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Issue Date: May 14, 2006
Gaming
Play court
Law-based entertainment teaches and mocks the system.
"So Sue Me!" and "Lawsuit!" make light of the justice system.
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Board games have a way of spinning serious life pursuits into something manageable and fun. (Think "Operation," "Battleship" and even the all-encompassing "Game of Life.") Now, two relative newcomers take on the judicial system: "Lawsuit!" and "So Sue Me!"
Although the legal profession can be a heavy topic to tackle, made worse by society's scorn for lawyers, attorney Tina Nelson took on the challenge and created the board game "Lawsuit!," which casts a positive light on the profession. The game teaches children the meaning behind legal jargon like "appeal" or "settle," and it shows them what it takes to run a practice, including the costs and benefits. "Some people do have negative opinions about lawyers, but quite frankly, whatever your opinion, it's a profession, and lawyers do a lot of good," Nelson says.
In "Lawsuit!," players travel around the board, facing the typical challenges of a career in law, from passing the bar to making partner. The simple scenarios on the playing cards and board spaces keep the game kid-appropriate.
The tone of "Lawsuit!" is more sincere than "So Sue Me!," another law-themed game with playing cards that picture an angry shark chewing on cash. Created by Jeff Gross and Joel Rogers, "So Sue Me!" uses humor to mock clients who sue for profit, not justice. Players file lawsuits (example: "Coffee spilled in your lap is so cold it causes frostbite!"), acquire assets and attempt to drive fellow players into bankruptcy.
When it comes to legal matters, everyone's fair game.
-- Carissa Marsh
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