Opening Arguments

March 17, 2023March 16, 2023

OA709: The Law of “March Madness!”

Today, Liz and Andrew take a break from the world of politics (except for Patrons) to bring you the history and law surrounding “March Madness,” including whether it was legal to fill out your bracket and how the NCAA approaches its trademarks. Along the way, we’ll learn how the current right-wing Supreme Court is going to use a gambling decision to further its activist agenda. If you like basketball — and even if you don’t! — you won’t want to miss it!

The Patreon bonus is all about Jenna Ellis and Trump’s legal team, and Liz brings the funny.

Notes
NBC Sports, History of March Madness
https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/where-did-march-madness-name-come

NCAA Trademarks
https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2013/12/2/ncaa-trademarks.aspx

15 U.S.C. § 1125
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1125

Kizzang lawsuit
https://dlbjbjzgnk95t.cloudfront.net/0899000/899955/https-ecf-insd-uscourts-gov-doc1-07315826374.pdf

Mitchell Stabbe
https://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2023/03/articles/march-madness-and-advertising-use-of-ncaa-trademarks-2023-update-part-1/

NCAA Brackets guidelines
https://www.ncaa.com/_flysystem/public-s3/images/2021/10/12/2021-22_Use_of_NCAA_Championship_Brackets_and_Limits_on_Advertising.pdf

28 U.S.C. § 3701 et seq.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/part-VI/chapter-178

49 U.S. Code § 41713
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/49/41713

Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association, 138 S. Ct. 1461 (2018)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=6336903476694992840

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March 16, 2023March 16, 2023

OA708: Stormy Daniels Strikes Back!

Today, Liz and Andrew tackle the rumors swirling around the Manhattan DA’s office that Donald Trump is about to be indicted in connection with the 2016 payment of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Will Stormy indeed be the one to take down Trump? Listen and find out!

In the Patreon bonus, Liz and Andrew update you on Alex Jones’s bankruptcies.

Notes
OA 154: Stormy Daniels is a Legal Genius!
https://openargs.com/oa154-stormy-daniels-is-a-legal-genius/

DB Story
https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-an-offer-to-testify-before-a-new-york-grand-jury-signals-trouble-for-trump

Karen McDougal story
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/03/23/596257288/former-playboy-model-spills-alleged-affair-details-trump-tried-to-pay-her

AMI non-prosecution agreement
https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/press-release/file/1119501/download

52 U.S.C., Subchapter I
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/52/subtitle-III/chapter-301/subchapter-I

NY Penal Law 175.05
https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2022/pen/part-3/title-k/article-175/175-05/

New York Penal Law 65.10
https://casetext.com/statute/consolidated-laws-of-new-york/chapter-penal/part-2-sentences/title-e-sentences/article-65-sentences-of-probation-conditional-discharge-and-unconditional-discharge/section-6510-conditions-of-probation-and-of-conditional-discharge

N.Y. Penal Law 255.17
https://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2022/pen/part-3/title-o/article-255/255-17/

NY CPL 30.10
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/30.10

11 USC § 523
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/523

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March 14, 2023March 14, 2023

OA707: Peter Navarro Gets Spanked By Government In Presidential Records Case With Major Implications For Trump

Today, Liz and Andrew break down the DOJ’s sweeping win “in replevin” against Trump loyalist goon Peter Navarro. What’s replevin? Why do we care? Listen and find out for this case that has significant implications for the Presidential Records Act, which in turn may have significant implications for any former Presidents who have refused to give back their Presidential records.

We begin with a terrifying development in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, currently on the desk of Liz’s sworn enemy, Judge Kacsmaryk.

Notes
Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. the FDA
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/65768749/alliance-for-hippocratic-medicine-v-us-food-and-drug-administration/?order_by=desc

Cato Institute on Navarro
https://www.cato.org/commentary/spectacular-economic-ignorance-peter-navarro

Presidential Records Act, 44 U.S.C. § 2201 et seq.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/44/chapter-22

Stern Letter to Navarro
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941.1.4_1.pdf

DOJ Civil Division Letter to Navarro
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941.1.6_1.pdf

Irving Letter
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941/gov.uscourts.dcd.245941.1.5_3.pdf

US v. Dean, 989 F.2d 1205 (D.C. Cir. 1993)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1562611946262688408

Fisher v. United States, 425 U.S. 391 (1976)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=10520682160164643446

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March 13, 2023March 13, 2023

OA706: Flynn “Sold Out” His Country… and Now He’s Suing It!

