When even the corporate defense lawyers are against you, it’s time to pack it in.
In the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a gentleman named Harold Lischner filed a lawsuit for false arrest against Upper Darby Township. Apparently the President was visiting Upper Darby, and a catering facility allowed people to come onto its property to watch the motorcade go by–but forbidding protest or the displaying of signs. When Mr. Lischner nonetheless showed up with an anti-Bush sign, refusing to put down the sign or leave, he was arrested, and therefore sued the township for its police department’s illegal actions.
The defense lawyers made a motion to prevent the plaintiff from mentioning President Bush’s name during the trial, arguing that the mere mention of this unpopular fellow “”is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice to defendant”. They wanted the court to agree that “it will be sufficient for plaintiff to testify that he displayed a sign in opposition of a ‘presidential candidate.’”
The Court, unsurprisingly, denied the motion. Can’t blame them for trying, I suppose.
mythago
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