More on a subject we covered on Dec. 13, Sept. 14, and Jul. 16 of last year: in December British authorities rounded up and arrested the head and various officials of the British National Party, charging them with inciting racial hatred in political speeches (“Let the people of England speak”, The Spectator, Jan. 1). Also in December, the quasiofficial Press Complaints Commission announced a crackdown “on the use of the term ‘illegal asylum seeker’ by newspapers after research revealed its continued usage. Sir Christopher Meyer, the press watchdog’s chairman, has commissioned its cuttings agency to scan all British newspapers for use of the term after a study by the Liberal Democrats showed that the press has ignored the PCC’s guidance issued more than a year ago.” The culture spokesman of the bafflingly named LDP has written to Meyer “calling for harsher punishments for defiant newspapers”, and saying there is “a strong case for considering the imposition of fines on erring newspapers.” (Sarah Hall, “Newspapers flout ruling on asylum seekers”, The Guardian, Dec. 31).
Author Archive
Latest newsletter
The latest installment of our free periodic newsletter went out this afternoon to its c. 2300 subscribers, covering the last three or four weeks’ worth of postings in cryptic, occasionally droll style. It’s a great way to keep up with items you may have missed; when you’re finished, pass on the email to let a friend know about the site. Sign up today, right here.
Sorry, kids, no sledding
“Choosing safety over tradition, legal fears over downhill thrills, some local governments, including [New Jersey’s] Camden and Gloucester Counties, have banned sledding in their parks.” Phillipsburg, N.J., in Warren County, has had a ban on its books for more than a decade but only began enforcing it recently following a $150,000 payout over a boy’s broken leg. “As a result, it was thought prudent by the insurance company to put signs up saying sleigh-riding is prohibited,” said town attorney Joel Kobert. “Nobody wants to deny a child the ability to play in the snow, but you sanction it in today’s world at substantial cost.” In Greenwich, Ct., which lost a $6 million lawsuit last year to a high-income resident injured while sledding, they haven’t banned the pastime, but that’s probably because the town is among the nation’s most affluent, and can afford to pay an insurance bill and deductible that nearly doubled after the sledding case and other courtroom losses. (Christine Schiavo, “Sledders are finding it tough to hit the slopes”, Philadelphia Inquirer, Jan. 26).
Suing booze makers
Poetry corner: Robert Burns
View unsuspecting Innocence a prey,
As guileful Fraud points out the erring way:
While subtle Litigation’s pliant tongue
The life-blood equal sucks of Right and Wrong.
(“On the Death of Robert Dundas, Esq., of Arniston, Late Lord President of the Court of Session”, reprinted in Harvard Classics, Bartleby.com). Matthew Arnold did not find the poem an impressive example of Burns’s art (scroll to #31).
Alleged spammer sues spam-complainer
“A man is being sued by a New Hampshire company for labeling it a spammer and reporting its actions to ISPs, after two years of allegedly receiving unsolicited emails from it. Atriks alleges that Jay Stuler caused financial damage to the firm, resulting in a number of lost contracts. The suit also says that Stuler made defamatory statements against the company, calling it ‘a notorious spam gang,’ and CEO Brian Haberstroh a ‘criminal,’ which the suit denies.” (“Company Sues over Spam Claims”, TheWhir/Article Central, Jan. 20; Jo Best, “Spammed man sued by alleged spammer wants cash”, Silicon.com/The Spam Report, Jan. 18)(via KipEsquire who got it from Privacy Spot).
In Texas
I’m off to Austin where I’ll take part in a panel discussion on asbestos reform tomorrow (Thurs.) at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s third annual policy orientation for the state legislature, an event that I understand is sold out. Any posting before Friday will be from Ted.
“Mr. Litigious”
Litigation as hobby: “Meet Peter Malley, a former math teacher who has filed 18 federal lawsuits against the city after he was fired by the [New York City] Board of Education in 1987.” (Carl Campanile, “Courts $pank Frequent Filer”, New York Post, Jan. 24).
Specter’s pick
The American Spectator’s unsigned “Prowler” slams Sen. Arlen Specter for selecting as general counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee Carolyn Short Torsella, whom it describes without more as a “trial lawyer” and implies might prove unacceptably liberal to the GOP majority. (“Specter?s Trial Lawyer Appointee”, Jan. 26). It does not add — but probably should have — that Ms. Short’s renown with the firm of Reed Smith is on the defense side, where she has helped employers fight off discrimination suits. A profile of Ms. Short in Forbes three years ago (Joanne Gordon, “Get Shorty”, Dec. 24, 2001; same article reprinted at Reed Smith site) provides zero support for the depiction of Ms. Short as wild-eyed liberal: “The vast majority of discrimination cases are hogwash,” is the first thing it quotes her as saying.
“Why Hasn’t Tivo Improved?”
“Lawsuits are killing innovation. It’s a common story in the world of technology. Any time a company produces a disruptive technology that does something cool, they have to have a legal department that is bigger than their engineering unit to survive, and that sucks for business, sucks for customers, and sucks for the technology industry. I work around lawyers all day and I wish this was a bigger issue with the public.
“Anything that helps customers enjoy TV, movies, or music is a target for lawsuits.” (Matt Haughey, PVRBlog, Jan. 21).