HOPEFULLY OUR SUIT AGAINST THE SUN WILL STILL SUCCEED
This post brought to you by Hutz and Hutz, your firm for racial discrimination and sun-harassment suits.
One reason some schools are terrified of hiring black coaches: they’re terrified of alienating the all-important demographic of racist recruits. Another: the fear the black coach will make fun of them when they’re dancing at the holiday party. (They will, though.)
And still another: the fear of looking like racists if they fire the head coach, or worse still the resulting expensive litigation blossoming after the firing? That fear may be semi-rational, but it is a bit less rational after the dismissal of the verdict in the Jerry Baldwin case this week. Baldwin was the inept coach at UL-Lafayette, and led the Ragin’ Cajuns directly into the hole with a 6-27 record before his firing after three seasons in 2001.
Reading between the lines, the main reason for the overturn seems to be that the trial happened in Louisiana, and went about as well as most Louisiana jury trials go: disastrously for Teams Logic and Fairness. Pay attention and laugh along, Category 5:
The appeals court also found Johnson wrongly granted “expert witness” status to a man who testified about how being fired might make it difficult for Baldwin to obtain another coaching job.
The appeals judge ruled that the man offered only a personal view unsupported by any “indicia of reliability.”
In addition to our lifelong dream of being convicted for practicing law without a license, we now have a new one: being an expert witness on something in a trial without having any expertise in the subject whatsoever. Available immediately, willing to travel, and will claim intimate knowledge of any discipline whatsoever. “So Professor Swindle, what made this mineshaft collapse?” “Pretty sure it was the foreman. Just my opinion, but I am an expert.” KA-CHING!
As long as this doesn’t interfere with the $45 million settlement we won in Louisiana in 2003 against the sun for “bein’ all up in my face all the time,” we’re fine with it. It also lessens the fear of suit being filed over the firing of a black coach by .001%, so that’s nice, too.
Loading ...
1
The Persistent Fool says:
Probably not the goofiest expert witness to ever testify in a college football related case. There’s a seminal US Supreme Court decision on defamation arising from a suit by a former Georgia coach against a newspaper that said he conspired with Bear Bryant to throw a game.
“Interestingly, a number of current and former football players testified as experts, offering their opinion that a football game cannot be fixed without the knowledge or participation of the players. At trial, Butts won a massive judgment: $60,000 in general damages and $3 million in punitive damages.”
http://thepersistentfool.blogspot.com/2009/07/how-sec-football-has-shaped-law-of.html
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:15 pm
2
twogreattastes says:
Mr. Hutz would like to refer you to the case Finders v. Keepers.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:30 pm
3
Maize n Brew Dave says:
Mr. Swindle I think this is exactly the type of case I need to help me rebuild my shattered law practice. Care to join me in a belt of Scotch?
– But it’s 9 in the morning.
Yeah, but I haven’t slept in days.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:33 pm
4
Silver Britches says:
This is excellent, and rivals Justice Potter saying he knows hardcore porn “when he sees it” in 1964 for greatest moment in appellate history.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:51 pm
5
Silver Britches says:
Justice Potter Stewart, fwiw
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:52 pm
6
jd says:
this is the reason most defense lawyers choose to settle out of court.
juries are made up by a bunch of idiots who, despite what they claim in the selection process, do have preconcieved notions and biases that will amass to an unfair trial.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:54 pm
7
Herb says:
It’s not like the other 49 states pay attention to those civil law weirdos anyway.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:15 pm
8
haveagreatday says:
damn judges and their ex parte agendas. It’s clear that Judge Don Johnson was trying to use the robe to make amends to Philip Michael Thomas for making him play second fiddle all those years.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:08 pm