Damox's Legal Blog

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Friday, November 24, 2006 

Couple Fights Jaywalking Ticket

A couple cited for jaywalking in Missouri have decided to fight back in a unique way. They have been photographing city officials and police officers jaywalking, creating a huge collection of offical misdeeds.

This may not create a valid argument in court, because "everyone else is doing it" is not a plea option for the defense, but it has certainly caused the city more embarassment than they could have gained from the citation revenue.
News-Leader.com | Sarah Overstreet


Tuesday, November 21, 2006 

Craigslist Not Liable In Discrimination Case

A U.S. District Court judge in Chicago has ruled that Craigslist is not liable for housing ads that violate the 1968 Fair Housing Act.

The ads in question are clearly discriminatory in nature, with wording like "no blacks" in their description. Craigslist, the judge ruled, is not considered a publisher in the same way as a newspaper. They are protected thanks to a provision of the 1996 Communications Decency Act.

What this case really comes down to is that Craigslist does not post the ads. A user sends the ad to Craigslist, and it is automatically posted. This differs from a newspaper, which would have to read a classified ad submission and then enter it into their classified ad section.
Judge rules for Craigslist in discriminatory housing ads case