The Common Scold
"The Common Scold is named after a cause of action that originated in Pilgrim days, when meddlesome, argumentative, opinionated women who displeased the Puritan elders were punished by a brisk dunk in the local pond. Believe it or not, the tort lasted until 1972, when State v. Palendrano, 120 N.J. Super. 336, 293 A.2d 747 (N.J.Super.L., Jul 13, 1972) pretty much put it to rest. But the thought of those feisty women, not afraid of a little cold water, has always cheered me up and inspired me."
Author: Monica Bay is a self-described lawyer, journalist and Yankees fanatic. She lives in New York City and Connecticut, and is editor-in-chief of Law Technology News. She also contributes to EDD Update and hosts a podcast on Legal Talk Network.
Blawg Related Categories: Law Practice Management • Legal Technology • Podcaster
Recent Posts from The Common Scold
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2009 FINAL REPORT
PARADE TIME!!!!!! Congrats to the World Champion New York Yankees -- and especially to Nick Swisher, Brian Cashman, Girardi, Matsui, Kevin Dart, Tex, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, A.J., C.C., Melky, ah hell, everybody -- even…
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SEVEN DECISIONS YOUR FIRM MUST MAKE
My aforementioned boss, Aric Press, editor-in-chief of The American Lawyer, wrote a lights-out great editorial in the November issue , challenging law firms to accelerate into the curves and make seven key decisions about how…
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FIAT LUX
The Power of One: In late June, my boss Aric Press and I were comparing notes about what Yankee games we planned to attend, and he mentioned that he would be going to the stadium…
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SPOOKY
Saturday night's Halloween, so what better time to check out the latest ways to spend money frivolously! A quick Google search reveals a few options: • You can dress yourself or your pet as a…
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BEISBOL TECH
To celebrate the World Series and the 2009 season, I thought it might be a good time to highlight tech tools available to baseball fans. FutureLawyer's Rick George was the first to turn me onto…
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FAST TURNAROUND
Sometimes, it takes a change in our routine to appreciate how fast we adapt to change. I had jury duty this week, which presented an abrupt change to my normal routine. I am also nursing…
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SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW
For the third time in 11 years, I'm at 100 Centre Street (New York Supreme Court), for jury duty. (Eight million people live in New York City, and I get called three times since I…
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AMBROGI'S OCTOBER PICKS
Web Watch: In the October issue of Law Technology News, Robert J. Ambrogi explores an array of new websites of interest to the legal profession, including WhichDraft.com, which helps users automatically assemble contracts and other…
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LTN AWARDS: VOTING OPEN
Vote! Yes, it’s that time again — for you to tell us which vendors should receive our 2009 LTN Vendor Awards! The online ballot is survey style, and will take just a few minutes to…
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ARMA-GEDDON FOR MY COMPUTER?
Priority Process: My computer died Friday while I was at ARMA (the long-established records management group holding its annual meeting in Orlando) -- and I had to rely on old-fashioned journalism to file my Friday…