Mykonos Owner Scores Big Defamation Verdict Against Maryland Paper!

We previously covered this case of alleged mistaken identity involving a Baltimore newspaper, a federal fugitive, and a different person with the same name who also happens to be the owner of Mykonos restaurant.

Well apparently after having the case transferred from Judge Gold to Judge Motz(!) in Maryland, the newspaper was unable to make this case go away quietly and they actually tried this thing before a jury.

Question -- how much money was spent having GT brief the venue motion?  To what end?  The newspaper was afraid of Judge Gold?  Did the newspaper mistakenly believe they would be held in higher regard by a jury of their readers (big mistake)?  Was it just to make Joel travel to Maryland all the time?

In any event, kudos to Joel and his client for scoring a decisive victory -- though it is a newspaper we're talking about, I hope they're collectable!

In other news, we received word from our friend and former DBR reporter Billy Shields -- famously immortalized by the Beatles in the opening line to "With a Little Help From My Friends" --- that he is doing well and currently on assignment in the Great White North.

That means of course Billy is now writing about things of intense interest to our Canuckian neighbors, such as walrus tusks, William Shatner, exactly how much gravy to place on french fries, and oh yeah -- Chris Leak?

We Choose The Moon!

Isn't everybody tired of the law already?

Watching the Sotomayor confirmation hearings have left me with a major case of the law blahs.

It's like watching an intelligent woman have to repeatedly explain basic legal concepts to complete idiots, over and over and over again.

Precedent, "settled law," legal realism, it's obvious no one is interested in her answers so why don't these pompous windbags cut her loose already and put her on the bench?

I enjoyed Michael Mayo's column on Sotomayor's mother, and their preparations for Noche Buena every year in Margate. Finally a fresh angle on this dead story.

What else -- the 11th Circuit explains that when the government offers you GoLytley at the airport, it's probably not a good thing.

Hey -- our own Billy Shields won an award from the Florida Bar.

Congrats Billy!

Finally, today is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch to the moon.

What better way to celebrate than love scenes between Diane Lane and the "blouse man," Viggo Mortenson?

Billy Shears On The Kenny Nachwalter Disqualification

It's ok Billy, even though I covered the story six days ago, I'm glad you finally got around to doing a piece on it. I guess the difference is that Billy actually, you know, did some digging and reporting and I just sat around in my wind surfing shorts and blogged about it.

Here's my favorite quote from the piece Billy elicited from GT spokesperson Jill Perry:

“We believe the allegations are outrageous and without merit. The case arises from the firm’s appropriate representation of its client,” she said. “We expect to be fully vindicated in this matter through the court process.”

Oh come on Jill, that's about as generic and nonspecific as you can get. Admit it, you probably have a shortcut key on your blackberry that spits that statement out every time Greenberg Traurig gets in trouble.

Well, once you look at it that way, it's a well-crafted statement.

CORRECTION: I am advised that it turns out the author of this piece is not legendary Sgt. Pepper bandleader Billy Shears, but rather hotshot DBR reporter and boy mechanic Billy Shields. We apologize for any confusion.