Law And More

"I was going to do law at Oxford, but they make robots," VV Brown in OUT

The Renaissance professional may be on the way back.  All those years of narrow specialization, such as in law, have created millions of people who are having a terrible time trying to make a living.  Once ousted from their niche - or sometimes a niche within a niche - they view themselves as unable to do anything else. 

Well, one woman who avoided that fate is VV Brown.  In the April 2010 edition of OUT, she's interviewed by Joseph Hassan.  The piece starts out with:

"I was going to do law at Oxford, but they make robots."

Her family in the UK encouraged her to do many things.  To drink of life deeply.  She was obedient.  Her debut album is "Traveling Like the Light."  She also has created her own fashion line VV Vintage and does modeling.  On the side she's finishing up a political graphic novel THE CITY OF ABACUS.

Perhaps she might come to the U.S. and tell her story to unhappy and/or unemployed lawyers.  Law doesn't cotton to anyone who yearns for more than being a robot.

Michael Jackson's Death - Who will be defendants in family lawsuit

Michael Jackson is dead.  That's the report from TMZ, the online celebrity gossip site.  It is said that the cause of death was cardiac arrest.  When the medics arrived at his home, they were unable to revive him.

But, what will the complaint that likely will be filed by the family of origin allege caused his death?  There could be multiple defendants, all the deep pockets.  There is too much at stake to let this death go by without a high-profile massive lawsuit.  Or will his children sue his biological family for abuse and other crimes of the heart?  The kids need the money.

Phil Spector gets 19 to life - Can fading celeb afford appeal done right

Appeals, at least those done right, cost money.  And Phil Spector has been running low on that.  He claims he will appeal his 19 to life sentence.  Fifteen of those are for second-degree murder.  And four for personal use of a gun. 

"We're so special" - Theme song from Madoff the Musical

On a set simulating a posh country club, singers and dancers in the musical "Madoff" will be belting out "We're so special."  Even in a depressed season for Broadway, this musical will be a sell-out and run years and years.  That's because the victims of Bernard Madoff's caper are simply extreme cases of mankind's yearning for specialness.  All our clocks have been cleaned by sociopaths, prestigious institutions/professions/titles, and material objects that, yup, made us feel ever so special.

That primal urge, I have a theory, is what keeps filling the seats in law schools and graduate programs in journalism.  Those who perceive themselves as special assume they can beat the odds of getting, keeping, and advancing in professions which are downsizing.  This folly is beyond the human tendency to hope.  It's a strategic investment in the delusion that any of us human kind is special. 

Here is my own tragic tale of specialness Download Geezerguts.

WI SC - Conservative Justice Gablemen hit with ethics complaint

The conservative Justice Michael Gableman, who replaced the liberal Justice Louis Butler who gave us market share liability, has run into trouble early in his tenure on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.  He took his seat August 1st. Today, he was hit with an ethics complaint by the WI Judicial Commission.  These sorts of complaints seem popular in positions affected by politics.

In LEGAL NEWSLINE, John O'Brien reports, "The [Judicial] commission says Gableman knowingly made false statements about his opponent in the April election, incumbent Louis Butler.  A Gableman ad said Butler found a loophole to put a pedophile back on the streets, where he molested another child."

O'Brien adds that Court of Appeals Chief Judge Richard Brown will select a panel to hear the matter.  Meanwhile the lead paint personal injury "Godoy" case is pending at the WI SC.  Oral arguments took place last month.

Future of "Riegel" - Herrmann, Beck take the bait

In the world of blogging, OCD [obsessive-compulsive disorder] is not only effective - it's a must.

My two posts encouraging Mark Herrmann and James Beck of DRUG AND DEVICE LAW to opine on "Riegel" has, as expected, paid off.

Today, on their blog DRUG AND DEVICE LAW, Herrmann and Beck, the shrewd attorneys they are, first provide a disclaimer: They are not lobbyists. Therefore, they have no "particular insight into the legislative process" which put in play a shot to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in "Riegel v. Medtronic." Then, they opine.

The two state, "We're pretty sure that the current Congress won't pass a law to overrule 'Riegel.' The issue's too hot, and there's not enough time before November for Congress to act."

They go on to explain, "History suggests that Congress won't overrule a preemption decision by the Supreme Court."

Here you can read their own deconstruction.