“If you thought elected officials in your state were running the budget show, you might be in for a surprise.” Consent decrees negotiated years ago prevent states from cutting many agency budgets even in the face of the worst revenue downturn in living memory. Lots of examples too [“Marla Singer”, Zero Hedge via Coyote]
The “hidden trial-lawyer earmark”
January 14 roundup
- Anti-vaccine activist files defamation suit over much-discussed Wired article against Dr. Paul Offit, author Amy Wallace and Conde Nast [Orac and many followup posts]
- “Kid Suspended for Bringing Peppermint Oil to School” [Free-Range Kids]
- Eric Turkewitz names his favorite Blawg Reviews of the year and has kind words for ours;
- “New Guide to FTC Disclosure Requirements for Product Endorsements” from Citizen Media Law;
- U.K. safety panel: press misreported our views, we do want businesses to grit icy public paths [update to earlier post]
- Another kid trespassing on the railroad tracks, another case headed to court [Oregonian]
- “Katrina negligence lawsuit has implications for all hospitals” [USA Today, earlier]
- “Judicial Misconduct: The Mice Guard The Cheese” [WSJ Law Blog on this Houston Chronicle piece]
CPSIA: “Kids’ Closet” no more
Kids’ used winter coats would have come in handy right about now: as part of his “CPSIA Casualty of the Week” series, Rick Woldenberg profiles Kids’ Closet of Rochester, Illinois, whose owner describes the law’s “devastating” effects on her shop. More on CPSIA and resale here.
Next, the age-bias lawsuit?
Carnival Cruise Lines bans “cougar” trips [Miami Herald/Orlando Sentinel]
“South Butt” fires back against “North Face” trademark suit
The parodically named line of knockoff clothing isn’t going to go quietly. [Matt Straquadine/AmLaw Daily, Alkon, earlier]
“DOJ fights Europe vacation for Lerach”
“The Justice Department is fighting a request by former class action lawyer Bill Lerach, who is on probation after pleading guilty to hiding payments to plaintiffs, to take a 44-day vacation to 18 cities in Europe this summer accompanied by as many as 18 family members and friends.” What seems to especially gall prosecutors is the way Lerach, despite earlier promises of contrition, now goes around proclaiming his lack of regret over his past behavior. “Carl Cannon and Pat Dillon’s book on Lerach is due out in March”; it is entitled Circle of Greed. [Josh Gerstein, Politico]
“Dan Rather loses suit”
“New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, has rejected an appeal from the longtime CBS News anchor, who wanted the court to reinstate his $70 million breach-of-contract lawsuit against his former employer” over his 2007 firing. [“Completely Legal”, Gannett Hudson Valley blog; earlier here, here, here, etc.] More: Lawrence Cunningham, ConcurOp.
New at Point of Law
Things you’re missing if you’re not reading my other site:
- Federal judge tosses city of Baltimore’s case blaming its neighborhood blight on subprime lenders, but Memphis files a similar suit;
- “The catchall fraud law that catches too much”: Roger Parloff of Fortune on “honest services”;
- Moonlighting: New York state senate majority leader John Sampson joins large plaintiff’s firm in “of counsel” position, an arrangement long held by his counterpart at the New York capitol, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver;
- “Trial lawyers association outlines its 2010 legislative agenda,” Montana Gov. Schweitzer to address AAJ Maui convention, “Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, the legal angle” [all from Carter Wood]
- Biggest obstacle to juvenile corrections reform? Prison guards’ unions;
- “Investor Who Backed Unsuccessful Lawsuit is Liable for Defendants’ Legal Fees“;
- A Twombly/Iqbal debate — and the harms of liberal pleading;
- U.S. Chamber’s “Top Five Ridiculous Lawsuits of 2009″ (and many other tops-of-2009 lists).
“Law Firms Are Tough to Sue”
In case you didn’t know that. [Zach Lowe, AmLaw Daily]