Here's a pretty hardcore case of fantasy becoming reality. Last week, The Wrap reported that a Lawyer in Staten Island, New York demanding the city supreme court settle his case via a trial by combat. The practice, which has been around since ancient times, was made famous in popular culture via HBO's smash hit fantasy drama 'Game of Thrones.'
The defendant, Richard Luthmann, is facing fraud accusations. Being a fan of the show, he thought the best way that his case be settled was through a one on one fight to the death.
"Defendant invokes the common law writ of right and demands his common law right to Trial By Combat as against plaintiffs and their counsel, whom plaintiff wishes to implead into the Trial By Combat by writ of right," the court filing states.
Luthmann argues that the practice has never been formally outlawed in America, and cites instances in history when it has been used:
"Since [1776], no American court in post-independence United States to the undersigned's knowledge has addressed the issue, and thus the trial by combat remains a right reserved to the people and a valid alternative to civil action," Luthmann writes in his argument.
According to Game of Thrones resource, 'A Wiki Of Ice and Fire', a Trial by combat can be requested: