Have you ever heard of the McDonald’s settlement to the lady who complained the coffee was too hot? Many thought the settlement was ridiculously high. But that settlement is not the largest settlement in the United States. The largest settlement in the United States is the Master Settlement Agreement and it involved a $206 billion […]
Widerman Malek Law Blog
Geographical Indications
Geographical Indications is a new term. This term is without a doubt the latest term to be covered under the definition of intellectual property rights. The term references the value of the names of places like Champagne, Darjeeling and Chianti. These names are the actual names of places and are also thought of in terms […]
The Disputed Tattoo
Who do you think was the first person to tattoo a picture of a voluptuous girl on the arm of a sailor? I don’t believe that fact is known. If it was, do you think the original tattoo artist would claim the rights to that tattoo? Do you think the image was copyrighted? Back when […]
Wacky Lawsuits
Today’s world has become a world of people seeking to be rich and people also seeking to never have responsibility for their actions. This combination has led to some of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever filed. For those of us who are a bit more responsible, these lawsuits at least offer some entertainment value. Have […]
Barbies and Bratz
Most little girls have a doll or two during their childhood. Some like the baby doll types and others like to play grown up with an older doll. The most famous of these older dolls is Barbie. Barbie has been around for generations and the name evokes images of long blond hair, blue eyes with […]
Intellectual Property theft is on the FBI radar
The crime of stealing has been around since the beginning of man, possibly even before. All forms of life “steal”. Think about your pets; haven’t you seen one dog take a toy from another? Haven’t you witnessed that cherished meal being enjoyed by a seagull and then being stolen by another? Even with trees; the […]
Defamation of Character
In today’s world, it seems everyone needs to be careful when talking about someone. People are sensitive to being categorized in certain ways; the names we used to use for groups of people are now offensive. When saying something about someone you need to make sure you have your facts straight. With social media everywhere, […]
Civil Lawsuits
A civil lawsuit is a lawsuit that is filed to determine the rights and liabilities of a party. These lawsuits normally are private disputes between corporations or individuals. The disputes could be due to a violation of a contract or other injuries received in an accident. If you fell in a retail store due to […]
Traffic and Personal Injuries During the Holidays
The holidays are upon us. As people are dashing to and fro, desperately trying to finish their shopping, the roadways are clogged up with more than the normal amount of cars. It is also a time of year when deliveries by truck are at an all-time high. Add to this, the fact that we all […]
What Is Litigation?
There are many legal terms used in the judicial system that you might not be familiar with. When becoming part of the judicial system, it helps to understand these terms to make your journey through the process easier to follow. Most everyone knows some of the basic terms; judge, defendant, complainant, jury and verdict. And […]