Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Law Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 31 - 60 of 863

Full-Text Articles in Law

Texas's Excessive Demand Doctrine Impacts Recoveries In Litigation., Stephanie M. Green Jan 2016

Texas's Excessive Demand Doctrine Impacts Recoveries In Litigation., Stephanie M. Green

St. Mary's Law Journal

A party demanding money they are not entitled to becomes subject to the excessive demand doctrine. Because the excessive demand doctrine is an affirmative defense, a defending party must allege its claim of excessive demand in its pleadings. A party must “plead it, prove it, and obtain findings of fact on its essential elements.” To obtain findings on the issue, both the pleadings and the evidence are required to put a question or instruction before the jury. Ensuring that the evidence is enough depends upon the trial court—whose judgment will only be overturned upon a showing of an abuse of …


The Admissibility Of Aerial Photographs - Evidentiary Foundations., Kristopher R. Hufstetler Jan 2016

The Admissibility Of Aerial Photographs - Evidentiary Foundations., Kristopher R. Hufstetler

St. Mary's Law Journal

Services such as Google Maps and MapQuest significantly impact how consumers use the Internet. For as much as they contribute to Internet use, issues arise concerning the use of satellite images and aerial photographs in the context of litigation. Historical concerns about satellite and aerial imagery typically involved expectations of privacy and the application of the Fourth Amendment. Courts and citizens alike express concern with when and where privacy ends with respect to aerial views. Concerns as to the admissibility of aerial photographs have also been prominent. Specifically, interest in admissibility of these photographs focuses on sufficiency, relevance, and accuracy. …


Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Resolving The Ri Grande (Rio Bravo) Water Dispute., Ruben R. Barrera, Dan A. Naranjo Jan 2016

Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Resolving The Ri Grande (Rio Bravo) Water Dispute., Ruben R. Barrera, Dan A. Naranjo

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Suppressing The Truth: States' Purposeful Violation Of The Right Of No Cruel Or Unreal Punishment In Lethal Injection Executions., Nadine G. Rodriguez Jan 2016

Suppressing The Truth: States' Purposeful Violation Of The Right Of No Cruel Or Unreal Punishment In Lethal Injection Executions., Nadine G. Rodriguez

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


The Dilemma Of Interpreting Rules Of Civil Procedure: A Proposal For Elastic Formalism., L. Wayne Scott Jan 2016

The Dilemma Of Interpreting Rules Of Civil Procedure: A Proposal For Elastic Formalism., L. Wayne Scott

St. Mary's Law Journal

When lawyers are well prepared, know the law, present the law, and have it ignored by judges who interpret the law in their own way, it can be frustrating. When courts publish opinions embodying this attitude, students, too, become frustrated or conclude that the law is whatever judges decide it should be. This Article does not focus on unethical judges who decide cases with wrong motives but, rather, it focuses on ethical judges who are faced with “hard” cases and have the dilemma of deciding the case, either by the rule or by the judge’s concept of fairness. In both …


Use It Or Lose It: Grappling With Classification Of Post-Petition Sale Proceeds Under Chapter Seven Bankruptcy For Consumer Debtors In The Lone Star State., Danielle Nicole Rushing Jan 2016

Use It Or Lose It: Grappling With Classification Of Post-Petition Sale Proceeds Under Chapter Seven Bankruptcy For Consumer Debtors In The Lone Star State., Danielle Nicole Rushing

St. Mary's Law Journal

Texas affords consumer debtors some of the most generous state bankruptcy exemptions in the United States. This includes the homestead exemption, which permits consumer debtors to exempt a homestead of unlimited value from forced sale, subject to certain enumerated exceptions. Bankruptcy courts throughout the state are grappling with how to characterize proceeds from the sale of an exempted homestead once a consumer debtor files a Chapter Seven bankruptcy petition. Specifically, courts consider whether a debtor may personally retain funds from the sale of a homestead or whether a Chapter Seven Trustee should receive the sale proceeds on behalf of the …


Agreements To Alter The Limitation Period Imposed By U.C.C. Section 2-725: Some Overlooked Complications., Gregory Crespi Jan 2015

Agreements To Alter The Limitation Period Imposed By U.C.C. Section 2-725: Some Overlooked Complications., Gregory Crespi

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Gradually Exploded: Confrontation Vs. The Former Testimony Rule., Tim Donaldson Jan 2015

Gradually Exploded: Confrontation Vs. The Former Testimony Rule., Tim Donaldson

St. Mary's Law Journal

Observing live court testimony allows a jury to determine witness credibility. This is called demeanor evidence. Allowing the introduction of transcripts of prior testimony by a witness offends a defendant's right to confrontation guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Loss of demeanor evidence can heighten sensitivity surrounding the constitutional demands of unavailability and an opportunity for cross-examination. But the loss of this evidence is discounted when dealing with the admissibility of prior testimony as long as a defendant was formerly afforded an opportunity to cross-examine. Demeanor evidence, however, is still treated as a non-essential component of …


