Rules Lawyers (CSC)

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: "I don't care if you think it should work that way, that's not the way the rules say it works. Look right there on page 112 of the Player's Manual."
Rulius Magistarius, the rules lawyer, can be the bane of both DMs and players alike and can be either a DM or a player. He's the fellow who demands that anything that occurs or could possibly occur in the game be covered by rules and be followed exactly to the letter of those rules. He is also willing to argue endlessly about some minor point of rules until the DM or the other players are ready to concede the point, if only to shut him up. Chances are he may only be comfortable in a situation where he knows exactly how things will be. Ambiguity scares him. The Wargamer style of play (see Styles of Play) suits this fellow just fine.
Dealing with the rules lawyer as a DM requires both creativity and patience. He is the reason why the DM must both establish his own word as the final authority in games played in his world and record any major variations to those rules. Make it clear to the rules lawyer and the other players that the rules of the game are used as guidelines for play and are not designed to cover every situation. The DM must be willing to hear the rules lawyer's opening arguments, and to explain the logic of his own decision. Stand firm on a decision, but offer to discuss the situation after the game.
If the rules lawyer continues to interrupt play, come down hard. Restrict further arguments to unified appeals (all players must agree without requiring arguments to convince them). Ban all but the most necessary use of the Player's Handbook during play. Make the Dungeon Master's Guide and all monster manuals entirely off limits.