Charlotte weather is known for being wildly unpredictable. Think back to January when it was 70 degrees one day and snowing the next. The only certainty in Charlotte’s weather is that the summer will be HOT. One issue discussed each summer is the protection of our pets on those hot summer days, specifically when pets left in hot vehicles. Every staff member at Lindley Law, PLLC is a proud dog owner and many days in the office we celebrate bring your pup to work day. Charlotte is one of the most dog friendly cities around, leading to Charlotte Magazine articles titled, “Are Dogs Replacing Kids”. We understand the desire to…
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Florida Detectives attempt to unlock a cell phone with a dead man’s finger
In today’s technology driven world it seems our phones are attached to our hips whether we like it or not. We are driven by the accessibility and connection that these tiny machines provide us. But what right do you have regarding your phone after your death? In March, Florida police pulled over Linus Phillips for illegally tinted windows. Upon speaking with Mr. Phillips, Officer Steiner detected the smell of marijuana. However, before Officer Steiner was able to perform a search of the vehicle, Mr. Phillips began driving in reverse. Officer Steiner was dragged by the vehicle before he fired his weapon in self-defense and killed Mr. Phillips. Detectives wanted to…
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What You Need to Know about Attorney-Client Privilege and Michael Cohen
Dominating news headlines this week is the revelation of Michael Cohen’s third mystery client. President Donald Trump’s personal attorney’s home, hotel, and office were raided pursuant to a search warrant and his files were seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a hearing on Monday, a federal judge ruled that Cohen, could review the materials that the FBI seized, but did not rule on how prosecutors could use the evidence. Michael Cohen is currently under investigation by prosecutors “for criminal conduct that largely centers on his personal business dealings.” Ten boxes of paper files were confiscated along with computer hard drives and other electronic data storage devices. On…
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Harper Lee’s Estate Sues Aaron Sorkin’s Production of “To Kill a Mockingbird”: When Can Estates Sue and Be Sued?
Famed Hollywood writer, director, and producer Aaron Sorkin is on the defending end of a lawsuit brought by Harper Lee’s estate. The estate alleges that his adaptation of the Pulitzer prize-winning “To Kill a Mockingbird” strays too far in the story and the development of some key characters from the original 1960 best selling book. In case you haven’t read it (spoiler alert), “To Kill a Mockingbird” is a favorite among attorneys and the general public alike. At its heart, it is the story of a wrongfully accused African-American man in 1930s Alabama. With prominent local attorney Atticus Finch as his defense counsel, both men struggle with the prejudice and…
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Judge Rules Lottery Winner May Remain Anonymous
When someone wins the lottery, people come out of the woodwork to get a piece of the pie…or so I’ve read. I wouldn’t know personally. If I did, I’d be writing this on a beach in the South Pacific. In any event, a New Hampshire woman, who remains nameless, purchased a winning lottery ticket worth $560 million and a judge ruled this week that she does not have to reveal her name. He based this decision on her invasion of privacy claim and cited “repeated solicitation, harassment, and even violence,” directed at previous lottery winners. Per New Hampshire’s lottery rules – which are very similar to other states’ rules…
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Grumpy Cat Is Not As Grumpy After $710,001 Verdict
We all know Grumpy Cat. She rose to internet fame in 2012 as a meme that swept not only the nation, but the world. With her tiny little scowl, she stole the hearts of millions and even has a wax likeness displayed at Madam Tussaud’s Wax Museum in San Francisco. The six-year-old cat’s real name is Tardar Sauce (sic) and she and her owner, Tabatha Bundesen are $710,001 richer thanks to a court’s ruling regarding copyright and trademark infringement. In 2013, following closely on the tails of Grumpy Cat’s meteoric rise to notoriety, the owners of Grenade Beverage struck a licensing deal to sell a line of iced…
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The Limitations of Subpoenas: When are They Too Much?
Have you or your company ever been subpoenaed by someone and you wonder, “wait, why am I being dragged into their mess?” It seems unfair. Why should you have to take time out of your busy day to help someone else either pursue or defend their own lawsuit? Let’s face it, most people don’t want to be involved in litigation of any kind, let alone someone else’s litigation. There’s nothing to be gained and only time and money to be lost. However, a North Carolina Business Court ruling last year made clear that non-parties to the case should not be unduly burdened with subpoena requests or required to turn over…
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Revenge on the Porch Pirates: Legal or Not?
‘Tis the season for porch pirates! The seas are perfect when you consider online shopping is outperforming in-store shopping for the first time ever and this is the most robust holiday spending season since 2014 at $682 billion. This means online retailers, like Amazon, and shipping companies are working at a (yellow?) fever pitch in order to get consumer goods to homes and offices. But unless you’ve arranged for your packages to be delivered at a time you can be are at home, those packages may be sitting on your front porch all day while you are at work and may be raided by porch pirates. For the uninitiated, “porch…
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Do Not Resuscitate Tattoo Sparks Legal and Ethical Dilemma
Imagine: you are an emergency room doctor and an unconscious 70-year-old man arrives. He has an elevated blood alcohol level, a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and atrial fibrillation. He has no identification. No friends. No family. He does, however, have a tattoo that reads: “DO NOT RESUSCITATE” along with his signature. Do Not Resuscitate orders (DNRs) are standard in the medical field and often arise in cases of terminal illness or incurable diseases. Many people sign DNRs because they do not want their doctors and family members to keep them alive if they are in a persistent vegetative state with little to no hope of…
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The Battle for Charles Manson’s Estate
When Charles Manson passed away at age 83 of natural causes* at the Corcoran State Prison in Corcoran California, he left in his wake a potential legal battle over his estate. Three men currently claim to be the rightful beneficiaries to Manson’s estate: a long-time pen pal, a son, and a grandson of Manson. Notorious cult leader, Charles Manson, and his followers, the Manson Family, were responsible for a brutal murder spree in August of 1969 targeting members of the Hollywood elite. On his orders, his followers went to Roman Polanski’s house and killed his pregnant wife, actress Sharon Tate, along with four others, including the heiress to the Folger’s…
