I will be arguing before the Washington Supreme Court this Thursday, May 7, starting sometime between 2:30 and 3:30 PM. You can watch on-line on TVW. Click the “Watch Now” button. Edit (5/13/2015): You can view the oral argument here.

Officers frequently look for intoxicated drivers by stopping vehicles for ordinary traffic violations. Can an officer stop you because you briefly touched or went over the lane lines? The answer depends on the line. Read the full article . . .

The below excerpts appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune.  They were taken from real court records. Q: Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, in most cases he just passes quietly away and doesn’t know anything about it until the next morning? Q: What happened then?  A: He told Read the full article . . .

A man went to a brain store to get some brain to complete a study.  He sees a sign remarking on the quality of professional brain offered at this particular brain store.  He begins to question the butcher about the cost of these brains. “How much does it cost for engineer brain?”  “Three dollars an Read the full article . . .

Two lawyers were out hunting when they came upon a couple of tracks.  After close examination, the first lawyer declared them to be deer tracks.  The second lawyer disagreed, insisting they must be elk tracks. They were still arguing when the train hit them.

Nearly all businesses are exposed to liability. Owners of business operated as sole proprietorships or general partnerships expose themselves personally to this liability. A limited liability company can shield effectively these personal assets from the businesses liability. Read the full article . . .

The crime of driving with a suspended license in the third degree (DWLS 3) is the most common crime handled by the San Juan County District Court. A driver’s license can be suspended simply because he fails to pay a traffic ticket. The crime could theoretically result in an impounded vehicle, more fines, and jail time. Read the full article . . .

Couples who live together in a romantic relationship in which they pool resources may be unaware that the separation of that relationship may be similar to a divorce. A romantic partner may have a claim for a share of the earnings and the value of the labor of the other, now separated partner. Some planning, communication, and agreements may help romantic couples avoid heartache if they separate down the road. Read the full article . . .

Society continues to value agreements “on a handshake.” Oral agreements, i.e. those that are not written down, are legally enforceable as contracts. But is it wise to rely on oral agreements? When should the parties write their agreement down? Read the full article . . .