Wait...Is That Legal?
A Podcast about TV Shows and Movies and the legal issues they raise. Each episode looks at a legal topic presented in a Movie or TV Show and analyzes it based on the real laws where the episode or movie is set.
Episodes
18 episodes
U.S. v. Muse
Re: Piracy/Captain Phillips (2013)What is Piracy? Who has jurisdiction over the high seas?Sources:United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, Art. 100-110 (1982).S.S. Lotus (Fr. v. Turk.), 1927 P.C.I.J....
In re A.F.
Re: Medical Emancipation/My Sister’s Keeper (2009), Chicago Med (2015-)When can a child exercise control over their own body and medical decisions? Does a child have to fully emancipate themselves from their parents in o...
Los Angeles v. Common Sense
Re: Chinatown (1974)/Water RightsWhy does Los Angeles exist? Where does L.A. get its water? How do water rights work?Sources:County of Inyo v. City of Los Angeles, 124 Cal.App.3d 1 (Cal.App. 1981).<...
U.S. v. Teller, et al.
Re: RICO Act/Sons of Anarchy (2008)What is RICO? What does it stand for? How is it used?Sources:Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961-1968 (2023 Edition).18 U.S.C. §§ 932 ...
Lovejoy v. Lin
Re: The Lake (2022)/Trusts and EstatesWhat is a trust? Why would someone use a trust to transfer property? Can you inherit less than a complete interest in real property? If you do have a less than absolute interest doe...
Dietrichson v. Pacific All Risk Ins. Co.
Re: Life Insurance, Accident Policies/ Double Indemnity (1944)What is a double indemnity clause? When can an insurance company deny a life insurance claim?Sources:Diamond v. New York Life Ins. Co., 286 N.Y.S....
State v. Parsons and State v. Parsons
Re: Double Jeopardy/Double Jeopardy (1999)Can someone be charged for the same crime twice? Can they be charged with the same crime in multiple places? Is murder not always a crime?Sources:
State of Connecticut v. the Devil
Re: Insanity Defense/The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do it (2021), The Devil on Trial (2023)What is an insanity plea and is it a get out of jail free card? Can someone be acquitted of a crime due to demonic possession?Sourc...
In the Matter of M.G., a minor child
Re: Emancipation of Minors/Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001), Roswell (1999), Gossip Girl (2007), New Amsterdam (2018) What is legal emancipation? Can anyone under the age of 18 be legally emancipated? Is it as...
Mertle v. Smalls
Re: The Sandlot (1993), Bridge to Terabithia (2007)/Premises Liability, Attractive Nuisance Sources:CA Civil Code §§ 846, 1714, 3342-3342.5.Adams v. Bullock, 125 N.E. 93 (N.Y. 1919).Dennis v....
The People v. "the Kid"
Re: 12 Angry Men (1957), Veronica Mars (2004)/Juries Sources:Declaration of Independence (1776).U. S. Constitution, Art. III §2; Amends. 5, 6, 14 §1.Ballew v. Georgia, 435 U.S. 223 (1978)....
Bucket v. Wonka
Re: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)/ContractsHow is a contract formed? What makes a contract enforceable? Can minors sign contracts? What if a contract has super tiny print or is in Latin? <...
Tillerson v. Abbott
Re: Outer Range (2022)/Adverse Possession, EthicsWhat happens when there is a dispute between neighbours over property lines? Sources:ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct (2020).Wyoming Statutes Annota...
Estate of Father v. Evil Stepmother
Re: A Cinderella Story (2004), Another Cinderella Story (2008), Not Cinderella’s Type (2018)/Inheritance and Child Abuse What rights does a child have when a remarried parent dies? What rights does a stepparent have to ...
State of Georgia v. Patty
Re: Insatiable (2018)/MurderWhat is murder? What is the difference between murder and manslaughter? What defenses are there for murder and what is self-defense? Sources:Official Code of Georgia Annotated, ...
In re Flight 828 and the 4400 Returned
Re: Manifest (2018), The 4400 (2004)/Death in Absentia How can someone be declared dead without a body? What happens if someone who was declared dead is still alive?Sources:Social Security Administration Ha...
