What is Piracy? Who has jurisdiction over the high seas?

Sources:

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Art. 100-110 (1982).

S.S. Lotus (Fr. v. Turk.), 1927 P.C.I.J. (ser. A) No. 10 (Sept. 7).

United Nations Security Council. Resolution 1816, S /RES/1816 (2008). Adopted June 2, 2008.

U.S. Constitution, Art. III Sec. 2 and Amend. 6.

Fed. R. Crim. P. 18 (2024 ed.).

Piracy and Privateering, 18 U.S.C. §§1651, 1653 (1948).

Jurisdiction and Venue, 18 U.S.C. §3238 (1948).

Muse v. Daniels, 815 F.3d 265 (7th Cir. 2016).

Thomas J. Shaw. The Legal History of Pirates & Privateers. Thomas J. Shaw (2024).

Edmund Sanders and Julian E. Barnes. “U.S. ship captain held by Somali pirates.” LA Times. April 9, 2009. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-apr-09-fg-somali-pirates9-story.html

“Somalian pirate suspect arrives in New York to be tried in U.S. court.” CBC News.  April 20, 2009.  https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/somalian-pirate-suspect-arrives-in-new-york-to-be-tried-in-u-s-court-1.777441

Tim Besley, Thiemo Fetzer, and Hannes Mueller. “The Economic Costs of Piracy.” International Growth Centre. March 1, 2012. https://www.theigc.org/collections/economic-costs-piracy

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When can a child exercise control over their own body and medical decisions?  Does a child have to fully emancipate themselves from their parents in order to make those medical decisions?

Sources:

Bellotti v. Baird, 443 U.S. 622 (1979).

In re E.G., 549 N.E.2d 322 (Ill. 1989).

Smith v. Seibly, 431 P.2d 719 (Wash. 1967).

Michelle Davis and Andrea Fang. “Emancipated Minor,” StatPearls.  National Library of Medicine (May 1, 2023). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554594/

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Why does Los Angeles exist?  Where does L.A. get its water?  How do water rights work?

Sources:

County of Inyo v. City of Los Angeles, 124 Cal.App.3d 1 (Cal.App. 1981).

County of Inyo v. Yorty, 32 Cal.App. 795 (Cal.App. 1973).

County of Mono v. City of Los Angeles,  81 Cal.App.5th 65 (Cal.App. 2022).

Irwin v. Phillips, 5 Cal. 140 (Cal. 1855).

People v. City of Los Angeles, 34 Cal.2d 695 (Cal. 1950).

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). 2022-2023 Briefing Book. www.ladwp.com/sites/default/files/2023-10/2022-23_Briefing_Book_Online.pdf

Marc Reisner. Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water. New York, NY: Penguin Books (2017); orig. ed. Viking (1986).

Sarah Dean. “Taps running dry have become part of daily life in South Africa’s biggest city.” CNN, March 24, 2024.

Denise Chow and Albinson Linares. “Mexico City's 21 million residents are facing a severe water shortage.” NBC News, March 1, 2024.

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What is RICO? What does it stand for?  How is it used?

Sources:

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968 (2023 Edition).

18 U.S.C. §§ 932 (Straw Purchasing of Firearms), 933 (Trafficking in Firearms), 2339B. (Providing material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations) (2023 Edition).

“Homicide,” California Penal Code §§ 187-199.

“Uniform Controlled Substances Act,” California Health and Safety Code §§ 11000 - 11651.

Boyle v. United States, 556 U.S. 938 (2009).

H.J. Inc. v. Northwestern Bell Tel. Co., 492 U.S. 229 (1989).

Nat’l Org. for Women, Inc. v. Scheidler, 510 U.S. 249 (1994).

Reves v. Ernst & Young, 507 U.S. 170 (1993).

United States v. Martinez, 657 F.3d 811 (9th Cir. 2011).

CRIMINAL RICO: 18 U.S.C. §§1961-1968.  A Manual For Federal Prosecutors, Organized Crime and Gang Section, U.S. Department of Justice (May 2016 6th Rev. Ed.).

“Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations” Bureau of Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State.  https://www.state.gov/foreign-terrorist-organizations/

“Mafia Commission Trial” Wikipedia, accessed 2/2024.

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What is a trust?  Why would someone use a trust to transfer property?  Can you inherit less than a complete interest in real property?  If you do have a less than absolute interest does that put limits on what you can do with the property?

Sources:

Conveyancing and Law of Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.34, s. 5 (1), 10, 29-30.

Succession Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.26, s. 2-3, 29-30.

