The Law: Of Booze, Broth & Anguish

"Law is not a science, but is essentially empirical," said Mr. Justice Holmes. Law also deals with everything under the sun—in the highest courts as well as the lowest:

> The Florida Supreme Court ruled that a price may be put on human anguish over a dog's death. In West Hollywood, a privately employed garbage man laughingly hurled an empty can at Phyllis La Forte's pet dachshund, Heidi. When the blow killed the dog, Plaintiff La Forte's "marked hysteria" won her a $3,000 jury verdict against the garbage company. An appellate court reversed the verdict, hewing to the general rule that a...