Commercial Law Commons^™

Esg Investing Breaches Erisa Fiduciary Duties? A Closer Look At Spence V. American Airlines, Inc., Eric Chin-Ru Chang

Seattle University Law Review

In Spence v. American Airlines, Inc., the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas found that American Airlines breached its fiduciary duties due to BlackRock’s ESG investing practices. Contrary to some reports suggesting that the ruling prohibits ESG investing under ERISA, a closer look at the ruling shows that the court only targeted American Airlines’ failure to manage conflicts of interest appropriately, rather than the legality of ESG investing itself. In light of the intensifying ESG backlash in the United States, this Article cautions against further restrictive measures on ESG investing. Such measures would exacerbate the widening …

Mandating Fluoride: A Constitutional Exercise Of Police Power, Anita Jahangiri

Seattle University Law Review

This Note addresses the ongoing debate over fluoridation: the regulation of fluoride levels in public water systems. Extensive research indicates fluoridation, when regulated at the recommended concentration, is both safe and highly effective in preventing dental caries. Better known as cavities, dental caries is a preventable yet widespread health issue that disproportionately affects low-income populations. Reducing dental health disparities among economic classes is a pressing public health issue. Fluoridation is not merely a policy option, but a critical, proven tool to address such disparities and uphold the collective welfare of Washingtonians. This Note focuses on fluoridation as a public health …

Neurodiversity In The Courtroom: Expanding Jury Service Accessibility Beyond Physical Disability, Samantha L. Mabe

Seattle University Law Review

The Americans with Disabilities Act has required equal access to jury service for decades; however, efforts to accommodate jurors with disabilities have been slow to develop beyond some minor accommodations for physical disabilities. While neurodivergent people frequently struggle to navigate a world catered toward neurotypical people, jury service remains inaccessible for many neurodivergent people who need accommodations to attend trial and engage in jury deliberations. If courts and advocates do not consider how to develop accommodations to secure the service of neurodivergent jurors, they will miss out on the unique skillsets that neurodivergent people can bring to resolving disputes.

Disabled …

Keabsahan Pemberian Kuasa Pendebetan Dan Pemblokiran Sebagai Jaminan Dalam Suatu Perjanjian Kredit (Studi Putusan Mahkamah Agung Nomor 587k/Pdt.Sus-Bpsk/2021), Reyvia Fitri

Indonesian Notary

This thesis analyzes the validity for granting a power of attorney in a credit agreement and to which court has the authority to adjudicate disputes arising from the validity of such granting of power of attorney. This article was prepared using doctrinal methods with secondary data originating from the Civil Code and other related regulations. Today's urgent need for credit encourages people to enter into credit agreements without fully understanding the contents of the agreement they are entering. In practice, the contents of the credit agreement contain a clause granting authority to debit and block the customer's account to ensure …

Tanggung Jawab Notaris Atas Keabsahan Pelaksanaan Rupslb Dan Akta Hibah Saham Yang Bertentangan Dengan Anggaran Dasar Perseroan Terbatas (Studi Putusan Pengadilan Negeri Padang Nomor 10/Pdt.G.S/2023/Pn Pdg), Aqilah Nurshafira Anwar

Indonesian Notary

This thesis examines the validity of the Extraordinary General Meeting and the creation of the share gift deed that does not comply with the Articles of Association, based on the UUPT and UUJN. This thesis also examines Notary's liability for creating the share gift deed in violation of the law, as Padang District Court Decision No. 10/Pdt.G.S/2023/PN Pdg. This research uses doctrinal methodology with qualitative analysis. The results show that the RUPSLB decision of PT INT, remains valid despite procedural disrepancies in the meeting invitation, as all shareholders attended and approved the decision, as per Article 82(5) UUPT. However, …

Pendaftaran Akta Wasiat Untuk Pelindungan Terhadap Penerima Wasiat Dan Pihak Ketiga (Studi Putusan Pengadilan Negeri Denpasar Nomor 218/Pdt.G/2021/Pn Dps), Arde Nauval Sulistyo