Gertzbein v. Winer, et. al., [1970] 3 O.R. 676, 1970 CANLII 330 (ON SC).

Melms v. Pabst Brewing Co., 79 N.W. 738 (Wis. S.Ct. 1899).

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What is a double indemnity clause?  When can an insurance company deny a life insurance claim?

Sources:

Diamond v. New York Life Ins. Co., 286 N.Y.S. 625 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1936).

Funk v. New York Life Ins. Co., 60 N.Y.S.2d 349 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1946).

National Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Edwards, 119 Cal.App.3d 326 (Cal. App. 1981).

People v. Snyder, 159 N.E. 408 (N.Y. 1927).

Prudential Ins. Co. of Am. v. Snyder, 254 N.Y.S. 732 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 1928).

American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI). "ACLI 2022 Life Insurers Fact Book."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  Mortality in the United States, 2021.  NCHS Data Brief No. 456, December 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db456.htm

Crowley & Shih, “What to do if Your Life Insurance Claim is Denied?” Policygenius (April 10, 2023).  https://www.policygenius.com/life-insurance/what-to-do-if-a-life-insurance-claim-is-denied/

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Can someone be charged for the same crime twice?  Can they be charged with the same crime in multiple places?  Is murder not always a crime?

Sources: 

U.S. Constitution, Amend. 5, 10, 14.

Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784 (1969).

Blockburger v. U.S., 284 U.S. 299 (1932).

Brown v. Ohio, 432 U.S. 161 (1977).

Gamble v. U.S., 139 S. Ct. 1960 (2019).

Heath v. Alabama, 474 U.S. 82 (1985).

In re Nielsen, 131 U.S. 176 (1889).

McCulloch v. Maryland, 17 U.S. 316 (1819).

Serfass v. U.S., 420 U.S. 377 (1975).

U.S. v. Dixon, 509 U.S. 688 (1993).

U.S. v. Felix, 503 U.S. 378 (1992).

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What is an insanity plea and is it a get out of jail free card?  Can someone be acquitted of a crime due to demonic possession?

Sources:

 Insanity Defense Reform Act of 1984, 18 U.S.C. § 17(a) (1984).

 Federal Rules of Evidence, 704(b).

General Statutes of Connecticut, § 53a-54a, 53a-13 (2023 Edition).

Durham v. U.S., 214 F.2d 862 (D.C. Cir. 1954).

U.S. v. Freeman, 357 F.2d 606 (2nd Cir. 1966).

U.S. v. Freeman, 804 F.2d 1574 (11th Cir. 1986).

State v. Conte, 157 Conn. 209 (Conn. 1968).

State v. Rossier, 175 Conn. 204 (Conn. 1978).

Elizabeth Nevins-Saunders, Not Guilty as Charged: The Myth of Mens Rea for Defendants with Mental Retardation, 45 U.C. Davis L. Rev. 1419 (2012).

Phillip J. Resnick, The Andrea Yates Case: Insanity on Trial. 55 Clev. St. L. Rev. 147 (2007).

Marco Margaritoff, “Andrea Yates, The Texas Woman Who Drowned Her Kids to Save Them From the Devil.”  All That’s Interesting (May 21, 2023). https://allthatsinteresting.com/andrea-yates 

“A Crime of Insanity: Insanity on Trial” Frontline.  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/crime/trial/faqs.html .

“The Insanity Defense Among the States” FindLaw.com, reviewed Jan. 23, 2019.

“Insanity Defense” Wikipedia, accessed Oct. 23, 2023.

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What is legal emancipation?  Can anyone under the age of 18 be legally emancipated?  Is it as easy to be emancipated as they show on TV?

TV Episodes:

Degrassi: The Next Generation, S.3 Ep.21: “Our House” (aired 2004); S.7, Ep.24: “We Built This City” (aired 2008).

New Amsterdam, S.4, Ep.14: “…Unto the Breach” (aired 2022).

Gossip Girl, S.2, Ep.11: “The Magnificent Archibalds” (aired 2008).

Roswell, S.1 Ep.15: “Independence Day” (aired 2000).

Sources:

Children’s Law Reform Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. C.12, s. 65 (2021).

Ontario Works Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 25, Sched. A (2021).

A.C. v. V.A., 2012 ONCJ 7 (CanLII).

O.G. v. R.G., 2017 ONCJ 153 (CanLII).

NewYouth, “I’m Under 18, How Can I Apply For Ontario Works (Welfare)?” https://newyouth.ca/en/resources/daily-life/personal-finance/im-under-18-how-can-i-apply-ontario-works-welfare (2019).

