Guilty by Reason of Stupidity [Paperback]

Joel J. Seidemann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2008

If the iPod is too loud, does Steve Jobs have to pay? Can Steven Spielberg cut a kid's hair without permission? Did Mickey Mouse and Fred Flintstone really cast votes for Ralph Nader?

Unbelievable but true tales of more than one hundred court calamities, curiosities, and comical cases.

Joel Seidemann's law career spans more than 25 years. He is currently a district attorney, but when he's not arguing on the city's behalf, he can be found researching the most bizarre, hilarious, and ridiculous cases of legal history. And now, thanks to Seidemann, we know why Lady Justice is blindfolded. Surely it's to hide her tears from the daily dysfunction and dalliances bestowed upon our country's judicial system.

Remember the woman who claimed she found a finger in her Wendy's chili? Or the judge who attempted to make a courtroom decision by flipping a coin? Seidemann concisely chronicles more than one hundred tales of courtroom chaos and credulity that are destined to make even the most experienced judge chuckle between sessions.

The perfect gift for newly licensed lawyers who just passed the bar, in addition to legal eagles currently in practice.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joel J. Seidemann is a district attorney who has seen his share of courtroom stupidity during his 25 years of practice. He is the author of In the Interest of Justice. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing; Original edition (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740777122
• ISBN-13: 978-0740777127
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #213,090 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #4 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Humor > Lawyers & Criminals
  • #10 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Professional & Technical > Law
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Law > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another Dose of Stupidity in Action!, September 19, 2008

By 

Michael OConnor "Wordsmith" (Wausau, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Guilty by Reason of Stupidity (Paperback)

A noted Amazon reviewer once said, "Stupidity Sells!" No publisher has embraced that mantra more than Andrews McMeel Publishing, whose imprint seems to be on most of the titles on the subject. GUILTY BY REASON OF STUPIDITY is their latest offering, author Joel Seidemann presenting 125 examples of dumb-dumb-dumbness involving the U.S. legal system.

Judging by Seidmann's book, stupidity is an equal-opportunity employer, striking lawyers, judges, plantiffs and defendants alike. So, we get the straight skinny on: the California city employee who sued the city when one of its dump trucks backed into his car (minor point here: he was driving the truck!); the D.C. policeman who ticketed a man for jaywalking (as he lay bleeding and unconscious on the road!); the New York judge who asked a defendant if he was a gambling man (and then flipped a coin to decide the guy's sentence!); the Southern California lawyer who sued GTE for listing him under "Reptiles" in its Yellow Pages (no comment!); and so on.

As with similar McMeel titles, GUILTY BY REASON OF STUPIDITY is good, clean, inexpensive fun. OK, maybe half the time you're shaking your head in disbelief but overall it's still a fun book.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book, January 5, 2009

By 

Gary Norton (Connecticut) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Guilty by Reason of Stupidity (Paperback)

Truth is more entertaining than fiction, because fiction needs to be realistic. Okay, so I stole the quote. Here's some original advice to make up for it. This book went missing the day I got it. It was instantly grabbed up by my four teenagers and then by my wife. So if you share a living space, be sure to buy two copies. Now back to the book review. This book is from the author who brought us "In the Interest of Justice", a compilation of the most serious and erudite rants of our jurisprudence. But as for me, when I'm tired of ranting and too cynical to rave, I could use a good laugh. Did I mention that you should read this book?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Guilty by Reason of Stupidity by Joel J. Seidemann, August 29, 2008

By 

jjmachshev "jj" (Grovetown, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Guilty by Reason of Stupidity (Paperback)

If you're a fan of 'dumb crook news' or 'the Darwin Awards', then you'll definitely want to add "Guilty by Reason of Stupidity" by Joel J. Seidemann to your reading list. Seidemann is a DA who put together this collection of funny, strange, and downright weird legal suits, judgements, and outright shenanigans!

From the infamous Wendy's chili finger to cases involving what I would term deviant acts with livestock, they're all here and commented on with acerbic wit and a keen eye for the ridiculous. At just under 200 pages, "Guilty by Reason of Stupidity" is a very quick overall read, but the stories are separated and sized so you can easily read just a few a day to keep that smile on your face. The size is perfect for sneaking into your (or your boss', if he has a sense of humor) briefcase or purse so you can share the hilarity with your fellow workers. I hope Joel J. Seidemann can be persuaded to search his archives and provide some more legalistic humor--if for no other purpose than to hopefully fend off more lawsuits like the ones he profiles in "Guilty by Reason of Stupidity"!