2 MORE WEIRD PERSONAL INJURY LAWSUITS
E very couple of years, you hear about some crazy lawsuit that supposedly shows how broken the American legal system is. Most of these stories shame victims with legitimate claims and bend the information to discourage suffering folks from going toe-to-toe with massive corporations. But even we have to admit that there are a few personal injury cases out there that are truly bizarre. THE MAN WHO SUED HIMSELF
violate my religious beliefs. This was done by my going out and getting arrested.” He wanted the defendant (himself) to pay $5 million in damages, but he wanted the state to foot the bill, since he couldn’t make income in prison. He promised to pay it back when he got out, but the case was dismissed — though the judge did note that Brock had “an innovative approach to civil rights litigation.” THE MAN WHO TOOK IT A STEP FURTHER AND SUED GOD Say what you will about our Creator, but if he’s out there, he probably does have some pretty deep pockets. Apparently, that was on the mind of Pavel Mircea, a murderer from Romania, when he filed a suit against the big man — or rather, his representative, the Orthodox Catholic Church — in 2005. He argued that his baptism had been a legally binding contract, which God had broken when he failed to “protect [him] from all evils,” a list of crimes that included fraud, breach of trust, and abuse of authority. Of course, the case was thrown out. How would you even serve God legal papers? Drop them on the ground? Unfortunately, God’s lawyer couldn’t be reached for comment on this story.
Call it a horribly planned get-rich-quick scheme or an attempt at personal penance, but suing yourself will probably never work out in court. But that didn’t stop Robert Lee Brock, an inmate from Virginia, from attempting just that in 1995. His claim read, “I partook of alcoholic beverages in 1993, July 1st, as a result I caused myself to
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Inside-Out Grilled Ham and Cheese
Want to take your grilled cheese game to the next level? This recipe calls for cheese both inside and outside the sandwich, adding a crispy crunch to the grilled cheese experience. It’s a quick, delicious weekday dinner option the whole family will love.
Ingredients •
8 slices of bread (Pullman works best) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano) Directions 1. Butter each slice of bread on the outsides and sprinkle with Parmesan. 2. Layer ham and cheese evenly on top of 4 slices of bread. 3. Spread apricot preserves and mustard across the other 4 slices. Press sandwiches together.
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8 ounces ham, thinly sliced 1/2 pound Swiss cheese, sliced 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1/4 cup apricot preserves
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4. In a cast-iron skillet or large sauté pan over medium heat, grill sandwiches until golden, about 3 minutes per side. 5. Cut in half and serve.
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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