Emancipation of Minors Act, NM Stat. 32A-21-1 to 32A-21-7 (New Mexico Statutes (2023 Ed.)).

“Petition for Emancipation Instructions” Children’s Court Self Help Forms, https://seconddistrictcourt.nmcourts.gov/home/courts/childrens-court/childrens-court-self-help-forms/ (PDF, rev. 8/5/15).

Department of Social Services Regulations (18 NYCRR) § 349.5.

“Emancipation in New York,” Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. https://www.lawny.org/node/9/emancipation-new-york (2023). 

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Sources:

CA Civil Code §§ 846, 1714, 3342-3342.5.

Adams v. Bullock, 125 N.E. 93 (N.Y. 1919).

Dennis v. Odend'Hal-Monks Corp., 182 Va. 77 (1943).

Haywood v. South Hill Co., 142 Va. 761 (1925).

Martinez v. Bank of Am. Nat’l Trust & Sav. Ass’n, 82 Cal. App. 4th 883 (Cal. App. 2000).

McDaniel v. Sunset Manor Co., 220 Cal.App.3d 1 (Cal. App. 1990).

Ornelas v. Randolph, 4 Cal. 4th 1095 (1993).

Palsgraf v. Long Island R. Co., 248 N.Y. 339 (N.Y. 1928).

Radoff v. Hunter, 158 Cal.App.2d 770 (Cal. App. 1958), concur.

Rowland v. Christian, 69 Cal. 2d 108 (1968).

Valladares v. Stone, 218 Cal. App. 3d 362 (Cal. App. 1990). 

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Sources:

Declaration of Independence (1776).

U. S. Constitution, Art. III §2; Amends. 5, 6, 14 §1.

Ballew v. Georgia, 435 U.S. 223 (1978).

Duncan v. Louisiana, 391 U.S. 145 (1968).

Smith v. Texas, 311 U.S. 128 (1940).

Sparf v. U.S., 156 U.S. 51 (1895).

Williams v. Florida, 399 U.S. 78 (1970).

Woodson v. North Carolina, 428 U.S. 280 (1978).

Judicial Council of California Criminal Jury Instructions. CALCRIM No. 101, 103 (2023 Ed.).

CJI2d NY Model Instructions Final – Jury Admonitions, Reasonable Doubt. New York Model Criminal Jury Instructions (2020 Ed.).

Death Penalty Information Center, “New York,” https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-and-federal-info/state-by-state/new-york

John Conway, “Not Until 1937 Could Women Serve On Juries in New York,” New York Almanack. (April 5, 2023), https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2023/04/sullivan-countys-first-juror-of-the-fair-sex/ 

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How is a contract formed?  What makes a contract enforceable?  Can minors sign contracts?  What if a contract has super tiny print or is in Latin?

Sources:

Restatement (Second) of Contracts (1981).

Uniform Commercial Code.

Williams v. Walker-Thomas Furniture Co., 350 F.2d 445 (D.C. Cir. 1965).

Stacey Lantagne, "Contract Issues in 'Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.'" ContractsProf Blog, February 22, 2016.   https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/contractsprof_blog/2016/02/contract-issues-in-willy-wonka-and-the-chocolate-factory-.html

Latin Discussion on Reddit:  https://www.reddit.com/r/law/comments/1gb2i0/the_latin_in_the_contract_drafted_by_willy_wonka/ 

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What happens when there is a dispute between neighbours over property lines?

Sources:

ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (2020).

Wyoming Statutes Annotated, 1-3-103, 1-3-104.

Brumagim v. Bradshaw, 39 Cal. 24 (1870).

City of Rock Springs v. Sturm, 39 Wyo. 494, 273 P. 908 (Wyo. 1929).

Shores v. Lindsey, 591 P.2d 895 (Wyo. 1979).

 “Adverse Possession Background” Research Memo for Wyoming Legislative Service Office (2006).

Emily Doskow.  “State-By-State Rules on Adverse Possession.” https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/state-state-rules-adverse-possession.html 

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What rights does a child have when a remarried parent dies?  What rights does a stepparent have to the portion of the estate that belongs to a minor child?  What is child abuse?

Sources:

California Probate Code, Division 2. General Provisions, Secs. 100-147.

California Probate Code, Division 6. Wills, Secs. 6100-6132; Part 2. Intestate Succession, Secs. 6400-6402.5, 6454, 

California Probate Code, Division 7. Administration of Estates of Decedents, Sec. 8200.

