Law Commons^™

Terrorism, Grand Juries, And The Federal Material Witness Statute., Roberto Iraola

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

The Effect Of 8 U. S. C. 1324(D) In Transporting Prosecutions: Does The Confrontation Clause Still Apply To Alien Defendants., Donna F. Coltharp

St. Mary's Law Journal

Cases prosecuted under 8 U.S.C. §1324 present special challenges for the Government and for defendants. Under §1324, it is a crime to transport or smuggle aliens into the United States. Prosecuting transporters or smugglers may present a challenge if a witness is unavailable. Even though transporting or smuggling always has witnesses—the alien(s) who hired the smuggler or transporter—not all witnesses have prolonged detentions, and some are returned to their native country. The transporter or smuggler may then assert their Sixth Amendment right. The Sixth Amendment’s Confrontation Clause requires that in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to …

Tactical Considerations In Defending Assigned Legal Malpractice Claims Essay., William D. Cobb Jr.

St. Mary's Law Journal

Every Texas lawyer with a legal malpractice defense docket should be aware of the Zuniga rule and its possible exceptions. Although the general rule in Texas is that causes of action are freely assignable, because of the ruling in Zuniga v. Groce, Locke & Hebdon, legal malpractice causes of action are unassignable. The Texas Supreme Court declined to hear the case with the notation “writ refused” essentially adopting the lower court’s opinion as its own. Nonetheless, the decision in Zuniga did not resolve the problem of the insolvent judgment debtor, nor did Zuniga purport to invalidate all agreements that dispose …

Telemedicine In Texas: Solving The Problems Of Licensure, Privacy, And Reimbursement., Gilbert Eric Deleon

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

The Cost Of Humanitarian Assistance: Ethical Rules And The First Amendment The Second Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice & Professional Responsibility., Jack P. Sahl

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

Introduction To The Second Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice & (And) Professional Responsibility The Second Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice & Professional Responsibility., Adam Boland

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

Their Liberties, Our Security: Democracy And Double Standards, David Cole

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

Some maintain that a "double standard" for citizens and noncitizens is perfectly justified. The attacks of September 11 were perpetrated by nineteen Arab noncitizens, and we have reason to believe that other Arab noncitizens are associated with the attackers and will seek to attack again. Citizens, it is said, are presumptively loyal; noncitizens are not. Thus, it is not irrational to focus on Arab noncitizens. Moreover, on a normative level, if citizens and noncitizens were treated identically, citizenship itself might be rendered meaningless. The very essence of war involves the drawing of lines in the sand between citizens of our …

Did Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. Produce Disposable Workers?, Robert I. Correales

Scholarly Works

On March 27, 2002, The United State Supreme Court ruled in Hoffman Plastic Compounds v. N.L.R.B. that, although undocumented workers are “employees” within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), they cannot be answered backpay remedies, even if discharged in violation of the Act. The Hoffman decision represents a retrenchment from a trend in which virtually all jurisdictions that had considered the issue found in favor of the workers. The principal rationale in support of these remedies for undocumented workers had been that such awards are not only remedial but also serve important deterrent functions that protect the …

Ghost Workers In An Interconnected World: Going Beyond The Dichotomies Of Domestic Immigration And Labor Laws, Ruben J. Garcia

Scholarly Works

Beginning with the September 11, 2001 ("9/11") terrorist attacks, the labor movement's plans to organize immigrant workers and achieve immigration reform have met serious challenges. After 9/11, the political climate surrounding immigrants put the AFL - CIO's hopes for legislative reform on hold, because of socially perceived connections between immigrants and terrorism. Then, in a March 2002 decision titled Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. NLRB, the U.S. Supreme Court held that undocumented immigrant workers could not collect back pay under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) when their rights to join unions are violated. According to the Court, back …

Workers’ Compensation And Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits For Undocumented Workers: Reconciling The Purported Conflicts Between State Law, Federal Immigration Law, And Equal Protection To Prevent The Creation Of A Disposable Workforce, Robert I. Correales

Scholarly Works

This Article argues that sound public policy supports states providing vocational rehabilitation services to undocumented workers who have been injured in work-related accidents. Part I of the Article provides context by analyzing some of the complexities of undocumented immigrants’ lives in the United States. Part II discusses the history and economics of vocational rehabilitation programs established by workers’ compensation systems. Part III discusses ways in which immigration law and enforcement contribute to the formation of this shadow population. Part IV analyzes purported conflicts between vocational rehabilitation programs and the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986 as they arose in Tarango …

Across The Borders: Immigrant Status And Identity In Law And Latcrit Theory, Ruben J. Garcia

Scholarly Works

Immigrants make up a large and increasing portion of the American community. The recent census found an unprecedented number of immigrants within the United States. Immigrants, however, have fewer legal protections than almost any other individuals within our borders. This lack of protection is especially disconcerting given that immigrants are often the most subordinated members of our communities. Particularly after the events of September 11, 2001, the rights and protections available to immigrants—whether they are documented or not—are tenuous. As LatCrit scholars have pointed out, immigration law is intensely racialized, and yet other bodies of law, such as civil rights …

