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OCTOBER 2026
Legally Brief W ith K evin P atrick Automobile accidents | Daycare injuries | Wrongful death
Grave Mistakes and Haunted Mishaps A Haunted House, a Tombstone, and a Flaming Lamb Walk Into Court …
Every now and then, the legal world hands us a case that makes even a lawyer do a double-take. So, in the spirit of Halloween, I thought it would be fun to raise the dead (figuratively) and dig up the strangest injury lawsuits involving haunted houses, tombstones, and a rather unfortunate lamb costume.
The plaintiff, who was 48 and single, claimed the messages were directed at her and should be considered as death threats. Talk about a grave misunderstanding. The case is a reminder that Halloween decorations may be temporary, but disputes between neighbors can haunt you.
WHEN A HAUNTED HOUSE IS TOO HAUNTED In Deborah Mays v. Gretna Athletic Boosters Inc. , Mays entered a Louisiana haunted house in 1999 and got exactly what she presumably paid for. Unfortunately, when someone jumped out at her, she panicked and ran … straight into a wall covered with black plastic. The collision broke her nose, and she ultimately needed two surgeries.
MARY, HER LITTLE LAMB, AND A VERY BAD IDEA Finally, we have Ferlito v. Johnson & Johnson Products Inc . A couple attended a Halloween party dressed as Mary and her little lamb. The DIY lamb costume was covered in cotton balls from head to toe. During the party, the husband attempted to light a cigarette, the flame came near his cotton-covered sleeve, and, well, let’s just say the little lamb lit up the party in the worst way possible. Mr. Ferlito suffered burns over roughly one-third of his body. The couple sued Johnson & Johnson, the cotton-ball manufacturer, arguing that a warning about flammability could have prevented the accident. At first, a jury awarded $625,000 but found the couple 50% responsible. On appeal, that verdict was ultimately set aside, with the court noting that cotton’s flammability is an obvious characteristic. These cases may give us a chuckle, but they also highlight something important: Injury law is rarely black-and-white. Liability depends on the circumstances, the facts, and the law, and sometimes, those facts are stranger than fiction.
Mays argued that the covered cinder-block wall was an unreasonably dangerous condition. The court, however, disagreed. It argued that being startled is the point of a haunted house. Operators have a duty to protect patrons from unreasonably dangerous conditions, but they aren’t expected to anticipate every bizarre or unpredictable reaction to being frightened.
In other words, if you buy a ticket to be frightened, getting spooked is part of the package.
WHEN THE TOMBSTONES GET TOO PERSONAL Next comes Salama v. Deaton , involving two (perhaps perilously petty) neighbors in Florida and a Halloween display that allegedly crossed the line from spooky to suspiciously sly. One tombstone included a rhyme about a 48-year- old single woman who had “no mate, no date. It’s no debate, she looked 88. She met her fate in a crate. Now we celebrate. 1961–2009.” Meanwhile,
So, have a ghoulishly good time this Halloween, watch your step in haunted houses, and remember smoking is bad for your health (and that cotton is indeed flammable).
another tombstone read, “Paranoia will destroy ya. Ima crazy zee. 1961–2009.”
This publication is for informational purposes only, and no legal advice is intended.
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When Legal Information Is Everywhere, Start With Someone You Trust Helpful Tools or Information Overload? If you’ve ever Googled a legal question, you know how quickly a simple search can turn into an information avalanche. One minute you’re looking up what to do after an accident, and the next you’re reading forum posts, watching TikToks, and comparing AI answers. With Information Overload Day on Oct. 20 , it’s a good time to talk about something we see all the time: Having access to more information doesn’t necessarily mean having the right information. The internet and AI tools such as ChatGPT can be a good starting point. They help you understand terminology, identify questions to ask, and point you toward resources you may not have known existed. However, there’s an important distinction between information and legal advice. Your specific circumstances, the facts of your case, and the laws in your state can make all the difference. Before you trust something you find online, consider who wrote it and why. Is the source a licensed attorney, government agency, or reputable legal organization? Does the information actually apply to Georgia? Laws and procedures can vary significantly from one state to another, and something that sounds perfectly reasonable online may not apply to your situation at all. Additionally, please be especially cautious with forum posts, social media videos, and confident-sounding AI responses. A person (or an algorithm) can give you an answer that sounds convincing while completely missing the details that matter most. Sometimes, one of the best ways to cut through the noise is surprisingly low- tech: Talk to people you trust . Ask friends, family members, or professional advisors whether they know a reputable attorney or community resource. Local legal aid organizations, community centers, and advocacy groups can also be valuable starting points, particularly if cost is a concern. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you make that first phone call. If your situation involves an actual injury, an insurance claim, or a potential lawsuit, the next step may be to speak with a licensed personal injury attorney who understands Georgia law. Online research can help you prepare for that conversation, but it shouldn’t replace it.
