Corpus Juris Humorous: In Brief: A Compilation of Outrageous, Unusual, Infamous and Witty Judicial Opinions from 1256 A.D. to the Present
by By McClay, John B. and Matthews, Wendy L.
Category: Humor , General

The legal system isn't usually considered a wellspring of laughter, but every once in a while, a jovial judge is faced with a case of such absurdity that it fairly demands an equally amusing response. Presented here are some 100 of the most outrageous cases and judicial rulings ever handed down, dating from the present day back to the 13th century and covering such fertile legal--and laughable--grounds as a blowtorch-wielding hairdresser, the case of the bovine house-wrecker, the man who sued himself for breach of trust and other ticklish torts. From the case of Schwartz vs. Warwick-Philadelphia Corporation, which shows that brotherly love takes a backseat to backside injury when a slip and fall has plaintiffs seeking damages for their dented posteriors, to Aetna Insurance vs. Sachs, concerning a poodle who piddled on a priceless rug, these judicial rulings offer an hilarious perspective on the law and those who administer it.