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Volume 39 - February 2010
John Fytit lawyer, cartoon character in Law & Disorder eZine by Paul Brennan

This month you can see a clip of an interview with Sunrise Morning Show, Channel Seven and we explain how you too can enjoy committee meetings. 

Paul Brennan

Editor

info@lawanddisorder.com.au

 


Enjoying Committee Meetings - The Secret

           

Legal cartoon and article on committees, precedents, Paul BrennanMost people put up with being on committees as they are often the best way of getting things done.  But, for many of us, it can be like being in prison.

 

A man in a Rotary Club of which I was once a member was quite obsessed with committees.  He organized a weekend away in an army camp for all the newly appointed office holders in Sydney Rotary Clubs.  We had a different speaker every half hour.  On the first morning, I was listening to a talk called “What the secretary has in his bag” when my mind left the room.  This has happened many times in committee meetings over the years.  As I got older I found myself moving my lips in sync with imaginary conversations.  I worried that the other committee members would notice but many of them had blank expressions and lip movements too.

 

It started to happen to me at home, especially at dinner with my four children.  My family and I put it down to deafness as they had to say things to me two or three times, before it registered. 

 

Many years later, I had a routine medical examination and to my surprise, my hearing was declared A-OK.  I explained the issue to the nurse and she asked if I had ever been in Rotary.  Apparently, there is a recognized medical condition called Post Rotary Committee Traumatic Stress Disorder (“RCTSD”).  It is a little bit like an alcohol induced blackout where sufferers are unable to remember what went on at the meeting.  Some Rotary Committees are suspected of repeating the same committee meeting year after year, a little like Ground Hog Day.  Initial findings by doctors have found beneficial effects such as improved sleep. 

 

Nowadays, when asked to join a committee, especially to be the secretary, I start to cry.  I have found this works very well.

(c) Paul Brennan 2009.

Exert from “Suffering 101” written on Paul's blog http://www.101reasonstokillallthelawyers.com/

 


Letter to the Editor of the Spectator

Assume the position, Sir

 

Legal cartoon, lawyers, attorney, solicitors, human rights, Paul BrennanSir: Charles Moore reported (Notes 9 January 2010) that a 94 year old man, who set off a metal detector at a US airport due to a metal pin in his leg, was forced to undergo an anal examination.

 

For safety reasons we may all need to steel ourselves for this sort of enquiry, although it may be resisted by “No Frills” airlines. 

 

As for finding anal inspectors, I am sure that there would be no lack of volunteers in the sniffer dog community.  Alternatively, they could use bomb disposal machines while inspectors and other passengers stood behind reinforced screens.

 

Clamours from Human Rights lawyers should be blocked.  In security matters, there can be no exceptions for gender, age, size or continence.  Although, tea and biscuits after the event, for anyone over 60 years of age, would be a nice gesture. 

If US airport security are prepared to go in and do the dirty jobs to show terrorists that there is no hiding place.  Who are we to turn our backs, whatever our age?

(c) Paul Brennan 2009. 

Click here for other books, ebooks and CDs by Paul Brennan   


Watch out for Time limits

 

Legal cartoon, law, court, lawyer, solicitor, barrister, Paul Brennan

In law there are lots of time limits.  For instance, as far as wills are concerned, death really means “put down your pen and stop writing”, was many a disappointed beneficiary will know.

 

As a general rule you have six years to commence court action or you are “out of time”.  This is applied very strictly so that court proceedings are not delayed allowing memories to fade, evidence to disappear or people to be vexed by old claims. 

 

However, there are all sorts of exceptions.

Three years for accidents and injury.  In the case of injuries to children the limitation period usually only starts when they become 18 years, which can be very upsetting for teachers. 

 

For relatives going missing, you may wait seven years before they are declared dead.  Therefore, it is essential not to mislay rich relatives. 

 

A claim by a person left out of a will can be subject to a time limit of a few months.

 

Employment legislation is quite scatty 14 days, a month, 3 days, 5 hours and 45 minutes, they seem to change it with every new bit of legislation. 

 

Unsportingly, there is no time limit for murder of, say your spouse.   Whereas, the Tax Office usually has something suitably sneaky like 12 months for a tax reclaim. 

Judges may be tempted to do justice and get around time limits in deserving cases, encouraged by lawyers who are forever missing time limits and making rushed court applications to extend time.   However, such applications are usually unsucessful leaving clients to sue their lawyers for the loss.

So, as far as time limits are concerned, watch it or you may miss out.

(c) Paul Brennan 2009 author of eBook and CD the 10 Greatest Legal Mistakes in Business…and how to avoid them”.   


Lending money to friends

Legal Cartoon, law, solicitor, attorney, lawyer, financial crisis, Paul BrennanAfter last month's article on lending money to friends Paul was interviewed on "Sunrise", the morning breakfast show on Channel Seven.  Click here for a video clip of that interview.

It was picked up by Justine Davies Blog in the Courier Mail who found a survey saying that 57% of people surveyed had seen a friendship breakup as a result of a loan.

Disclaimer:

The content of the Law & Disorder eZine is to give you legal basics and in some instances included unashamedly to try and make you laugh.  In law it is sometimes difficult to work out what is serious and what is just for fun.  Therefore, if you plan to do anything legal, rely on your own lawyer’s advice or instruct me to look at the particular facts of your case.  Not only will I deny responsibility for the legal content but also for some of the jokes.

© Paul Brennan 2009.

Editor

Author of the The Law is an Ass...Make Sure it Doesn't Bite Yours!

mailto:info@lawanddisorder.com.au

In this Issue
Enjoying Committee meetings - the secret
Assume the position sir- extreme security procedures

Watch out for Time limits

Lending money to friends

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