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Think Twice Before You Stick Out Your Tongue

By John Mesirow

No need to think twice about sticking out your tongue, either in the United States, or probably almost everywhere except ... Italy. You may not believe this but, as reported by UPI, "Italy's highest court of appeal affirmed the illegality of insulting someone by sticking your tongue out at them." And no, this is not The Juice's April 1 post.

The case brought before the Cassation Court involved a farmer whose tongue gesture was captured by a cellphone camera held by the neighbor with whom he was arguing.

The farmer, Carlo O., had been convicted by a justice of the peace of insulting the neighbor, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The Cassation Court let stand the conviction and ordered Carlo O. to pay his neighbor's court costs of $1,863.81. He will also have to pay damages, which will be set in a different trial, the news agency said Friday.

Italian courts often find people guilty of offending someone's honor, ANSA reported.

Wow. And to think the U.S. insurance and business lobbies complain endlessly about frivolous lawsuits...

Full post as published by Legal Juice on December 21, 2009 (boomark / email).