SAMPLE ‘TRIGGER WORDS’

1. Are punchboards exempted from federal taxation?

(No) Gambling: punchboards, federal taxes

2. Is competition an essential element of the offense of “drag racing?”

(Yes) Motor vehicles - Drag racing - competition, essential element of offense

3. Does a parent’s failure to support his child by itself constitute such abandonment, desertion or neglect which would permit adoption without a parent’s consent?

(No) Adoption of persons -- Abandonment of child -- Consent to adoption -- Facts constituting abandonment

4. In order to challenge a juror for cause based upon bias or prejudice, may the juror be examined concerning his relationships with parties to the action, counsel, prospective witnesses or other persons interested in the action who are not parties of record?

(Yes) Juries -- Bias or prejudice -- examination of juror to determine

5. May a court disbar an attorney for defamatory criticisms of judicial acts incorporated in a brief?

(Yes) Attorneys at law -- Libel and Slander -- Disbarment

6. Is a district or prosecuting attorney of a state entitled to extra compensation when he has a duty to perform services in another county in connection with a suit to which his county is a party?

(No) District and prosecuting attorneys -- Compensation and salaries -- Extra compensation

7. May the family purpose doctrine be applied to impose tort liability for personal injury on a family corporation which owns the automobile in question and maintains it for general family use?

(Yes) Motor vehicles -- Family purpose doctrine -- Corporations

8. Will a tenant at sufferance be liable to his landlord for an injury to the premises which was caused by a fire resulting from the tenant’s negligence?

(Yes) Landlord and Tenant -- Fires -- Damages, liability of tenant

9. Does public policy require that a state recognize a bilateral Mexican divorce as a matter of comity?

(Yes) Divorce and separation -- foreign judgments or decrees comity -- public policy

10. Must other vessels exercise care to avoid a collision with a vessel which has obstructed a narrow channel?

(Yes) Collision -- Narrow channels -- Obstruction

11. Is an infant liable on the basis of quasi-contract for the value of necessaries furnished him?

(Yes) Infants -- Liability for necessaries