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Cindy Claveau · 07-23-2008, 05:16 PM

Almost a year ago I posted the story about the residents of the Greek island of Lesbos going to court trying to ban the use of the word "lesbian" to describe gay women.

I think the concensus at that time was "lots of luck with THAT".

Apparently the Greek court agrees with us. And best of all, the plaintiffs had to pay $366 in court costs:

Court rules lesbians are not just from Lesbos

Quote:

ATHENS (Reuters) - A Greek court has dismissed a request by residents of the Aegean island of Lesbos to ban the use of the word lesbian to describe gay women, according to a court ruling made public on Tuesday.

Three residents of Lesbos, the birthplace of the ancient Greek poetess Sappho whose love poems inspired the term lesbian, brought a case last month arguing the use of the term in reference to gay women insulted their identity.

In a July 18 decision, the Athens court said the word did not define the identity of the residents of the island, and so it could be validly used by gay groups in Greece and abroad.

The ruling ordered the plaintiffs to pay court expenses of 230 euros ($366.2).

"This is a good decision for lesbians everywhere," Vassilis Chirdaris, lawyer for the Gay and Lesbian Union of Greece, told Reuters. "A court in Athens could not stop people around the world from using it. It was ridiculous."

Sometimes common sense really does win.

Lexxi Gynoid · 07-23-2008, 05:55 PM

Wow, $366?

Trout Recreant · 07-23-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexxi Gynoid

Wow, $366?

No kidding! $366!!?? That's barely an initial meeting with the attorney over here! It doesn't even get you into court.

Maybe they misplaced a zero.

Cindy Claveau · 07-24-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trout Recreant

No kidding! $366!!?? That's barely an initial meeting with the attorney over here! It doesn't even get you into court.

Maybe they misplaced a zero.

Or maybe it was small claims court.

Get it? Small claims?

/me wanders off whistling "Oh hey look over there! Chickens!"

Madhu Maruti · 07-24-2008, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trout Recreant

No kidding! $366!!?? That's barely an initial meeting with the attorney over here! It doesn't even get you into court.

Maybe they misplaced a zero.

At least in the US, an award of "Court expenses" or "Court costs" is not the same as an award of "Attorney's fees."

While it is somewhat rare in the US for a loser to have to pay a winner's attorney's fees - that only happens in exceptional cases - it is very common for a loser to pay a winner's court costs. And a couple hundred dollars is about right for that - the filing fee for a case in federal court is something like $250, if I remember correctly.

So my guess is that's what happened here - an award of costs, not an award of attorney's fees.

Parker McTeague · 07-24-2008, 02:04 PM

hooray for lesbians!

07-23-2008, 05:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lexxi Gynoid purrs and rolls, happy Landshark Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,412 Arkanoid Champion! SL Join Date: March 2007 Blog Entries: 3 My Mood:	Wow, $366? __________________ “ . . . I am bumping you to the highest rating I have ever given - 9.9“ -- Trout

07-24-2008, 02:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Parker McTeague starring as herself Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 865 SL Join Date: September 28, 2004 Business: Park Life Modern Homes and Interior SLShopper Ads: 8 My Mood:	hooray for lesbians! __________________ also you can read my blog!

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