“The longtime tradition of erecting a live Christmas tree downtown ended last year, when officials decided they couldn’t afford the liability of a live tree in the middle of an intersection.” However, a “group of Natchez business leaders is working to collect money to pay for an artificial tree on the site — just in time for Christmas this year. ‘If you grew up in Natchez, if you’ve lived any years in Natchez, the downtown tree is something magical that big cities don’t have,’ said Agnes Holloway, a Natchez Downtown Development board member who is working with the Christmas tree committee.” (Kerry Whipple, “Funds still needed to help Natchez Christmas tree”, Natchez Democrat, Nov. 8)(via Common Good “Society Watch”).
Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
“Lawyer sues ‘Law & Order’ over fictional attorney”
Well-known Brooklyn attorney Ravi Batra “sued the producers of the television show “Law & Order” for $15 million Friday, claiming they defamed him by portraying him as a crooked attorney in one “ripped from the headlines” episode.” (Samuel Maull, “Lawyer sues ‘Law & Order’ over fictional attorney”, AP/Houston Chronicle, Nov. 13). For some of the reasons why attorney Batra might be considered good copy, see “The judges’ friend and the $225,000 swivel chair”, Nov. 11, 2003. (& see Batra’s response: letter to the editor, Dec. 20, directing readers to this page (PDF)).
“Wedgwood: The First Tycoon”
I’m in the New York Times Book Review today with a look at a newly published biography of the great British potter Josiah Wedgwood (1730-95); there’s no legal angle, just a slice of business and social history. My first sentence even mentions Virginia Postrel (whose website is here). (Walter Olson, “Out of the Blue”, Nov. 14).
Update: more guilty pleas in fen-phen fraud
“Five of 12 Fayette residents charged in a joint FBI and IRS criminal investigation have pleaded guilty, and one more is expected to plead guilty this week, U.S. Assistant Attorney John Dowdy said. … Each resident received a $250,000 settlement from the drug maker. Court documents show some of the defendants purchased automobiles, including a new Jaguar, and one bought a mobile home.” One of the defendants — not the one who bought the Jag — is described by her lawyer as just your ordinary Sunday School teacher. (Jimmie E. Gates, “Fraud pleas may mean jail, forfeiture”, Jackson Clarion Ledger, Nov. 7). See Oct. 20 and links from there.
“Sharper Image Loses Suit Over Panned Product”
U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney cited California’s SLAPP law, aimed at curbing lawsuits over some exercises of speech, “on Wednesday when she tossed out a suit filed by the upscale retailer [Sharper Image] against Consumers Union over negative reviews of its best-selling product, the Ionic Breeze Quadra Air Purifier.” (Jeff Chorney, The Recorder, Nov. 11).
Theo van Gogh’s “Submission”
The 11-minute film on the subjection of women in fundamentalist Muslim communities, for which the Dutch filmmaker was murdered by an Islamist assassin, may be viewed here (via Andrew Sullivan). Instapundit has a link roundup (Nov. 9).
Special election batch of reader letters
A batch of new reader letters has now been posted on our letters page, all of them relating to the recent election. Among topics: Florida’s Amendment 3, the Federal Marriage Amendment, and whether we’re too political. I also have a note responding to these and other criticisms that some readers have voiced about the site.
Welcome “Morning Magazine” listeners
Google News: forever a beta?
Though a smash success with readers, Google News is still in “beta” status three years after its launch and has not attempted to become economically self-sufficient through the sale of advertising. “The reason: The minute Google News runs paid advertising of any sort it could face a torrent of cease-and-desist letters from the legal departments of newspapers, which would argue that ‘fair use’ doesn’t cover lifting headlines and lead paragraphs verbatim from their articles.” (Adam Penenberg, “Google News: Beta Not Make Money”, Wired News, Sept. 29). Update Mar. 21: Agence France-Presse sues Google.
Upcoming D.C. and NYC appearances
I’ll be speaking in Washington, D.C. this Wednesday and again on Friday. On Wednesday, I’ll be at the Cato Institute at noon (there’s even an audio feed) commenting on Robert Levy’s new book Shakedown. On Friday, I’ll be part of a panel discussion that starts at 1:30 at the Mayflower as part of the Federalist Society’s annual National Lawyers Convention, discussing regulation through litigation with a panel that includes Michigan Supreme Court Justice Robert Young Jr. and Northeastern Law’s Richard Daynard, among others.
Next week I’ve giving talks on Tuesday (Nov. 16) at two law schools in New York City, in both case sponsored by Federalist Society chapters. I’ll speak at Fordham in Manhattan at 12:30 and then at Brooklyn Law School at 4 p.m.