Fined for clearing tornado debris without license

A volunteer clearing debris after the recent tornado in north Minneapolis has been hit with a $275 fine for tree trimming without a license [Star-Tribune via Coyote]

More: In other legal news of tree-trimming, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison has settled a battle with San Francisco neighbors over charges that the growth of their trees was spoiling his view [WSJ, more] And the city of Charlotte, N.C., has fined a local church $4,000, or $100 a branch, for excessively trimming crape myrtle trees on its own property under a city tree ordinance [Brittany Penland, Charlotte Observer via Amy Alkon]

Filed under: environment, Minnesota, North Carolina, volunteers, workplace

Henry Waxman and the Bendectin story

Could it be that Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) — known for his extensive involvement in pharmaceutical issues over many years as a Congressional nabob, and for his long, close alliance with the plaintiff’s bar — is really unfamiliar with the story of Bendectin, one of the staple horror stories of litigation run amok in the drug field? [Carter Wood, ShopFloor] Background here, here, here, etc., etc. The whole clip, starring Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA), is worth watching: Bilbray wonders aloud whether there are any lawyers he can sue when unfounded lawsuits put needed medical technologies out of reach.

Filed under: Henry Waxman, obstetrics, pharmaceuticals

The “pie chart that doesn’t want you to eat pie.”

I’ve got a new opinion piece up at the Daily Caller on the USDA’s new nutritional chart. And tune in to C-SPAN’s “Washington Journal” on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern when I’m scheduled to be a guest on this subject.

More: Link to C-SPAN video here, and more at Cato at Liberty.

Filed under: eat drink and be merry, nanny state, obesity, on TV and radio, salt

Chuck Norris: it started with a fight…

According to the actor, in an op-ed (co-authored with Stephen DeMaura) in today’s WSJ:

Two women get into a fight in the ladies’ restroom at a restaurant. Afterward, they sue the restaurant owner, claiming someone should have been in there to break up the fight. It costs the small-business owner $2,000 to pay each plaintiff to drop the complaint, which was cheaper than fighting the lawsuit would have been.

This completely ridiculous story is true, and the restaurant owner was one of us, Mr. Norris. …

Filed under: restaurants, third party liability for crime

“There are enough lawyers”

Per this four-year-old, on video.

Filed under: lawyers

“Suit seeks $15,000 for rose thorn prick”

“The suit [by a Florida man against the Winn-Dixie supermarket chain and a flower importer] states the roses should have been stripped of their thorns and the stems should have been wrapped more carefully.” [UPI]

Filed under: assumption of risk, Florida, product liability

New TV legal drama’s protagonist: a mediator

“It’s refreshing to find a show that can demonstrate to litigation-happy America that it’s possible, even desirable, to amicably resolve disputes without going to court.” [Radley Balko, Reason, on USA Network’s “Fairly Legal”] More: Abnormal Use interview with show creator Michael Sardo (via its update).

Filed under: ADR, on TV and radio

“Due Process Stops at the Campus Gates?”

My Cato colleague Ilya Shapiro on the Obama Education Department’s unsettling insistence that colleges and universities, on pain of losing federal dollars, pare back the due process accorded to those accused of sexual misconduct. [Cato at Liberty]

Plus: earlier on Yale’s submissive reaction to Title IX complaint and suspension of a fraternity. More: “hostile environment” Title IX complaints leveled against other schools as well; Cathy Young on campus sexual assault numbers.

Filed under: colleges and universities, crime and punishment, hostile environment, sexual assault, Yale

New Jersey schools: pulling another Abbott from the hat

New at Cato: I blast a weak NYT editorial, and explain how school finance litigation exemplifies the phenomenon some have nicknamed The Permanent Government. More on Abbott v. Burke here.

Filed under: New Jersey, schools, Schools for Misrule, WO writings

June 2 roundup

“Italian Seismologists Charged With Manslaughter for Not Predicting 2009 Quake” [Fox, earlier]
“With context in place, it appears the WHO isn’t saying cell phones are dangerous” [BoingBoing, Atlantic Wire, Orac]
Wrongful convictions and how they happen — new book “Convicting the Innocent” by Brandon Garrett [Jeff Rosen, NY Times]
SEC to Dodd-Frank whistleblowers: no need to go through company’s internal complaint route [D&O Diary, WSJ Law Blog]
“British Press Laws Facing Twitter Challenge” [AW]
Despite legislated damages cap, jackpot awards continue in Mississippi [Jackson Clarion-Ledger] More problems with that $322 million Mississippi asbestosis verdict [PoL, earlier]
Golf club erects large net to comply with legal demands to prevent escape of errant balls, is promptly sued by neighbors who consider net too ugly [five years ago on Overlawyered]

Filed under: cellphones, Italy, Mississippi, prosecution, Twitter, whistleblowers