An employee who was kept on the Norfolk, Va. payroll for 12 years without being asked to come in to work has complained that she was wrongfully fired. The employee was originally suspended after misconduct allegations that her agency head for unclear reasons failed to get resolved; his successor dismissed her. [PilotOnline]
Archive for March, 2011
Minneapolis and DC readers; radio appearances
I’ll be speaking Thursday at 12:15 CST at the University of Minnesota’s Law School with Profs. Brad Clary and Oren Gross commenting, and Prof. Dale Carpenter moderating. The topic will be my new book “Schools for Misrule” with particular attention to its discussion of class actions and international law. Please do introduce yourself afterward if you happen to be there.
Back in Washington, D.C. at noon on Tuesday, Mar. 22, I’ll be speaking about my book at the Heritage Foundation, introduced by Todd Gaziano, director of Heritage’s Center for Legal & Judicial Studies. Details here. If you can’t watch in person, it’ll also be viewable online.
My radio tour in the past week has included appearances on Mike Rosen’s show on KOA Denver, Kevin Whalen’s on WRKO Boston, Steve Malzberg’s on WABC New York, Cam Edwards’ and Peter Schiff’s national shows, and Bill LuMaye’s show on WPTF Raleigh. To book me as a guest on your show, contact Bill Zeiser at bill.zeiser – at – gmail – dot – com.
“FTC Takes Aim at Patent Trolls”
The Federal Trade Commission “today released a 300-page report examining the effect that patent trolls – or as the FTC more tactfully dubs them, ‘patent assertion entities’ – have on competition…. The practice, said the FTC, ‘can deter innovation by raising costs and risks without making a technological contribution.’” [BLT]
Richard Epstein: “Throttled by compliance”
In fields from land-use planning to drug development to labor relations, says the NYU law professor, “[e]xcessive regulations cause private firms to displace creative officers and entrepreneurial executives with the dull masters of compliance.” [Hoover Institution “Defining Ideas”]
Update: “Milwaukee teachers drop Viagra suit”
“The Milwaukee teachers union has dropped a lawsuit seeking to get its taxpayer-funded Viagra back.” [Madison.com, earlier]
After California’s zip-code-privacy ruling
The lawsuits against store chains over inquiries in check-out lines were just the start: one lawyer has sued gas station operators on the theory that it violates state law to ask drivers at the pump to key in their zip code to verify their credit cards. [Russell Jackson, earlier]
High Court rebuffs Jets fan in “spygate” suit
“Gone Fishin’? Lawyers Say You May Qualify For a Check from BP”
Lawyers advertise for recreational, not just commercial, fisherfolk to file claims against the Gulf spill fund. [WSJ Law Blog]
“10 Questions”: I’m interviewed by The Daily Caller
Just out in the DC-based Daily Caller: Jamie Weinstein interviews me about my work and in particular my new book Schools for Misrule. I greatly enjoyed the interview, which I think turned out as one of the best I’ve done in quite a while. Some points that come up:
- George Mason University School of Law’s eccentric, in fact “almost Martian” hiring strategy (and I mean that last phrase in a nice way);
- My predictions re: the return of ROTC and military recruiting to previously resistant law school campuses (already, it seems, borne out).
- I recommend various books by Benjamin Barton, Steven Teles, Edward Banfield, Jane Jacobs and others;
- The non-monetary costs of an overlawyered society;
- The common academic (and philanthropic, too) background of sectors of litigation as diverse as school finance, Indian land claims, and environmental impact review;
- The “international community” in rights law as “a slightly globalized variant of the voice of New York Times editorials.”
The interview seems to be a hit with readers; as of a few hours ago it was listed as the most-emailed item on the site. Read the whole thing here (& FrumForum).
Scott Greenfield on Schools for Misrule
The deservedly popular criminal-defense and general law blogger weighs in on my new book. It’s a great review and these are some of my favorite passages:
…In Schools For Misrule: Legal Academia and an Overlawyered America, Walter aims both barrels and pulls the trigger. The book is classic Olson, witty, caustic and facially challenging to the Academy. The poke in the ribs is unmistakable, and early signs are that it’s going to get a rise out of some of the more intellectually honest lawprofs….
While the use of law schools as an incubator of liberal politics may not cause you to break out in hives, you may find Walter to be awfully persuasive in challenging simplistic notions of right and wrong, good and evil, that characterize political correctness. If your interest extends beyond people applauding you for agreeing with them, and actually comes anywhere near achieving a better understanding of issues and interests at stake, then Walter’s challenge may give you pause to rethink your knee-jerk reactions. He may not turn you into a full-time libertarian, but he will add enormously to your understanding of what’s at stake and why the solutions aren’t nearly as clear and easy as you thought. …
…What Walter Olson offers in Schools for Misrule is a challenge to the Academy to clean up its act, stop teaching liberalism as the only good policy and keep their mitts off the minds of our future leaders. … it’s left to the rest of us, lawyers, pundits and those few lawprofs who have the guts to challenge their brethren, even in the typical tepid tones that characterize communications between intellectuals, to hold their feet to the fire.
I could raise a quibble here or there — “environment of overwhelming leftism” is a reviewer’s wording, not mine, and I don’t remember characterizing any recent American presidents as “extremist,” least of all Bill Clinton — but that would be churlish in the face of such a nice review. I’m going to send Scott the signed copy, too.