Indonesian Notary

A person can state his will after he dies in an authentic deed, namely a Will Deed. Furthermore, the Will Deed must be registered with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham). The case of not registering a Will Deed which ultimately gave rise to a dispute can be found in the Denpasar District Court Decision Number 218/Pdt.G/PN Dps. The problem raised in this study is about the legal consequences of a Will Deed that is not registered with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. In addition, the judge's considerations in his decision to fulfill justice and legal …

Kedudukan Ahli Waris Sebagaimana Surat Keterangan Hak Mewaris Yang Dibuat Pasca Terjadinya Pelanggaran Hak Cipta (Studi Putusan Nomor 35/Pdt.Sus-Hak Cipta/2020/Pn Niaga Jkt.Pst), Mirza Alvina Maharani

Indonesian Notary

This thesis examines the status of copyright as an inheritable asset recognized under Indonesian law, as well as the legal standing of heirs based on a Certificate of Inheritance (Surat Keterangan Hak Mewaris or SKHM) issued after a copyright infringement has occurred, as reflected in Decision No. 35/Pdt.Sus-Hak Cipta/2020/PN Niaga Jkt.Pst. This research employs a doctrinal legal method, supported by expert interviews. In the case under study, it was found that although inheritance under civil law occurs automatically upon the death of the copyright holder, the transfer of copyright requires written evidence and official registration with the Directorate General of …

Peranan Majelis Pengawas Daerah Kota Depok Dalam Menghadapi Permasalahan Pelanggaran Jabatan Notaris Di Kota Depok, Gabriella Tiku Sarungu

Indonesian Notary

The Regional Supervisory Council (MPD) functions to oversee and provide guidance on the Notary profession. The role of MPD is crucial in minimizing violations related to the Notary profession, particularly in Depok City. Therefore, it is necessary to examine the role of MPD in addressing violations of the Notary profession in Depok City, based on applicable regulations, as well as the implications of handling various types of violation reports submitted by the public on the performance of MPD in Depok City. This study uses a non-doctrinal method with qualitative empirical data, gathered through interviews and supported by secondary data. The …

Akibat Hukum Akta Penegasan Notaris Yang Memuat Perjanjian Pinjam Nama (Nominee) Benda Bergerak (Studi Putusan Nomor 5/Pdt.G/2022/Pn Stb Jo. Putusan 612/Pdt/2022/Pt Mdn), Andasmara Rizky Pranata

Indonesian Notary

In practice, the existence of nominee agreements often raises debates about their validity and legal protection for the parties involved, so nominee agreements should not be used carelessly and notaries play an important role in drafting these agreements. The purpose of this study is to analyze the validity of the deed confirming the agreement to borrow a name made by a Notary and to find out the role and responsibilities of a notary in confirming the agreement to borrow a name (nominee) related to movable property that is detrimental to the parties in the decision of Decision Number 5/Pdt.G/2022/PN Stb …

Kewenangan Dan Tanggung Jawab Notaris Berkaitan Dengan Bukti-Bukti Yang Diserahkan Para Pihak Untuk Pelaksanaan Surat Perjanjian Bersama (Studi Kasus Putusan Pengadilan Negeri Medan Nomor 693/Pdt.G/2021/Pn Mdn), Moudy Khanza

Indonesian Notary

This article analyzes the authority and responsibilities of a notary in matters relating to the evidence submitted by the parties for the implementation of the joint agreement (Case Study of Medan District Court Decision Number 693/Pdt.G/2021/PN Mdn). The problem formulated is firstly regarding the notary’s authority to store files relating to the deed, and secondly, the notary’s responsibilities are related to storing files for the implementation of the collective agreement related to Medan District Court decision Number 693/Pdt.G/2021/PN Mdn, where the agreement contains a joint agreement between party A and party W regarding the issue of reporting land disputes at …

The Law On Deposits In Singapore, Tiong Min Yeo

Singapore Law Journal (Lexicon)

This article traces the development of the law of deposits in Singapore and reviews the restatement of the law in the 2024 landmark decision of the Court of Appeal in Li Jialin v Wingcrown Investments Pte Ltd, as well as some of the issues left open by the decision. It is argued that while the decision has clarified that deposits are not subject to the penalty rule but instead subject to the common law test of reasonableness—with the practical consequence that, with clear drafting, contracting parties can rely on the validity of reasonable deposit clauses without the complication of …

