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For Christmas, Billy got a cute new pet, a Mogwai, for Christmas from his father while he was traveling the Orient. Billy names his new pet Gismo. Mogwais are not like other pets. Due to their uniqueness and the dangers associated with keeping Mogwai, a law has been passed regarding the care of Mogwai -- the Mogwai Law. Every owner of a Mogwai must strictly follow each component of the Mogwai Law; this law imposes strict liability on the Mogwai owner. The Mogwai Law has three basic components. First, an owner of a Mogwai must never expose a Mogwai to sunlight or bright light; such light causes the creature extreme pain or death. Second, an owner of a Mogwai must never expose a Mogwai to water (cannot give it water to drink and cannot bathe the creature); water causes the Mogwai to spontaneously reproduce more Mogwai which is undesirable. Third, an owner of a Mogwai can never feed the Mogwai after midnight local time. The only exception to the Mogwai Law is that if a Mogwai becomes a Gremlin, then the first rule is no longer applicable. On New Year's Eve, Billy, after ringing in the New Year and watching the ball drop, comes home around 2:00 am, but not before some late-night Taco Bell drive-thru. Before heading to his room, Billy prepares himself a tall glass of water to go with his quesadillas. While in his room, Gismo is sitting in bed with Billy. Billy accidentally spills the glass of water all over Gismo. Suddenly, five more Mogwai spawn from Gismo's back. All of these other Mogwai are making a loud noise and seem to be crying. Panicked and thinking these new Mogwai are hungry, Billy takes some of his quesadilla and feds it to the five new Mogwai. The next day, Billy wakes up to find his five newest Mogwai have transformed into Gremlins. These Gremlins are terrorized the neighborhood for weeks. Billy is now on trial for violating the Mogwai Law. You are the judge hearing Billy's case at a bench trial where you must determine, did Billy violate the Mogwai Law. Using the IRAC structure, please explain in a written opinion your decision as judge.

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Issue The central question is whether Billy violated the Mogwai Law by exposing Gismo to water after ... View the full answer