Lessons in Air Races from Star Wars Resistance

By

-

October 18, 2018

Star Wars Resistance does a wonderful job honoring the flying spirit of air races and test pilots, with homages to Chuck Yeager, “Pancho” Barnes, the Happy Bottom Riding Club, Fireball XL5, and classic anime such as Starblazers, Robotech, and Area 88. It is also pure Star Wars fun.

Star Wars Resistance takes place on the Colossus, a fuel super tanker that functions as a city-state island on the ocean planet Castilon. The Colossus exists to support an economy built upon air races and gambling.

Air racing is a highly regulated activity on Earth. In the United States air races are governed by FAA regulations and local laws. Examples of local regulations include special events requiring use of the airport for air shows, air races, fly-ins, sky diving, require the approval of the Airport Manager and compliance with all FAA regulations. Carson City, Nevada Code of Ordinances Sec. 19.02.020.040. Permits can also be required for events with more than ten aircraft or thirty people. Buckeye, Arizona Code of Ordinances Section 22-1-5.

The procedures for applying for an air race are outlined in FAA Order 8900.1 and directs applicants to use FAA Form 7711-2, Application for a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization. The Accreditation Process outlined in FAA Order 8900.1 includes the following multiple steps:

Pre-application

Formal Application

Document Compliance

Demonstration and Inspection

Accreditation

The required documents for the application include at least the following:

1) Management résumés.

2) Operation manual.

3) General Maintenance Manual (GMM) (as applicable).

4) Aircraft qualification.

5) Minimum pilot qualifications and experience.

6) Pilot qualification (air race card) training program.

7) Air race security plan.

8) Safety operating rules and procedures which include Safety Management Systems (SMS) and/or risk management practices.

9) All air racecourses proposed.

10) Airport analysts and feasibility/airport requirements.

11) Race format and description.

12) Race control procedures.

13) Onsite surveillance plan for validation.

14) Emergency response plan in accordance with Volume 3, Chapter 6, Section 1, subparagraphs 3143A18) and H) and 3144A1), B1), C12).

15) Event management plan, in accordance with Volume 3, Chapter 6, Section 1, subparagraph 3144B1).

There is no question watching a Rodian, Ithorian, and Snivvian, prepare operation manuals and emergency response plans for a closed course air race would be tons of fun, however, it is highly unlikely we will see that in Star Wars Resistance…

Can Kaz Recover Damages if Injured in the Fireball?

Air racing is an inherently dangerous activity. The Resistance pilot and spy Kaz inadvertently found himself in a race within one day or arriving on the Colussus. Pilots who are injured in air races have an extremely difficult time recovering any damages because of the doctrine of primary assumption of risk. The issue for Kaz is whether he assumed the inherent risks of air racing based on his “knowledge and experience” as a pilot. Goodlett v. Kalishek, 223 F.3d 32, 37 (2d Cir. 2000).

In a decision denying a surviving family member’s case for the death of a pilot in an air race, the Court explained that in that lawsuit, “[t]he risk of a fatal crash, whether as a result of a midair collision or some other cause, plainly inheres in one’s participation in this sport, as is evidenced by the fact that there had been several accidents in previous air races that resulted in death or serious injury to pilots and the fact that the sponsoring Association explicitly warns pilots that there is a risk of midair collisions (and that such collisions “usually” result in the deaths of both pilots).” Goodlett, at *37-38.

Kaz flew a plane named the Fireball, which required extensive repairs in order to be flight ready. Moreover, the former pilot turned mechanic Yeager warned Kaz that the Fireball could live up to its name. Kaz had actual knowledge of the risks of flying based on his military experience; knowledge of the second-hand parts used to repair the Fireball; and was told by Yeager not to push the engines in order to avoid an explosion. Based on Kaz’s knowledge of the Fireball and experience as a fighter pilot, the doctrine of primary assumption of risk would bar Kaz from recovering for any injuries he sustained in racing the Fireball around the Colossus.

However, nothing would blow a spy’s cover like a lawsuit…

The Law of Monster Crossovers

By

Josh Gilliland

-

October 13, 2018

0

Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman is the first time movie characters had a crossover event in a connected universe. The film brought to life many legal issues that attorneys have howled over for decades.

Grave Robbing

Lawrence Talbot was dead at the end of The Wolfman. Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman begins with two men who entered the Talbot family tomb and opened Lawrence’s crypt four years after his death to steal cash, a ring, and his watch off his body. This is the literal definition of “grave robbing,” but with a few historical twists.

