In 2013, the counsel for the town of West Orange, New Jersey, sent a cease-and-desist letter to a town council critic ordering him to take down his westorange.info website.

In his letter, Richard Trenk said the site was “unauthorized and likely to cause confustion (sic).”

The response from attorney Stephen Kaplitt pulled no punches: “Obviously it was sent in jest, and the world could certainly use more legal satire. Bravo, Mr. Trenk!” noting that the letter was “not some ham-fisted attempt to bully a local resident” over his political views.

“After all, as lawyers you and I both know that would be flagrantly unconstituional and would also, in the words of my 4-year-old, make you a big meanie,” Kaplitt’s letter also said.

Check out our feature, “Shut Up! The Art of Cease-and-Desist Letters,” in the July 2018 issue of the ABA Journal.