Great moments in litigation

Although perhaps not quite as good as it used to be (ah the days when it used to be a labour of love publication, published erratically and sent to less than 2000 subscribers)! I still look forward to receiving the new issue of the Fortean Times.

In between issues there is the breaking news section which throws up plenty of blog fodder, including this odd tale.

According to the Iowa new station WQAD News the Iowa Court of Appeals has ordered the relatives of a deceased man to exhume his body so his head can be cut off and cryogenically frozen.

The court sided with Alcor Life Extension Foundation of Scottsdale, Ariz., which sought to dig up the remains of 81-year-old Orville Richardson, late of Burlington Iowa, who died in February 2009. Mr Richardson had signed a contract with Alcor to have his head placed in cryonic suspension. However his Richardson's family buried him instead.

Alcor filed a lawsuit to exhume Richardson's body but a Des Moines Country District Court judge ruled against the company, which appealed. The appeals court overturned the district court's decision Wednesday, saying Alcor was entitled to his remains.

After a year in the ground I daresay that all Mr Richardson will be good for after resuscitation is as a replacement for Rush Limbaugh. Just as well he wasn’t cremated!