Holiday Legal Cases: Criminal Assault, Parade Injuries, and Copyright Infringement
24Nov
You’ll get a quick look at surprising Thanksgiving-related legal cases—from family disputes that turned criminal, to parade accidents that shaped safety rules, to a major copyright fight over a holiday product. It gives you a sense of how holiday moments can lead to real legal consequences, without bogging you down in all the details.
Criminal Case: Thanksgiving Dinner Stabbing Incident
A Thanksgiving argument between half-siblings escalated violently in Baltimore, leading to criminal charges:
- Incident Location/Date Baltimore, Maryland; Thanksgiving dinner (date unspecified, though reports suggest 2013).
- Case Details Shenika Allsup was charged with assault after arguing with her half-brother, Deonte Antonio Wallace, at the dinner table. She grabbed a two-pronged serving fork and stabbed him in the neck.
- Outcome Wallace was transported to the hospital with minor wounds. Allsup was charged with assault (a pun used in reports referred to this as “a salt”).
Civil Cases: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade injuries
1997: The “Cat in the Hat” Incident
During the 1997 parade, which featured high winds with gusts over 40 mph, the large Cat in the Hat balloon careened into a lamppost at 72nd Street and Central Park West.
- Injuries: The collision dislodged a horizontal arm of the lamppost, which fell into the crowd below. Four people were injured in total. One woman, Kathy Caronna, suffered a near-fatal skull fracture and was in a coma for 24 days.
- Legal & Regulatory Outcome: Caronna filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Macy’s and New York City, which was settled out of court for an undisclosed sum in 2001. The incident led to immediate public scrutiny and the implementation of stricter safety guidelines, including a ban on larger balloons when wind speeds exceed certain limits and increased handler training.
2005: The M&M’s Balloon Accident
In 2005, a handling line from the M&M’s balloon snagged on a streetlight in Times Square.
- Injuries: The impact caused the light fixture to fall into the crowd, striking two sisters. One sister required nine stitches for a cut on the back of her head and a chipped tooth, while the other sustained a bruised forehead. Both were treated at the hospital and released the same day.
- Legal & Regulatory Outcome: The family did not sue, with the father saying “accidents happen.” The case was amicably settled with Macy’s, reportedly including a lifetime supply of M&M’s. The incident reinforced existing wind regulations and led Macy’s to temporarily remove some lampposts along the route.
Copyright Infringement: Sears Copyright Infringement Case
A small Seattle business successfully sued Sears, Roebuck & Co. and its advertising agency for nearly $2 million over copyright infringement related to a novelty item:
- 2008: Lucky Break Wins Verdict A federal jury ordered Sears, Roebuck & Co. and its ad agency to pay a Seattle company nearly $2 million for copyright infringement.
- Case Details The case was brought by the Lucky Break Wishbone Company, which successfully argued that Sears copied its patented, breakable plastic wishbone product for a 2005 Thanksgiving promotion after initial licensing discussions failed.
James (Jim) Magazine is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer who has spent his career helping injured victims. Jim is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1990 and is also admitted to practice at the Appellate level and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.
Years of Experience: More than 30 years
Florida Registration Status: Active
Bar Admissions:
Clearwater Bar Association
West Pasco Bar Association