Miscellaneous

March 1 roundup

By Walter Olson, Ted Frank, and David Nieporent

• Oregon Supreme Court plays chicken with SCOTUS over $79.5 million punitive damages award in Williams v. Philip Morris case. [Sebok @ Findlaw; Krauss @ IBD; POL Feb. 1]
• Speaking of punitive damages, I did a podcast on Exxon Shipping v. Baker. I can't bear to listen to it, so let me know how I did. [Frank @ Fed Soc]
• Arkansas case alleged legal sale of pseudoephedrine was "nuisance" because meth-makers would buy it; case dismissed. [Beck/Herrmann]. This is why I've stockpiled Sudafed.
• Lawyers advertise for refinery explosion victims before fire goes out. [Hou Chron/TLR]
• Connecticut Supreme Court: cat-attack victim can sue without showing past history of violence by animal. [On Point] Looking forward to comments from all the anti-reformers who claim to oppose reform because they're against the abrogation of the common law.
• Op-ed on the Great White fire deep pockets phenomenon. [SE Texas Record; earlier: Feb. 2]

• "FISA lawsuits come from Twilight Zone." [Hillyer @ Examiner]

• Legislative action on various medical malpractice tweaking in Colorado, Hawaii, and Wyoming. [TortsProf]
• Request for unemployment benefits: why fire me just because I asked staffers for a prostitute? [Des Moines Register]
• "So much for seduction and romance; bring in the MBAs and lawyers." [Mac Donald @ City Journal; contra Belle Lettre; contra contra Dank]
• Where is the Canadian Brandeis standing up for free speech? [Kay @ National Post]
• In defense of lobbying. [Krauthammer @ WaPo]

Full post as published by Overlawyered on March 01, 2008 (boomark / email).