Fed Ex Pot, Yoko Ono, Chubby Checker, Mold & Other Courtroom Dramas
I do a monthly cartoon illustration for Inside Counsel Magazine. They send me short summaries of four unusual lawsuits, I do a rough sketch for each, they pick the one they like best.
Here are the winners and also-rans for the past two months:
A woman sued Fed Ex after they mistakenly delivered a package containing marijuana to her home. She turned it over to police, but three men later came to her house looking for the package. She says Fed Ex endangered her family and violated her privacy by giving the men her name and address.
A couple rented their home to a man who didn’t tell them he planned to use it to film a raunchy reality show. They couple sued for damages to house and property, including a badly stained couch.
A fashion designer sued Yoko Ono for allegedly stealing her idea for a fetish theme: clothing with illustrated handprints on the crotch and chest areas.
Actor Jude Law sued a Canadian fireplace company for allegedly using his likeness to promote its products.
The rough sketch for the Fed Ex pot delivery case:
A Wal-mart employee sued the store and the Hershey Candy Company after eating a moldy candy bar on her break. She says the candy bar was nine months past its expiration date.
Singer Chubby Checker, known for his hit record The Twist, sued Hewlett-Packard over a smartphone app called The Chubby Checker. The app, which is no longer available, claimed to estimate the length of a man’s penis by his shoe size.
A pharmacist sued Rite Aid after the store fired him for refusing to give immunization injections, despite a letter from his doctor testifying to his extreme needle phobia. He says the store made no effort to accommodate his disability.
Figure skater Oksana Baiul sued NBC Universal and a skating promoter for allegedly using her name and likeness to promote a television skating special in which she declined to appear.
The promoter claims she had asked to be in the show and backed out, and that she was never featured in promotional materials for the show.
The rough sketch for the moldy candy bar case:
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Does this post make you want to sue someone so you can join in the fun?
Was Stephen Sondheim thinking of lawsuits when he wrote Send In The Clowns?
If you enjoyed this post and would like to let me know, please click the Like button below.
If you’d like to share this post with others, please click Tweet or Facebook or one of the other Share buttons.
I also invite you to get updates. Just click the Get Updates button in the sidebar below the Portfolio Thumbnails, or click + Follow in the blog menu bar.
Hulk Hogan Is Ripped– Sues Cocoa Pebbles!!
You Sure Are A Lot Uglier In Person
Definitely weird cases 😀 hilarious 🙂
LikeLike
Ha! Did anyone ever tell you you have a wonderful sense of humor?? Well, I’m telling you now!! Thanks, Vandy!! : )
LikeLike
I’m not sure which is funnier – the situations or your cartoons!
LikeLike
Ha! Yes, there seems to be a symbiotic relationship there. I couldn’t do it without them, and they always seem to get the wheels turning. And when you’ve got wheels as rusty as mine, that’s a good thing!! Thanks, Margie! : )
LikeLike
I can’t believe FedEx gave them her address!!! Geez louise! If they would’ve come my way, Ms. Ruby would have taken care of business:-) I’ll bet your client has a tough time deciding which of your illustrations to use. How can they pick???
LikeLike
Bad guys knockin’ on the door of The World’s Most Vigilant Canine Corps?? They’d be leaving minus a few trouser seats, I reckon– and good riddance!! : )
This might interest you: I’ve learned over the years that the folks at Inside Counsel tend to pick cartoons with animals in them. I don’t really think about that when I work out the ideas, but more often than not, at least one of the cartoons will include an animal. I remember doing one once with a knight on the witness stand– the art director said they loved it because there was a dragon on the jury! I guess even mythological animals count!!
Thanks as always for your support, Tracey! : )
LikeLike
What a good post! Very interesting/funny to read.
LikeLike
Thank you very much for that lovely comment, Esmee. I’m glad you enjoyed the post, and I’m delighted you stopped by– hope to see you again! : )
LikeLike
Funny as usual!
I am sorry for not having been around lately, Mark. I’ll try to catch up your articles. 🙂
LikeLike
Not at all, Inge, it’s a delight to see you anytime– always a special treat. I’m sure you’ve been busy taking those wonderful photos of yours, and hopefully picking up many prizes for same!! No pressure whatsoever, always glad to see you! : )
LikeLike
Okay, my vote for the most frivolous lawsuit is the Yoko Ono one. No one (well-mannered) wants to listen about a *cough* handjob or how the designer should get a grip, instead of a grope…
LikeLike
Hmm… I could be wrong, but I think there might have been a little wordplay going on in that comment, Jak… : )
Ha! I hear you. Hopefully one of those hands will grab Yoko by the collar and deposit her in the nearest celebrity wastebasket, cough, cough!
