Overlawyered » Australia http://overlawyered.com Chronicling the high cost of our legal system Sun, 27 May 2012 14:01:44 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Free speech roundup http://overlawyered.com/2012/05/free-speech-roundup-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=free-speech-roundup-3 http://overlawyered.com/2012/05/free-speech-roundup-3/#comments Wed, 02 May 2012 04:04:15 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=29024 “People’s Rights Amendment” paves way for government control of media and trampling of many other rights. Is your Rep a sponsor? [Volokh, more, Somin] Indian skeptic charged with blasphemy for revealing secret behind “miracle” of weeping cross [Doctorow] “Arab world’s most famous comedian” jailed in Egypt on charges of “insulting Islam” [Volokh] “Is the Real [...]

Free speech roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

]]>
  • “People’s Rights Amendment” paves way for government control of media and trampling of many other rights. Is your Rep a sponsor? [Volokh, more, Somin]
  • Indian skeptic charged with blasphemy for revealing secret behind “miracle” of weeping cross [Doctorow] “Arab world’s most famous comedian” jailed in Egypt on charges of “insulting Islam” [Volokh]
  • “Is the Real Intent of Cyber-Bullying Laws to Eliminate Criticism of Politicians?” [Coyote]
  • Timothy Kincaid: why I oppose the California “don’t say ex-gay” therapy-ban bill [BTB]
  • More on unreasonable IRS demands of tea party groups seeking nonprofit status [Stoll, Anne Sorock/Bill Jacobson, Houston Chronicle, earlier]
  • Denmark Supreme Court, 7-0, strikes down conviction of Lars Hedegaard for criticizing Islam in own home [Mark Steyn] Institute of Public Affairs launches campaign to defend free speech in Australia [Andrew Bolt case earlier] Free speech in Britain looking the worse for wear [Cooke, NRO] Belgian court throws out lawsuit seeking ban on allegedly racist “Tintin” comic book [Volokh] Group files criminal complaint against Swiss magazine over cover story on Roma crime [Spiegel]
    • Tags: , , , , , , , ,

    Free speech roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2012/05/free-speech-roundup-3/feed/ 4     Labor and employment law roundup http://overlawyered.com/2012/04/labor-and-employment-law-roundup-6/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=labor-and-employment-law-roundup-6 http://overlawyered.com/2012/04/labor-and-employment-law-roundup-6/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:40:33 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=29172 Arbitrator: felonious Montgomery County, Maryland cops should keep disability pay [Examiner] “Cop who took naked photos of rape victim can keep pension” [NY Post] Cop who pepper-sprayed UC Davis protesters is still on job, and maybe that’s how they’d have it [Radley Balko] “Billions in retroactive liability” in pharma detailer wage/hour action before SCOTUS [Marcia [...]

    Labor and employment law roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>
  • Arbitrator: felonious Montgomery County, Maryland cops should keep disability pay [Examiner] “Cop who took naked photos of rape victim can keep pension” [NY Post] Cop who pepper-sprayed UC Davis protesters is still on job, and maybe that’s how they’d have it [Radley Balko]
  • “Billions in retroactive liability” in pharma detailer wage/hour action before SCOTUS [Marcia Coyle, NLJ] And USA Today chose a faulty “worker discontent” theme on wage/hour case, since as class actions these suits are lawyer-driven;
  • Australia: “Worker injured during sex gets compensation payout” [News.com.au]
  • “Courts are finally starting to apply ADAAA—and it ain’t pretty” [Jon Hyman] ADA: “Judge Rules In Favor of Fired Employee With Bipolar Disorder” [ABC]
  • NLRB goes after Hyatt on employee handbook language [Gary Shapiro, Examiner] Union claims Indiana right-to-work law violates Thirteenth Amendment ban on slavery [James Sherk, NRO]
  • EEOC: sex discrimination law bars bias against transgender employees [AP, Hyman] “EEOC Obtains Substantial Settlement in Obesity Discrimination Suit” [Disabilities Law]
  • Law journal prediction: adherents of racism will claim Title VII protection [Lawrence D. Rosenthal, Temple L. Rev. via Workplace Prof]
    • Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

    Labor and employment law roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2012/04/labor-and-employment-law-roundup-6/feed/ 1     Australian: “G’day sport” teasing is rights violation http://overlawyered.com/2012/03/australian-gday-sport-teasing-is-rights-violation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=australian-gday-sport-teasing-is-rights-violation http://overlawyered.com/2012/03/australian-gday-sport-teasing-is-rights-violation/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 05:27:41 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=27929 Anti-antipodean harassment? “An Australian community warden whose colleagues greeted him with ‘G’day Sport’ is taking his racial abuse case to the European Court of Human Rights.” [Telegraph; Dymchurch, Kent, U.K.] Tweet Tags: Australia, hostile environment, international human rights, United Kingdom

    Australian: “G’day sport” teasing is rights violation is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     Anti-antipodean harassment? “An Australian community warden whose colleagues greeted him with ‘G’day Sport’ is taking his racial abuse case to the European Court of Human Rights.” [Telegraph; Dymchurch, Kent, U.K.]