Punitive Damages In Texas: Examining The Need For A Split-Recovery Statute., Meredith Matheson Thoms

St. Mary's Law Journal

As a result of the increasing number and amounts of punitive damage awards, a call for reform is much warranted. Reformers and legislators continue to seek out measures to effectively limit excessive punitive damage awards and deter unnecessary and frivolous litigation. But they must consider not only the effects of the statutes but also the purposes they will serve. Split-recovery statutes can become valuable reform tool which will continue to serve the goals of punishment and retribution attached to punitive damages as well as deterrence. Split-recovery statutes arguably enlarge government, but they also serve a valuable purpose in furthering the …

Accountants' Accountability To Nonclients In Texas., Jessica P. Gomez

St. Mary's Law Journal

This Comment proposes that accountants be held liable to any foreseeable user of their work product to ensure the deterrence of negligence on their part. Currently, the three main common law theories concerning whether nonclients can sue accountants for negligence are: (1) the privity rule; (2) the Restatement (Second) of Torts § 552; and (3) the foreseeability standard. Many states follow the Restatement approach entitled “Information Negligently Supplied for the Guidance of Others.” Texas imposes liability on accountants but fails to extend protections to third parties who rely upon the accuracy of financial statements. Further, Texas liability does not expose …

Jury Patriotism: The Jury System Should Be Improved For Texans Called To Serve., K. B. Battaglini, Mark A. Behrens, Cary Silverman

St. Mary's Law Journal

Many citizens seem to embrace the jury system, so long as they do not have to participate. The reason for this is not that most citizens are “un-American” but rather the burden jury duty imposes on potential jurors. Texans, in general, continue to overwhelmingly support the jury system. Yet, many citizens fail to appear for jury duty when summoned or strive to get out of jury duty after entering the courthouse. Most of these individuals do not lack a sense of civic duty. Rather, they are discouraged from jury service due to the hardship and headache imposed by an antiquated …

Novel Issues, Futile Issues, And Appelate Advocacy: The Troubling Lessons Of Bousley V. United States., Henry J. Bemporad, Sarah P. Kelly

St. Mary's Law Journal

Bousley v. United States may require appellate attorneys to raise meritless claims in order to preserve them for habeas review in the event of a change in the law. Bousley is a habeas corpus case involving the “procedural default” doctrine. The doctrine states that a prisoner may only raise issues that have been adequately preserved, and if not preserved, they have defaulted on their claims. Bousley looked with critical hindsight at the decisions made by appellate counsel and punished the defendant for their lawyer’s failure to preserve an issue rejected by eleven courts of appeals—including the court before which the …

Separation V. Patriotism: Expelling The Pledge From School., Bill W. Sanford Jr.

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

It Is Not So Simply Because An Expert Says It Is So: The Reliability Of Gang Expert Testimony Regarding Membership In Criminal Street Gangs: Pushing The Limits Of Texas Rule Of Evidence 702., Placido G. Gomez

St. Mary's Law Journal

The mechanisms developed by the criminal justice system addressing the criminal activities of street gangs, for the most part, have proved ineffective. The evolution of gangs, their complex structure, and multipurpose focus keep them one step ahead of law enforcement. The most recent weapon created to fight the war on gangs, the civil injunction, suffers from numerous inadequacies. One concern is that civil injunctions raise numerous constitutional concerns. Another is that these injunctions fall short of constitutional demands. Furthermore, the practical implementation of the injunction forces an analysis of the reliability of the gang expert’s testimony. This Article proposes courts …

Rethinking The Prohibition Of Death Row Prisoners As Organ Donors: A Possible Lifeline To Those On Organ Donor Waiting Lists., Donny J. Perales

St. Mary's Law Journal

Organ transplantation continually brings hope and new life to thousands of patients suffering from a myriad of diseases. Despite the advances in medical science and the increased survival rates of organ recipients, many are unable to receive an organ transplant because the demand for organs drastically exceeds the available supply. Much of the organ deficit lies in the current system of organ procurement. The altruism-based organ system leaves the donative decision to the individual; however, it is this system which hinders effective organ procurement. Under this system, the donor must give prior consent before a doctor can remove any organ. …

Absolute And Perfect Candor To Clients The Second Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice & Professional Responsibility., Vincent R. Johnson

St. Mary's Law Journal

The fiduciary duty owed to clients by attorneys is defined by the reasonable-care standard of negligence as opposed to the all-encompassing “absolute and perfect candor” rhetoric frequently used to describe the duty owed. Words have meanings and, though the use of “absolute and perfect candor” serves a beneficial purpose, reminding attorneys of the special duty owed to their clients, the fiduciary duty owed to clients is not so all encompassing and impractical. Modern case law fails to establish that a broadly applicable duty of “absolute and perfect” candor applies to the attorney-client relationship, except in a limited number of situations. …

The Liability Of Lawyers For Fraud Under The Federal And State Securities Laws The Second Annual Symposium On Legal Malpractice & Professional Responsibility., Kathy Patrick

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract Forthcoming.

