Legal Judg(e)ments

In this episode of Legal Judg(e)ments, host Bob Stetson talks to Jeremy Cohen, a pioneer in pet litigation, about the unique pet case of *Lyman v. Lancer. When Brett Lyman and Sasha Lancer’s relationship ended, a custody battle erupted—not over children, but their beloved Pomeranian, Teddy Bear. This episode explores how courts treat pets as property and family members, the implications of this case for pet owners nationwide, and what it means for future legal disputes over our furry companions.

 What is the law? How does it work? What role do lawyers, litigants, and judges play in the law's development? In sum, what moves the law in American society? I'm Bob Stetson, a Boston-based trial lawyer and the host of the podcast Legal Judg(e)ments. After 17 years in private legal practice, I still don't have a perfect answer to these important societal questions.

Is it politics? Judicial philosophy? The advocacy and skill of the lawyers involved? The likability or lack thereof of their clients? Is it something else entirely? I started this podcast to find out what other lawyers think about these issues. By talking about specific cases, strategies, verdicts, and court decisions, I hope to answer these important questions.

Or, at the least, understand the issues a bit better. If we, as lawyers and as a society, understand how the law really works, maybe we can predict the results more accurately. Or as lawyers, give our clients better legal advice. Let's figure these issues out together. Come listen to Season 4 of Legal Judgements, starting on November 15th.

In this episode of Legal Judg(e)ments, host Bob Stetson talks to Jeremy Cohen, a pioneer in pet litigation, about the unique pet case of Lyman v. Lancer. When Brett Lyman and Sasha Lancer’s relationship ended, a custody battle erupted—not over children, but their beloved Pomeranian, Teddy Bear. This episode explores how courts treat pets as property and family members, the implications of this case for pet owners nationwide, and what it means for future legal disputes over our furry companions.

In the famous American comic strip, The Wizard of Id, the Golden Rule means “Whoever has the gold makes the rules!” And so it’s been in the construction industry time immemorial. In this episode, Bob and Brad Croft discuss Tocci Building Corp. v. IRIV Partners and how the Golden Rule shaped recent statutory enactments in the construction industry and judicial interpretations of them.

Guest Paul Edelstein joins Bob Stetson to explore the critical issue of self-help evictions and the fight for housing justice. This episode centers on the Solis family from Brooklyn, New York, who faced a harrowing eviction attempt by their landlord, employing tactics like utility shutoffs, demolition work, and false legal notices. Their subsequent ten-year legal journey highlights the stark realities of informal evictions and their impact on society's most vulnerable. Through the case of Solis vs. Aguilar, Bob and Paul examine the balance between tenants' rights and landlords' actions, emphasizing the importance of due process as a cornerstone of liberty and dignity.

Listen to Bob Stetson and returning guest Ben Robbins from the New England Legal Foundation explore the separation of powers in the context of federal administrative agencies, the historical expansion of the administrative state, the Supreme Court's 1984 Chevron decision, and its implications for the separation of powers through the lens of a new rule by the National Marine Fisheries Council.

In this episode of Legal Judg(e)ments, Bob Stetson and his guest, John Elwood, discuss Counterman vs. Colorado, the Supreme Court’s recent decision balancing free speech rights against protection from abuse.

Listen as they explore the dynamics of the First Amendment in the age of social media, examining whether online comments can constitute an actual threat or fall under constitutionally protected speech.

In this episode of Legal Judg(e)ments, Bob Stetson and his guest, Richard Gottlieb, dissect Coughlin v. Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, a significant legal battle at the intersection of tribal sovereign immunity and bankruptcy law. They explore the historical concept of sovereign immunity and its application to Native American tribes, focusing on the Clear Statement Rule for waiving sovereign immunity. This episode offers an insightful look into a case that challenges the limits of tribal immunity and the protections provided by bankruptcy law.

In this thought-provoking episode, Bob Stetson and Joshua

Thompson, Director of Equality and Opportunity Litigation at the Pacific Legal

Foundation, discuss the landmark case of Cedar Point Nursery vs. Hassid and

explore the intricate balance between private property rights and public

interests. What constitutes a 'taking' and how far government regulations can

go in the name of the public good? 

Bob talks with the Institute for Justice’s Mike Greenberg about a Michigan town’s use of drones to enforce a land use regulation in Long Lake Township v. Maxon.