    Tags: , , ,

    Australian: “G’day sport” teasing is rights violation is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2012/03/australian-gday-sport-teasing-is-rights-violation/feed/ 12     Zip that beak http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/zip-that-beak/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zip-that-beak http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/zip-that-beak/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:39:12 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=27762 Twitter has been sued in Australia for defamation, based on a user’s allegedly defamatory tweet [WSJ Law Blog] Tweet Tags: Australia, libel slander and defamation, Twitter

    Zip that beak is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     Twitter has been sued in Australia for defamation, based on a user’s allegedly defamatory tweet [WSJ Law Blog]

    Tags: , ,

    Zip that beak is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/zip-that-beak/feed/ 0     February 22 roundup http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/february-22-roundup-3/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=february-22-roundup-3 http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/february-22-roundup-3/#comments Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:23:02 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=26562 Florida courts allow probe of finances of MDs who treat many injury plaintiffs [Dolman Law Group; Crable v. State Farm] Booster clubs: “Does Title IX Reach Voluntary Donations?” [Joshua Thompson, PLF, earlier here, here] Freedom to Discriminate in Choice of Roommates: 9th Circuit case of Fair Housing Council v. Roommate.com [Eugene Volokh; related from David [...]

    February 22 roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>
  • Florida courts allow probe of finances of MDs who treat many injury plaintiffs [Dolman Law Group; Crable v. State Farm]
  • Booster clubs: “Does Title IX Reach Voluntary Donations?” [Joshua Thompson, PLF, earlier here, here]
  • Freedom to Discriminate in Choice of Roommates: 9th Circuit case of Fair Housing Council v. Roommate.com [Eugene Volokh; related from David Bernstein h/t commenter wfjag]
  • PI firm employee “disliked sending clients to [chiropractors] because insurers were more reluctant to settle those claims” [ABA Journal]
  • “Bill introduced to de-criminalize the Lacey Act” [Paul Enzinna, PoL; earlier on Gibson Guitar and wood imports here, here] More: Reason.tv on the raids [Balko]
  • “Australia: A Cautionary Tale of Litigation Financing?” [WSJ Law Blog]
  • Constitutional law book review: Jay Wexler, “The Odd Clauses” [Greenfield, Lowering the Bar]
    • Tags: , , , , , ,

    February 22 roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/february-22-roundup-3/feed/ 2     In the mail: “Bad Dad” http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/in-the-mail-bad-dad/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=in-the-mail-bad-dad http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/in-the-mail-bad-dad/#comments Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:50:05 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=27659 We blogged about this case in 2008, and now Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Dave Lieber has turned it into a book. From the description: A newspaper columnist investigates the shenanigans of a small-town police department — then pays a price for it. After he orders his misbehaving 11-year-old son to walk home from a local [...]

    In the mail: “Bad Dad” is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     We blogged about this case in 2008, and now Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist Dave Lieber has turned it into a book. From the description:

    A newspaper columnist investigates the shenanigans of a small-town police department — then pays a price for it. After he orders his misbehaving 11-year-old son to walk home from a local restaurant, police arrest the dad for two felony counts. A true-story thriller about parental responsibility, small-town corruption and the consequences of being a public figure.

    And: should an Arkansas mother whose son had been thrown off the regular school bus for misbehavior face child endangerment charges for making him walk 4.5 miles to school instead? [Alkon] From Australia, should police warn parents for letting a 7-year-old visit a local shop alone, and a 10-year-old ride a bus unaccompanied? [Sydney Morning Herald via Skenazy]

    Tags: , , ,

    In the mail: “Bad Dad” is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2012/02/in-the-mail-bad-dad/feed/ 5     “Passing along” our new tax? Tell it to the judge, mate http://overlawyered.com/2011/11/passing-along-our-new-tax-tell-it-to-the-judge-mate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=passing-along-our-new-tax-tell-it-to-the-judge-mate http://overlawyered.com/2011/11/passing-along-our-new-tax-tell-it-to-the-judge-mate/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 19:17:57 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=25745 The official Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is menacing businesses with audits, “substantiation notices” and potentially stiff fines if they tell customers — even over the phone or in emails — that future price hikes on goods or services are the result of the nation’s newly adopted carbon tax. I discuss at Cato at Liberty [...]

    “Passing along” our new tax? Tell it to the judge, mate is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     The official Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is menacing businesses with audits, “substantiation notices” and potentially stiff fines if they tell customers — even over the phone or in emails — that future price hikes on goods or services are the result of the nation’s newly adopted carbon tax. I discuss at Cato at Liberty (& Mark Hemingway, Weekly Standard).

