Wednesday, January 8, 2014

How do you say "a real doozy of a puzzle"?

Once upon a time, back in 1992, a 4/3 Justice presented with a tough statutory interpretation question began his opinion like this: "This case presents a real doozy of a puzzle in mechanic's lien law." Yes, that's plainly Justice Sills, and the case was Halbert’s Lumber v. Lucky Stores (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 1233.
Fast-forward to today, when another 4/3 Justice, never one to let a great turn of phrase go to waste, begins his opinion here like this:

Occasionally we are faced with a difficult question of statutory interpretation that qualifies as a "Halbert’s Lumber issue." (E.g. Halbert’s Lumber, Inc. v. Lucky Stores, Inc. (1992) 6 Cal.App.4th 1233, 1235 ["a real doozy of a puzzle"].)

Just as plainly, it's Justice Beds. So, hey, all you brief writers and opinion drafters, here's a phrase you can try in your own work. Maybe.

P.S. Want more Beds today? Enjoy fn.23 here for a 4th wall breaker of sorts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duesenberg
A real Dusey