Tue 3 Oct 2006
Warning: Gravity May Apply On This Planet
Posted at 16:49 +1000 (edited 20:07)
All the stupid (and let's not mince words here) US legal cases I hear about such as requiring labels explaining that hot coffee may, in fact, be hot would be funny if they weren't true.
Fortunately, at least one such case has been overturned in the state of New Jersey. Turns out, it is not reasonable to be awarded USD 179,001 for falling out of a loft bed just because you were not smart enough to realise it may happen.
Remember, this is the same state that has Princeton University and the Institute for Advanced Studies?! Looks like they may need to focus on their secondary school education system a little bit more. The lessons here? Gravity operates in a downwards direction and if you are prone to leaping about suddenly after waking up, do not sleep on what is effectively a ledge without adequate tie-downs.
(Via The Volokh Conspiracy.)