Supreme Court case had an Olympic connection

With the official Opening Ceremony today for the London 2012 Olympics, it’s interesting to note that the Ohio Supreme Court decided an Olympic-related case in 1984.

The dispute centered on the American Can Company, Coca-Cola Company and Minute Maid Corporation promoting the likeness of Olympic athletes on disposable Dixie cups in commemoration of the 1980 Olympic Games.

Ohioan Charles Vinci, an Olympic gold medal winner in 1956 and 1960 in weightlifting, sued the companies in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court for using his name and likeness without his permission. He asked the trial court to certify the case as a class action, which it did.

The appeals court affirmed the trial court’s class action certification, and the Supreme Court affirmed the appeals court.

As for the eventual outcome of the case, the Eighth District Court of Appeals ruled in 1990 that the reference to the athletes’ names, likenesses and identities was merely incidental, historical information. The appeals court agreed with the trial court and affirmed its ruling.

Court News Ohio brings judicial system news to you

A comprehensive, multichannel, multimedia program covering news about the Ohio judicial system launched this week.

Because the YouTube generation relies so much on video for news delivery, Court News Ohio will have more visual stories instead of just text-based articles.

The program also will have a social media presence and include a Facebook page and a Twitter feed. Videos will be available for individual download or through a free podcast subscription on Apple iTunes.

Check out the promotional piece on Court News Ohio along with its website and let me know what you think.

A visit with some Glass City scholars

I had the privilege of meeting with and speaking to about 20 Toledo high school students enrolled in the Law and Leadership Institute (LLI) at the University of Toledo College of Law on Wednesday.

Toledo is my hometown and I’m glad to say that this group was just as impressive as the students I’ve visited with the previous three years.

Through the LLI program, a diverse group of students from underserved schools learn skills that will help them become lawyers or leaders in their communities. LLI enriches high school instruction through a four-year academic program in law, leadership, analytical thinking, problem solving, writing skills and professionalism.

I talked about the Supreme Court and the importance of listening, reading, thinking, writing and speaking – all necessary skills for any field of work. From their response and great questions, I know that these students will be successful in whatever paths they choose in their lives.