Iolta In The Balance: The Battle Of Legality And Morality Between Robin Hood And The Miser Recent Development., Katherine L. Smith

St. Mary's Law Journal

Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) programs recently survived a constitutional challenge. IOLTA programs require interest earned from trust accounts deposited with client money to fund legal services for the poor. Many states, including Texas, maintain a mandatory IOLTA program, requiring all lawyers who handle client funds to participate. Proponents of IOLTA argue it benefits civil justice. Opponents argue it is an unconstitutional taking in violation of the Fifth Amendment. The Fifth Circuit held IOLTA accounts to be an unconstitutional taking of client property. The Ninth Circuit, however, found IOLTA accounts constitutional, holding that IOLTA accounts are not a taking …

Insurance Companies Use Of Captive Or In-House Counsel To Represent Insured Constitutes The Unauthorized Practice Of Law: Is American Home The Right Decision For Texas Comment., Daniel M. Martinez

St. Mary's Law Journal

Insurance companies should not be allowed to continue the practice of hiring in-house or captive counsel to defend against a claim covered by their insurance policy. Under a typical liability insurance policy, the insurer has a duty to defend. When legal counsel is retained, the insurer pays for the representation and has a contractual right to control the defense. This places defense counsel in a precarious situation because he or she has to balance the contractual obligations to the insurer against his or her ethical responsibilities to the insured. The defense counsel may be exposed to a malpractice claim by …

Damage Control: Staking Claim To Employment Law Remedies For Undocumented Immigrant Workers After Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. V. Nlrb, Elizabeth R. Baldwin

Seattle University Law Review

This Note explains why the Supreme Court's decision in Hoffman threatens to do the exact opposite of what the Court intended. Specifically, while the majority's opinion purports to maintain the integrity of IRCA, it will likely undermine the Act by encouraging employers to hire undocumented workers.' In addition to creating confusion, the Hoffman decision offends traditional notions of statutory construction by departing from both the text of the statute and the legislative intent. Furthermore, the holding has the de facto effect of forging a new way to investigate IRCA violations and grants employers a new defense to liability. Moreover, in …

Inter-American Court Of Human Rights Amicus Curiae Brief: The United States Violates International Law When Labor Law Remedies Are Restricted Based On Workers' Migrant Status, Sarah H. Cleveland, Beth Lyon, Rebecca Smith

Faculty Scholarship

Immigrant workers in the United States of America are among the most poorly paid and poorly treated in the workforce. Amici’s attempts to protect the rights of immigrants, including unauthorized workers, have been severely hampered by domestic U.S. laws that discriminate on the basis of alienage and immigration status, and especially by a recent decision of the United States Supreme Court in Hoffman Plastic Compounds, Inc. v. National Labor Relations Board, 535 U.S. 137 (2002).

Immigrant workers in particular employment-related visa categories are explicitly excluded from the protections of certain U.S. labor and employment laws. So, too, immigrant workers …

Immigration And The Workplace: Immigration Restrictions As Employment Discrimination, Howard F. Chang

All Faculty Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Immigration Restrictions As Employment Discrimination, Howard F. Chang

All Faculty Scholarship

In this paper, I analyze restrictions on immigration to the United States as a form of government-mandated employment discrimination against aliens. Through our immigration laws, we deny aliens access to valuable employment opportunities that are open to natives. Under our immigration and nationality laws, we base this discrimination explicitly on circumstances of birth beyond the control of the alien. I argue that immigration restrictions thereby violate our liberal ideals of equality, which require a cosmopolitan perspective that extends equal concern to all individuals. Furthermore, even if we assume a less demanding moral theory that allows us to give the interests …

The Immigration Paradox: Poverty, Distributive Justice, And Liberal Egalitarianism, Howard F. Chang

All Faculty Scholarship

The immigration of unskilled workers poses a fundamental problem for liberals. While from the perspective of the economic welfare of natives, the optimal policy would be to admit these aliens as guest workers, this policy would violate liberal egalitarian ideals. These ideals would treat these resident workers as equals, entitled to access to citizenship and to the full set of public benefits provided to citizens. If the welfare of all incumbent residents determines admissions policies, however, and we anticipate the fiscal burden that the immigration of the poor would impose, then our welfare criterion would preclude the admission of unskilled …

Internal Protection/Relocation/Flight Alternative As An Aspect Of Refugee Status Determination, James C. Hathaway, Michelle Foster

Book Chapters

In many jurisdictions around the world, the possibility of an ‘internal flight alternative’(IFA) (often referred to as ‘internal relocation alternative’) is invoked to deny refugee status to persons at risk of being persecuted for a Convention reason in part, but not all, of their country of origin. In this, as in so many areas of refugee lawand policy, the viability of a universal commitment to protection is challenged by divergence in State practice. The goals of this paper are therefore, first, briefly to review the origins and development of the practice of considering IFA as an aspect of the refugee …