Source: https://sbmblog.typepad.com/sbm-blog/2012/09/index.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 20:23:51+00:00

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The Things We Litigate: "Wigglebutt"
A federal judge in Fort Myers, Florida has ruled that her court does not have jurisdiction to stop The Wigglebutt Doghouse in Indianapolis from using the word "wigglebutt" in its name. She found that the evidence did not show that The Wigglebutt Doghouse had any contacts in Florida, home of the Wigglebutt Inn in Naples, Florida. According to this story in the Naple News, the fight is likely to continue. The Wigglebutt Inn has trademarked "wigglebutt" for doggy day care and boarding, and the court did not dismiss all Wigglebutt Inn's claims.
From time to time, SBM Blog has had fun at the expense of The Bluebook. But we are sure that many of our readers will be happy to hear that there is now a Bluebook app for the iPhone and iPad. And if you're happy, we're happy.
"Put It on Paper," opening today at the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing, puts the manuscript of Anatomy of a Murder by Michigan Supreme Court Justice John Voelker (aka Robert Traver) on display, along with Ernest Hemingway's first story, "Sportsman's Hash," original manuscripts by Laura Ingalls Wilder,and drawings of the World Trade Center by WTC architect Minoru Yamasaki, in a "celebration and investigation of the creative process."
Photograph: John Voelker and Jimmy Stewart, Northern Michigan University archives.
Charles "Chuck" Drukis, of Ann Arbor, died September 20, at the age of 61. He was a 1977 graduate of the Detroit College of Law. The Washtenaw County Bar Association selected him to receive its Professionalism and Civility in the Practice of Law Award in 2012. Mr. Drukis is survived by his wife Monica and sons Edward and Ian. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society or University of Michigan Pancreatic Research Fund. Please visit www.hosmermuehlig.com to leave a condolence or share a message.
Big Brother Really IS Watching?
Federal warrantless surveillance using "pen register" and "trap and trace" technology increased by 60 percent between 2009 and 2011, according to a post published today on the American Civil Liberties Union’s Free Future blog.
On a related note, Orwell fans should not miss this fascinating essay about George Orwell's newly published diaires, by William Gass, in Harper's.
The potential psychological harm from living in a small cell infested with mice and cockroaches is pretty obvious. Regarding physical harm from involuntary cohabitation with these vermin, we note that cockroaches can transmit bacteria that aggravate asthma and cause other disease and that inhaling microscopic particles of saliva, droppings, or urine from mice infected with hantavirus can infect a person with potentially fatal Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (sometimes called HPS); rodent contact can cause other fatal diseases as well (famously, but not currently, Bubonic Plague). HPS and Plague show that rodents can kill you without biting you (so much for the notion, which we tried to scotch in Washington v. Hively, supra, that all cruel and unusual punishments in a prison setting must involve the exertion of force against the body). Assuming the applicability of the “loss of a chance” theory of damages, heavy, protracted infestation of a prisoner’s cell with such pests might be found to be a compensable hazard even if the prisoner plaintiff had been lucky and escaped disease and had had sufficient psychological fortitude (or ignorance) to avoid suffering mental distress whether from knowledge that he might become seriously ill as a consequence of the conditions in his cell or from sheer disgust.
What's So Funny About The Billable Hour?
This satirical ad by a fixed-fee UK law firm demonstrates. For added amusement, picture Maggie Smith in the in-house counsel role.
Just How Important Is Punctuation In A Contract?
Ultimately, this case serves as a reminder that, in a contract containing punctuation marks, the words and not the punctuation guide us in its interpretation (see 17A CJS Contracts §406; 12 AM Jur Contracts §256). Punctuation is always subordinate to the text and is never allowed to control its meaning (Sirvint v. Fidelity & Deposit Co. of Md., 242 App Div 187, 189 [1st Dept. 1934), affd, 266 NY 482 ; see also 17A Jur 2d Contracts §366 ; 68A NY Jur Insurance §869). Of course, punctuation in a contract may serve as a guide to resolve an ambiguity that has not been created by punctuation or the absence therein, but it cannot, by itself, create ambiguity (Wirth & Hamid Fair Booking, Inc. v. Wirth, 265 NY 214 ; see also Stoddart v. Golden, 179 Cal 663, 178 P. 797 ; Randolph v. Fireman's Fund Ins. Co., 255 Iowa 943, 124 NW2d 528 ). It is a cardinal principle of contract interpretation that mistakes in grammar, spelling or punctuation should not be permitted to alter, contravene or vitiate manifest intention of the parties as gathered from the language employed (Sirvint, 242 App Div at 189; Wirth & Hamid Fair Booking, 265 NY at 219).
Banco Espírito Santo, S.A. v. Concessionária Do Rodoanel Oeste S.A., 652013/11, NYLJ 1202571875870, at *1 (App. Div., 1st, Decided September 18, 2012) (link may require subscription to NYLJ).
Hard to imagine a contract without punctuation remarks, but whatever.

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