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Marvin E Lewis (1907-1991) was an attorney, known for sensational cases, such as the Sykes lawsuit and the "Born Innocent" case.[1]
Early life
editLewis was born in San Francisco. He excelled in school and was able to skip college and enroll in San Francisco Law School.
He became a member of the State Bar of California before he was able to legally vote.
He was the founder of the California Trial Lawyers Association, and was president of the American Trial Lawyers and Western Trial Lawyers associations.
He was a city supervisor from 1944 to 1955, where he campaigned for Bay Area Rapid Transit and was instrumental in having street signs erected with block numbers in the left corner.[2]
Lawsuits
editPsychic Injury
editHe introduced the legal concept of psychic injury. In a 1959 case, in which he argued that a woman, June Daimare, who fell through a wooden stairway at her apartment building, had fallen from grace, because of her religious upbringing and caused her to become psychotic. He won the case and she was awarded $101,000 (equivalent to $1,056,000 in 2023).[3] He later co-wrote a book called "Psychic Injuries" in 1975[4], with Robert Sadoff, pioneer of forensic psychiatry.[5]
Sykes
editGloria Sykes was a devout Lutheran who was injured in a San Francisco cable car accident in 1964.[6] Afterward, she developed an intense craving for physical comfort. The desire faded eventually, but not before she had slept with around 100 men.[7] In his suit, Lewis argued the negligence by the city's Municipal Railway was at fault. His opponent argued that her problems were the result of "ill-advised use of birth control pills".[8]
Lewis asked for US$500,000 (equivalent to $3,923,000 in 2023) compensation. The jury found in her favor, but reduced the amount to $52,258 (equivalent to $410,000 in 2023),[9], of which she received only a part.[10]
Born Innocent
editLewis's negligence suit, against the film Born Innocent, was dismissed, shortly after his opening statement.[11] The suit contended that the film has inspired a copycat crime, the rape of Olivia Niemi, a nine-year-old girl, which was committed with a glass soda pop bottle on Baker's Beach, in San Francisco by some of her peers.
Her mother, Valeria Niemi, contended that her daughter's attack was prompted by the film, asking $1 million (equivalent to $4,671,000,000 in 2023) in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages against NBC and its local affiliate, KRON-TV.[12]
Later life
editLewis died in 1991, at 84. [3]
References
edit- ^ Olivia N. v. National Broadcasting Company, 126 Cal. App.3d 488 (1981). [1]
- ^ "Marvin Lewis; S.F. Attorney". LA Times. 7 October 1991. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Marvin E. Lewis, 84, A Pioneering Lawyer". 7 October 1991. Retrieved 20 January 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Marvin E. Lewis; Robert L. Sadoff (1975). Psychic Injuries. M. Bender.
- ^ Sam Roberts (April 20, 2017). "Robert Sadoff, Psychiatrist Who Assessed Murder Defendants, Dies at 81". The New York Times.
- ^ "Panic Strikes as Cable Car Plunges Down Steep S.F. Hill". The San Bernardino County Sun. 21 Sep 1964. p. 1. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Suit claims crash hiked sex drive". The Pocono Record. 31 Mar 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Grover Lewis (April 9, 1970). "Zing Went the Strings Of Her Heart". The Village Voice. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "$52,258 Paid To Cable Car Girl". Santa Cruz Sentinel. 30 July 1970. p. 24. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Cable Car Girl's $50,000 Award May Dwindle". The Fresno Bee The Republican. 8 Aug 1970. p. 15. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Born Innocent' Suit Against NBC Dismissed". The Evening News. Aug 8, 1978. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Google News Archive.
- ^ "Suit against NBC Dismissed". The Daily Universe. Vol. 31, no. 176. Brigham Young University. 1978-08-10. p. 3 – via archive.org.
- "Lawyer Collapses In Sauna Case". Beaver County Times. Dec 13, 1973. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Google News Archive.
- John W. Kole (Aug 10, 1986). "Fear Not, But This Man Is A Real Ghost". The Milwaukee Journal. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Google News Archive Search.
- "Brannick Gives Little Aid To Cepeda Lawyer". Sarasota Journal. Oct 20, 1966. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Google News Archive Search. Cepeda suit
- Linda Kramer (Aug 30, 1974). "Sinatra Misses Date With Lawyer". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Google News Archive Search. sinatra suit
- Lisa Levitt (Oct 5, 1983). "Exploited Patients Are Fighting Back". The Lewiston Journal. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Google News Archive Search.
- Lee Leonard (Oct 31, 1970). "11 state, judicial posts to be filled on Tuesday". The Bryan Times. Retrieved 4 July 2016 – via Google News Archive Search. Playboy suit