19^th Century cases pertaining to “grave robbing” centered on the removal of a body with the purpose of selling the remains for medical experimentation. State v. Baker, 46 S.W. 194 (Mo. 1898). In the case of Lawrence Talbot, the robbers clearly trespassed into the crypt with the intention of committing a crime, but it would not be the “ancient” view of grave robbing. These older laws would clearly prohibit the conduct of any of the Dr. Frankenstein’s who dug up bodies for experiments.

Modern laws clearly prohibit the conduct of the men who tried to “rob” a dead body. Idaho prohibits the desecration of a place of burial. Idaho Code § 18-7027. Entering the tomb and opening the crypt would qualify as desecrating the grave of Lawrence Talbot. Nevada specifically includes that anyone who removes an article interred with a body is guilty of a felony. Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 451.030. Talbot’s watch, ring, and cash, were clearly intended to be interred with his corpse, as those items were buried with him.

While the two grave robbers did not have their day in court, they did suffer extra-judicial punishment from a reanimated corpse that turned into a wolf.

Police Led Mobs

After a distraught father named Vazec carried his dead daughter killed by the Wolfman to the town square of Vasaria, the public response was to form a mob led by the chief of police. The angry mob quickly found Maleva, who was racially profiled as a Gypsy. She was told to “speak up, Old Witch,” and suffered other indignities.

The angry villagers chasing after the Wolfman were at best an “unlawful assembly,” which is when two or more people do “an unlawful act, or do a lawful act in a violent, boisterous, or tumultuous manner, such assembly is an unlawful assembly.” Cal. Penal Code § 407. The plausible argument for unlawful assembly is the villagers were seeking a dangerous animal that killed a human being, yet were doing so in a violent manner.

The villagers pursuing the Wolfman could arguably be a riot, which is when there is any “use of force or violence, disturbing the public peace, or any threat to use force or violence, if accompanied by immediate power of execution, by two or more persons acting together, and without authority of law, is a riot.” Cal. Penal Code § 404. There is an argument that the villagers were acting under the authority of the police. Moreover, in times of public calamity, a governor could call for volunteers to act in an unorganized militia. Cal. Mil. & Vet. Code § 128. There is a colorable, but not strong, argument the mayor did call for volunteers and the villagers acted as an unorganized militia in response to the “public calamity” of a wolf that had killed a girl was now stalking villagers.

There were multiple instances of riots being urged and those calling for a riot could be prosecuted. Cal. Penal Code § 404.6. Moreover, when two or more people make any attempt to riot if they had actually committed the act, they could be prosecuted for committing a “rout.” Cal. Penal Code § 406. Naturally, the crimes of urging riot and rout were committed in the town bar by individuals drinking alcohol.

Medical Ethics of Murder and Assisted Suicide

Dr. Mannering agreed to help the villagers by killing Frankenstein’s Creature with science. After reviewing the diary of Dr. Frankenstein, Mannering agreed to help Larry Talbot commit suicide.

That….is really problematic for a doctor. The Hippocratic Oath states to “do no harm” and that a doctor will not “administer a poison to anyone when asked to do so nor will I suggest such a course.” Thorburn v. Dep’t of Corr., 78 Cal. Rptr. 2d 584, 588 n.6 (Ct. App. 1998), citing The Oath of Hippocrates, as quoted in AMA Council Rep., supra, 270 JAMA 365. Medical ethics stated that doctors participating in state-ordered executions violation their duties as doctors. Id. In the case of Dr. Mannering, this is doubly problematic, because he is helping Talbot kill himself and a “promise” to kill Frankenstein’s Creature.

California has an “End of Life” law that allows for a person with a terminal disease who has mental capacity to request a prescription for them to self-administer an aid-in-dying drug if they meet residency requirements. Health and Safety Code § 443.2. Residency requirement aside, Talbot does not meet the requirement of having a terminal disease. If anything, the cruse of the werewolf brought Talbot back from the DEAD, so it is difficult to call it a “terminal illness.” Turning into a werewolf is a horrible physical condition, but not one that could be called “terminal.”

There is a new law that goes into effect on January 1, 2019 that makes it a felony to deliberately aid, advise, or encourage another to commit suicide. Cal Pen Code § 401. Dr. Mannering, Baroness Elsa Frankenstein, and Maleva, all aided in Talbot’s goal to commit suicide. While the plan was unsuccessful, Dr. Mannering violated medical ethics and engaged in conduct that would be a felony.

