Law Commons^™

Uncovering The Silent Victims Of The American Medical Liability System, Joanna Shepherd

Vanderbilt Law Review

A frequently overlooked problem with the current medical liability system is the vast number of medical errors that go uncompensated. Although studies indicate that 1% of hospital patients are victims of medical negligence, fewer than 2% of these injured patients file claims. In this Article, I explain that many victims of medical malpractice do not file claims because they are unable to find attorneys willing to take their cases. I conducted the first national survey of attorneys to explore medical malpractice victims' access to the civil justice system. The results from the survey indicate that the economic reality of litigation …

Japanese Intellectual Property Law In Translation: Representative Cases And Commentary, Kenneth L. Port

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Like much of Japanese law, Japanese intellectual property law is often criticized as being inaccessible. This inaccessibility has contributed to the misperception that Japanese case law regarding intellectual property does not exist. Even if it exists, the perception goes, it takes forever to track down and it is nearly irrelevant.

This Commentary, in a very modest way, is aimed at debunking the myth that Japanese case law regarding intellectual property is either non-existent or less meaningful than its U.S. counterpart. This Commentary consists of five translations of recent, significant intellectual property cases, as well as commentary regarding the relevance and …

Smoke And Mirrors: Florida's Tobacco-Related Medicaid Costs May Turn Out To Be A Mirage, Christopher May

Vanderbilt Law Review

Since the 1950s, anti-tobacco forces and the United States government have widely publicized the harm that the consumption of cigarettes can cause to humans. Smoking causes diseases of the oral cavity, cardio-pulmonary system, larynx, and bladder. In addition, the use of tobacco may also be related to sterility, ulcers, cancers of several internal organs, and even blindness. The severity of the consequences increases with the amount of consumption.

Experts estimate that 400,000 Americans die each year from smokings almost one out of every five deaths. In addition, the Surgeon General reports that as many as 2,400 deaths occur annually because …

Franklin V. Gwinnett County "Public Schools": The Supreme Court Implies A Damages Remedy For Title Ix Sex Discrimination, Susan L. Wright

Vanderbilt Law Review

Congress enacted Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX)' to address the widespread existence of sex discrimination in educational institutions.' Twenty years later, in Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools, a unanimous Supreme Court put teeth into the statute by finding that Title IX relief includes compensatory damages. he Supreme Court's decision resolved a split of authority between the Third Circuit and the Seventh and Eleventh Circuits. The Court agreed with the Third Circuit, which had recently become the first court of appeals to find a right to compensatory relief under Title IX.

Congress had two main …

Case Digest, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

The Detention and Torture of a United States Citizen by Foreign Government During the Course of his job, Recruited and Hired in the United States to serve as a foreign government employee, constitutes action based upon commercial activity carried on in the United States by a foreign state for which the foreign government is not immune under the Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act, Nelson v. Saudi Arabia, 923 F.2d 1528 (11th Cir. 1991).

Introduction of Negotiable Promissory Notes into the United States by Foreign States for Purposes of Raising Capital constitutes commercial activity having substantial contact with the United States barring …

Contribution, Claim Reduction,And Individual Treble Damage Responsibility: Which Path To Reform Of Antitrust Remedies?, Edward D. Cavanagh

Vanderbilt Law Review

Antitrust violations traditionally have been viewed as statutory torts,' yet tort principles of damage allocation, including contribution and claim reduction, have not been extended by analogy in the federal courts to antitrust cases. Moreover, the principle of joint and several liability, made applicable to antitrust conspirators by judicial fiat some eighty years ago, has gone largely unchallenged. While the federal antitrust laws are nearly a century old, the damage allocation debate is of recent vintage, emerging in the wake of the Electrical Equipment Cases, when the private treble damage remedy came into its own.

