This week on Weird and Wacky Wednesdays, we look at three cases of unusual legal antics. The first involved a lawsuit over a literal house of lies. Then, we look at why you should always assume that the police are recording you — especially when you are actually in a police station. Finally, we examine a failed excuse for drug possession that was pretty darn creative.
Follow the jump to learn more of this week’s weirdest and wackiest legal cases from around the globe!
Whole House of Lies
A court case over an AirBnB rental recently resulted in a $1700 hit for two unlucky would-be renters. The advertisement suggested the whole house was available for rent, but the fine print included an indication that the homeowner lived in a separate suite in the basement, notwithstanding the ad’s indication that the whole house was available for rent.
After cancelling their month-long stay at the last minute, they filed a lawsuit requesting their $1000 deposit back. The homeowner counterclaimed for lost revenue from the last-minute cancellation.
Ultimately, in what was a battle of the privileged versus the needy, the homeowner succeeded and the renters had to pay $1700 to cover additional expenses the homeowner was out.
The Police Are Watching You…. Literally
One thing you should never do is steal from the police. But apparently for one Florida man that lesson had to be learned the hard way.
Steven Moran was arrested on a mischief charge and released on bail. As he was being escorted out of the police station, Mr. Moran is said to have done something, um, moran-ic. He allegedly took a little webcam off a police computer and attempted to steal it.
I guess he didn’t realize at the time that the webcam was not the only camera in the police station.
That’s Not Meth… It’s Bath Salts!
Okay, not THOSE bath salts.
A man in Louisiana came up with an on-the-spot excuse that did not fly when he was arrested for possession of a narcotic recently. As the story went, he had an ingrown toenail that was particularly bothersome. So the little rocky crystal powder that he had in a tiny bag on his person, which was located during a pat-down search… well that was just epsom salts to treat the toe.
His initial arrest was for carrying a big stick, which I suppose was just a walking stick to help alleviate the toe pain. Right? Right?