The issue of Frankenstein’s Creature is more black and white: Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought. Cal. Penal Code § 187. Draining all of the life out of the Creature would have been murder, if Dr. Mannering had gone through with it. Instead the doctor could not resist going all “mad scientist” and opted to make the Creature stronger.

Domestic Terrorism

Vazec sought revenge on Talbot, Dr. Mannering, Baroness Elsa Frankenstein, Maleva, and the Creature for the death of his daughter. His logic was not based on reason, but prejudice. In order to kill everyone at Castle Frankenstein, Vazec decided to blow up the dam that provided hydro-electric power to the castle and flood the area.

Domestic terrorism is any act that is dangerous to human life that is in violation of the law. 18 U.S.C.S. § 2331(5)(A). Blowing up dams is not like parking illegally. Society cannot survive when individuals leverage self-help remedies for their grievances. Blowing up a dam to murder multiple people is a reckless action that could endanger the lives of everyone in the town. While the death of Vazec’s daughter was tragic, murdering multiple people would not bring her back.

The Monster Squad

Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman is the first time two Universal Monsters crossed over into one film. It is heavily “Wolfman 2” with Frankenstein’s Creature as a guest star. Lon Chaney Jr does a masterfully performance as someone suffering from a horrible condition who is riddled with guilt. For an in depth discussion of the film, please listen to the podcast with Matt Weinhold from Monster Party, available below.

Lady Proxima had the Worst Orphanage Ever

By

Josh Gilliland

-

September 3, 2018

0

Society has safeguards for runaway or homeless children to be in community care facilities. We saw a version of this with the Oliver Twist dial turned up to 50 in the beginning of Solo. Lady Proxima, the Grindalid matriarch of the White Worms, had a business model of taking in young Corellian children and giving them food and shelter in exchange for committing crimes. This was one of those rare fusions of Boys Town meets The Godfather.

California defines an abandoned child as an individual under 18 years old who is without provision, supervision, or necessary care. Cal. Fam. Code § 3402. Han and Qi’ra both were under 18 years of age when they were introduced in Solo. They technically were either abandoned or runaways when Proxima took them in under her care. Lady Proxima effectively ran a home for runaway or homeless children, which would need to meet the following requirements:

Provide short-term nonmedical care not exceeding 21 days for youth who voluntarily enter the shelter;
Have a maximum capacity of 25 youth;
Have a ratio of one staff person for every 8 youth;
Can use bunk beds limited to two tiers;
Operated by a non-profit;
Staff will assist youth in obtaining emergency health-related services;
Reconnect youth with family when possible; and
Work with local government for placing in foster care

Cal. Health & Safety Code § 1502.35.

The White Worms complied with none of the basic requirements for a runaway or homeless youth shelter. First, youth were there for years, which is in excess of 21 days. There clearly were more than 25 youth at the “facility.” While the ratio of youth to staff might have been at the right ratio, this was to quill uprisings of children who wanted food, not for childcare. Sleeping accommodations were not in compliance with the law. Moreover, the White Worms were not operating a non-profit, but a criminal enterprise using the children as its agents in a crime for food program.

Lady Proxima and her gang could be prosecuted for a long list of crimes, ranging from racketeering to health code violations. Proxima could be charged with contributing to the delinquency of minors crime for using children in a criminal enterprise. Anyone who encourages a person under 18 years old to commit a crime (thus be subject to juvenile court) is guilty of a misdemeanor and can be punished by up to one year in county jail, fined $2,500, or both. Furthermore, anyone who lures a child under 14 away from home is also guilty of a misdemeanor. Cal. Penal Code § 272. If Proxima was charged for each youth she induced to commit crimes or lured away from home, she could be go to jail for decades.

There is a larger issue with Lady Proxima: child neglect. “Neglect” is the maltreatment of a child by a person responsible for the child’s welfare under circumstances indicating harm or threatened harm to the child’s health or welfare. Cal. Penal Code § 11165.2. The children under Proxima’s “care” had to steal for food, fight off other children in order to get food, and were in living conditions that would cause Child Protective Services to scramble a squadron of X-Wings.

Each member of the White Worms could be charged with child abuse, which is the willful harming of a child. Cal. Penal Code § 11165.3 Rebolt enforced Lady Proxima’s will with corporal punishment against Han for failing in a criminal act for Proxima. Moloch pulled a blast on Solo when he resisted the abuse, followed by a high speed chase, blaster fire, and releasing Corellian hounds in pursuit of Han and Qi’ra. All of these actions would be extreme child abuse.