The recent emergence of contribution and …

United States-Based Multinational Corporations Should Be Tried In The United States For Their Extraterritorial Toxic Torts, Dianna B. Shew

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

When a foreign plaintiff sues a United States-based multinational for damages resulting from an extraterritorial toxic tort, the case should be tried in United States courts. The courts are assured of personal jurisdiction as long as there are sufficient contacts between the foreign subsidiary and the United States. Dismissal on grounds of forum non conveniens is not desirable because the United States has a vested interest in monitoring and even influencing the behavior of multinationals that do business within its borders. The requisite "adequate alternative forum" is simply not available in some countries. In addition, despite their case backload, United …

Damages For Insider Trading In The Open Market: A New Limitation On Recovery Under Rule 10b-5, John B. Grenier

Vanderbilt Law Review

The Elkind court's adoption of a "disgorgement measure" of damages for insider trading on undisclosed misrepresented material information in the open market is basically sound. In allowing compensation to the extent practicable, the Second Circuit chose the best solution among the available alternatives. The decision's paramount problems arise in its shifted emphasis to deterrence; the court has neither provided plaintiffs with a sufficient incentive to sue nor created the level of deterrence that some cases might require. Future courts, however, can remedy this situation if they follow Elkind and also award punitive damages in cases in which plaintiffs' losses exceed …

Case Digest, Journal Staff

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Case Digest--

Spouse of Injured Seaman May Recover Damages for Loss of Society under Maritime Common Law

Federal District Court Lacks Jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1350 over Fraud Action Brought by Alien when Claim Fails to Implicate a Treaty or Body of Rules Governing Relations between Foreign States

Jurisdiction under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act Requires at Least a Finding of International Shoe "Minimum Contacts"

Appellate Court will not Review the Post-Settlement Appeal of a Pre-Settlement Provisional Remedy without District Court Consideration of the Intervening Events

Foreign States are Subject to Liability for Non-Commercial Torts arising from the Commercial …

Contribution Among Antitrust Defendants, Jane G. Parks

Vanderbilt Law Review

This Recent Development argues that no single federal common law rule of contribution exists and that federal securities law decisions provide the best analogy from which to imply a right of contribution under the antitrust laws. Thus, the Recent Development proposes that the Supreme Court should fashion a rule permitting contribution among antitrust defendants.

The Harris V. Taylor Phoenix, Bradford A. Caffrey

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

One of the most remarkable aspects of Harris v. Taylor, a decision which has been described as "revolting to common sense" and, somewhat more diplomatically, as "unfortunate"' is the fact that it has taken sixty-four years for the question raised therein to come before the Court of Appeal again. In the intervening years, it has suffered, somewhat unjustly, critical attacks resulting from misapprehension as to what happened and what was decided in that case.

Harris v. Taylor is a classic example of a case properly decided but for the wrong reasons. The plaintiff, domiciled in the Isle of Man, brought …

Recent Cases, Richard T. Hurt, Jay D. Christiansen, William J. Rees, William D. Gutermuth

Vanderbilt Law Review

Constitutional Law--Action Under Color of State Law--Legislative Authorization of Private Action Resembling Public Function Constitutes Action Under Color of State Law

The instant case creates a two to two split in the circuits on the question whether the seizure of a tenant's possessions under a land-lord lien statute is action under color of state law. The decisions in Davis and Anastasia provide the potential for abuse that Fuentes was designed to prevent-the indiscriminate entry into the debtor's home and seizure of his belongings without prior notice and hearing.Hall and the instant opinion, however, provide a more equitable result. While the …

Recent Developments, Stephen W. Ramp, Christopher L. Dutton

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Admiralty--The Broadening Scope of Damages Awardable for Wrongful Death in Admiralty

Stephen W. Ramp

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Aliens--State Restrictions on Alien Lawyers

Christopher L. Dutton

Shipowners' Limitation Of Liability In International Seafaring Disasters, Joseph N. Barker

Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law

Adherence to the principle of strict limitation of liability in any area of the law has been out of vogue since the time of Winterbottom v. Wright. This is true whether it be in the area of products liability, master-servant relations, or international air travel. The trend is to remove all limitation on recoveries available under our law for death or injury. An exception is the limitation of liability in maritime disasters. Here, in this watery domain, the narrowness that formerly dominated the field of products liability continues to exist. Some critics condemn such strict limitation as an anachronism in …

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Conflict of Laws--Mexican Bilateral Divorce Decree Recognized Even Though Neither Party was a Mexican Domiciliary At Time of Divorce