Liz and Andrew break down the latest LOLsuit from Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn.

You may recall Gen. Flynn from screeching “Lock Her Up!” on the campaign trail while surreptitiously serving as an unauthorized lobbyist for Turkey’s brutal authoritarian regime. You may recall him as a pro-Russian stooge who lied about being a pro-Russian stooge. And you may recall him as having been pardoned by Donald Trump after Bill Barr tried to rig the Department of Justice in his favor.

However you remember this bozo, you’ll be shocked to discover that he now thinks he deserves FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS for… having friends in high places. Fortunately, his lawsuit doesn’t stand a chance in hell of succeeding, as Liz and Andrew make clear.

Notes
Flynn complaint
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flmd.411523/gov.uscourts.flmd.411523.1.0.pdf

OA Amicus Brief
http://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020.06.09-Amicus-Brief.pdf

OA Amicus Show (Episode 394)
https://openargs.com/oa394-the-amicus-show/

OA 689
https://openargs.com/oa689-lawsuit-or-interpretive-dance-why-not-both/

22 U.S.C. § 618
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/22/618

18 U.S.C. § 371
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/951

2019 DOJ Report on Crossfire Hurricane
https://www.justice.gov/storage/120919-examination.pdf

28 U.S.C. Chapter 171
https://t.co/sFiQAXafWI

28 U.S.C. § 2401
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/2401

Form 95
https://www.gsa.gov/forms-library/claim-damage-injury-or-death

28 U.S.C. § 2675
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/2675

Sconiers v. US, 896 F.3d 595 (3d Cir. 2018)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=8262809632148475317

Flynn v. Pelosi
https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61634816/flynn-v-pelosi/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

OA 696
https://openargs.com/oa696-in-which-james-okeefe-pretends-to-be-a-journalist/

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March 10, 2023March 13, 2023

OA705: Can Dominion Really Take Down Fox News??

THIS IS AN EPISODE YOU’LL WANT TO SHARE!

Today, Liz and Andrew break down the latest developments in Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit against Fox News. You know some of the salacious details that have been leaked, but you don’t know just how badly Fox has mangled the law. You won’t want to miss it!

Notes
Bartiromo-Fratto emails
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23697625-bartiromo-fratto-summary-redacted

Exhibits – Delightfully mad emails
https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/23698221/redacted-149-200.pdf

Dominion MSJ
https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/redacted-documents-in-dominion-fox-news-case/dca5e3880422426f/full.pdf

Dominion Reply Supporting SJ
https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-03-08-PUBLIC-Dominion-SJ-Reply-Brief-Fox_Redacted.pdf

Fox News Reply Brief Supporting SJ
https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/25-FNN-SJ-Reply-Brief.pdf

Edwards v. National Audobon Society, 556 F.2d 113 (1977)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=515638952298472646

Hogan v. Herald Co., 84 A.D.2d 470 (N.Y. 4th App.Div. 1982)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14598091554089425482

Brian v. Richardson, 660 N.E.2d 1126 (N.Y. 1995)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15437079674012061938

BONUS! Page v. Oath Inc., 270 A.3d 833 (Del. 2022)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=3804284272223089234

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March 9, 2023March 9, 2023

OA704: Democrats Play Offense On January 6!

Today, Liz and Andrew break down how the Democrats are playing offense with respect to Republican efforts to gaslight America and whitewash the findings of the January 6th Committee.

Specifically, they tell you about the 316-page report on GOP Witnesses that Jim Jordan is trying (and failing) to call whistleblowers. You won’t want to miss this breakdown! But first, Andrew has to update you on the latest right-wing lies about that dingus Raland Brunson and his nonsense pleadings in the Supreme Court.

Notes
OA 668
https://openargs.com/oa668-a-new-case-right-wing-sources-are-blatantly-lying-about/

OA 692
https://openargs.com/oa693-mike-pence-cant-testify-against-trump-cause-hes-a-senator-now/

AP, “Supreme Court Will Not Hear Case to Oust Biden, Reinstate Trump”
https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-supreme-court-trump-biden-election-850929590422

House Judiciary Report on GOP Witnesses
https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2023-03-02_gop_witnesses_report.pdf

5 U.S.C. § 2303
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/2303

18 U.S.C. § 1752
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1752

D.C. Code § 10–503.16
https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/10-503.16

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March 7, 2023March 6, 2023

OA703: You Win a Toy Yoda! And 100 Grand!

