You're SO Ugly It Should Be Illegal...

Can you imagine being the judge who gets this case....?

A Hindu family living in Massachusetts called off an arranged marriage (Wait a minute, aren't those illegal here?) and filed a lawsuit seeking $200,000 in damages for fraud, conspiracy and a violation of civil rights resulting in emotional distress after the woman set to marry the Pandey's son was found to be... Well, ugly.

(Violation of civil rights? I thought that the arranged marriage itself would be the civil rights violation, not finding out that your fiance is homely.)

The lawsuit cites the bride's protruding teeth, bad complexion and poor English. According to the family, "She couldn't speak English to hold a conversation."

The Giri family pleads "not guilty, 120 percent."

The plaintiff, (Pandey) claim that the defendants (Giris) told them their daughter was a good match for their G.Q. son, who they say is "handsome, personable and speaks English," and wanted to ensure that his wife would be "equally beautiful... And a good match."

The Giris allegedly agreed that they would compensate the Pandeys for everything, which I assume to be wedding costs, if the girl was found to be unsuitable. The Giris say that their daughter is just fine and they will not pay.

I couldn't find a picture of anyone involved with this, so it's up to the imagination. It is worth noting, however, that the Pandeys have filed numerous civil lawsuits against judges, lawyers, insurance companies and others since the 1980's, so it appears that they are playing the litigation lottery.

What I want to know is: How does this even happen in the first place? Surely an arranged marriage lawsuit couldn't hold water in an American court of law! Also, this is out of the scope of observing cultural traditions, in my opinion. Some things just cannot be translated in America that would be acceptable in one's country of origin.

In other words, if you can't assimilate, STAY HOME! If you can leave certain incompatible customs behind, welcome aboard!

I guess we'll just have to wait and see, but I think that if it isn't summarily dismissed, we are setting a very dangerous precedent... Think Sharia law...