Han and Qi’ra were right to escape the White Worms. There is no credible argument that Lady Proxima had a licensed home for runaway or abandoned children. Unfortunately for those who had to steal for food, the Empire clearly did not care about the well being of children. For a society that had traded freedom for a secure “Empire,” this is not a surprising end result.

Defending the Ghost for her Crimes in Ant-Man and The Wasp

By

Josh Gilliland

-

August 21, 2018

0

The Ghost phasing through the mold of villains in Ant-Man and the Wasp by being an adversary who was a victim seeking a cure, not someone intent of causing massive carnage or revenge (see Red Skull, Loki, Whiplash, Ultron, HYDRA, Abomination, or The Hand, to name a few). The fact the Ghost is someone seeking a cure for a physical illness caused by an experiment, she actually has legal defenses for a jury.

Ghost Stories

Ava Starr was injured as a child by energy from the Quantum Realm in an experiment conducted by her “egghead” father Elihas Starr. Ava’s physical condition from the accident was being out of phase with the universe. Ava was taken in by SHIELD to become a field agent used for clandestine missions with her abilities to pass through solid objects. Ava’s abilities were exploited by SHIELD (which had been compromised by HYDRA). She was later cast out on her own after SHIELD fell (as seen in Captain America The Winter Soldier and Agents of SHIELD).

Starr’s physical condition deteriorated to the point she going to cease to exist. Her body kept phasing, resulting in her being in a state of pain and mental distress. She had to sleep in a chamber designed by Bill Foster to slow her decay from existence.

The Ghost committed multiple forms of assault, larceny, and burglary, or larceny to steal a miniaturized building, in order to find a cure for her condition. The most challenging of her crimes is the killing the corrupt FBI Agent Stoltz in order to acquire Hank Pym’s laboratory. While the FBI agent was on the take from the criminal Sonny Burch, the death of a Federal agent causes a significant problem in defending Starr.

Lay the Ghost of Crimes to Rest

The Ghost’s crimes were in the city and county of San Francisco. However, the Ghost did kill a Federal agent, so Ava Starr could be prosecuted in both California and Federal Court for her separate crimes.

There are two plausible defenses for Ava Starr. The first is the medical necessity defense and the other insanity.

The common law medical necessity defense has the same elements as the necessity defense. A defendant can argue the necessity defense when for any criminal act, except taking an innocent human life. People v. Trippet, 56 Cal. App. 4th 1532, 1538, (1997), citing People v. Pena 149 Cal. App. 3d Supp. 14, 22 (1983). The six elements to the defense require the defendant to prove:

The act charged as criminal must have been done to prevent a significant evil;
There must have been no adequate alternative to the commission of the act;
The harm caused by the act must not be disproportionate to the harm avoided;
The accused must entertain a good-faith belief that his act was necessary to prevent the greater harm;
Such belief must be objectively reasonable under all the circumstances; and
The accused must not have substantially contributed to the creation of the emergency.

Trippet, at *1538, citing Pena, at pp. Supp. 25-26.

Focusing only at the available state charges of assault and larceny, the Ghost does have a chance to argue a medical necessity defense:

The attempted theft of technology to access the Quantum Realm was done to prevent her imminent death, which would be a “significant evil.”
The technology was only available from the black market dealer who was selling it to Hope van Dyne;
The act of stealing the technology was not disproportionate to the harm avoided, which was her death. However, this argument is weakened by every assault Starr commits;
Starr had the good-faith belief that stealing the technology to access the Quantum Realm was the only way to prevent her death;
The theft of technology to access the Quantum Realm was objectively reasonable. Each assault does undermine the reasonableness under all the circumstances;
As to the accused must not have substantially contributed to the creation of the emergency, it was the criminal actions of Sonny Burch that caused the escalation of violation that Starr responded to in order to acquire the technology. Moreover, Ant-Man and the Wasp did break into Starr’s hideout, which makes their kidnapping a legal mulligan.

In a prior case, the necessity defense was not available to a cult de-programmer who kidnapped a cult member to “rescue” them, because the family’s knowledge of the cult was four or five years earlier. Moreover, there was no knowledge of imminent physical harm. People v. Patrick 126 Cal. App. 3d 952 (Cal. App. 4th Dist. Dec. 18, 1981). This case is distinguishable from Ava Starr’s case, because she personally had a reasonable belief to justify her actions. Starr’s danger was imminent and she had a rational belief her life was in danger.

