# Man gets free cable for four years...so of course, he SUES!!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-gets-free-cable-for-four-years-so-of-course-he-sues/223283>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [January 7, 2004, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-gets-free-cable-for-four-years-so-of-course-he-sues/223283 "2004-01-07T20:29:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-gets-free-cable-for-four-years-so-of-course-he-sues/223283/41 "2004-01-09T13:15:58Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by CrazyCatLady \*  
> \*\*The judge not only dismissed the case, but gave the neighbor a royal reaming for wasting time and resources with his lawsuit. \*\*

So, what’s “a royal reaming” the legal term for, exactly?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-gets-free-cable-for-four-years-so-of-course-he-sues/223283/42 "2004-01-09T18:41:50Z")

</div>

> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \*  
> \*\*Nope, _who_ is correct in this case. _Whom_ is used when it’s the object of a preposition. \*\*

Actually, “whom” is correct. It’s the object of the word “sue”: “I do sue [whom].” You can test this by answering the question and seeing which case of pronoun is required in the answer:

“Who/whom do I sue?” Answer it using a personal pronoun - either “I do sue him” or “I do sue he.” Obviously the latter is wrong. Therefore, the correct pronoun to use if “whom,” which is an objective pronoun just like the objective pronouns “him,” “her,” and “them.”

If the question had been, e.g., “Who/whom is the idiot in this lawsuit?” the correct pronoun would be “who” - the question can be answered by responding, “He is the idiot in this case.” “He” is the subject, not the object, so you use the subjective pronoun, which is “who.”

Next, we’ll discuss “lie” vs. “lay.” 😉

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mooney252](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7c8e57/32.png) [@Mooney252](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mooney252)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-gets-free-cable-for-four-years-so-of-course-he-sues/223283/43 "2004-01-09T18:57:20Z")

</div>

This clown was on Dori Monson’s afternoon talk show on KIRO 710 in Seattle yesterday for an hour. Same old nonsense: “they’re responsible for my addiction because they continued to PUMP these channels into my house.”

Does anyone know what judges’ guidelines are for frivolous lawsuits?

Best regards,

Mooney252

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sarcastro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@Sarcastro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarcastro)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2004, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-gets-free-cable-for-four-years-so-of-course-he-sues/223283/44 "2004-01-09T21:43:31Z")

</div>

Without contradicting the theory that the guy’s an idiot (a theory to which I certainly subscribe), can I point out that the linked article states more than once that no actual lawsuit has been filed? Everyone here is treating it as a foregone conclusion, but it may never happen at all - which would certainly be a good thing.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/man-gets-free-cable-for-four-years-so-of-course-he-sues/223283.md?page=2)