An Arkansas mother is suing her son’s high school after he was dropped from the basketball team.  In her lawsuit against Maumelle High School, the district and state, Teresa Bloodman charges that the school violated her son's equal protection and due process rights.

According to the lawsuit, Bloodman's son made the team after two tryouts over the summer and practiced with the team throughout the fall.  Later in the fall, the coaches hosted a third tryout for football players transitioning to basketball.  Following that tryout, nine of the original 11 players were replaced, including Bloodman's son.

Bloodman contends the third tryout violated her son's equal protection rights because it was not the same method used by the girl's team.  She further alleges that her son's due process rights were violated because he was not given an opportunity to appeal his dismissal from the team.  The suit further states that such actions invoke: "...the deprivation of the right to a full and complete education which includes competition in sports and consequently athletic scholarships impairs John Doe of a property right guaranteed under both the U.S. and State Constitutions." (*Bloodman's son, a minor, is not named in the lawsuit).

Jay Bequette, attorney for the Pulaski County Special School District, says the Eighth Circuit has never recognized a student's due process right to participate in extra-curricular activities.  "The simple issue here is whether or not a student has a right to participate in extra-curricular activities; be it band, choir or whatever," Bequette said. "There is no clearly established right of parents to have their children compete in interscholastic athletics."

—Source:  Arkansasmatters.com

A New York City barber has been fined for charging a different price to cut male hair versus female hair.

Leon Kogut, the owner of Leon's Fantasy Cut in Brooklyn, expressed surprise by a city inspector’s accusation that Kogut is violating the city's discrimination policy because he charges women three dollars more for a haircut.  Kogut defended his price difference ($16 for a woman, $13 for a man), by pointing out the differences in services. 

“A woman’s haircut requires a lot of skill.  You have to style the hair, blow dry, use the mousse, the hairspray. It could take hours to get her hair cut," Kogut said.  "If you go to a restaurant and order a hamburger, you don’t expect to get the steak for that money.  Are you discriminating against the cow? Same cow, same meat – but different part of the meat. Of course there’s going to be a different price.”

The inspector didn't buy Kogut's rationale and slapped the barber with three violations totaling $650 in fines.  Additionally, the inspector took issue with Kogut's 93 year-old cash register because it does not issue receipts.  Kogut received another fine for that violation.  The Department of Consumer Affairs told the New York Daily News that city law stipulates all businesses must include price information on its receipts.

“Nobody ever asks for receipts in a barber shop.  I'm here 21 years in this shop and nobody asks for a receipt," the former Soviet Union resident said.  “I ran away from Communism.  The system in New York City reminds me of Communism. The government can do anything to you.”

—Source:  radio.foxnews.com

A California man is suing BMW North America and aftermarket seat maker Corbin-Pacific claiming the seat on his motorcycle gave him a severe case of priapism (more specifically, a non-stop erection for 20 months).  The suit blames Corbin-Pacific for the alleged negligent design of its bike seat, BMW North America for selling the seat, and both companies for negligently assembling the seat.

In his lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in San Francisco, Henry Wolf is seeking compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, emotional distress and "general damage" after an alleged injury following a four-hour ride on his 1993 BMW motorcycle, with a ridge-like seat.  Further, the lawsuit claims Wolf is “now is unable to engage in sexual activity, which is causing him substantial emotional and mental anguish.”

—Source:  detroit.cbslocal.com

A New Hampshire woman is being sued by her condominium association for growing a pretty little patch of flowers.

Kimberly Bois resides at Atlantic Pointe condominiums in Portsmouth, N.H.  Back in 2008, when her mother passed away, Bois sought permission from the developer to transfer her late mother's garden of daisies, bearded irises, lavender, hydrangeas and tulip bulbs in front of her townhouse.  According to news reports, Bois was given full permission at the time. But then in October 2010, a condo association was formed and a bylaw was passed stating that all landscaping work had to be performed by an outside company to maintain uniformity.

The condo association remained adamant that Bois tear up her flower bed.  Bois remained adamant that the written permission she received superseded the bylaw.  The condo association began fining Bois for each day she remained in violation.  The condo association is suing Bois for $5,500 in fines, plus $8,000 in attorney fees.  A lien has also been placed on her unit.

Bois, and another condo owner who planted some shrubs outside another unit, hired an attorney and attempted to settle the matter with the condo association, offering to pay the board $2000-3,000 in fines and remove the flowers.  The board has refused the offer.

"I guess it just goes to show that a condominium is the worst form of democracy ever invented.  They probably have less stringent rules in a penitentiary," Bois' and the other condo owner's attorney, Paul McEachern, said. 

"In all honesty, I wish I just let them have their way so I could [sell] my house and just move out," Bois added.

—Source:  mnn.com