http://www.pointoflaw.com/ The Manhattan Institute's weblog of news and commentary on law, litigation and legal reform. en-us 2010-02-09T07:00:15-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/note-todays-tri.php IMPORTANT NOTE: To anyone who was planning on attending MI's live event on Capitol Hill this afternoon, at which we were to unveil the newest Trial Lawyers, Inc. report, Trial Lawyers, Inc.: K Street--A Report on the Litigation Lobby 2010,... Politics James R. Copland 2010-02-09T07:00:15-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/florida-smokers.php The largest individual award to a Florida smoker will be reduced, Judge Jeffrey Streitfeld (Broward County Circuit Court) ruled Friday. [Here's the story on Law.com] Judge Streitfeld called the $300 million jury verdict, rendered months ago, "excessive" and "shocking," based... Products Liability Michael Krauss 2010-02-09T06:25:46-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/how-the-plainti.php In today's Wall Street Journal, I have an opinion piece that explains how the plaintiffs' bar is using its campaign-funding largesse to buy political influence: Since 1990, the sums donated to federal political candidates by lawyers--excluding lobbyists--exceed $1 billion, according... Politics James R. Copland 2010-02-09T01:06:26-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/csx-chases-plai.php "A railroad company's dogged pursuit of conspiracy and fraud charges against an asbestos law firm is unfolding in a federal appellate court and with a major assist from business and tort reform groups." [Marcia Coyle, NLJ]... Asbestos Walter Olson 2010-02-09T00:19:15-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/baltimore-sun-o.php The paper likes health courts and an apology law.... Medicine and Law Walter Olson 2010-02-09T00:11:09-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/colorado-trial.php Colorado House Bill 1168, which restricts subrogation by insurers who have paid for an accident victim's injury, would drive up insurance premiums and not coincidentally benefit trial lawyers, argues Mark Hillman in the Denver Post.... Insurance Law Walter Olson 2010-02-09T00:04:22-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/more-concerns-o.php Kevin Williamson at NRO calls nominee Craig Becker "The 'Shut Up' Candidate": He has argued that workers should be allowed to choose only between unions, not between a union and no representation, and he wants employers to be banned from... Labor Law Walter Olson 2010-02-08T11:23:37-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/plight-of-commu.php Kevin Funnell at Bank Lawyer's Blog says blunt regulation threatens to wipe them out. P.S. And a protest in New Mexico.... Miscellaneous Walter Olson 2010-02-08T00:35:34-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/study-says-gene.php Another suspected toxic-exposure cluster goes the way of the Long Island breast cancer scare and many other epidemics-that-weren't [Boston Globe via Fumento/CEI]... Environmental/Toxic Torts Walter Olson 2010-02-08T00:09:09-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/dan-walters-on.php The veteran California political columnist describes what the governor is trying to do, but offers this blunt assessment: "Don't hold your breath. The Legislature's Democratic majority is symbiotically welded to the trial bar." [Sacramento Bee first, second columns via Pero,... Politics Walter Olson 2010-02-08T00:04:57-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/uk-law-firm-int.php "If you just can't get enough of personal injury ads on daytime TV, then Bott & Co solicitors has launched a new iPhone application designed to win compensation should you suffer a car crash or 'incident.' Would be claimants will... Comparative Law Walter Olson 2010-02-07T07:01:15-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/european-compan.php Germany's Daimler -- which is also objecting to the South African government's turnabout on the suit -- and Barclays Bank are among those protesting the creative legal theories. Earlier here. More: Princeton Lyman (Council on Foreign Relations), NYT op-ed. And... International Human Rights Walter Olson 2010-02-06T00:16:15-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/trial-nears-in.php New York City is under pressure to settle.... Environmental/Toxic Torts Walter Olson 2010-02-05T14:57:48-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/state-of-the-un-3.php Why Justice Thomas doesn't attend -- with comments on Citizens United, too.... Supreme Court Walter Olson 2010-02-05T14:55:12-05:00 http://www.pointoflaw.com/archives/2010/02/illinois-high-c.php It's for the third time, and confirms that the court simply will not be bound by the duly enacted acts of the legislature when certain issues important to its lawyer constituency are at stake. I made these comments for the... Medicine and Law Walter Olson 2010-02-05T00:09:40-05:00