Contracts Commons^™

The Repeat Player Effect In Child Protection Mediation: Dangers Of And Protections Against Second-Class Justice For Marginalized Parties, Donna Erez-Navot

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Article will be structured as follows: Part I of this Article will introduce some of the basic and problematic phenomenon including the repeat player effect, cooptation and others that arise in the legal system. In Part II, there will be specific attention to these phenomenon applied in various well-researched dispute resolution areas including criminal, child protection, employment and arbitration contexts. Part III of this Article gives a broad introduction into court annexed mediation and child protection mediation in general. Part IV of this Article will focus on the specific effects of repeat player, cooptation, and others in Family Court …

Postdefault Interest Rates In Bankruptcy, David G. Carlson

Articles

This Article shows that as Bankruptcy Code section 506(b) is currently written, postdefault interest rates are prohibited when the default is an “ipso facto event” — a filing for bankruptcy or insolvency as the event of a default. Yet some courts have insisted on postdefault interest in situations reinstating a loan agreement and have been ignoring restrictions on pendency interest to permit oversecured creditors from obtaining penalty rates of interest. This Article argues that those holdings violate section 506(b) and Supreme Court precedent. It begins with an analysis of ipso facto defaults, showing that the Bankruptcy Code prohibits ipso facto …

Involved, Empowered And Inspired: How Mediating Halakhic Prenuptial Agreements Honors Jewish And American Law And Builds Happy Families, Lara Traum

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

This Note discusses the pitfalls of existing halakhic prenuptial protocols and advances the use of mediation in the prenuptial drafting process. Section II of this Note provides a history of Jewish marital and divorce law, explaining the significance of halakhic legal documents and religious arbitration units. Section III examines the unresolved relationship between Jewish and American systems, discusses the advent of American prenuptial agreements, and highlights the shortcomings of existing prenuptial agreements in the Orthodox Jewish community. Section IV proposes that prenuptial mediation best honors halakha, American law, and individual interests.

The Sisyphean Course Of Combating Gender Discrimination In The Federal Marketplace For Prime Contracts: Rolling The Boulder Of Small Business Size, Anna S. Molina

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Individualized Injunctions And No-Modification Terms: Challenging "Anti-Reform" Provisions In Arbitration Clauses, Myriam E. Gilles

Articles

The Supreme Court’s recent decisions in AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion and American Express v. Italian Colors have considered only whether class actions for monetary damages may be barred by arbitration clauses requiring individual adjudication. The Justices have not examined the enforceability of arbitration clauses or arbitral rules which explicitly prohibit claimants from seeking or arbitrators from granting broad injunctive relief in an individual dispute. I term these "anti-reform" provisions because they broadly prohibit an individual arbitral claimant from seeking to end a practice, change a rule, or enjoin an act that causes injury to itself and to similarly-situated non-parties. This …

Coming Up Short: The United States' Second-Best Strategies For Corralling Purely Speculative Derivatives, Timothy E. Lynch

Cardozo Law Review

Purely speculative derivatives (PSDs) are derivatives in which neither counterparty is engaged in hedging. Unless they are used for entertainment purposes, PSDs are irrational, less-than-zero-sum transactions. Entities that engage in PSDs jeopardize their stakeholders and increase systemic risk. PSDs can also increase moral hazard, can be used for regulatory arbitrage, and can redirect resources away from the efficient allocation of market capital. PSDs should be unenforceable contracts, void for public policy reasons, except where they are expressly permitted to provide gambling entertainment, enhance price discovery, or increase liquidity for hedgers.

In the United States, however, PSDs are often legal and …

What America Can Learn From Canada's Progressive Decision In Commercial General Liability Policy Coverage Litigation Over Construction Defects, Qifu Li

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The note advocates for a more consistent approach in the United States for determining Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance coverage of construction defects, drawing inspiration from Canada's jurisprudence. It critiques the current jurisdictional split in the U.S., where some states cover such defects while others do not, and argues that adopting a uniform approach similar to Canada's three-step framework would reduce legal disputes and align policies with the reasonable expectations of insured parties.

Religion, Women, And The Holy Grail Of Legal Pluralism, Shiva Falsafi

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

Big Macs: Not-So-Happy Deals And The Eurozone Crisis, Lindsay Edelstein

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The note examines the challenges of invoking Material Adverse Change (MAC) clauses in mergers and acquisitions, particularly during economic crises like the Eurozone Crisis. It argues that the strict standard applied by U.S. courts makes it difficult for buyers to prove a MAC, rendering such clauses ineffective. The analysis suggests that MAC disputes are better resolved through arbitration by financial experts rather than courts.

Panel 1: Trends In International Mediation And Arbitration, Hagit Elul, Ank Santens, Martin Gusy, Matthew Weldon

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The symposium explores recent trends in international mediation and arbitration, focusing on the development of ethics guidelines and the challenges of obtaining interim relief. It highlights the growing need for standardized ethical frameworks and the evolving role of emergency arbitrators in addressing urgent disputes.