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Constitutional Law--Section 504 of LMRDA a Bill of Attainder

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Corporations--DeFacto Merger--Dissenters' Rights--Construction of Merger and Amendment Statutes

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Criminal Law--Search and Seizure--Standing Granted for Dyer Act Prosecutions Without Allegation of Possession

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Damages--Restitutionary Relief for Breach of Contract Granted Under the Tucker Act to a Government Contractor

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Federal Employers' Liability Act--Applicability of "In Whole or in Part" Rule of Proximate Cause to Employer's Efforts To Prove Contributory Negligence Plaintiff brought suit under the Federal Employers' Liability Act'

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Recent Case Comments, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Conflict of Laws--Full Faith and Credit--Prior Conflicting Divorce Decrees

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Conflict of Laws--Tax Claims of One State Held Not Enforceable in Another State

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Constitutional Law--Discrimination--Statute Prohibiting Racial Discrimination in Renting of Private Apartment Houses Does Not Violate Due Process

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Constitutional Law--Establishment of Religion--Recitation of State Composed Prayer in Public Schools Held Unconstitutional

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Criminal Law--Narcotics-Criminal Prosecution for Addiction Is a Cruel and Unusual Punishment Violating Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments

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Damages--Collateral Source Rule--Value of Medical Services Plaintiff Received as a Gratuity Not Allowed as Special Damages

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Due Process--Taxation of Insurance Premiums Paid to Foreign Insurers on Property …

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW--DUE PROCESS--ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY MAY DENY APPRISAL AND CONFRONTATION IN PURELY INVESTIGATIVE PROCEEDING

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CONSTITUTIONAL LAW--DUE PROCESS--STATE MAY DISCHARGE EMPLOYEE FOR FAILURE TO PERFORM STATUTORY DUTY TO ANSWER

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DAMAGES--REFUSAL TO INSTRUCT JURY TO CALCULATE LOSS OF EARNINGS ON THE BASIS OF NET INCOME AFTER TAXES

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EVIDENCE--ADVERSE SPOUSAL TESTIMONY--WIFE COMPELLED TO TESTIFY IN MANN ACT PROSECUTION

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FEDERAL PROCEDURE--CHANGE OF VENUE--TRANSFER OF CIVIL ACTION MUST BE TO DISTRICT HAVING STATUTORY VENUE

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FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT--SUIT ALLOWED FOR NEGLIGENCE EVEN THOUGH ACCOMPANIED BY MISREPRESENTATION

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INSURANCE--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION--REGULATION BY STATE WHERE UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICE ORIGINATES DOES NOT OUST FTC …

Wrongful Death-Bases Of The Common Law Rules, T. A. Smedley

Vanderbilt Law Review

One of the oft-sung glories of the English common law is the vitality of its many rules which evolved originally from ancient custom, usage, tradition and experience. This truly amazing vitality has the virtue of imbuing the law with stability, of providing legal sanction for established commercial practices, of protecting vested property interests, and of furnishing some measure of predictability of decisions. Unfortunately, it also serves to perpetuate the force of some rules far beyond the period of their usefulness and to maintain their influence after the reason for their existence has been long forgotten.'Such was the case in regard …

Insurance--1959 Tennessee Survey, William R. Andersen

Vanderbilt Law Review

What is the meaning of the term "actual cash value" in the standard fire policy? The middle section of the court of appeals, following a prior Tennessee case and the weight of authority, held that the phrase is synonomous with "market value" only where the goods are readily replaceable in a current market. Where there is no market, or where the market value is inadequate to properly indemnify the insured, "actual cash value" means the "'value to the owner' or the loss he suffers in being deprived of the goods." Since the goods involved in this case were personal effects, …

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

Constitutional Law--Due Process of Law--Constitutionality of the Federal Youth Corrections Act in Its Application to Youthful Criminal Offenders

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Constitutional Law--Legislative Power--Infringement of Constitutional Guaranties by Demands of Legislative Investigating Committees for the Production of Membership Lists

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Courts--Process--Immunity of Nonresident Defendants in Federal Criminal Actions from Service of State Civil Process

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Damages--Installment Verdict in Tort Action

