(Editor's Note: Perjury and making false statements to government officials are complex topics. This article is geared specifically to the question of whether a lie is truly a lie "if you believe it." There are many other issues to perjury, including the materiality of the statement, whether the perjurer has defrauded the government, how to … Continue reading “The Beard” – Perjury
(Thanks to longtime reader of the blog Samuel Weiss for making a joke about #GivingTuesday that became the idea for this post.) In order to avoid giving holiday gifts to his coworkers, George sends letters to his colleagues claiming that "a donation has been made in your name to the Human Fund," a fake charity he … Continue reading “The Strike” – Non-Profit/Charity Law
After George tells Kramer that the carpet cleaners he hired will clean his entire apartment for only $25, Kramer tells him that the cleaning company, The Sunshine Carpet Cleaners, are a crazy religious cult that use their cleaning services as a front to get into people's apartment and brainwash them. Legally speaking, is The Sunshine … Continue reading “The Checks” – What is a Religion?
At the Bris of a newborn boy, Kramer tries to dissuade Stan and Myra from ritually circumcising their little guy according to the Jewish tradition. If Kramer really wanted to it, could he petition a court to stop the mohel from performing the circumcision? Could ritual circumcision be made illegal? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDABzGe94GU Non-therapeutic circumcision of male … Continue reading “The Bris” – Circumcision
(Special thanks to dear friend of the blog Rina Schiller, for her research that was utilized in the writing of this post. She can be followed on Twitter @RinaS and on Instagram @engiqueer.) After Kramer auditions for the role of "Kramer" in the pilot episode of Jerry, he is overcome with intestinal affliction and goes off … Continue reading “The Pilot” – Bathroom Law
After George spots an eclair in the garbage bin at Mrs. Enright's home (his girlfriend, Lindsay's, mother), he reaches into the trash can to enjoy the baked delight. Bum status notwithstanding, was George within his legal rights to take the eclair out of the trash? Who actually owns the garbage? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOCGwm-hmd8 Trash is considered abandoned … Continue reading “The Gymnast” – Garbage Law
Elaine's friend Robert is afraid that he will be fired from his job because he is gay. To fool his boss into thinking he is straight, Elaine agrees to be Robert's "beard" - a pretend girlfriend. If Robert were to shave his beard and be openly gay, is he protected from anti-discrimination laws? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdU9Dcd4WV8 The … Continue reading “The Beard” – Sexual Orientation Discrimination
(This post was done in conjunction with our appearance on "But I Don't Want to be a Secondary Character," a podcast dedicated to discussing the secondary characters of Seinfeld. Download the podcast and subscribe! Plus follow our friends from BIDWBASC on Twitter and Instagram.) After George receives some information from his friend Simons about a … Continue reading “The Stock Tip” – Insider Trading
After Rachel inadvertently sees George's shrinkage, George gets his revenge on her by tricking Rachel into eating non-Kosher food - lobster - in the omelette he makes her for breakfast. Can George be in legal trouble for tricking Rachel into eating non kosher food? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbJSg4AlV78 New York's first Kosher law was struck down in 2002 … Continue reading “The Hamptons” – NY Kosher Laws
(Editor's note: This analysis is meant to deal only with the concept of Stare Decisis, not the complexities of the exact boundaries of the right to an abortion. That was discussed in this article.) After a discussion with Jerry about abortion, Elaine decides to broach the topic with her new boyfriend Carl to make sure … Continue reading “The Couch” – Stare Decisis