Pale as a Ghost

Ava Starr could argue that at the time she killed FBI Agent Stoltz, she was suffering from years of physical pain from phasing in and out of reality, thus did not understand the wrongfulness of her actions. See, 18 U.S.C.S. § 17. The insanity defense is rarely effective, but there is a good argument to be made that Starr had a mental disease from her years of suffering, which caused her to not understand that killing Stoltz was wrong.

Expert testimony would be needed to explain the impact of constant physical pain caused by the exposure to the Quantum Realm upon Ava Starr. First, a psychologist could report on Starr’s mental state from a lifetime of a physical condition causing her to phase through objects. Second, the psychologist could further opine on the effect of a child being trained by SHIELD/HYDRA to conduct assassinations and espionage operations. Third, the physical impact of constant pain for years upon Starr’s mental state would need to be offered as expert opinion for the jury to consider. All of these factors could show Starr did not understand the wrongfulness of killing Agent Stoltz.

Don’t Give Up the Ghost

The Ghost was a victim of her father’s experiments that resulted in her being exploited as a weapon by HYDRA agents within SHIELD and a lifetime of physical pain. Such nightmarish conditions could drive someone mad to the point they only want the pain to stop. Ava Starr’s mind was clearly haunted by suffering and sought relief. That resulted in extreme actions, but not ones that a jury should render a life sentence for surviving.

Probate Law in the Aftermath of Infinity War

By

Josh Gilliland

-

August 9, 2018

0

Thanos turned half of all life to ashes at the climax of Avengers Infinity War. A universal death date for half of every person on Earth would pose many challenges, such as who died? Were the deaths proportional across cities or were some places hit harder than others? There are people key for delivering services for societies to function. Did 80% of doctors in Los Angeles turn to dust, while only 20% of doctors in New York City? How many people who can run a nuclear power plant are left alive? And the big one: How many Probate Judges were not turned to dust?

Many people have well dynamic estate plans. This could cover anything from wills for distribution of property to trusts providing financial support to where they went to college. Those who die without a will have their property distributed according to intestate succession. In a world where 50% of the U.S. died at once, courts would be flooded with survivors trying to put society back together.

Probating Wills

Estate law is governed by each state. While there can be variations, generally states have very similar requirements based on centuries of probating estates.

The most basic will is a statutory will, which is a form document where the testator (person creating the will) fills in the blanks of the pre-printed will, signs it, and has witnesses who observe the testator sign the will, before signing the will in the presence of the testator. Cal. Prob. Code § 6221. Having one of these wills is better than nothing, but it might be lacking for more thoughtful estate planning.

An attorney ideally prepares formal wills after careful consultation on the wishes of the testator. Formal wills require the testator to sign the will in the presence of the two attesting witnesses, or acknowledge their signature to each attesting witness separately, and declare to them that his signature is on the will. Witnesses are required to sign the will and list their addresses. N.Y. Est. Powers & Trusts Law § 3-2.1.

A holographic will is not as cool as it sounds. These wills are not video form wills created by a Stark Industries app, but a testimonial document that is in the testator’s own handwriting that cover the material provisions of a will and signed. These wills do not need to be witnessed. However, undated holographic wills can be subject to challenge if it contains provisions that conflict with a formal will. Cal. Prob. Code § 6111.

Intestate Succession

People who die without a will have their estate disposed of through intestate succession to surviving heirs. This can also cover property not covered in a will. Cal. Prob. Code § 6400. It is easiest to think of intestate succession as flowcharts contingent on whether there is a surviving spouse.

If the descendant has no one who falls under intestate succession, then the property would go to the state (the legal term is “escheat”). Cal. Prob. Code § 6404

What Will Happen to the Courts in the MCU?

Courts across the United States would be flooded if half the population turned to dust. County offices would literally and figuratively be buried in the dust of deceased as they processed death certificates. State Courts that already do not have enough judges currently would have LESS judges to handle the flood of probate cases. For example, San Francisco has a population of 870,887 people. Assuming the courts hear 40 cases a day, the influx of 435,444 probate petitions would shatter the court system.

Consider the family of Hank Pym, Janet van Dyne, and Hope van Dyne. All three characters died in the mid-credits scene of Ant-Man and the Wasp. It is highly likely that there are no other surviving family members. If Hank Pym had a will, the probating of his technology could go to a colleague in the event he had no surviving family. However, there is a strong (and terrifying) likelihood that all of Pym’s technology could escheat to the state if not covered by a will and there is no one to take by intestate succession.

