Re: Piracy/Captain Phillips (2013) What is Piracy? Who has jurisdiction over the high seas? Sources: United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Art. 100-110 (1982). S.S. Lotus (Fr. v. Turk.), 1927 P.C.I.J. (ser. A) No. 10 (Sept. 7). United Nations Security Council. Resolution 1816, S /RES/1816 (2008). Adopted June 2, 2008. U.S. Constitution, Art. III Sec. 2 and Amend. 6. Fed. R. Crim. P. 18 (2024 ed.). Piracy and Privateering, 18 U.S.C. §§1651, 1653 (1948). Jurisdiction and Venue, 18 ...

Re: Medical Emancipation/My Sister’s Keeper (2009), Chicago Med (2015-) When can a child exercise control over their own body and medical decisions? Does a child have to fully emancipate themselves from their parents in order to make those medical decisions? Sources: Bellotti v. Baird, 443 U.S. 622 (1979). In re E.G., 549 N.E.2d 322 (Ill. 1989). Smith v. Seibly, 431 P.2d 719 (Wash. 1967). Michelle Davis and Andrea Fang. “Emancipated Minor,” StatPearls. National Library of Me...

Re: Chinatown (1974)/Water Rights Why does Los Angeles exist? Where does L.A. get its water? How do water rights work? Sources: County of Inyo v. City of Los Angeles, 124 Cal.App.3d 1 (Cal.App. 1981). County of Inyo v. Yorty, 32 Cal.App. 795 (Cal.App. 1973). County of Mono v. City of Los Angeles, 81 Cal.App.5th 65 (Cal.App. 2022). Irwin v. Phillips, 5 Cal. 140 (Cal. 1855). People v. City of Los Angeles, 34 Cal.2d 695 (Cal. 1950). Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (...

Re: RICO Act/Sons of Anarchy (2008) What is RICO? What does it stand for? How is it used? Sources: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968 (2023 Edition). 18 U.S.C. §§ 932 (Straw Purchasing of Firearms), 933 (Trafficking in Firearms), 2339B. (Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations) (2023 Edition). “Homicide,” California Penal Code §§ 187-199. “Uniform Controlled Substances Act,” California Health ...

Re: The Lake (2022)/Trusts and Estates What is a trust? Why would someone use a trust to transfer property? Can you inherit less than a complete interest in real property? If you do have a less than absolute interest does that put limits on what you can do with the property? Sources: Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.34, s. 5 (1), 10, 29-30. Succession Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.26, s. 2-3, 29-30. Gertzbein v. Winer, et. al., [1970] 3 O.R. 67...

Re: Life Insurance, Accident Policies/ Double Indemnity (1944) What is a double indemnity clause? When can an insurance company deny a life insurance claim? Sources: Diamond v. New York Life Ins. Co., 286 N.Y.S. 625 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1936). Funk v. New York Life Ins. Co., 60 N.Y.S.2d 349 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1946). National Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Edwards, 119 Cal.App.3d 326 (Cal. App. 1981). People v. Snyder, 159 N.E. 408 (N.Y. 1927). Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. Snyder, 254 N.Y.S. 732...

Re: Double Jeopardy/Double Jeopardy (1999) Can someone be charged for the same crime twice? Can they be charged with the same crime in multiple places? Is murder not always a crime? Sources: U.S. Constitution, Amend. 5, 10, 14. Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784 (1969). Blockburger v. U.S., 284 U.S. 299 (1932). Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161 (1977). Gamble v. U.S., 139 S. Ct. 1960 (2019). Heath v. Alabama, 474 U.S. 82 (1985). In re Nielsen, 131 U.S. 176 (1889). McCulloch v. M...

Re: Insanity Defense/The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do it (2021), The Devil on Trial (2023) What is an insanity plea and is it a get out of jail free card? Can someone be acquitted of a crime due to demonic possession? Sources: Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984, 18 U.S.C. § 17(a) (1984). Federal Rules of Evidence, 704(b). General Statutes of Connecticut, § 53a-54a, 53a-13 (2023 Edition). Durham v. U.S., 214 F.2d 862 (D.C. Cir. 1954). U.S. v. Freeman, 357 F.2d 606 (2nd ...

Re: Emancipation of Minors/Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001), Roswell (1999), Gossip Girl (2007), New Amsterdam (2018) What is legal emancipation? Can anyone under the age of 18 be legally emancipated? Is it as easy to be emancipated as they show on TV? TV Episodes: Degrassi: The Next Generation, S.3 Ep.21: “Our House” (aired 2004); S.7, Ep.24: “We Built This City” (aired 2008). New Amsterdam, S.4, Ep.14: “…Unto the Breach” (aired 2022). Gossip Girl, S.2, Ep.11: “...

Re: The Sandlot (1993), Bridge to Terabithia (2007)/Premises Liability, Attractive Nuisance Sources: CA Civil Code §§ 846, 1714, 3342-3342.5. Adams v. Bullock, 125 N.E. 93 (N.Y. 1919). Dennis v. Odend'Hal-Monks Corp., 182 Va. 77 (1943). Haywood v. South Hill Co., 142 Va. 761 (1925). Martinez v. Bank of Am. Nat’l Trust & Sav. Ass’n, 82 Cal. App. 4th 883 (Cal. App. 2000). McDaniel v. Sunset Manor Co., 220 Cal.App.3d 1 (Cal. App. 1990). Ornelas v. Randolph, 4 Cal. 4th 1095 (1993). Pal...