The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to…
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California's Proposed AB 1414 Would Deprive Lower-Income Tenants of Critical Internet Service

The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the Government, and I'm here to help.

There’s a good reason why one of Ronald Reagan’s most memorable adages remains so poignant today.

Namely, government officials’ ability to harm people whom their well-intentioned laws are meant to benefit remains a tragic and all-too-common pitfall of government activity.

A recent illustration of that tragic paradox exists in a California proposal known as AB 1414, which if enacted would prohibit landlords from making internet service subscriptions with specific service providers part of their rental packages.

Although any proposal that purports to increase tenant choice seems superficially positive in the abstract, the problem with AB 1414 is that it would only…[more]

July 23, 2025 • 01:03 PM

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Jester’s Courtroom
Sick of the Internet?
Wednesday, September 02 2015

A Massachusetts boarding school was sued by the parents of one of its students, claiming the school’s enhanced Wi-Fi signal is making their son sick.
 
The unnamed parents sued the central Massachusetts Fay School for $250,000 in damages after their son allegedly suffered headaches, nose bleeds and other symptoms of “electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome” beginning in 2013, shortly after the school activated a stronger wireless signal. In addition to damages, the family wants the school to turn down the signal or go to an Ethernet system.
 
The school countered that tests showed the frequency of their system was a fraction of federal safety limits. According to news reports, the case may be close to a settlement.
 
Source:  boston.cbslocal.com

Restaurant Thrown Into Lawsuit
Thursday, August 27 2015

A Missouri woman is suing Lambert's Cafe, the "Home of the Throwed Rolls," after allegedly suffering injury from a (you guessed it) thrown roll.
 
Troy Tucker is suing the Ozark, Missouri, Lambert's Cafe for $25,000, claiming she "sustained a lacerated cornea with a vitreous detachment and all head, neck, eyes and vision were severely damaged" after being hit in the face by a roll. Lambert's is well-known for its servers tossing dinner rolls to guests across the dining room, an act that Tucker deems to be dangerous, careless and negligent. Tucker says she has $10,000 in medical bills and legal fees, which she wants Lambert's to cover.
 
News reports indicate that Lambert's signature designation as "Home of the Throwed Rolls" is clearly posted throughout the restaurant.
 
Source: inquisitr.com

Lawsuit Bites Watchdog
Thursday, August 20 2015

A police watchdog who posted his arrest ordeal on his blog "Virginia Cop Block" is being sued by the Virginia state trooper who arrested him for $1.35 million.

In 2012, Nathan Cox of Mechanicsville, Virginia, got a $75 ticket from Officer Melanie McKenney for failure to display his front license plate. When the traffic stop allegedly turned contentious, McKenney ordered Cox to exit his vehicle. Cox began recording the incident on his cellphone. McKenney ordered Cox to put down the device, which he was holding over her head. According to news reports, McKenney feared it could be used as a weapon.

"There are reports of cellphones looking like guns," said McKenney, a 12-year veteran of the Virginia State Police. "I had no problem with him recording me. I was already being recorded with the dash cam."

Through a FOIA request, Cox obtained the 28-minute dash cam video, radio transmissions and text messages sent between McKenney and her colleagues. Cox posted the encounter on the Internet and accused McKenney of molesting him. According to news reports, the confrontation was viewed on YouTube more than 600,000 times.

McKenney sued Cox in May 2013 in small claims court for $5,000, then re-filed more recently in circuit court, this time seeking $1.35 million.

An attorney for Cox maintains his client's actions are protected under the First Amendment and claims the lawsuit is problematic because a number of the claims are barred by the statute of limitations.

Source:  Foxnews.com

The Award for the Worst Movie Goes to...
Tuesday, August 11 2015

A Hollywood star is suing (essentially everyone) for $55 million, claiming that her career as an actress has been ruined by her latest film appearance.

Paz De La Huerta played a nurse hell-bent on murdering cheating men in what some consider the worst movie of all time - "Nurse 3D." Now, De La Huerta claims an unscrupulous movie director and an ambulance chaser ruined her career.  According to news reports, De La Huerta says she suffered a spinal fracture when she was clipped by a speeding ambulance while shooting a scene in the movie. Plus, she alleges that the director hired a lousy actress to do voiceovers for some of her scenes, further jeopardizing her career. De La Paz wants the director to have to redub the movie with her voice.

De La Huerta has already collected over $70,000 in worker's compensation.

Source: tmz.com

Three Lawsuits Add Up to $1.46
Wednesday, August 05 2015

An Illinois man sued three retailers alleging they overcharged him for tax on groceries by a combined total of $1.46.

Chang Wong sued Whole Foods in January, claiming the store overcharged him by $1.39 in sales tax because the tax amount was computed based on his pre-coupon total of $22.39, instead of his post-coupon total of $7.39. In the other two instances, one involving the Jewel-Osco grocery chain and the other Target, Wong claims he was overcharged a nickel by the former and two cents by the latter, when he purchased coffee from each using a Starbucks coupon.

According to Illinois law, a retailer is required to reduce the taxable total for store-issued coupons but not for manufacturer's coupons.  Despite the distinction, in a number of similar cases filed over the years, judges have determined that if a retailer overtaxes a customer and sends that tax money to the state, the proper course of action is for the customer to appeal to the state for their money back – not to sue the retailer. Wong maintained that because the Starbuck's coupons didn't include any wording to the effect that the "consumer is responsible for any sales tax," the stores were wrong to charge it to him and not Starbucks. Jewel-Oslo spokeswoman Melissa Hill told reporters that the chain "will not be instituting any changes with our current process of collecting sales tax" as a result of the settlement.

According to news reports, Wong has reached settlements with Jewel-Osco and Target, and appears poised to settle with Whole Foods. Wong also has a lawsuit pending against Domino's Pizza for a 72-cent overcharge for tax on the delivery fee.

Source:  couponsinthenews.com



Notable Quote   
 
"Federal employee unions are bracing for battle after courts have lifted a series of injunctions that were stalling the Trump administration's plans to end collective bargaining rights at a number of agencies.Trump in March signed an executive order laying the groundwork for a sweeping rescission of a number of existing union contracts at government agencies. The administration argues 18 different…[more]
 
 
— Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill
 
Liberty Poll   

Do you believe that President Trump's ordered deployment of National Guard troops to enhance police efforts in Washington, D.C., will yield a significant, measurable reduction in that city's crime rates?