Obiter Dicta

Activists try to gain legal personhood for animals and ecosystems

Researchers and animal behavioral specialists have long known that many of our nonhuman friends are capable of astonishing demonstrations of comprehension, problem-solving and—according to some—even empathy. But once they’ve served their purpose, animals are often left to live out their lives in cages or are euthanized. The legal status of…

Feb 1, 2014 7:20 AM CST

Google Glass brings out the technophobes—and the lawyers

Waiting for its arrival has some gadget geeks in a high-tech tizzy. The anticipation is practically unbearable—sort of like when you were a kid and you ordered those naughty (you hoped) X-ray specs out of the back of a magazine. But while this new “latest thing” is an order-of-magnitude advancement…

Jan 1, 2014 7:30 AM CST

Are fears about playground dangers ruining childhood?

Many of us as kids had our favorite rides at the local playground. And if memory serves, they tended to be the ones with the greatest potential for mayhem. Some of us enjoyed (a little too much, perhaps) the merry-go-round, which could be spun at alarmingly unsafe speeds and then…

Dec 1, 2013 7:20 AM CST

Workers object to spending time that’s not on their employers’ dime

How much thought do you put into dressing yourself in the morning? Very little, probably (especially if it’s pre-coffee). That’s because it’s just part of the routine, something that has to be done before beginning the workday. But what if each workday you had to put on, say, protective gear—jumpsuit,…

Nov 1, 2013 5:40 AM CDT

Situations you thought had vanished may rise to remind you that the law never forgets

You figured that ‘situation’ just kind of went away? Know this: The law never forgets. One of the many classic characters to appear on the Seinfeld sitcom during the ’90s was the “library cop,” a tough, Joe Friday-like investigator who hunts down Jerry for not returning a book he took…

Oct 1, 2013 5:40 AM CDT

It’s for your own good

Remember when you would open your dishwasher and those dishes would sparkle? You might not have experienced that particular euphoria lately because phosphates have been banned from household detergents in 16 states. What is a phosphate? It’s the ingredient that actually gets the dishes clean. Detergent makers don’t want to…

Aug 1, 2013 6:10 AM CDT

Churchgoers seek sanctions after ministers make mayhem

There was a time when bringing a lawsuit against a church was a concept that was incomprehensible to the average person. It was as far from likely as, say, a woman being on the U.S. Supreme Court or a gecko selling insurance. Yeah, right, that’ll happen. But we live in…

Jul 1, 2013 6:10 AM CDT

Tenants take exception to tough tactics from low-rent landlords

The landlord/tenant relationship can sometimes be fraught with tension, and arguments tend to center around issues such as pet policies, noise levels and cleanliness. These disagreements can usually be settled amicably, but lately some landlords have chosen to think outside the lease agreement and get what they want in decidedly…

Jun 1, 2013 6:10 AM CDT

Marriage as a loophole—what’s love got to do with it?

The gradual redefinition of what, exactly, constitutes a marriage in these United States is taking place before our very eyes, as both sides of the congressional aisle vow to give a chilly reception to anyone who isn’t wedded to the lawmakers’ views on the matter. But regardless of one’s personal…

May 1, 2013 5:50 AM CDT

Lovely lass learns that looks are litigable

While few might remember an early ’90s band known as Right Said Fred, many will remember its signature tune, titled “I’m Too Sexy,” wherein the singer asserts that he’s too sexy for his love, for his shirt and for his car, among other things. It’s intentionally ridiculous and campy, but…

Apr 1, 2013 5:10 AM CDT

Daughter pushes back against pushy parents

Any parent of a Cub Scout has attended a Pinewood Derby, at which the lads race their handmade cars on a downhill track. The cars usually look as though they were carved by 10-year-olds, but you’ll always see some that appear to have been crafted by Black Forest artisans. Hmmmm,…

Mar 1, 2013 6:40 AM CST

Some HOAs act as though their bylaws are etched in stone

There’s a mindset that craves the acquisition of any kind of authority and takes full—even excessive—advantage of it. Individuals afflicted with said mindset tend to amplify the significance of insignificant matters and insist, with plenty of bluster, that things be done their way (think Deputy Barney Fife from the 1960s…

Feb 1, 2013 6:50 AM CST

Invasion of the House Snatchers: Some See Foreclosures as Key to Rent-Free Living

There are few feelings as rewarding as owning one’s own home. Sure, it can turn into a pit into which you pour seemingly endless amounts of money, but goshdarnit, it’s yours and if you keep up the payments no one can take it from you—right? Enter the squatters. The age-old…

Jan 1, 2013 6:40 AM CST

That’s Hot: Plaintiffs Allege Burn Hazards, Say They Have the Scorched Hides to Prove It

With the onset of winter, it might be nice to get into a summer frame of mind, for a few minutes anyway. Here are some reminders that it can be a dangerous world—and a hot one too, apparently, if some recent lawsuits are any indication. Folks are finding that there…

Dec 1, 2012 7:00 AM CST

Pass the Subpoena, Please: Intrafamily Squabbling Could Put a Damper on Holiday Feast Gobbling

Sometimes there’s a lot of baggage when families get together—and not the kind with handles. And it’s not easy, or particularly pleasant, when families have squared off against each other in a court of law. But in its never-ending quest for awkward Thanksgiving gatherings, the American family has made some…

Nov 1, 2012 5:50 AM CDT