It’s not too early to begin thinking out the liability implications of robotics. [WSJ Law Blog]
Archive for 2009
Best face forward
A Florida judge OKs the use of a cosmetologist’s makeup services at taxpayer expense to cover up a capital defendant’s hateful tattoos at trial — at least the tattoos acquired after his arrest. [Obscure Store, BoingBoing]
“Mr. Squiggles is in the clear”
The Consumer Product Safety Commission helps defuse an unfounded toxic-toy scare about one of the year’s toy trends, hamster-like Zhu Zhu pets. [Washington Post via Adler, Volokh, Woldenberg/AmendTheCPSIA.com, Trevor Butterworth/Forbes, Christopher Palmeri/Business Week]
“A truly chaotic defense,” with “perfunctory” legal filings
Judge Gertner blasts the defense handling of the Sony v. Tenenbaum (P2P file-sharing) case. [Nate Anderson, Ars Technica] More: Charles Nesson’s response [Legal Blog Watch].
Annals of attorney endorsements
The Yelp! website is better known for restaurant and hotel reviews, but is branching into reviews of attorneys, which generates from me a reaction mirroring the site’s exclamation point. Facebook friend M.F.B. found one that was tellingly revealing, and can be paraphrased as “I was guilty as Tiger Woods in a Las Vegas cocktail lounge, but ‘[t]hanks to Mr. _____ I have my license back and was not found guilty for a DUI.'”
Suing cellphone makers over car crashes
The New York Times publicizes a possible new front for product liability litigation [sidebar, yesterday’s p. 1 story]
P.S. A long, must-read post from Russell Jackson, who was quoted in the article: “Various Defenses Should Make Cell Phone Suit Untenable“.
“Harvard professor says Nancy Grace was contributor in Florida woman’s suicide”
A wrongful-death suit claims the TV host’s badgering drove a woman over the brink. [AP/L.A. Times, Brian Cuban; more on Grace, and our earlier coverage of this suit; OnPoint News]
“EEOC Files Suit Over Use of Credit and Criminal Histories in Hiring”
A federal agency once famed for its anti-employer zeal is quickly returning to an activist stance. [Workplace Prof; my earlier take on the criminal-record issue, in Reason]
“Mom blames son’s death on air freshener”
Why there’s a “Keep out of the reach of children” label on a can of Glade. [WAFB Baton Rouge, Louisiana]
December 7 roundup
- Woman jailed for “camcordering” after recording four minutes of sister’s birthday party in movie theater [BoingBoing]
- Senate hearing airs trial lawyer gripes against Iqbal [Jackson and earlier, PoL, Wajert, Beck & Herrmann (scroll)] Franken and other Senators sidestep substance, browbeat witness re: “study” terminology [Alison Frankel, AmLaw]
- Still time to cancel? “2009 is also the first year of global governance” — new EU president [Small Dead Animals]
- Miller-Jenkins battle: judge orders custody switch to law-abiding spouse [Box Turtle Bulletin, background]
- Speedy by government standards? 17 years ago DoT proposed Southeast high-speed rail on existing rights of way, ruling on environmental impact statement is expected next year [McArdle]
- “New York’s New DWI Bill: Compounding Stupidity” [Greenfield; felony to drive intoxicated with passenger 15 or younger]
- “Apple Told To Pay Patent Troll OPTi $21.7 Million” [Business Insider]
- This year’s ABA Blawg 100 listing left out some legal blogs that aren’t half bad [Turkewitz]