The Law Dictionary for Everyone
Following is the case brief for Hickman v. Taylor, 329 U.S. 495 (1947) Case Summary of Hickman v. Taylor: Plaintiffs suing to recover for deaths caused in a tugboat accident served an interrogatory on the tugboat owners, asking for written statements of witnesses interviewed by the tugboat owners’ lawyer. The lawyer refused. The District Court ordered the lawyer to produce […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Hess v. Pawloski, 274 U.S. 352 (1927) Case Summary of Hess v. Pawloski: Hess, a Pennsylvania resident, caused a car accident with Pawloski on a Massachusetts highway, injuring Pawloski. Pawloski sued Hess in Massachusetts court. Pawloski served process on Hess in accordance with Massachusetts statute, which requires service on the Massachusetts registrar of motor […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Griggs v. Duke Power Co., 401 U.S. 424 (1971) Case Summary of Griggs v. Duke Power Co.: A group of African-American employees sued their employer, Duke Power Company, for a policy that mandated a high school diploma and satisfactory scores on two general aptitude tests in order to advance in the company. The lower […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, 798 N.E.2d 941 (Mass. 2003) Case Summary of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health: Seven same-sex couples were denied marriage licenses in the State of Massachusetts. They sued the government, stating that denying marriage to same-sex couples violates Massachusetts law. The state Superior Court granted the government’s motion […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Ghen v. Rich, 8 F. 159 (1881) Case Summary of Ghen v. Rich: Ghen, a fisherman, killed a whale in Massachusetts Bay. Ellis found the whale several days later. Rather than follow custom and bring the whale to town to give it to the fisherman and collect a finder’s fee, Ellis sold the whale to […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc., 418 U.S. 323 (1974) Case Summary of Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc.: The family of a murder victim hired petitioner to be their attorney in a civil suit against the murderer. Respondent media organization published defamatory statements about petitioner, including statements that he was a Communist and framed the murderer. […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Florida v. Riley, 488 U.S. 445 (1989) Case Summary of Florida v. Riley: Police viewed Riley’s backyard greenhouse from a helicopter at 400 feet and saw what appeared to be marijuana. After obtaining a warrant based on the observation, police searched Riley’s greenhouse and charged him with possession of marijuana. Following Riley’s motion, the trial […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Florida v. Bostick, 501 U.S. 429 (1991) Case Summary of Florida v. Bostick: Two officers boarded Terrence Bostick’s bus, questioned him, and asked him for consent to look in his luggage. They advised him of his right to refuse. Bostick gave consent, and cocaine was found in his luggage. Bostick moved to suppress the drugs […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Faretta v. California, 422 U.S. 806 (1975) Case Summary of Faretta v. California: Criminal defendant Faretta wished to represent himself in his criminal trial. The trial court, however, appointed a lawyer for Faretta. The court found that he did not knowing and intelligently waive his right to counsel. A jury convicted Faretta, and he was sentenced […]
Read moreFollowing is the case brief for Eldred v. Ashcroft, 537 U.S. 186 (2003) Case Summary of Eldred v. Ashcroft: Congress passed the Copyright Term Extension Act, which extends a copyright from 50 years after the death of the author to 70 years. Petitioners, a group of individuals and businesses who benefit from works that come into the public domain, sued in […]
Read more
