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Legal Eagle [Phalla] - IT'S OVER - VILLAGE VICTORY
Locus
Trust MeThe seaRegistered User regular
Trust MeThe seaRegistered User regular
Welcome to the Legal Eagle Phalla!
brought to you by your hosts, Locus and AustinP0027
brought to you by your hosts, Locus and AustinP0027
The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.
This is a phalla, where the keenest legal minds in all of the Penny Arcade forums will match wits to see who reigns supreme! More specifically, phalla is a variation of the “Mafia” party game, where an uninformed majority (colloquially referred to as “the village”) must root out an informed minority (colloquially referred to as “the mafia”). You can read more about phalla here.
The rules for this phalla are below. If you wish to sign up to play this game, please indicate as such by signing your forum name *here* and initialing *here*, *here*, and… *here*.
There is no limit to the number of players who may participate in this game.
Please note that this phalla is experimental in nature. Austin and I have done our best to balance this game, but much like the law, there are no guarantees in phalla. We recommend that you read the rules carefully.
As you will see below, the mechanics of the game require a significant amount of host interaction. As neither Austin nor I can be at a computer 24 hours a day, there may be a delay between submissions to us and our responses. We encourage you to plan accordingly.
Roles
Prior to the start of the game, each player will receive from the hosts a PM which contains their role.
A player’s role PM will indicate what special abilities, if any, that player has.
Role PMs may not be shared.
There is a village and a mafia.
The village’s win condition is to eliminate all threats to the village through either disbarment or conviction.
The mafia’s win condition is [redacted].
The regular villager role PM is reproduced in full below:
You are a solo practitioner! When you graduated from law school, you didn’t move to the big city to join a big law firm to work for big corporations. No, you chose to hang up your own shingle and help out the little guy. Now it seems the little guy needs you more than ever, as corporate America looks to take every last bite out of the American Dream. But not on your watch.
Win condition: Eliminate all threats to the village.
Win condition: Eliminate all threats to the village.
Elections
Each day, the players must vote to elect three Judges by posting the names of the three players they wish to elect in bold purple.
Each day, the players must vote to elect two District Attorneys by posting the names of the two players they wish to elect in bold cyan.
The players who win each of the votes will assume office the following day.
A player may not hold two offices at the same time.
In the event of a tie, the player who reached the winning vote total first will assume the office to which they have been elected.
In the event that fewer players receive votes than the number of open positions (e.g., if only two players receive votes for Judge), then the remaining open positions will be filled by appointment.
In the event that a player is elected to an office for which they are not eligible, the player with the next-most votes will assume that office.
In the event that there are not enough players to hold all five offices, the Judge positions must be filled before the District Attorney positions.
Special Abilities and Actions
Each night, any player may either use a special ability or bring an action. Not every role will necessarily have a special ability.
If a player has a special ability, the details of that ability will be included in that player’s role PM.
There are two types of actions: civil actions and criminal actions.
Any player, unless otherwise noted, may bring a civil action. The variety of civil actions a player may bring are listed below.
Only a District Attorney may bring a criminal action.
A player may only bring one action against one player per day.
Criminal actions
Every day, each District Attorney may bring criminal charges against one player by PMing the hosts with the name of the player they wish to bring charges against.
The hosts will then PM the Judges with the details of the criminal charges.
The Judges will then vote, in private, to either convict or acquit that player, with the majority ruling.
If a Judge fails to vote in a criminal action by the end of the day, it shall be considered a vote to acquit.
The District Attorney who brought the criminal charges may drop the charges at any time until all three Judges have voted.
A District Attorney may drop the charges by PMing the hosts.
If a District Attorney drops charges, they may bring criminal charges against another or the same player on that day.
When criminal charges are filed, a notice of such will be made in the game thread in the following format:
People v. [Player Name]
[Index Number]
Civil actions
Each night, a player may bring a civil action against any other player by PMing the hosts with the name of the player they wish to bring an action against, the nature of the action, and the relief sought.