Today, Liz and Andrew provide an update on the new Republican broadside against Fani Willis in Georgia before breaking down the law around bad April Fool’s Day jokes.

Notes
New York Times article on Indiana legislation
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/05/us/republicans-district-attorneys-trump.html

Georgia SB 92
https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20232024/216780

GA Constitution Art. VI, Sec. VIII, Paragraph II
https://law.justia.com/constitution/georgia/conart6.html

McLaughlin v. Payne, 761 S.E.2d 289 (Ga. 2014)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18437690967547452063

29 U.S. § 216
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/29/216

Fast v. Cash Depot, Ltd.
http://hr.cch.com/ELD/FastCash110718.pdf

Gill lawsuit
https://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/100-Grand-lawsuit.pdf

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March 6, 2023March 6, 2023

OA702: Will Donald Trump Be Held Civilly Liable for Inciting the January 6th Insurrection?

Today, Liz and Andrew break down the latest developments in Blassingame v. Trump, a set of consolidated cases pending in the DC Circuit that will affect whether Donald Trump will have to compensate the victims of his attempted January 6th coup. You won’t want to miss this one!

Notes
US amicus brief in Blassingame v. Trump https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.38510/gov.uscourts.cadc.38510.1218497852.0_4.pdf

42 U.S.C. 1985
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/42/1985

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March 3, 2023March 3, 2023

OA701: Fox’s Defamation F-Tussle and the Texas Broodmare Tax

Today, Liz and Andrew break down two stories that are all over the news: a proposed new bill in Texas that is an assault on both marriage equality and families. And then we have an update on how Dominion is doing in its defamation lawsuit against Fox News. You won’t want to miss it!

Notes
Texas HB 2889
https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/html/HB02889I.htm

TX Biennial Property Tax Report 2020-2021
https://openargs.com/wp-content/uploads/Biennial-Property-Tax-Report-Texas.pdf

2005 IRS bulletin – Frivolous Tax arguments
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb05-14.pdf

2007 IRS bulletin – more frivolous Tax arguments
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-irbs/irb07-14.pdf

Flora v. US, 362 U.S. 145 (1960)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=13305625317215905

Helvering v. Mitchell, 303 U.S. 391 (1938)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1082206999326140100

US v. Windsor, 570 U.S. 744 (2013)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=15904210835021146815

Equal Dignity for Married Taxpayers Act
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3833/text?r=98&s=1

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March 2, 2023March 1, 2023

OA699: Will Scumbag Payday Lenders Use the Supreme Court to Crush Liz Warren’s Dreams??

Today, Liz and Andrew take a deep dive into Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, a case that the Supreme Court just granted certiorari to review. Is the conservative Roberts court going to gut Liz Warren’s signature accomplishment, the CFPB? Listen and find out!

(Yes, Andrew screwed up the numbering so you got episode #700 before #699… now everything should be good!)

Notes
CFPB v. CFSAA cert petition and 5th Circuit opinion
https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-448/246429/20221114155607407_No.%20CFPB%20et%20al.%20v.%20CFSA%20et%20al.pdf

Responsible lending
https://www.responsiblelending.org/research-publication/fact-v-fiction-truth-about-payday-lending-industry-claims

The Victims of Payday Lending
https://www.responsiblelending.org/issues/victims-payday

OA 126
https://openargs.com/oa126-mick-mulvaney-consumer-financial-protection-bureau/

12 C.F.R. § 1041.8
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1041/8/

12 U.S.C. § 5511
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/5511

Seila Law, LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 591 U.S. 207 (2020)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=14557349188638541514

12 U.S.C. 5497
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/12/5497

OPM v. Richmond, 496 U.S. 414 (1990)
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=1013607894853666546

Kate Stith, Congress’s Power of the Purse, 97 Yale L.J. 1343 (1988)
https://openyls.law.yale.edu/bitstream/handle/20.500.13051/16554/62_97YaleLJ1343_June1988_.pdf?sequence=2

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