Revisiting Letters Of Credit And The Enforceability Of Sanctions Clauses: Case Comment: Kuvera Resources Pte Ltd V Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Bing Feng, Keith Law

Singapore Law Journal (Lexicon)

This article is a case commentary on the recent Singapore Court of Appeal decision of Kuvera Resources Pte Ltd v JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. [2023] 2 SLR 389. It begins with a brief review of the structure of documentary credit transactions before setting out the judgments by the High Court and Court of Appeal. The commentary then examines how both courts rationalised letters of credit within the traditional framework of unilateral contracts, before scrutinising the current position of sanctions clauses within letters of credit. It disagrees with the Court of Appeal’s hesitance towards accepting such clauses, noting that the unilateral …

Brief Of Amici Curiae Contract Law Scholars Mark Gergen, Gregory Klass, And Daniel Markovits In Support Of Plaintiffs-Appellants And Reversal, Vera Institute Of Justice V. Department Of Justice, No. 25-5248 (D.C. Cir. Aug. 19, 2025), Mark Gergen, Gregory Klass, Daniel Markovits

Georgetown Law Faculty Publications and Other Works

In Vera Institute of Justice v. Department of Justice, as in a raft of other cases involving constitutional, statutory, and regulatory challenges to the rapid mass cancellation of federal grants or grant programs, the government has deployed jurisdictional arguments in an effort to restrict the judiciary’s ability to review the legality of executive actions. Specifically, the government has attempted to confine jurisdiction over the plaintiffs’ claims to the Federal Court of Claims, which is powerless to remedy the alleged violations. The arguments by which the government would deny judicial review of the plaintiffs’ claims conflate two distinct considerations: first, …

Volume 48 Masthead

Seattle University Law Review

Volume 48 Masthead

Keynote Address: Community Over Constitution, Riddhi Mukhopadhyay

Seattle University Law Review

In this keynote address, Riddhi Mukhopadhyay challenges the veneration of the U.S. Constitution by highlighting its origins in exclusion and its continued failure to protect marginalized communities. Drawing from her experience in civil legal aid and gender justice, she argues that the Constitution was drafted to consolidate power among white, wealthy men and continues to reflect that legacy through racial, gender, and class-based inequities. While acknowledging the significance of constitutional amendments and landmark cases, Mukhopadhyay emphasizes that meaningful change has always come from community-led action, not top-down reform. Additionally, Mukhopadhyay calls on lawyers and legal advocates to center community, practice …

The Lost Child: A Critique On Transracial Adoption Rhetoric, Hallie Conyers-Tucker

Seattle University Law Review

Transracial adoption in the United States reflects a deeply rooted history of colonialism, cultural assimilation, and racial hierarchy, masked by rhetoric focused on the “best interest of the child.” The author critiques that rhetoric and traces how adoption practices and policies, both domestic and international, have evolved to reinforce systemic inequities. Through historical analysis of the forced adoption of Native American, Black, and Asian children, it reveals how the best interest standard has been wielded not to protect children but to uphold political and racial ideologies. The author argues that the prevailing adoption framework relies on child-saving and color-blind narratives …

A Global Reconstruction: Black Internationalism And The Human Rights Regime, Britta Redwood

Seattle University Law Review

Black American advocates for civil, political, and economic rights have long taken an internationalist approach and fostered connections with international organizations and transnational movements. This engagement has also been a generative force and played role in shaping international law. Beginning in the early years of the twentieth century, Black intellectuals and leaders, spearheaded by the NAACP and the UNIA, focused on human rights as a means for addressing and repairing the harms wrought by slavery, Jim Crow, and racism. From the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Genocide Convention, and the drafting of …

The Gap: Addressing The Missing Piece In HawaiʻI’S Anti-Discrimination Laws On Credit And Lending, Wendy Mun

Seattle University Law Review

This author addresses the significant gap in Hawaiʻi’s anti-discrimination laws, specifically the lack of explicit protections for LGBTQ+ individuals against credit and lending discrimination. Although federal laws like the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and recent interpretations by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) extend some protections, they remain vulnerable to shifting federal priorities and interpretations. The author explores how other states, particularly California and Washington, have enacted robust statutory protections that clearly prohibit credit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. They argue that Hawaiʻi, despite its large LGBTQ+ population, must amend its credit protection laws to reflect …