California Probate Code, Division 4. Part 9. California Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, Secs. 3900-3925.

Wood v. Woods, 184 Cal. Rptr. 471, 133 Cal. App. 3d 954 (Cal. App. 1982).

 “Child Abuse and Neglect in California Part I” Legislative Analyst’s Office, January 1996. 

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What is murder? What is the difference between murder and manslaughter?  What defenses are there for murder and what is self-defense?

Sources:

Official Code of Georgia Annotated, 16-5-1, 2, 3, 21, 23.1, 40; 16-2-2; 16-3-21, 23; 16-4-1, 5; 16-7-22, 23, 60, 61; 16-10-31, 94.

Bright v. State, 265 Ga. 265 (1995).

Davis v. State, 269 Ga. 276, 496 S.E.2d 699 (1998).

Gregg v. Georgia, 428 U.S. 153 (1976).

Hall v. Lewis, 286 Ga. 767 (2010).

White v State, 287 Ga. 713, 699 S.E.2d 291 (2010).

Wilson v. State, 630 S.E.2d 640, 279 Ga. App. 136 (Ga. App. 2006). 

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How can someone be declared dead without a body?  What happens if someone who was declared dead is still alive?

Sources:

Social Security Administration Handbook, Sec. 1721.

New York Consolidated Laws.  Estates, Powers, and Trusts Law, Sec. 2-1.7.

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes. Title 10, Chapter 57, Absentees and Presumed Decedents.

“Presumption of Death” Wikipedia.

Jeanne Carriere.  "The Rights of the Living Dead: Absent Persons in Civil Law" 50 Louisiana Law Review 901 (1990).

Donald Miller Story

https://www.postcrescent.com/story/money/2017/11/18/reports-mans-death-were-greatly-exaggerated/874110001/

Benjamin Holmes Story

https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20001203mag-thernstrom.html

Brenda Heist Story

https://abcnews.go.com/US/runaway-moms-husband-facing-insurance-payout-fight/story?id=19102738

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What happens when lost or abandoned property is found?  Who owns that property?  Who can claim ownership of hidden treasure?

Sources:

Archaeological Resources Protection Act, North Carolina General Statutes, Ch. 70, Art. 2.

Unmarked Human Burial and Human Skeletal Remains Protection Act, N.C.G.S. Ch. 70, Art. 3.

Grande v. Jennings, 278 P.3d 1287 (Ariz. Ct. App. 2012).

Katy Steinmetz. "The Law of Finders-Keepers and What Happens When You Find Buried Treasure." Time Magazine. Feb. 26, 2014.

 https://time.com/10118/california-gold-coins-finders-keepers-john-mary/

Michael Scott Moore. "California's Novel Attempt at Land Reparations," The New Yorker.  May 27, 2021. 

https://www.newyorker.com/news/us-journal/californias-novel-attempt-at-land-reparations

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What happens when a shipwreck is discovered?  How is ownership of a shipwreck determined?  Who keeps the artifacts found on a shipwreck?

Sources:

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, https://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf

Abandoned Shipwreck Act of 1987, 43 U.S.C. 39 §2101.

Salvage of Abandoned Shipwrecks and Other Underwater Archaeological Sites, North Carolina General Statutes, Ch. 121, Art. 3.

Intersal, Inc. v. Hamilton, 834 S.E.2d 404, 373 N.C. 89 (N.C. 2019).

Odyssey Marine Exploration Inc. v. the Unidentified Shipwrecked Vessel, 657 F.3d 1159 (11th Cir. 2011).

Recovery Ltd. v. S.S. Central Am., 2:87cv363 (E.D. Va. 2016); see also CADG I, 742 F. Supp. 1327 (E.D. Va. 1990); CADG II, 974 F.2d 450 (4th Cir. 1992); CADG III, No. 87-363-N (E.D. Va. 1993); CADG IV, 56 F.3d 556 (4th Cir. 1995); and CADG V, 203 F.3d 291 (4th Cir. 2000).

U.S. v. Thompson, 925 F.3d 292 (6th Cir. 2019).

Peter Tyson, “Who Owns Lost Ships?” PBS NOVA, 

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lasalle/owners.html (2000).

Kim Alderman, “High Seas Shipwreck Pits Treasure Hunters Against a Sovereign Nation: The Black Swan Case.” American Society of International Law Cultural Heritage and Arts Review (Spring 2010). 

“25 Things Found in the Ocean and Their Worth”  https://www.therichest.com/rich-powerful/25-things-found-in-the-ocean-and-their-worth/ 

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