A moratorium on new liquor licenses in Washington, D.C.’s popular Adams-Morgan neighborhood might account for why an existing license appears curiously valuable. [Matthew Yglesias]
Libel reform in Britain, finally?
At long last it may be moving forward [Arthur Bright, Citizen Media Law] More: Alison Young.
Turnabout in demon-nurse case
St. Luke’s Hospital in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley is suing a lawyer and law firm “for proceeding with cases that the attorneys [allegedly] knew were ‘baseless and lacking in evidence,'” and is also suing an expert for allegedly filing a “boilerplate” certificate of merit. The cases in question are among many filed claiming that patients were killed by notorious “Angel of Death” nurse Charles Cullen; hospitals say that while some of the suits were filed on behalf of actual Cullen victims, others piled on seeking compensation for bad outcomes that had nothing to do with the murderer. Damages for wrongful litigation are notoriously hard to win in American courts. [White Coat]
“Character” and law licenses
Ontario’s Law Society has rejected a would-be lawyer despite strong academic credentials because of concerns about his character, specifically episodes in which he harassed fellow apartment owners during a condo leadership fight and forged a letter supposedly from an owner. “Character” screening was once a common prerequisite for admission to the American bar, but fell largely into disuse following complaints that it could be subjective and applied unevenly. [Toronto Star]
Plaintiff drops Pennsylvania ADA complaints
After questions are raised about the timing of her claimed visits, a serial ADA plaintiff — represented by a law firm we’ve had occasion to mention before, Schwartz Zweben & Associates — drops complaints against several restaurants and other small businesses in Pennsylvania [Sunbury Item]
More Schools for Misrule mentions
From probate-reform blog Estate of Denial, Division of Labour (Mike DeBow), Scott Greenfield again, Tarlton law library (University of Texas), Alan Caruba, and from my Cato colleague Ilya Shapiro in a post on academic freedom and the Widener controversy (on which earlier). And Prof. Bainbridge updates his reading list.
Older siblings banned from middle school pickup
Because you can’t be too safe. [Free-Range Kids]
UK: “‘No-win, no-fee’ changes announced by Ken Clarke”
England has been experimenting in recent years with versions of contingent and conditional fees previously barred by ethical rules; following widespread discontent about the results, including high insurance rates, the Cameron government plans a new wave of tinkering. [BBC]
Law school appearances: AU, Dickinson
Following my swing last week through Colorado, Wyoming and McGeorge (Sacramento), I’m speaking at lunchtime today at American University-Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. And — this one a new last-minute booking — on Monday I’m scheduled to speak at Dickinson/Penn State in Carlisle, Pa. (simulcast at the State College campus). Events are sponsored by the Federalist Society and I’ll be discussing Schools for Misrule, my new book on law school progressivism.
“Lugar Targets Federal Sugar Racket”
The Indiana senator intends to go after a government program long notorious for its costs to consumers and food processors alike. [Tad DeHaven, Cato at Liberty]