The other nightmare scenario related to probate is the payouts for life insurance policies would cause that industry to collapse. Assuming the US population in the MCU is 326,766,748, then 163,383, 374 people died at the end of Infinity War. Assuming 20% had life insurance policies there would be approximately 32,676,675 life insurance claims. If each insurance policy was for $150,000, the total payout would be $4,901,501,220,000.

There would need to be Federal bailouts to keep life insurance companies out of bankruptcy. The process for payouts would likely be protracted, as survivors would need to acquire death certificates from counties. As there is only dust left of Thanos’s victims, identifying people would be ripe with fraud, as there is no way to identify a pile of dust. Insurance companies would fight paying out survivors to avoid a total melt down of the market.

All of these issues would fall to already taxed Courts, which would be operating at half of capacity with a massive increase in case load. However, ideally the Avengers do not spend time figuring out how to help probate courts, but how to undo the damage created by Thanos. It would be easier to figure out how to respond to mass resurrection of victims instead of probating universal genocide.

Did Hela Commit Desecration of Corpses in Asgard?

By

Josh Gilliland

-

August 3, 2018

0

Hela in Thor Ragnarok used the Eternal Flame to reanimate the honored dead of Asgard for her personal mindless army. Could the descendants of those soldiers sue Hela for desecration of a corpse?

Law of the Dead

It has been long established since the time of Ginnungagap that the “family of the deceased has a legally recognized right to entomb the remains of the deceased family member in their integrity and without mutilation.” Koerber v. Patek, 123 Wis. 453 (1905). As such, the next of kin have a claim against whoever mutilates a corpse. Id. This is a personal right of the family of the deceased to bury a body and an actionable wrong. Carney v. Knollwood Cemetery Ass’n, 33 Ohio App. 3d 31, 36, (1986). The recognized basis for damages is for emotional suffering. Id. Courts have held that direct blood descendants have standing to sue for desecration of a corpse. Carney, at *37.

Statutes prohibiting the removal of human bodies have been found to apply to bodies that have been deceased for thousands of years. State v. Redd, ,992 P.2d 986, 990-91 (1999 Sup.Ct.). The purpose of applying the law to all dead bodies is to protect the remains of pioneers buried laid to rest in crude graves, war dead, or victims of accidents or crimes. Id.

Raising Hela

Hela entered the tomb of the honored dead by breaking through the ceiling of the tomb. This action would be the willful destruction of a tomb (and likely a monument) or possibly defacing. Many states have laws prohibiting the destruction of tombs and gravestones, which Hela clearly violated. See, Tenn. Code Ann. § 46-1-313.

Hela’s use of the Enteral Flare disturbed the corpses of Asgard’s honored dead. This patently violated the integrity of the bodies, infusing them with an unnatural life. The bodies did not appear to return to their living state, but remained decayed. Moreover, the bodies acted as decomposed drones that followed Hela’s orders to attack the citizens of Asgard. Any descendants who saw their reanimated ancestors murder their fellow citizens would suffer emotional harm (and be in mortal danger as well).

Hela would be subject to the lawsuits by the direct descendants of the honored dead who were reanimated by the Eternal Flame. This act did not restore them to life, but used their putrefied remains to butcher Asgardians. While desecration of the corpse cases are not normally class actions based on supernatural actions, there is a first time for everything.

Hela could also be prosecuted for defacing the tomb of the honored dead and reanimating them. Her actions violated the letter and spirit of the law that protects bodies from being mutilated.

A defense attorney might argue Hela was the rightful queen of Asgard, thus could violate corpses and murder the citizens of Asgard. The problem with that position, is a leader is never justified in murdering their people. Thor was right to defend the Asgardian people from extermination. Moreover, if ever there is a time for a revolution, it is when a ruler decides to slaughter her people.

The Court Martial of Poe Dameron at San Diego Comic Con

By

Josh Gilliland

-

July 30, 2018

0

The Legal Geeks and the Rebel Legion Sunrider Base present the Mock Court Martial of Poe Dameron, recorded live at San Diego Comic Con on July 20, 2018. Based on the events of The Last Jedi, Poe stands accused of disobeying General Leia Organa and leading a mutiny aboard the Resistance flagship Raddus against Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo. Lawyers for the prosecution and defense, including a U.S. Army JAG attorney, will take on Poe’s case in front of United States Magistrate Judge Mitch Dembin. Participating attorneys include Steve Chu, Thomas Harper, Christine Peek, and Megan Hitchcock. Rebel Legion members Rachel Williams portrayed General Leia Organa and Marcus Holt as Poe Dameron. Special thanks to Riley Blanton of the Star Wars Report for helping film and edit this recording.