OKC Legal Briefs: October 18, 2007

Journal Record, The (Oklahoma City), Oct 18, 2007 by Marie Price

Be careful what you say to your bathroom fixtures - at least if you live next door to a police officer. Perhaps Dawn Herb of Pennsylvania should be forgiven for cursing at her overflowing toilet.

Her neighbor, a police officer, apparently didn't think so and called law enforcement. Herb has been cited for disorderly conduct and could face up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300, according to The Associated Press.

"It doesn't make any sense," Herb said. "I was in my house. It's not like I was outside or drunk." She acknowledges spouting a few choice epithets, but doesn't recall exactly which ones.

Capt. Jack Sparrow would be proud

Housing prices may be down, but guess what's up?

Piracy (although some people hit especially hard by the housing market may not see much difference). A new report from the International Maritime Bureau indicates that pirate attacks were up 14 percent for the first nine months of the year.

The bureau reported 198 attacks on ships, an increase from last year's 174. This is a reversal of a drop in piracy attacks since 2004. Nigeria (26 attacks compared with nine last year) and Somalia (also 26 this year, up from eight in 2006) saw the greatest increases.

Indonesia remains the top location for instances of piracy, with 37 attacks, but this is down from 40 last year.

Fuming fiancee faults florist for flawed flowers

A New York bride is seeking $400,000 from Manhattan's Posy Floral Design for using the wrong colors of flowers in centerpieces for her wedding celebration.

Elana Glatt, an attorney, told the AP that she asked for pink and green hydrangeas, but received dark rust and green flowers. She also contends that the flowers were wilted and delivered in dusty vases with insufficient water.

"The use of predominantly pastel centerpieces had a significant impact on the look of the room and was entirely inconsistent with the vision the plaintiff had bargained for," Glatt says in her lawsuit filing.

Her mother-in-law, Tobi Glatt, who actually paid the $27,435.14 for the flowers, is named as a plaintiff, as are Elana and husband David. Florist Stamos Arakas said he tried to match the flower colors with a picture the bride supplied, but explained that the colors might not match perfectly.

"My father used to tell me, 'Don't deal with lawyers,'" Arakas said. "Maybe he was right. God bless his soul."

Hue's to say?

Some property owners in Farmers Branch, Texas, want city officials to regulate the colors people can paint their homes' exteriors. Earlier this month, they asked the city council of the Dallas suburb to consider mandatory paint color standards for city houses.

Supporters say garish colors affect property values. However, members of the city's Hispanic community see a different motive. "I believe controlling the color you paint your house is basically profiling the Hispanic community," restaurant owner Elizabeth Villafranca told AP. "We all know who paints their homes tropical colors."

In May, Farmers Branch approved an ordinance that would require apartment managers to verify the citizenship status of prospective renders or face a fine of up to $500. A federal court has blocked enforcement of the ordinance.