Famous gay rights lawyer immolates in Prospect Park in protest against fossil fuels

Words fail me. This is very sad. I cannot imagine how he must have been feeling to protest in such a way. My heart goes out to him, for whatever that’s worth, now. I will take this as another reminder to keep in touch with my friends and peers and treat them with the utmost compassion and understanding as we never know what someone is going through.

“He will be remembered for his kindness, devotion, and vision for justice” said Camilla Taylor of Lambda Legal.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/charred-body-found-prospect-park-walking-path-article-1.3933598

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/14/nyregion/david-buckel-dead-fire.html

Murray Energy lawsuit against John Oliver DISMISSED

The case of Murray Energy v. HBO and John Oliver has been adjudicated and DISMISSED by the Presiding Judge in West Virginia.

Marshall County Court Judge Jeffrey D. Cramer found

“the arguments set forth in the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss . . .  well-founded, appropriate in this matter and will grant the same.”

Continue reading “Murray Energy lawsuit against John Oliver DISMISSED” »

LIVE: Writing a “Moc” Lawsuit

L.L. Bean announced today that it will no longer honor its previous lifetime guarantee on many of its products. The new policy is a 1 year guarantee with returns after longer periods “considered”.

While it’s completely understandable to curb abuse, many customers fear that they have lost some of the value they bargained for when they bought goods with a lifetime guarantee. Taking away that guarantee amounts to removing value that customers have already paid for by removing future benefits that customers reasonably expected.

My super-secret guest and I will write a class-action lawsuit from start to finish, LIVE. This will be an academic exercise only and is not legal advice or ghost writing of any kind.

We will go over the basic legal principles of:

  • a well-plead complaint;
  • jurisdiction;
  • a class-action lawsuit;
  • basics of contracts for goods;
  • warranties;
  • damages;
  • specific performance;
  • and more!

Join me LIVE on Twitch.tv/leonardfrench at 3pm Eastern today, 2/10.

See you then!

4th Circuit affirms: Cox Not in DMCA Safe Harbor

The Appeals Court said Cox, a major ISP, lost their safe harbor protections by not implementing a termination procedure for repeat copyright infringers. Cox had taken a hard stance against “DMCA Settlement Letters”, refusing to forward any from Rightscorp, BMG’s rep.

Cox had appealed from a lower court ruling which also held them liable for $25 million in Statutory Damages.

The 4th Circuit sent the matter back to the District Court for a new trial on whether Cox’s alleged “wilful blindness” is enough for the jury to find them liable. The District Court had instructed the jury using a “should have known” or negligence standard that the appeals court found was not a high enough standard to meet and match other case law, particularly patent law.

Opinion and Order inside.

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