An attempted vampire-leprechaun hybrid horror movie resulted in perhaps something even scarier: A lawsuit. Mark Jones had struck gold in the ’90s when he created the long-running “Leprechaun” franchise. In 2013, he pitched an idea for a new film called “Vamprechaun” to Mark Thompson, a self-proclaimed production attorney. Thompson expressed great interest but couldn’t secure financing for the project. A few years later, Jones met up with different potential financiers and brought Thompson back into the fold for legal advice. However, Jones claims, Thompson began acting as production attorney on the project, although he had not been hired in that capacity. When Jones attempted to cease Thompson’s involvement in the project, Thompson said he and Jones had “co-invented” the “Vamprechaun” idea and that they were partners. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the financiers discovered that Thompson had never been licensed to practice law in California, and his license in Ohio had been lapsed for over 10 years. The financiers withdrew their money, and Jones is suing Thompson for $3 million in damages.
COMMA LAW
A group of five drivers for Maine-based Oakhurst Dairy sued their employer over their overtime eligibility. Oakhurst had successfully argued the state labor guidelines were clear that the drivers were exempt from overtime, but an appeals court decided otherwise. The guidelines in question, known as Exemption F, list the activities that are not eligible for overtime and reads: “The canning, processing, preserving, freezing, drying, marketing, storing, packing for shipment or distribution of: (1) Agricultural produce; (2) Meat and fish products; and (3) Perishable foods.” Had there been a serial comma (also known as the Oxford comma) after “packing for shipment,” wrote First Circuit judge David J. Barron in his decision, then it would have been clear that “distribution” was overtime-exempt. Without the comma, it’s unclear whether “packing for shipment or distribution” is one activity, or “distribution” is meant to be separate. “For want of a comma, we have this case,” wrote Barron. The lack of clarity in the list led to a reversal of the lower court decision.
