Basketball doubleheaders: men first

Title IX From Outer Space dept.: “A sports conference that always scheduled weekday basketball doubleheaders in which women’s teams played the first game — letting the men play in the later time slot — has altered the practice, after an anonymous sex discrimination complaint charged that this made the women’s games appear to be a ‘warm-up’ act for the men’s games.” [Inside Higher Ed via George Leef, NRO “Phi Beta Cons”] More: Coyote.

In ADA-mill news…

“A San Diego lawyer has irritated business owners in the town of Redlands, Calif., by sending out letters on behalf of clients demanding $6,500 settlements for claimed violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and related state law.” [ABA Journal; attorney James Mason]

“A Litigious U.S. Might Be Driving Business to Law Firms Abroad”

Hoist on their own petard? “Are U.S. law firms losing international business opportunities because a surprising number of in-house lawyers prefer to seek counsel in other countries? That’s the conclusion of a survey that suggests global companies would rather be advised by British firms.” One of the apparent factors involved is that international firms often prefer dealmaking that specifies British or European rather than American jurisdiction in case of later dispute. [David Hechler, Corporate Counsel]

One judge’s philosophy?

Washington Supreme Court Justice Richard Sanders, who won a moment of fame nationally for heckling then-Attorney General Michael Mukasey at a dinner, may conceive himself as a champion of the underdog, but if the Seattle Post-Intelligencer’s coverage is accurate, he doesn’t always manage to convey that stance in the most felicitous way: “Sanders said his job as a Supreme Court justice is to make sure ‘the smallest dog can lift its leg against the largest tree.'”

August 16 roundup

  • Former producer at “Oprah” show — yearning for the simpler life? — takes job at rough blue-collar outfit. One $500K harassment settlement later… [Des Moines Register]
  • “Insurer writing ‘loser pays’ policies to defendants” [LNL]
  • “$1.4 Million Award Reversed due to Attorney’s ‘Inflammatory’ Comments” [DBR]
  • New book examines shaky evidentiary basis of international criminal law convictions [Nancy Combs]
  • Litigation slush funds, cont’d: new Department of Justice rules steer public settlement money to private advocacy groups [York, Examiner]
  • Second Circuit upholds Judge Weinstein’s steps to curb conspiracy to evade protective order in Zyprexa case [Drug and Device Law, Dan Popeo, NYLJ] More from the busy Dr. David Egilman: “Plaintiff’s Expert Files Appeal in ‘Popcorn Lung’ Lawsuit” [On Point News and more] Also: “Being an Expert Expert Doesn’t Make You an Expert” [Zacher, Abnormal Use]
  • “FTC Seeks to Clarify — and Justify — Its Blogger Endorsement Guidelines” [Citizen Media Law]
  • “Winnebago cruise control” and suchlike urban legends are purposely devised and spread by sinister interests, or so claim L.A. Times and Prof. Turley [five years ago on Overlawyered]

New York workplace-bullying law: “Bad bosses meet teacups”

New York lawmakers have now withdrawn a bill creating a new cause of action against employers for “bullying” in the workplace; Scott Greenfield, Victoria Pynchon, Jim Copland/E.J. McMahon, and Jon Hyman have some critical observations about the proposal. More coverage of the bill: Point of Law, McCormick/Workplace Prof, Employer’s Lawyer, and NLJRA (would apply to organizations of all sizes including small businesses).