John G. Browning News
Legally Speaking: Lawpocalypse Now (Part Two)
Last week, I shared some examples of cases from the legal system that might just be signs that the world is coming to an end.
Legally Speaking: Lawpocalypse Now (Part One)
With a souring economy, environmental disasters, and global strife, I can understand how some people feel that the end is near.
Legally Speaking: They Said It, I Didn't
As much and as often as I've commented on the legal system and legal issues, sometimes there's no substitute for the words straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak.
Legally Speaking: Never a 'D'oh' Moment
Let's face it - life in general, and the legal system in particular, would be a lot more
boring without the comic relief provided by the occasional criminal defendant, litigant, or even lawyer making mistakes.
Legally Speaking: I'll Drink To That Lawsuit
Many writers have found inspiration in the bottle. I can't claim to be one of them, but as I enjoyed an ice-cold longneck on Labor Day, I did wonder whether beer had been at the heart of any lawsuit.
Legally Speaking: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous
When people ask me what I like about practicing law, the fact that you never know what's around the corner ranks pretty highly on the list.
Legally Speaking: Show Me the Money
In virtually all lawsuits that are filed, there is a section where the plaintiff can elaborate on how much he or she is seeking in the way of damages.
Legally Speaking: Don't Say I Didn't Warn You
When I look at some of the lawsuits being filed nowadays, I see certain elements of a Wild West mentality: claim anything you want, regardless of how ridiculous or unsupportable it sounds.
Legally Speaking: It's Summertime, and the Litigating is Good
A judge friend of mine swears that the strangest lawsuits in his court always seem to happen in the summertime.
Legally Speaking: Nice Try, But ... No"
Sometimes, I get the feeling that judges are placed in the position of being like a game show host dealing with a particularly dense contestant giving an incorrect answer � "No, so sorry, but thanks for playing and we have some lovely parting gifts for you."
Legally Speaking: Stolen Valor and Stolen Justice
I've previously written about the Stolen Valor Act, a federal law passed in 2006 that makes it a crime for individuals to falsely claim that they had been awarded military decorations and medals.
Legally Speaking: Scents and Sensibility-When Evidence Doesn't Pass the Smell Test (Part 4)
The National Research Council, in its 2009 report concluded that our nation's forensic sciences system is "badly fragmented" and lacking in strong standards by which the reliability of forensic methods and evidence can be measured.
Legally Speaking: Scents and Sensibility-When Evidence Doesn't Pass the Smell Test (Part 3)
In the previous installments in this series, we examined the controversial use of so-called "dog-scent lineups" in Texas, and how they've resulted in the wrongful accusation and jailing of innocent people.
Legally Speaking: Federal Preemption -- But Only When It Suits Us
As expected, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice recently filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent enforcement of Arizona's new immigration law, S.B. 1070.
Legally Speaking: The Return of the Justie Awards
Over the years, I've said that some of what goes on in the legal realm is so bizarre that it merits its own recognition � sort of an Academy Awards for the civil and criminal justice systems if you will.
Legally Speaking: Cease and Desist - Or Else!
The cease and desist letter is one of those frequently-used weapons in the lawyer's arsenal � perhaps too frequently used.
Legally Speaking: Disorder in the Court
Some strange things have been going on in the legal system lately.
Maybe it's the heat; maybe it's something in the water.
Legally Speaking: A Warning Label For The Constitution?
According to a recent survey by Findlaw, almost two-thirds of Americans can't name even one of the justices on our nation's highest tribunal, the U.S. Supreme Court.
Legally Speaking: Who Needs Common Sense When You've Got Technology?
When you look up "personal responsibility" in the dictionary, you're not likely to find the name Lauren Rosenberg anywhere near it.
Legally Speaking: I Can't Make This Stuff Up
Whenever I'm chronicling some of the more bizarre lawsuits, claims or litigants dotting the legal landscape, some people invariably ask if they're real or fictional.