Law Amusement
Surreal law facts
The truth is always stranger than fiction.
12-year old daughter vs. father
Justice Suzanne Tessier is a rookie judge, appointed in June 2007, but one who takes her parens patriae responsibilities to heart.
In a family law case before her in 2008, the judge heard evidence that a 12-year old daughter had defied her father's house rules and his express order to stay off the Internet. In the result, it was his wise decision to ground his daughter and cancel her participation in a three-day school trip.
But this child had a secret weapon.
She had been appointed a child advocate as part of her parent's custody dispute and she got her lawyer excited about her rights.
The child became plaintiff and asked the Court to review her punishment.
That's when just plain silly became outright asinine when the judge empowered the girl's defiance of parental authority, and cancelled the father's punishment, ruling that it was excessive.
Beaudoin's client appealed the decision to the Quebec Court of Appeal, which as of April 4, 2009, had still not entered a decision.
Young offender whisperer
New York City social worker Julio Diaz was just getting off the subway station #6 when he was mugged by a knife-wielding young man. Diaz handed over his wallet.
That's where a normal robbery turned bizarre.
Rather than dial 911 on his cell phone, Diaz called to the retreating teenager and offered his coat. The offender stopped and looked back cautiously but accepted.
Diaz continued to talk to him, eventually inviting him to have something to eat.
When the bill came, Diaz suggested he use his wallet to pay. He promptly returned the wallet back to Diaz.
Diaz pressed on, and asked the teen for his knife. Again, the young offender turned it over and left the restaurant.
Caution to readers: don't try this at home.
Source: www.duhaime.org