    Tags: , , , ,

    “Passing along” our new tax? Tell it to the judge, mate is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2011/11/passing-along-our-new-tax-tell-it-to-the-judge-mate/feed/ 4     Australia: “A terrible day for free speech in this country” http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/australia-a-terrible-day-for-free-speech-in-this-country/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=australia-a-terrible-day-for-free-speech-in-this-country http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/australia-a-terrible-day-for-free-speech-in-this-country/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:12:35 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=24824 Popular commentator Andrew Bolt “was found guilty Wednesday of breaking Australian discrimination law by implying that fair-skinned Aborigines chose to identify as indigenous for profit and career advancement.” A judge “said he will prohibit reproduction of the offending articles,” and “Bolt and his publisher must meet with the plaintiffs to discuss appropriate court orders that [...]

    Australia: “A terrible day for free speech in this country” is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     Popular commentator Andrew Bolt “was found guilty Wednesday of breaking Australian discrimination law by implying that fair-skinned Aborigines chose to identify as indigenous for profit and career advancement.” A judge “said he will prohibit reproduction of the offending articles,” and “Bolt and his publisher must meet with the plaintiffs to discuss appropriate court orders that would reflect the judgment.” [AP, earlier, Volokh](& Popehat)

    Tags: , ,

    Australia: “A terrible day for free speech in this country” is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/australia-a-terrible-day-for-free-speech-in-this-country/feed/ 5     September 16 roundup http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/september-16-roundup/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=september-16-roundup http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/september-16-roundup/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:11:55 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=24652 House Judiciary holds hearing on asbestos-claim fraud and abuse, with Prof. Brickman headlining [Main Justice, Legal NewsLine, WSJ law blog, PoL, Brickman testimony] Endangered species habitat in Nevada: “Elko County wants end to 15-year-old trout case” [AP] “Why is the Eastern District of Texas home to so many patent trolls?” [Ted Frank/PoL, more] Tech giants [...]

    September 16 roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>
  • House Judiciary holds hearing on asbestos-claim fraud and abuse, with Prof. Brickman headlining [Main Justice, Legal NewsLine, WSJ law blog, PoL, Brickman testimony]
  • Endangered species habitat in Nevada: “Elko County wants end to 15-year-old trout case” [AP]
  • “Why is the Eastern District of Texas home to so many patent trolls?” [Ted Frank/PoL, more] Tech giants say multi-defendant patent suits place them at disadvantage [WSJ Law Blog] Plus: “Patent company has big case, no office” [John O'Brien, Legal NewsLine]
  • Lawsuit settlement and the lizard brain [Popehat]
  • “U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Looks Into Eminent Domain Abuses” [Kanner, Somin] U.K.: “Squatters could be good for us all, says judge in empty homes ruling” [Telegraph]
  • Madison mob silences Roger Clegg at news conference where he releases new study of UW race bias [ABA Journal, Althouse]
  • Life in Australia: “Another motorized-beer-cooler DUI” [Lowering the Bar]
    • Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

    September 16 roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/september-16-roundup/feed/ 4     August 2 roundup http://overlawyered.com/2011/08/august-2-roundup-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=august-2-roundup-2 http://overlawyered.com/2011/08/august-2-roundup-2/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:45:48 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=24105 Yikes! “House Committee Approves Bill Mandating That Internet Companies Spy on Their Users” [EFF; Julian Sanchez, New York Post/Cato and podcast] Australia courts skeptical about claim that sex injury is covered under workers’ comp [Herald Sun] Well-off community doesn’t need annual HUD grant, seeks to sell it [Dan Mitchell] Report: playful City Museum in St. [...]

    August 2 roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>
  • Yikes! “House Committee Approves Bill Mandating That Internet Companies Spy on Their Users” [EFF; Julian Sanchez, New York Post/Cato and podcast]
  • Australia courts skeptical about claim that sex injury is covered under workers’ comp [Herald Sun]
  • Well-off community doesn’t need annual HUD grant, seeks to sell it [Dan Mitchell]
  • Report: playful City Museum in St. Louis has taken down signs criticizing lawyers [Bill Childs/TortsProf, earlier]
  • Chicago neurosurgeons pay $4500 a week in med-mal premiums, blame lawless Illinois Supreme Court [Medill Reports] Supreme Court declines to review Feres doctrine, which shields military doctors (among others) from suits [Stars and Stripes] Why is the most widely cited number of medical-misadventure deaths such an outlier? [White Coat; more here, here, etc.]
  • After “Facebook broken heart” suit, will pre-nups for Mafia Wars relationships be next? [Tri-Cities Herald]
  • Another horrific report of poppy seed positive drug test followed by child-grabbing [Radley Balko]
    • Tags: , , , , , ,

    August 2 roundup is a post from Overlawyered - Chronicling the high cost of our legal system

    ]]>     http://overlawyered.com/2011/08/august-2-roundup-2/feed/ 3