HOW’S THAT FOR ODDS? REGGIE ‘MR. OCTOBER’ JACKSON’S LEGENDARY GAME
TOO WEIRD TO BE FAKE
REAL HALLOWEEN LAWSUITS THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
At Shuttlesworth Law Firm, we give all our potential clients a free consultation — no matter how crazy their case may seem. And around Halloween, lawsuits can get particularly strange. From haunted-house hoopla to a troublesome pair of clown shoes, these lawsuits of Halloweens past are so bizarre you would think they’re from another plane of existence. SCARED CROOKED People can react in crazy ways when they’re scared, but Deborah Mays’ reaction was next level. When someone jumped out and scared her at a haunted house, Mays ran face-first into a cinder-block wall covered by a black curtain. She needed two surgeries to fix her broken nose, and she filed a lawsuit against the haunted-house owners. But the courts dismissed her claims, saying they could not predict how she would react when she was scared. DON’T LAUGH AT THE EPITAPH These neighbors’ petty fight took a grave turn. Annoyed that the residents of the house next door protested having their RV in their driveway, one couple decided to put their neighbors’ names on a pair of tombstones, along with comical inscriptions, in their front yard during the Halloween season. Their neighbors called the police, but the couple claimed the tombstones were their First Amendment right. The courts agreed with the couple, much to the disdain of their neighbors. IF THE SHOE FITS Clown shoes are supposed to be big — everyone knows that. So, maybe if your costume includes clown shoes, you should expect to have some difficulty walking normally. Well, that’s not what one man thought when he filed a product liability lawsuit against Forum Novelties
“I feel that the most important requirement in success is learning to overcome failure. You must learn to tolerate it, but never accept it.” – Reggie Jackson Some people shine brightest in the spotlight. When put to the test, they deliver every time. Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson is one of those people. During the sixth game of the 1977 World Series, Jackson hit three home runs in a row, securing the Yankees’ victory over the Dodgers and winning them their 21st World Series title. The legendary playoff game also earned Jackson the nickname “Mr. October,” which has stuck to this day. Like many stories of greatness, Jackson’s featured a lot of hard work behind the scenes. He dedicated himself to his sport and constantly worked to improve his play. Growing up, Jackson played baseball, basketball, and football and excelled at all three, though football was his strong suit. He was scouted and given opportunities to go pro straight out of high school, but, on the advice of his father, he went to college on a football scholarship. Thanks to a $5 bet, he tried out for the baseball team at Arizona State University and made it. Jackson was the first black person on the team, and, even though he experienced discrimination, he never let it stop him. From the minor leagues into the majors, Jackson’s ambition got him through many tough times, as did the constant support of his father and of Oakland A’s manager John McNamara. Jackson always dreamed of playing for New York, and, eventually, his dream came true when he signed with the New York Yankees in 1976. To this day, Jackson holds many prominent records, including being the first player to earn more than 100 home runs for three different teams (the A’s, Yankees, and Angels). He even has his own candy bar, the “Reggie! Bar,” which debuted during a Yankees game in 1978. Let’s see if any of this year’s playoff games stir up as much excitement as Reggie Jackson’s did in his heyday.
in 2010. His legal defense claimed that his clown shoes caused him to trip and injure his legs. As funny as his case is, this man certainly wasn’t clowning around with his footwear safety.
These cases may be strange, but there really is an above-average rate of injury on Halloween night compared to other nights. So, if you’re going to a party or are out trick-or-treating with your kids, remember to stay safe. Happy Halloween!
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