An Employer's Relationship With Its Recruiting Firm - Something More Than An Arm's-Length Transaction., Hannah L. Hembree Jan 2015

An Employer's Relationship With Its Recruiting Firm - Something More Than An Arm's-Length Transaction., Hannah L. Hembree

St. Mary's Law Journal

Taking advantage of the perfect storm created by an increased demand for professional services and a shortage of qualified candidates, recruiting firms search for permanent employees on behalf of employers across the nation. These searches are often characterized by non-exclusive contingency agreements wherein a recruiting firm’s entitlement to remuneration is directly tied to successful placement—ranging from 15% to 30% of a candidate’s first year salary. Though communication from interested applicants constitutes the easiest path to placement, passive candidates are quickly becoming the primary target of zealous recruiters. Passive candidates are those currently employed but open to the possibility of changing …


The Economic Loss Doctrine As An Obstacle To Claims Of Contractual Strangers., Richard L. Reed, Richard L. Reed Jr. Jan 2015

The Economic Loss Doctrine As An Obstacle To Claims Of Contractual Strangers., Richard L. Reed, Richard L. Reed Jr.

St. Mary's Law Journal

Home owners, contractors, and subcontractors entering a contract to build in accordance with another’s design must be aware of their respective risks under the economic loss doctrine. The economic loss doctrine bars recovery due purely to economic loss by a party that is a contractual stranger. In a typical construction contract, a homeowner may separately contract with a contractor and a design professional. In this situation, the contractor does not have privity with the design professional and the economic loss doctrine bars the contractor from suing the design professional for economic loss. Likewise, if the homeowner hires a contractor and …


Cueing Democracy: Replacing The Texas Election Code's Title Prohibition., Christopher M. Childree Jan 2015

Cueing Democracy: Replacing The Texas Election Code's Title Prohibition., Christopher M. Childree

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


The Michael Morton Act: Minimizing Prosecutorial Misconduct., Cynthia E. Hujar Orr, Robert G. Rodery Jan 2015

The Michael Morton Act: Minimizing Prosecutorial Misconduct., Cynthia E. Hujar Orr, Robert G. Rodery

St. Mary's Law Journal

Twenty-five years ago, Texas prosecutors significantly limited the pre-trial discovery it disclosed to criminal defendants. As a result of this policy, innocent individuals accused of murder, like Michael Morton, were denied their right to due process. Michael Morton was incarcerated for twenty-five years following a wrongful murder conviction. He was denied access to crucial evidence, which included a bandana with the victim’s blood and the killer’s hair, and eyewitness accounts describing the killer at or near the time of the murder. The prosecutor purposely withheld this evidence from Michael Morton; but thanks to the efforts of the Innocence Project, he …


Anti-Retaliation Protection For Internal Whistleblowers Under Dodd-Frank Following The Fifth Circuit Decision In Asadi., Tapas Agarwal Jan 2015

Anti-Retaliation Protection For Internal Whistleblowers Under Dodd-Frank Following The Fifth Circuit Decision In Asadi., Tapas Agarwal

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Professor Aloysius A. Leopold: An Extraordinary Man., Gerry W. Beyer Jan 2015

Professor Aloysius A. Leopold: An Extraordinary Man., Gerry W. Beyer

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Lincoln V. The Proslavery Constitution: How A Railroad Lawyer's Constitutional Theory Made Him The Great Emancipator., Paul Finkelman Jan 2015

Lincoln V. The Proslavery Constitution: How A Railroad Lawyer's Constitutional Theory Made Him The Great Emancipator., Paul Finkelman

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


The Posse Comitatus Act Of 1878 And The End Of Reconstruction., Andrew Buttaro Jan 2015

The Posse Comitatus Act Of 1878 And The End Of Reconstruction., Andrew Buttaro

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Compensation Forfeiture: Stacking Remedies Against Disloyal Agents And Employees., George P. Roach Jan 2015

Compensation Forfeiture: Stacking Remedies Against Disloyal Agents And Employees., George P. Roach

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Sovereign Immunity: The Texas Department Of Transportation's Duty To Maintain Roadways Ravaged By The Eagle Ford Shale Boom., Lasca A. Arnold Jan 2015

Sovereign Immunity: The Texas Department Of Transportation's Duty To Maintain Roadways Ravaged By The Eagle Ford Shale Boom., Lasca A. Arnold

St. Mary's Law Journal

While the shale boom has brought about many positive results such as economic growth and new jobs to the Eagle Ford Shale region, the ravaged roadways left in the aftermath must be addressed. The demands for equipment and manpower created by oil and gas exploration are extensive. Sadly, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)—the entity charged with maintaining and repairing roads in these affected counties—refuses to supply sufficient funding to repair the over used roadways. This pressure is exerted in rural areas where most of the roads and bridges are designed for lower volumes of traffic. In addition to the …


A History Of The Law Clinics At St. Mary's University School Of Law., Sue Bentch Jan 2015

