EXPLAINED: 3 | Vintage Vibes

Roman Polanski Can't Block IMetPolanski.com Site

From the WIPO Arbitration & Mediation Center Administrative Panel Decision in Polanski v. Uziel (Arbitrators Brian J. Winterfeldt, Warwick A. Rothnie & Marie-Emmanuelle Haas), decided two weeks ago but just posted on Westlaw: In 1977, the Complainant [film director] was arrested in the United States and charged with unlawful sex…

Reason · Feb 7, 2023

Private Employee's Claim That He Was Fired for Political Tweet Can Proceed Under California Statutes

In Surdak v. DXC Technology (decided Dec. 20 by Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, Jr. (C.D. Cal.), but just posted a few days ago on Westlaw), plaintiff claimed he was fired (1) because of his "complaints … that he was not being paid all his wages" and (2) "in retaliation for posting…

Reason · Jan 11, 2023

North Dakota A.G.: Teacher Training Funds Program Open to Teachers at Private (Including Religious) Schools

From a formal Attorney General opinion (no. 2022-L-07) responding to a query by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board; it is dated Nov. 29, but was just posted on Westlaw: … [Y]ou ask (1) whether private school teachers who are also mentors may participate in the Teacher Support…

Reason · Dec 13, 2022

O.J. Law, Back in Court

This time in a decision by Judge Veronica Barisich (Nev. Dist. Ct. Clark County), handed down in February but just posted on Westlaw; an excerpt: [16.] There are only few factual disputes. Plaintiff [Malcolm Lavergne] is a Nevada attorney who has represented O.J. Simpson since 2009 regarding his robbery-related convictions,…

Reason · Aug 16, 2022

Judge Can Be Member of N.Y. ACLU Affiliate, but not One of Its Directors

From a decision of the N.Y. Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, handed down on Jan. 27 but just posted on Westlaw: The inquiring full-time judge asks if it is ethically permissible to serve on the board of directors of the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU). As the organization's website…

Reason · Jul 13, 2022

Distinguishing Uses of Slurs in a Government Workplace

From In the Matter of Ruggiero, decided last month by the N.J. intermediate appellate court: Ruggiero was accused of workplace misconduct and the County sought to terminate her. That sanction was first rejected by a hearing officer and then an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The ALJ found a six-month suspension,…

Reason · Jul 7, 2022

Evil, God Helmet, and Trademark Law

From Murphy v. King Size Productions, decided Mar. 17 by Judge Michael Fitzgerald (C.D. Cal.), but just posted on Westlaw: Defendants produce a fictional television show named "Evil" that airs on a streaming platform called Paramount+…. The [June 20, 2021] Episode revolves around a device called the "God Helmet." The…

Reason · Jul 5, 2022

"'Ass-Hat' Is a Word That Has No Meaning. It Is Just an Epithet"

From McCarthy v. Harris, 2021 WL 8533067, decided by Maricopa County (Arizona) Superior Court Judge Randall Warner on July 21, but just posted to Westlaw a couple of weeks ago: As alleged in the Complaint, Plaintiff Daniel McCarthy is a "Republican political hopeful." Defendant James T. Harris is a talk…

Reason · Jun 20, 2022

May a Judge Host a Football Podcast?

From New Hampshire Judicial Ethics Opinion 2017-ACJE-01, decided in 2017 but just posted on Westlaw: QUESTION PRESENTED: Does the Code of Judicial Conduct prohibit judges from hosting podcasts or radio shows devoted to sports or other matters that have little to do with the courts, the law or the legal…

Reason · Apr 27, 2022

Court Ordered Disgruntled Retirement Community Residents to Stop "Disparag[ing]" Management, Then Reconsidered

From Fellowship Senior Living, Inc. v. Schenk, decided in 2020 by New Jersey trial court judge Yolanda Ciccone, but just posted on Westlaw a few days ago: By way of background, this suit arises out of the Schenks' failure to pay for monthly residency and other attendant recurring service charges…

Reason · Apr 7, 2022