Skip the Genealogy Charts! These Activities Bring Family History to Life Genealogy has seen a resurgence in popularity over the last few years, but it’s also taken on an impersonal tone. Say the word, and a lot of people picture spit tubes, glossy subscription websites, and charts full of strangers. If you want to teach your kids about family history in a way that sticks, you need another approach. LET THEM ASK THE NOSY QUESTIONS. Kids make excellent interviewers because they lack a filter. A 10-year-old will look grandpa dead in the eye and ask if he was rich, if he was scared in the war, or if he ever got arrested. Where adults would tiptoe, kids barge right in, and that is exactly how you get the good stories. Sit your child down with the oldest relative in your family, then get out of the way. You might learn something you’ve never heard before! TAKE A WALK THROUGH A CEMETERY. This may sound like a gloomy family activity, but it actually makes a surprisingly good field trip. Walking past the graves of relatives gives kids a physical place to connect with people they may have only heard about. You can talk about who they were, how they fit into the family, and what life may have been like when they were alive. It’s also a good chance to teach basic etiquette, like staying off the grass near a headstone and keeping voices low. TRY THINGS THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY. There’s value in the hands-on side of history, too. Having your kids write with a fountain pen, wash a shirt on an old washboard, or cook from an old recipe can make history feel less distant. It can also give them a small taste of how much harder daily life used to be. The effect doubles if the object itself has history. Cooking from a great-grandmother’s actual recipe card or writing with a relative’s old fountain pen ties the task to the story. The best part is that none of these activities require a massive budget or weeks of planning. All it takes is a little curiosity and an afternoon together to help kids build a lasting connection to the people and stories that came before them.
You can always reach Kevin directly at 404.566.8964 or Kevin@PatrickTrialLaw.com. (If you ever need it, his cellphone is 404.409.3160.)
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Watch for the Little Goblins! BEFORE THE KIDS GO DOOR-TO-DOOR, READ THESE HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS
WHAT GEORGIA LAW SAYS ABOUT CROSSWALKS Georgia’s pedestrian laws provide important protections, and they aren’t as simple as “no crosswalk, no responsibility.” Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-91 , drivers generally must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in their half of the roadway at marked crosswalks. Pedestrians also have responsibilities under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-92 , including obeying traffic signals and yielding when crossing outside designated crosswalks under certain circumstances. But here’s the important part: Being outside a marked crosswalk doesn’t automatically make a pedestrian responsible for a collision. Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-93 , drivers still have a duty to exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians. That duty matters even more when drivers are sharing the road with vulnerable pedestrians, including children and older adults. Whether you’re behind the wheel or holding a tiny trick-or-treating bucket, slow down, stay alert, and look out for one another.
October is National Pedestrian Safety Month , and with trick-or-treaters filling Atlanta neighborhoods and drivers navigating darker roads, everyone has a role to play in staying safe. Extra caution can go a long way to ensuring the scariest thing your family encounters is a vampire asking for candy. FOR PARENTS: HELP KIDS BE SEEN. Before sending your little ghosts and goblins out for the evening, take a quick look at their costumes. Make sure shoes fit properly and consider adding reflective tape to costumes, bags, or accessories. Flashlights and glow sticks are another easy way to help children see and be seen. Young children should always have an adult or responsible older child with them. Remind kids not to dart between parked cars or run across yards where obstacles may be difficult to see. Whenever possible, stick to sidewalks and well-lit paths, cross at intersections or crosswalks, and put the phones away. Remember the buddy system; it’s tried and true for good reason!
