Deriding Schlussel is more satisfactory in every way than suing Schlussel [Greenfield]
Archive for July, 2011
“The case against law school”
An opinion roundtable at the New York Times’ “Room for Debate.”
Related: “How law schools are helping the elite” [Brian Tamanaha, Balkinization] And it rather missed the point for the underlying NYT report to call law schools “singular creature of American capitalism” [Larry Ribstein] Earlier: Theodore Seto via Taxprof, Stephen Bainbridge,
Attorney general slush funds, cont’d
It’s surprising there isn’t more controversy over state AGs’ frequent practice of using moneys from lawsuit settlements for their own favored causes (as opposed to, say, handing it over to the state treasury). Now Arkansas AG Dustin McDaniel is drawing criticism for his funneling of cy pres funds to politically advantageous causes that don’t happen to have been voted appropriations by the state legislature [John Brummett, Arkansas News; Dan Greenberg, The Arkansas Project, and followup]
P.S. Related on cy pres in private class actions: Dan Popeo, WLF (Google Buzz settlement); Michael Tremoglie, LNL; Ted Frank.
Musical forensics, via Google
“Does the infamous ‘Happy Birthday to You’ copyright hold up to scrutiny?” [Paul Collins, Slate]
July 22 roundup
- Illinois prisoner sues for land to start his own country [AP]
- “Have you got a piece of this lawsuit?” Important Roger Parloff piece on litigation finance [Fortune, now out from paywall] “Hedge Funds Finance Medical Malpractice Claims” [Jeff Segal, Michael Sacopulos and Wayne Oliver, Forbes via White Coat]
- Criminalizing bad parenting: more scrutiny of “Caylee’s Law” proposals [Steve Chapman, L.A. Times and Boston Globe editorials, New Scientist]
- Deal with ADA complainant averts closure of popular Popponesset Marketplace in Mashpee, Mass. [Cape Cod News]
- Because it’s not as if NYC needs electricity or anything: Bloomberg gives $50 million to Sierra Club campaign to stop coal burning by utilities [WaPo] “Environmental justice” arguments deployed against pipeline that would bring Alberta tar sands oil to U.S. [John Kendrick, WLF]
- Unimpaired have permanent right to sue: Fla. high court throws out asbestos-reform law [PBP]
- Red tape demanded by quality-of-life progressivism suffices to strangle poorer urban economies [Walter Russell Mead]
“A petty squabble, masquerading as a civil rights matter…”
People are talking about the Fifth Circuit’s opinion (written by Judge Jerry Smith) in the “disgruntled cheerleader mom” case:
Reduced to its essentials, this is nothing more than a dispute, fueled by a disgruntled cheerleader mom, over whether her daughter should have made the squad. It is a petty squabble, masquerading as a civil rights matter, that has no place in federal court or any other court. We find no error and affirm.
Great moments in lawyer advertising
Because joining your head to Abraham Lincoln’s body is such a great way to keep everything in perspective [Lowering the Bar]
P.S. Runner up? Baltimore’s Barry Glazer [Above the Law]
Number of blocks, doll ethnicity, pleasantness of greetings…
Colorado really intends to regulate day-care centers to a fare-thee-well [Popehat, KKCO]
P.S. As Hans Bader rightly points out, the requirement that day cares publicly avow enthusiasm about diversity also gets into some troubling First Amendment territory of government-compelled speech.
“Boeing’s Uniquely American Right To Take Flight”
Edward Glaeser isn’t prejudging the legalities of the NLRB’s complaint, but is put in mind of the “profound role that mobility has played in our country” with both enterprises and person moving restlessly in search of greater productive opportunity. He is left to hope “that the judicial process will affirm the right of companies, and people, to freely choose their locations. The U.S. economy — especially our challenged manufacturing sector — needs more, not less, freedom to adapt and innovate.” [Bloomberg]
Quest for a risk-free playground
My new post at Cato at Liberty, following on a theme pursued by NYT science writer John Tierney, looks at some of the risks of trying to make children’s play too safe. More: UK Telegraph (“Health and safety fears are taking the joy out of playtime.”); Lenore Skenazy, Free-Range Kids.