The hosts will then PM the Judges with the details of the civil action.
The Judges will then vote, in private, to either grant or deny the civil action, with the majority ruling. The Judges may also choose to decline to hear a civil action, in which case the action is dismissed without prejudice. If the Judges choose to decline to hear a civil action, such decision must be unanimous. If a Judge votes to decline to hear a civil action, and such decision is not unanimous, the vote to decline to hear the action will be considered a nullity for purposes of deciding the action.
If a Judge fails to vote in a civil action by the end of the day, it shall be considered a vote to decline to hear the civil action.
If a civil action is granted, it will take effect the following day.
If a civil action is decided on the merits, then the player who brought the action may not bring the same type of action against the same player for the remainder of the game.
If the Judges decline to hear a civil action, it is not a disposition on the merits.
A player may withdraw their civil action at any time until all three Judges have voted.
A player may withdraw their civil action by PMing the hosts.
If a player withdraws their civil action, they may bring a new civil action against another or the same player on that day.
If a civil action is granted, the player against whom the action is brought must comply with the decision of the court. A failure to do so will result in conviction for contempt of court.
A Judge may not bring a civil action while they are in office.
When a civil action is filed, a notice of such will be made in the game thread in the following format:
In re [Player Name]
[Index Number]
[Nature of Action]
A player may bring any one of the following civil actions:
Writ of Mandamus – If granted, compels a player to take a certain action. Requests for relief must be sufficiently specific to enable enforcement. Requests for relief which are not sufficiently specific will be referred back to the player bringing the action for more specificity. An action will not be placed on the court's docket until the request for relief is sufficiently specific.
Temporary Injunction – If granted, prevents a player from taking a certain action. Requests for relief must be sufficiently specific to enable enforcement. Requests for relief which are not sufficiently specific will be referred back to the player bringing the action for more specificity. An action will not be placed on the court's docket until the request for relief is sufficiently specific.
Writ of Certiorari - If granted, releases a player from an order compelling them to take, or prohibiting them from taking, an action.
Freedom of Information Act – If granted, publicly reveals the role and alignment of a player who has been disbarred or convicted.
Conviction
Convicted players maintain the right to free speech, however they may not communicate privately with other players.
Convicted players may not vote, may not practice law, may not hold office, and may not use special abilities.
Disbarment
Each day, the players must vote to disbar another player by posting the name of the player they wish to disbar in bold red.
The player who receives the most votes will be disbarred.
In the event of a tie vote, the player who created the tie vote will be disbarred.
The panel of Judges will then determine whether or not to disbar any, all, or none of the players who were tied in the vote.
Disbarred players maintain the right to vote and the right to free speech, however they may not communicate privately with other players..
Disbarred players may not practice law, may not hold office, and may not use special abilities.
Results
At the end of each day, the results of any elections will be made public.
At the end of each day, the results of the vote for disbarment will be made public.
At the end of each day, the decision of each action brought that day will be made public, including the relief granted, if any.
Activity
In order to remain an active member of the bar, a player must make at least two posts per day, and at least one vote for disbarment per day. If a player becomes inactive, they will be administratively disbarred.
Miscellaneous
Each game day will begin when the hosts announce that the game day has begun.
Each game day will end at 9 PM EDT.
Any votes made between the end of one game day and the beginning of the next game day are a considered a nullity.
Include the hosts on any PMs shared between players or any proboards created.
You may not anonymously communicate with any other player.
Clarification of any rule may be requested by posting such request in bold orange.
Clarifications
AustinP0027 wrote: »
Does this mean we can use such a writ to force a player to reveal their own alignment, or be found in contempt?
No. "The privilege against self-incrimination protects the individual from being compelled to incriminate himself in any manner. It does not distinguish between degrees of incrimination." Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 476.
AustinP0027 wrote: »And is such a writ, executed on a member of some incorporated body, binding on that incorporated body as a whole, where that member might have some shared power of action over the body?
