- TSA asserts security-line authority against … suspected embezzlers? [Coyote, Ken at Popehat]
- “How the Next Hurricane Could Bankrupt Florida” [Eli Lehrer, Frum Forum]
- In Yahoo settlement “vast majority of the class gets nothing” [Frith, Cal Civil Justice]
- Royal road to legal riches: work for the federal prosecutor in Manhattan [David Zaring, Conglomerate]
- Taxpayers, get ready to bail out union pension plans [The Lid]
- Japan moving closer to U.S.-style securities litigation? [D&O Diary]
- “Is the Contemporary Supreme Court Really That Conservative?” [Bartels, ConcurOp]
- “EEOC encourages anonymous harassment complaints” [eleven years ago at Overlawyered]
Author Archive
“Bad idea of the day: copyrighting cocktails”
What were they drinking when they came up with this idea? “The fact is that the current cocktail renaissance is coming about because, rather than despite, the fact that cocktail recipes are easily shared and remixed.” [Felix Salmon]
Swing sets removed from playgrounds
In Cabell County, West Virginia, “in part because of lawsuits over injuries.” [AP] More: Investor’s Business Daily (editorial). Another view: Eric Turkewitz.
September 2 roundup
- Elevator-injury case: “Citing Attorney’s Inflammatory Language, Court Erases Most of Jury Verdict” [Daily Business Report]
- “Obama’s zealous civil rights enforcer gets busy” [Byron York, Examiner]
- “Trend: Helicopter parents win kids in divorce” [Theresa Walsh Giarrusso, Atlanta Journal-Constitution “Momania”]
- Faculty fracas: “An Angry Professor Mounts His Own Labor Protest in Alabama” [Chronicle of Higher Ed]
- An opportunity for the Seventh Circuit to curb derivative strike suits? [CCAF]
- Emily Bazelon on Phoebe Prince school-bullying story, cont’d [Slate, earlier]
- Controversy as Louisiana governor Jindal hires longtime Overlawyered favorites Baron & Budd for BP suit [Dan Fisher, Forbes]
- “Oz: A$100K for prisoner who fell out of bed” [seven years ago on Overlawyered]
On tonight’s John Stossel show (FBN)
I’m a guest on tonight’s John Stossel program on the Fox Business Network, on the subject of the consequences of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The show was shot live to tape yesterday in New York and was fascinating throughout; even those who think they know this subject well will learn a lot. I’m also quoted in John’s latest syndicated column on the same issue.
Among the highlights of the taping: a disabled-rights lobbyist defended several extreme applications of the law, including the notion that it might be appropriate to force networks to hire someone who suffers from stuttering as on-air television talent. We also shed some light on the state of California’s up-to-$4,000-a-violation bounty system for freelancers who identify ADA violations in Main Street businesses, and the case for at least requiring complainants to give business owners notice and an opportunity to fix an ADA violation before suing. (The disabled-rights lobby has managed to stifle that proposal in Congress for years.) Also mentioned: the suit against the Chipotle restaurant chain recently covered in this space.
Other recent coverage of the ADA here and here (cross-posted from Cato at Liberty). More: Amy Alkon notes some New York City examples from a commenter.
German state supports its citizens’ kids overseas
Now see if you can guess how one man has managed to play the system given that generous policy [Tyler Cowen]
“Pregnant = disabled, at least according to the 6th Circuit”
Jon Hyman at Ohio Employment Law spots a potentially significant ruling, and has a followup.
P.S. The topic is also discussed on Thursday’s John Stossel show, with guests Katherine Mangu-Ward of Reason and Steve Lonegan of Americans for Prosperity.
The Economist: “Swimming and freedom”
Forwarded by Pete Warden with the comment, “This post sums up why I’m a pretty liberal guy *and* a strong supporter of Overlawyered.”
September 1 roundup
- Florida AG probes foreclosure lawyers [Neil, ABA Journal; related, Mother Jones]
- “ABA Ponders Accrediting Offshore Law Schools” [Mystal, AtL]
- DC pressured states to mount those signs heralding stimulus projects [Tad DeHaven, Cato “Downsizing the Federal Government”]
- “Epidemiologist Fired for Reporting Unhelpful Results” [Sullum, Reason “Hit and Run”, update]
- Critique of barber licensing crosses ideological lines [Tabarrok]
- “Oops! Cheerleader sued wrong company” [Fox Sports]
- “Trial Lawyer: Raise an ‘Army’ to Pressure Ecuadorian Court” in Chevron case [ShopFloor] Parallels between Chevron-Ecuador & Dole-Nicaragua litigation episodes [California Civil Justice channeling sub-only Recorder]
- “Access suit closes landmark California eatery” [105-year-old On Lock Sam in Stockton; seven years ago on Overlawyered]
Acts “that in other contexts might seem unethical or even dishonest”
Are they OK when lawyers do them? Such at least is the view attributed to one law school ethics expert [Daniel Fisher/Forbes]