During the first week of law school, law students learn how to read caselaw.
The way it works is this: Judges decide legal issues by writing legal opinions that summarize existing law and apply the existing law to the facts before them in that case (or by departing from existing law to create new law). Over time, the line of published legal opinions creates “The Law.”
Long story short, a good way to learn the law on a topic is to look for a recent case dealing with the topic.
That’s why I am citing the Curb Records, Inc. v. Samuel T. McGraw case from last week. (That’s “Tim McGraw” a.k.a. Mr. Faith Hill.) I don’t delve into entertainment law very often (although I’ve sued a few country singers in my time for unpaid debts), but this case has a very good review of Tennessee injunctions and the standards to obtain injunctive relief.
This legal opinion discusses the primary law (Tenn. R. Civ. P. 65.04), along with the most recent cases discussing the standards. Plus, because it’s a case from last week, you can cite it with confidence that it remains good law and hasn’t been overruled. It’s worth a read.
Tim McGraw will undoubtedly be flattered to hear that the Tennessee Court of Appeals finds, as a matter of fact, that “McGraw is undisputedly an entertainer offering unique and
extraordinary services.”
Creditors Rights 101 