Here we will apply New York Partnership Law section 26(b): "Except as provided by subdivisions (c) and (d) of this section, no partner of a partnership which is a registered limited liability partnership is liable or accountable, directly or indirectly (including by way of indemnification, contribution or otherwise), for any debts, obligations or liabilities of, or chargeable to, the registered limited liability partnership or each other . . . solely by reason of being such a partner or acting."
To add, subdivision C says "Nice try." and subdivision D adds "Did you really think it could be that easy?"
Locus on
0
Posts
1. kime - Judge
2. jdarksun - Political Donor - convicted
3. discrider - Solo Practitioner - disbarred
4. MrTLicious
5. Sir Fabulous - convicted
6. JPants - District Attorney
7. Brody - Defense Attorney - convicted
8. lonelyahava
9. Bluecyan
10. LostNinja - Judge
11. PsychoCucumber - Solo Practitioner - convicted
12. 38thDoe - District Attorney
13. SaberOverEasy - Solo Practitioner - convicted
14. Preda
15. MamaWolf - Federal Prosecutor - disbarred
16. Gizzy - Judge
17. chamberlain
18. JusticeforPluto - Limited Liability Partnership - convicted
19. Moridin889 - Appellate Attorney - convicted
20. Zombie Hero - Dewey, Cheatham & Howe, LLP - disbarred
21. kuhlmeye
22. Green - disbarred
23. JaysonFour - convicted
24. Wildcat
Narrations
Day Zero
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
I'm sure I'll read it later
3DS Friend Code: 3110-5393-4113
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Switch Friend Code: SW-1406-1275-7906
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
What time zone are you in?
Confusion will be my epitaph
Confusion will be my epitaph
Yes. But please note MrTLicious's post above.
Yes, but remember you can only raise a civil charge against a player once, so you would be unable to raise another charge against Kime the rest of the game
#worth
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
Maybe I should read the OP sooner rather than later. Before things get hairy
3DS Friend Code: 3110-5393-4113
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3DS Friend Code: 3110-5393-4113
Steam profile
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
Ohhhhh
Which means we don't get that normally, ouch.
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...
What do you mean this isn't how actual courts work?!
I don't see why not; compel everyone to testify about their role.
No. "The privilege against self-incrimination protects the individual from being compelled to incriminate himself in any manner. It does not distinguish between degrees of incrimination." Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 476.
Here we will apply New York Partnership Law section 26(b): "Except as provided by subdivisions (c) and (d) of this section, no partner of a partnership which is a registered limited liability partnership is liable or accountable, directly or indirectly (including by way of indemnification, contribution or otherwise), for any debts, obligations or liabilities of, or chargeable to, the registered limited liability partnership or each other . . . solely by reason of being such a partner or acting."
To add, subdivision C says "Nice try." and subdivision D adds "Did you really think it could be that easy?"
The Monster Baru Cormorant - Seth Dickinson
Steam: Korvalain
Would this prevent any civil action or just another Writ of Mandamus?
As to the first question, the Judges have three options when a civil action is brought before them: they may grant the action, deny the action, or decline to hear the action. The only difference between the latter two options is that declining to hear the action would allow the player bringing the action to bring the action again at a later time. As to the second question, an action is decided when all three Judges have voted on it. The relief granted, if any, goes into effect when results are posted.
The latter. "If a civil action is decided on the merits, then the player who brought the action may not bring the same type of action against the same player for the remainder of the game." There are four types of civil actions.
The Judges will then vote, in private, to either grant or deny the civil action, with the majority ruling. The Judges may also choose to decline to hear a civil action, in which case the action is dismissed without prejudice. If the Judges choose to decline to hear a civil action, such decision must be unanimous. If a Judge votes to decline to hear a civil action, and such decision is not unanimous, the vote to decline to hear the action will be considered a nullity for purposes of deciding the action.
If a Judge fails to vote in a civil action by the end of the day, it shall be considered a vote to decline to hear the civil action.
:cool:
Past
So many big words
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