The U.S. Drug Policy Hamster Wheel: A Critical Discourse Analysis Of Seattle’S New Drug Ordinance, Hallie Conyers-Tucker

Seattle University Law Review

The author critically examines Seattle’s new drug ordinance using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to reveal how legislative language influences the policy's actual effect. Although the ordinance claims to prioritize diversion and community health, the use of permissive language such as “may” and “shall” grants broad discretionary power to law enforcement and undermines the stated intent. The author situates the ordinance within a broader historical context, highlighting how drug policy in the United States has consistently been shaped by racialized and stigmatizing narratives. Additionally, the author argues that meaningful reform requires reframing the discourse around substance use to support public health …

Something Concrete: How Labor Advocates Can Best Respond To The Ambiguity Of Glacier Northwest, Ateş Serifsoy

Seattle University Law Review

The Supreme Court’s much-anticipated decision in Glacier North-west, Inc. v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local No. 174 (Glacier) marked a critical moment for workers’ rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and the longstanding practice of Garmon preemption. Yet, initial fears of a significant rollback of workers’ rights, driven by sensational headlines, were met with an unexpectedly narrow Court opinion. This Comment examines Glacier’s implications for Gar-mon preemption and the right to strike. It offers the historical background of the doctrine of labor law preemption before Glacier; presents a detailed analysis of Glacier itself, including its …

A New Exclusionary Rule To Protect Bodily Integrity And Discourage Pretext Stops, Josephine Ross

Seattle University Law Review

The author proposes a novel state-level exclusionary rule to reduce racial profiling and protect bodily autonomy during police encounters. The current Fourth Amendment jurisprudence fails to deter pretextual stops and frisks because the exclusionary rule often turns on officer fault and "good faith," allowing racially motivated practices to go unchecked. As federal rollbacks on diversity and data collection hinder efforts to track racial bias, the author argues for a statutory evidentiary rule that automatically excludes drug evidence found during (1) traffic stops, (2) pat-downs for weapons, and (3) consent searches, regardless of an officer’s intent or the legality of the …

Navahine V. HawaiʻI Dept. Of Transportation: The Keiki Will Lead Us, Catherine Smith

Seattle University Law Review

The author analyzes the landmark case Navahine v. Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation, which culminated in the world’s first constitutional climate settlement. Catherine Smith, serving as an expert for the youth plaintiffs, situates the case within Hawaiʻi’s legal tradition of prioritizing children’s rights and intergenerational equity. She explores the evolution of children’s constitutional protections, contrasting Hawaiʻi’s progressive jurisprudence with the dominant adult-centric legal framework on the mainland. She critiques four recurring analytical missteps in U.S. courts that marginalize children’s interests and highlights Hawaiʻi’s public trust doctrine and cultural values, such as the Aloha Spirit, as models for addressing climate-related harms. …

Constitutional Futurism As Pedagogy, Jeremiah Chin

Seattle University Law Review

Constitutional Law has transformed from a course on history to a discussion of current events. Cases like Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard College, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo reveal that the study of constitutional law is not a static, or even linear, discussion of constitutional text and history. Law is a shifting, changing enterprise that reflects social constructions of power, authority, and identity. How do we teach, learn, and understand constitutional law that is so laden with history, riddled with theories of consistency and adherence to precedent, but ultimately subject …

Table Of Contents

Seattle University Law Review

Table of Contents

Can The Law Protect My Craft? How Gaps In Copyright Of Knitting Patterns Symbolize A Greater Struggle For Protecting Traditionally Feminine Forms Of Intellectual Property, Kysa Walzer

Seattle University Law Review

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the application of intel-lectual property rights within the context of copyright protection of knit-ting patterns. The article will discuss the underutilization of copyright pro-tection for knitters and crafters and its larger impact upon craft and indus-try traditionally comprised of women. Part I introduces knitting patterns and a short history of copyright protections. Part II discusses the specific areas within knitting patterns and the knitting community which give rise to legal grey areas for copyright protection. Part III discusses the larger implications of copyright and intellectual property in spaces where women traditionally make …

Kedudukan Surat Hak Milik Yang Berasal Dari Tanah Ulayat Masyarakat Hukum Adat Papua (Studi Kasus Putusan Mahkamah Agung Nomor 4241 K/Pdt/2022), Ulfa Riany Fajrin

