I noticed that once a week, the bathroom outside the library floods for no apparent reason. I know; you are all surprised that I would write about the bathroom again. Why would I be so obsessed with something as menial as a smelly bathroom? Well, I guess that compared to Law Skills, the bathroom is downright entertaining. Anyway, back to the bathroom (I've got to write an article every two weeks after all).
I began my search for the cause at the U.S.G.S. (the United States Geological Survey, natch). I found that before the law school was built there was an ancient aquifer directly under the bathroom. It appears that the bathroom outside the library is actually a tributary of Westhampton Lake. When the water level in the lake drops below a certain level, the water level in the bathroom rises to compensate. It is quite similar to chugging beer from a boot-shaped mug; when the level of liquid reaches a certain point, the beer shoots out into the chugger's face.
Logically, my thinking progressed beyond the cause of the flooding when I realized that the University basically lies on the border of the City of Richmond and Henrico County. It may be possible to convince a circuit court judge that the bathroom actually sits on navigable waters. That may entitle someone to admiralty jurisdiction while they are using the bathroom, but unless they are in the service of a vessel, they would not be permitted any relief under the Jones Act.
Before you attempt this, you may want to check Benedict's on Admiralty for the actual definition of navigable waters.
Andy Boran is a third year student at Richmond Law and Managing Editor for Juris Publici. Submit comments and letters to the editor via jurispub@richmond.edu .
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