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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Charlie Sheen and COBRA v. the Supreme Court and PPACA

Charlie Sheen has made an appearance here before, and, with apologies to Poltergeist II, he's baaaaaaaaaack. Now you may have thought that the big news in benefits today was the Supreme Court's upholding of PPACA. Big deal - they were never going to strike that thing down. (Hey, my prediction was that it would be fully upheld, and I have the pre-decision emails to third parties to prove it!)

But the real news is that Charlie Sheen is back, and, moreover, he's citing to principles near and dear to ERISA lawyers everywhere. To wit, the following exchange between Charlie's character and a romantic interest of his, who also happens to be a fellow therapist, is from the premiere episode of Anger Management:

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Kate (Selma Blair), agreeing to serve as Charlie's therapist, but only if all romance ceases - But I'm just talking about therapy. If we go this way [therapy, without romance], then we are friends with no benefits.

Charlie (Charlie Sheen) - Can’t we hang on to some of the benefits? The COBRA plan, if you will?

Kate - Sorry, Charlie. You'll have to put your cobra back in your pants.

Charlie - Can I get one last extension?
****

So, what's more important, the Supreme Court and the preservation of the most important legislation of Obama's presidency, or the return of Charlie Sheen and his discussion of the possible availability of COBRA benefits? You decide . . .

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