A History Of The Law Clinics At St. Mary's University School Of Law., Sue Bentch

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Indemnification Agreements For Intentional Misconduct: Balancing Public Policy And Freedom To Contract In Texas., Meagan Mckeown Jan 2015

Indemnification Agreements For Intentional Misconduct: Balancing Public Policy And Freedom To Contract In Texas., Meagan Mckeown

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Defining A Health Care Liability Claim In The Post-Texas West Oaks Era., William Woolsey Jan 2015

Defining A Health Care Liability Claim In The Post-Texas West Oaks Era., William Woolsey

St. Mary's Law Journal

Following the Texas Supreme Court’s rulings in West Oaks Hospital v. Williams and Ross v. St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, it remains unclear whether a non-patient’s injury in a hospital constitutes a health care liability claim (HCLC). If the trial court rules the claim is an HCLC, the plaintiff must present expert testimony. Failure to present an expert report within 120 days after filing the suit results in automatic dismissal. The Texas Supreme Court addressed this issue in West Oaks. The Court held that a claimant, suing a hospital under a theory of premise liability, need not be a patient for …


How Mccullen Affects San Antonio's Anti-Panhandling Ordinance., Christopher M. Childree Jan 2015

How Mccullen Affects San Antonio's Anti-Panhandling Ordinance., Christopher M. Childree

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Revenge Pornography: Exploring Tortious Remedies In Texas., Kevin B. Bennett Jan 2015

Revenge Pornography: Exploring Tortious Remedies In Texas., Kevin B. Bennett

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Potential Tort Liability For Personal Use Of Drone Aircraft., Benjamin D. Mathews Jan 2015

Potential Tort Liability For Personal Use Of Drone Aircraft., Benjamin D. Mathews

St. Mary's Law Journal

In the United States, the use of personal drones has become more prevalent. Businesses now use drones to deliver products to consumers. Consumers now use drones to video and photograph special events. As a result, new laws are needed concerning personal usage of drones. The number of drone sales is predicted to double by 2024. This is reflected by companies such as Parrot, a vendor of private drones, who in the first quarter of 2014 sold 670,000 drones. Citizens whose personal liberties have been infringed upon by another individual’s use of personal drones, often resort to common law torts because …


A Constitutional Amendment Allowing Broader Campaign-Finance Reform Would Not Criminalize Political Satire., Christopher W. Bell Jan 2015

A Constitutional Amendment Allowing Broader Campaign-Finance Reform Would Not Criminalize Political Satire., Christopher W. Bell

St. Mary's Law Journal

Campaign finance remains a perennial issue, because contributions and expenditures define the political campaigns which shape our democracy. While a majority of the American public supports limiting campaign spending, campaign finance reform remains near the bottom of most voters’ priorities. Reformers have called the lack of the public’s interest “[o]ne of the persistent mysteries of campaign finance reform.” Citizens United v. F.E.C. focused national attention on the role of money in politics. Citizens United evoked such strong reactions, because it represents the two competing versions of the concept of freedom of speech: “free speech as serving liberty” and “free speech …


Resolving Drug Manufacturer Liability For Generic Drug Warning Label Defects., Frank Scaglione Jan 2015

Resolving Drug Manufacturer Liability For Generic Drug Warning Label Defects., Frank Scaglione

St. Mary's Law Journal

Although generic drugs are beneficial to consumers because they are offered as a more cost effective alternative to brand-name prescriptions, brand-name manufacturers are vulnerable to potential lawsuits because of generic drugs. Under the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984 (Hatch-Waxman Act), generic manufacturers are able to quickly enter the market following the termination of a brand-name drug’s patent. As a result of the Hatch-Waxman Act, 75% of all drugs on the market are generic. The Hatch-Waxman Act, however, also requires generic drug manufacturers to duplicate the brand-name drug’s warning label. As an unintended consequence, injuries have …


Call To The Texas Legislature: The Franchise Tax Needs Substansive Changes, Not Just Rate Reductions., Alyson Outenreath Jan 2015

Call To The Texas Legislature: The Franchise Tax Needs Substansive Changes, Not Just Rate Reductions., Alyson Outenreath

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Employee Recourses To Manager-Revealed Private Health Information., Molly Thomson Jan 2015

Employee Recourses To Manager-Revealed Private Health Information., Molly Thomson

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Brookshire Bros.: Cleanup On Aisle 9 - The Current Messy State Of Spoliation Law., Xavier Rodriguez Jan 2015

Brookshire Bros.: Cleanup On Aisle 9 - The Current Messy State Of Spoliation Law., Xavier Rodriguez

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.


Enforcement Of Noncompetition Agreements: Protecting Public Interests Through An Entrepreneurial Approach., Griffin Toronjo Pivateau Jan 2015

Enforcement Of Noncompetition Agreements: Protecting Public Interests Through An Entrepreneurial Approach., Griffin Toronjo Pivateau

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.