Indonesian Notary

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaturan tanah ulayat di masyarakat hukum adat Papua berdasarkan peraturan perundang-undangan yang berlaku, mengetahui kedudukan surat hak milik yang berasal dari tanah ulayat masyarakat hukum adat Papua berdasarkan Putusan Mahkamah Agung Nomor 4241 K/Pdt/2022. Di Papua, tanah ulayatnya dapat diperjualbelikan melalui pelepasan hak atas tanah adat dan terdapat pengaturannya pada UU Otsus Papua dan Perdasus Papua. Kemudian dapat dilanjutkan dengan permohonan penerbitan kepemilikannya. Pengakuan hak milik sering bertentangan dengan hukum adat karena tidak selaras dengan konsep hukum modern. Dalam penelitian ini penulis menggunakan metode penelitian hukum doktrinal. Dimana penelitian hukum doktrinal menggunakan penelitian kepustakaan ataupun …

Urgensi Dokumen Persetujuan Pasangan Kawin Yang Dibuat Secara Bawah Tangan Sebelum Penandatanganan Akta Pendirian Commanditaire Vennootschap (Studi Kasus Di Kabupaten Bandung), Ambria Rahma Widiastuti

Indonesian Notary

This thesis analyzes the legal provisions governing the mandatory existence of a document of consent from the spouses, made underhand before the signing of the deed of establishment of Commanditaire Vennootschap (hereinafter "CV"), and the legal consequences if the deed of establishment of CV is signed without the consent of the spouses. This research method uses a doctrinal approach through a literature study and is analyzed qualitatively. Article 36 paragraph (1) stipulates that "everything related to joint property that will be carried out legal action against it requires the consent of both parties." The legal agreements undertaken by a CV …

Konsekuensi Pembatalan Akta Autentik Yang Terdapat Praktik Nominee/Pinjam Nama Bagi Beneficiary (Studi Putusan Pengadilan Tinggi Denpasar Nomor 247/Pdt/2021/Pt Dps), Talitha Mumtaz

Indonesian Notary

This research analyzes the implementation of nominees in the field of land tenure in Indonesia, as well as how an authentic deed made before a notary has a nominee element in it and also the consequences for the beneficiary of cancelling the authentic deed because the authentic deeds contained nominee practices. The research was compiled using doctrinal research methods. The implementation of nominee practices in an authentic deed is made by making a series of agreements whose contents indirectly transfer ownership from the nominee whose name is listed on the certificate of ownership, to the beneficiary, which in this case …

Analisis Pelaksanaan Redistribusi Objek Tanah Landreform Dan Keadilan Bagi Masyarakat Desa Kalasey Dua Atas Status Tanah Yang Dikuasai Negara., Ashley Juniare Maria Rengkung

Indonesian Notary

As land plays an important role in everyday life, it is necessary to pay attention to rights and protection regarding its implementation. The Basic Agrarian Law itself has derivatives, one of which discusses Land Redistribution as regulated in Presidential Regulation Number 88 of 2017 concerning Settlement of Land Tenure in Forest Areas. However, after the ratification of Presidential Regulation Number 62 of 2023 concerning the Acceleration of Implementation of Agrarian Reform, Presidential Regulation Number 88 of 2017 and Presidential Regulation Number 86 of 2018 concerning Agrarian Reform are revoked and replaced with Presidential Regulation Number 62 of 2023 concerning Accelerating …

Implikasi Hukum Pembatalan Akta Jual Beli Saham Akibat Pembeli Cidera Janji (Analisis Kasus Pada Putusan No. 105/Pdt.G/2021/Pn Jkt.Sel), Riva Mahfuzhah Saphira

Indonesian Notary

Unfulfilled payment of shares are on of the problems that might arise when a limited company’s shares are transferred through a transaction that are not carried according to the shares transfer procedure in UUPT. The issues raised in this thesis pertain to the legal construction contained in the act of sale of shares that can protect the seller's interests in the event that the buyer fails to make payment and the notary's liability in the event that the buyer fails to make payment in the sale of shares, through the discussion of the case in Decision Number 105/PDT.G/2021/PN JKT.SEL. This …