola, 472 F.3d 506 (7th Cir. 2006). Did you know that Diet Coke from a fountain and Diet Coke from a can are made with different sweeteners? No? Next question: do you care? If you answered yes, then you … Continue reading
Day 1 of Supreme Court Oral Arguments on Same-Sex Marriage
Today, March 26, 2013, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in the first of two cases pending before the Court dealing with the issue of same-sex marriage. Today’s case, Hollingsworth v. Perry (No. 12-144), deals with the constitutionality … Continue reading