DRIVERS: SLOW DOWN AND EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.
Halloween requires drivers to be especially alert. Children can be unpredictable, particularly when they’re excited about the next house handing out full-size candy bars. Slow down, scan carefully, and watch for pedestrians in unexpected places. Give yourself plenty of time to react, especially in residential neighborhoods, near parties, and around trick-or-treating hotspots. If you encounter a suspected impaired driver, contact law enforcement rather than trying to handle the situation yourself.
TAKE A BREAK
Cider-Braised Chicken
Ingredients •
4 slices bacon, chopped
• • • •
2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme 2 tbsp whole grain mustard
•
8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 3 1/2 lbs) 2 medium tart red apples, cored and cut into wedges
1 tsp kosher salt
•
12 oz fresh Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
•
1 12-oz bottle hard cider
Directions 1. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp; remove from pan, reserving drippings in skillet. 2. Add chicken, skin side down, and cook 10 minutes or until browned, turning once; remove from skillet. 3. Add apples to skillet; cook 4 minutes or until browned on both sides; remove from skillet. 4. Discard drippings. 5. Add cider, thyme, mustard, and salt to skillet, scraping up any browned bits. 6. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Return chicken to skillet. Cover and simmer 10 minutes. 7. Add Brussels sprouts. Cover and cook 5 minutes. 8. Add apples and cook, uncovered, 3–5 minutes more or until chicken is at least 175 F. 9. To serve, divide chicken, Brussels sprouts, and apples among bowls or plates. Spoon cider mixture over top. Sprinkle each with bacon.
Solution
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No Carving Required Creative Pumpkin Decorating Ideas Kids Will Love
PAINT YOUR WAY TO A PUMPKIN MASTERPIECE. A plain pumpkin can quickly become a bright, colorful decoration with just a few brushes and some creativity. Kids can paint traditional Halloween designs, such as ghosts, bats, spiders, and monsters, or they can create something completely different. Paint pens and markers are also great options for adding small details, patterns, and funny faces. ADD TEXTURE WITH CRAFT SUPPLIES. No-carve pumpkin decorating is the perfect excuse to use up those extra craft supplies sitting around the house. Items like googly eyes, ribbons, stickers, felt, yarn, pom-poms, and foam shapes can turn an ordinary pumpkin into something full of personality. Kids will love creating silly pumpkin faces with oversized eyes, wild hair, or funny expressions. Younger children can enjoy adding stickers and decorations, while older kids can create more detailed designs. The possibilities are endless, and there’s no wrong way to decorate.
Boo! When you think of Halloween pumpkins, you probably picture the classics: spooky jack-o’- lantern faces with triangle eyes, silly toothy grins, scary monsters, creepy cats, or maybe a pumpkin glowing on the front porch with a candle inside. Carving pumpkins has been a favorite fall tradition for generations, but let’s be honest, it can also mean scooping out slimy pumpkin guts, dealing with sharp carving tools, and cleaning up a big orange mess afterward. That’s where no-carve pumpkin decorating comes in! Instead of cutting into your pumpkin, you can turn it into almost anything with paint, stickers, craft supplies, and a little imagination. No-carve decorating is a fun way for kids of all ages to join in without the stress of traditional carving. Whether you’re looking for an easy Halloween craft, a creative weekend activity, or a new way to decorate your home, these ideas prove that pumpkins don’t need to be carved to steal the spotlight.
CREATE A FESTIVE PUMPKIN THEME. A fun way to make decorating even more exciting is by choosing a theme. Families can create matching pumpkins, such as a group of friendly monsters, a collection of favorite animals, or pumpkins inspired by a favorite movie or book. Themed pumpkins also make a great Halloween display for porches, entryways, or family gatherings. Everyone can add their own style while still creating a fun collection that looks great together. MAKE IT A FAMILY PUMPKIN CHALLENGE. Turn pumpkin decorating into a fun family competition. Everyone can choose a pumpkin and create their own design using the same supplies. Once everyone is finished, vote on categories like “funniest pumpkin,” “most creative,” “best use of color,” or “spookiest design.”
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