Minute Order of the Day: Etymological Benchslap from California Superior Court

We don’t usually have a lot of time to scour minute orders from the Orange County Superior Court.

But our readers do, and we rely on you guys to bring us the excellent news nobody knows about. Today, a loyal reader sent us some rulings from the Orange County last month. And one ruling caught our eye. We’re going to reprint it below, but scroll to the bottom of page 1 of this document if you want to see it in the original.

But before you look, take a second and think about the etymology of the word “piecemeal.” Don’t Google, just think. Okay, now think about whether it would be appropriate to use the word as a verb.

Okay, now consider what the judge thinks (especially if you are a lawyer in Orange County)…

Here’s the benchslap:

The court’s search of the etymology of the word ‘piecemeal’ has revealed that there are two characters in Marvel Comics that bear the name Piecemeal, including one who is an adversay of the Incredible Hulk. The word can also be used as an adjective or an adverb. But nowhere has the court found that this word is properly used as a verb. Yet counsel here have argued at length about whether or not the District improperly ‘piecemealed’ the closure and reuse of O’Neill. Perhaps this word will one day achieve that status, and counsel can take pride at being midwives for that birth, but the court will, for now, adhere to more traditional terms.

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Wow. Just wow. Practitioner Tip: Do not roll into a Orange County Superior Court with made up words. ‘Cause they will cut you down for that in the O.C.

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