Thanks a heap for your good-humored support, sir!
LikeLike
I learn so much about current events when I come here, Mark! Great job with the cartoons. I’m picking a favorite. I love the Fed Ex one. 🙂
LikeLike
Ha! Current events indeed, Maddie! Strange, the things singled out for news coverage these days, eh? If that’s their criteria, they’ll be writing about us next… : P
I kinda like the Fed Ex one myself– I shoulda made Inside Counsel sign for it… : )
Great to see you, I don’t mind all these (cough!) motorcycle fumes (hack, hack!)– really!! : )
LikeLike
These are great must share with the many lawyers in my family!!! And everyone else who wants a chuckle
LikeLike
You’re gonna show them to lawyers?? Ulp! I may be appearing in a future lawsuit myself… : (
I know you’ll explain that it was all in, er, good fun. Nice to see you, thanks so much for stopping by! : )
LikeLike
So, sue me. But I think your illustrations are beyond compare. My fave is the Fed Ex cartoon. Great work, Mark.
LikeLike
Sue ya?? I’m gonna give you a medal for kindness and support! Let’s see… I’ll need an old pie tin and some ribbons… : )
Thanks, Judy!!
LikeLike
As long as you fill that pie tin with apple pie, that’d be good enough for me. 😆
LikeLike
You got it, O Wisenheimer!! : )
LikeLike
http://wordcarmen.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/i-have-been-nominated/
🙂
LikeLike
What?? You liked this post so much you’re giving me an award?? My trophy case is bursting at the seams, but there’s always room for one more… : )
I’m too lazy to answer the seven questions, but I do have a post about My 7 Dark Secrets. Absolutely bone-chilling, don’t say I didn’t warn you… : )
Thank you, Carmen!!
LikeLike
Your posts, sketches and illustrations always put a smile on my face! You’re a star Mark, thanks for sharing! 🙂
LikeLike
There’s a big smile on my face after reading that wonderful comment, Seyi– maybe you and I should start a club!!
Thanks so much for all your good humor and support!! : )
LikeLike
Best post of the day – but then it is only 9 am! Did these ever have me smiling. Thanks Mark 😀 your humour is second to none.
LikeLike
Ah! A wonderful comment like that, and I’m good for the rest of the day! I know you retweeted it, too. Thanks a million, Lesley, very sincerely appreciated! : )
LikeLike
Sincerely my pleasure. You are a bit of a genius you know. Not everyone is able to appreciate your humour but I really do. (Don’t let it go to your head now 😉
LikeLike
Genius… yes, I’m nodding here– yes, that sounds right… : P
My head is starting to balloon, and I had too much air up there already– I must pull on my ear and open the safety valve. Ssssssssttt! Ah, that’s better… : )
Thank you, my dear Lesley!!
LikeLike
Actually some of these frivolous court cases make me wince– people want justice but when they lose the case they might have to pay their lawyer (provided he/she didn’t do their work for free) and that could be enough money.
LikeLike
Ha! Thanks, Jean. I’ve often wondered about that myself: do any of the people who file suit consider that it might wind up costing them money if they lose? It would be interesting to see some kind of won-lost scorecard on these cases.
Nice to see you, thanks so much for your kind support! : )
LikeLike
That first case reminds me of a movie that came out a few years ago, Next Day Air. A parcel of drugs is delivered to the wrong address. Mayhem pursues. Funny but scary as hell.
LikeLike
Whoa! That does sound like that first case. I don’t mind comedic mayhem, but I definitely prefer the kind associated with, say, The Three Stooges. Yes, I guess I’m a sophisticate… : P
Thanks for stopping by, Edwina! : )
LikeLike
Of course as always, I enjoyed all of them 😉 xoxo
LikeLike
Too kind, too kind, my dear Dolly! As always, I appreciate your lovely comments– mmmmmwahh! : )
LikeLike
Hey Mark, was’nt ‘blogging’ for a while. OMG – you’ve been really productiv! Awesome court pic’s , you made me smile. Read in your comments that pictures with animails on sale better. Isn’t it sometimes to exasperate? Put something cute on – people buy it….
LikeLike
Me? Productive?? Gosh! Now that’s something I’m rarely accused of– I like it!! : )
Say, you’re right: people always buy cute things!! I’m going to start putting my face on all my drawings– that way I can sell everything and make a fortune!! Many thanks for that wonderful idea, Tutti!! : )
LikeLike