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Domestic Relations--Separation--Suit by Mentally Incompetent Wife

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Interstate Commerce--Hobbs Act--"Robbery" Provision Construed as Requiring Proof of Common Law Elements of Offense

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Taxation--Income--Determination of "Useful Life" of a Business Asset for Purposes of Depreciation

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Taxation--Income--Full Payment of Tax Deficiency as …

Torts -- 1958 Tennessee Survey, John W. Wade

Vanderbilt Law Review

The number of torts cases was somewhat less this year than in past years, being below the forty figure rather than above it. There were no particularly significant legal developments in the field. Perhaps the cases indicate, however, a developing fashion in automobile negligence actions. At least four of the cases seem to have been brought for whiplash injuries.'

Insurance -- 1958 Tennessee Survey, Robert W. Sturdivant

Vanderbilt Law Review

The case of Clinchfield R.R. v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co.' involved the question of whether the insured, in a suit against his insurer, is bound by findings adverse to him in prior litigation between the insured and a third person.The liability insurance policy involved covered certain vehicles of the railroad company but expressly excluded from coverage injuries to employees in the course of their employment. One Harrison, a regular railroad employee, was injured while riding in an insured vehicle with a fellow employee. He sued the railroad company under the Federal Employers Liability Act. Before he could recover …

Torts -- 1957 Tennessee Survey, John W. Wade

Vanderbilt Law Review

One who performs an act is ordinarily under a duty to act carefully.When the defendant has acted there is seldom a problem regarding the duty to use care. But when the defendant has failed to act the question of duty raises a substantial problem.' The rule is stated that there is no duty to act, but the exceptions are many. One arises when there is a particular relationship between the parties; another, when the defendant had commenced to act. Both exceptions are involved in Union Carbide & Carbon Corp. v. Stapleton.

Recent Cases, Law Review Staff

Vanderbilt Law Review

RECENT CASES

AGENCY--INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR--"ONE WAY LEASE" EFFECTIVE TO TERMINATE RELATIONSHIP

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COURTS--CIVIL RIGHTS ACT--IMMUNITY OF JUDGE FOR ACTS COMMITTED IN THE EXERCISE OF A JUDICIAL FUNCTION

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COURTS--CONTEMPT--VIOLATION OF COURT RULE BANNING PHOTOGRAPHY

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CRIMINAL LAW--ENTRAPMENT BY STATE OFFICIAL AS A DEFENSE TO FEDERAL PROSECUTION

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DAMAGES--BREACH OF WARRANTY--RECOVERY FOR LOSS OF PROFITS

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FEDERAL COURTS--CHOICE OF LAW--APPLICATION OF ERIE DOCTRINE TO DIVERSITY CASES INVOLVING FEDERAL COMMERCIAL PAPER

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TORTS--BATTERY--CONSENT OF MINOR TO SIMPLE OPERATION AS A DEFENSE

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TORTS--DUTY TO ACT--EMPLOYER'S ASSUMPTION OF A DUTY BY GIVING MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS TO EMPLOYEES

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Consideration Of Tax Aspects In Awarding Damages For Personal Injuries, Doris B. Gorman

Vanderbilt Law Review

The recent decision of the House of Lords, in British Transport Commission v. Gourley has completely changed the English position on the question of whether income taxes should be considered in determining personal injury damages based on actual or prospective loss of earnings. The House of Lords held that the lower court should have taken the tax aspects into account and that the damage award must be reduced accordingly. By this holding, the House of Lords overruled Jordan v. The Limmer And Trinidad Lake Asphalt Co. and Billingham v. Hughes, which until then represented the ruling law in England on …

Torts -- 1954 Tennessee Survey, John W. Wade

Vanderbilt Law Review

There were over forty appellate decisions during the past year in the field of Torts. All but about half a dozen of these involved Negligence, and half of the Negligence cases involved traffic accidents. A reading of this latter group is well calculated to induce an automobile driver to use more care in the future.

In the great majority of Negligence cases the defendant owes the plaintiff a duty to use care. As Judge Howard expressed it in Monday v. Millsaps: "Whenever one person is by circumstances placed in such a position with regard to another that it is obvious …