Ignorantia Juris

Women sues Blockbuster for using the now defunct Facebook “Beacon” system to advertise her rentals.

When I say “unexpected,” I really mean “Oh, that took a suprisingly long time.”

Via Instapundit, UCLA Professor Stephen Bainbridge has a post where he advocates that those interested in serving the public interest should become corporate lawyers.
Help businesses grow, so that they can create jobs and provide goods and services that make people’s lives better.
I take a lot of shots at corporations but there is something to what he says.  People are well served when corporations do good work; Corporations have proven effective in producing goods and wealth and increasing the quality of life the world over.  But that only happens when they behave ethically.  Bainbridge’s assertion … Continue Reading

Empire strikes back as Star Wars Creator Sues (CNN).

Throwing away promo CD is illegal distribution of copyrighted material (EFF).

Insurance industry racking up the wins (WSJ Law Blog).

Denmark, Sweden, lead list of nations that have network-enabled economy (BBC).  I’m heartened that the U.S. is fourth on the list, but it is worth noting that countries where government regulates telecoms lead the list.

California feels that a guilty plea, given by an innocent man, means he is partly culpable in his wrongful conviction (Reason).

Lawyer sanction over suit based on opponents question … Continue Reading

The pro-business/tort-reform axis likes to push two memes, that 1) the current judicial system of America is a “lottery” that pays out disproportionately huge settlements, and 2) that any kind of restrictions on corporations push them to the brink of bankruptcy/collapse.  Combine those with a smattering of “trial lawyer” vilification and you have the basic argument for every tort reform effort.  In formula form: lots of money + imminent bankruptcy + lawyers making money = EVIL!

So the recent surge of FACTA related litigation is sure to anger them greatly.  In a nut shell, the cases have … Continue Reading

Next up on the docket, RIAA v. Bush.  Well, not really (Crunchgear).

I’m a geek, that’s why my behavior was so suspicious (Wired).

The worst places to get sued in America (Forbes via Tort Law Prof).

Why the above list is completely lacking in any credibility (NY Times).

Drug makers are close to getting what they want, a legal shield from liability, even when they mislead (NYT).

Apple tries to take a bite of the Big Apple, files copyright claim against NYC (TUAW).

The European Commision wants EU citizens to be able to file American-style anti-trust class actions, via Fark.

One in Fifteen children will be harmed some sort of medical mishap (The Denver Post).

San Francisco is suing a provider of arbitration services, alleging bias.  Because in only 0.2% of cases do the arbiters find for the consumer (Wall Street … Continue Reading