Ian’s Legal Fact of the Week 10/28/19: Suing Satan!

In 1971 a plaintiff filed a pauper’s suit in U.S. District Court, on behalf of himself and all other similarly situated, against Satan and his servants. Plaintiff alleged that Satan had “threatened him, caused him misery, impeded his course in life, and generally precipitated his downfall”. His suit was unsuccessful, the court denying him relief on the grounds that (a) it had “serious doubts that the complaint reveals a cause of action upon which relief can be granted”; (b) there were no showing that the defendant resided in the district; and (c) if allowed, the Court could not determine if the plaintiff would “fairly protect the interests of the class”. The Court also noted the plaintiff had not provided instructions as to how to serve process upon the defendant. The case may be found at U.S. ex rel. Gerald Mayo v. Satan And His Staff, 54 F.R.D. 282 (1971). Happy Halloween!

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