Limiting Unfettered Challenges To Patent Validity: Upholding No-Challenge Clauses In Pre-Litigation Patent Settlements Between Preexisting Parties To A License, Nicholas Roper

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

International Commercial Arbitration, Anticipatory Repudiation, And The Lex Mercatoria, Kyle Winnick

Cardozo Journal of Conflict Resolution

The scope of this Note is thus two-fold: (1) to delineate the doctrine of anticipatory breach as it is currently under the lex mercatoria; and, (2) to evaluate and argue for its consistency in application by international arbitral tribunals. Section I-A discusses when arbitrators will choose to apply the lex mercatoria as the substantive law of the dispute. Section I-B explains the doctrine of anticipatory repudiation and discusses its inherent ambiguity. Section IC assesses the role of the CISG and the UNIDROIT Principles as a manifestation of the lex mercatoria. Section II-A explores the severability issue and an …

The Anomaly Of Entrapment, Jessica A. Roth

Articles

Now in our second decade after 9/11, we are firmly in the prevention era of law enforcement. Faced with the unacceptable consequences of identifying threats too late, government agents are moving aggressively to identify potential terrorists before they strike. Undercover agents and confidential informants necessarily play a large role in such efforts. As a result of such operations, we have seen a number of cases brought to trial in the federal courts in which defendants have asserted the entrapment defense. To date, the defense has not succeeded. However, as a consequence of these cases, the United States Supreme Court may …

Chaperoning Love Online: Online Dating Liability And The Wavering Application Of Cda § 230, Lindsey A. Datte

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The note argues that the online dating industry's voluntary adoption of screening initiatives, while well-intentioned, is legally misguided. Such practices may expose platforms to increased liability and undermine the protections afforded by the Communications Decency Act (CDA) 230, which shields interactive computer services from liability for third-party content. The analysis contends that these efforts to self-regulate, though driven by legislative and societal pressure, may inadvertently erode the industry's immunity under CDA 230 and create new legal vulnerabilities.

Fair Or Foul? Major League Baseball's Use Of A Tortious Interference Lawsuit As A Means Of Investigation, Michael S. Beck

Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Safecom, Ltd. V. Raviv, Yoram Danziger, Zvi Zylbertal, Elyakim Rubinstein

Translated Opinions

Facts: An appeal against the Haifa District Court's judgment dismissing the Appellants' claim against the Respondent for the infringement of its copyright in technical drawings. At trial, the Appellants argued that drawings used by the Respondent for the registration of a patent in the USA for a voltage backup system for cable systems (a product that competes with a product of the first Appellant (hereinafter referred to as "Safecom") infringe Safecom's copyright in the drawings of its products. There is no dispute that there was a previous business relationship between the Respondent and the Appellants, and the Respondent had access …

Duty In The Litigation-Investment Agreement: The Choice Between Tort And Contract Norms When The Deal Breaks Down, Anthony J. Sebok, W. Bradley Wendel

Articles

The article proposes a framework for regulating commercial litigation investment by drawing analogies to existing legal norms in similar economic activities. It argues that contract law, rather than tort law, is better suited to address the risks and challenges inherent in this growing market. The analysis emphasizes the importance of aligning legal norms with the economic realities of litigation investment, particularly in the commercial sector, where the stakes and dynamics differ significantly from consumer litigation. The authors advocate for a regulatory approach that balances protection against opportunism with the need to maintain efficient outcomes.

Contract Theory And The Failures Of Public-Private Contracting, Wendy Netter Epstein

Cardozo Law Review

The market for public-private contracting is huge and flawed. Privatization proponents predict that privatizing will both cut costs and improve service quality. But public-private contracts for services such as prisons and welfare administration tend to result in cost savings at the sacrifice of quality service. For instance, to cut costs, private prisons skimp on security. Public law scholars have studied these problems for decades and have proposed various public law solutions. But the literature is incomplete because it does not approach the problem through a commercial lens. This Article fills that gap by applying contract-theory principles to public-private contracting.

It …

The Political Question Doctrine In Private Military Company Liability Cases: Defining Claims To Ensure Accountability, Joelle D. Keypour

Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law

The note argues that the political question doctrine should be narrowly applied to private military companies (PMCs) to ensure accountability while preserving the separation of powers. It critiques the inconsistent application of the Baker v. Carr six-factor test in PMC cases, which often shields these entities from liability. The proposed solution is a dual classification system for claims—distinguishing between commercial-related and combat-related activities—to provide clarity and prevent abuse of the doctrine. This approach aims to balance judicial oversight with respect for executive authority in sensitive military matters.

Doe V. Ministry Of Health, Elyakim Rubinstein, Isaac Amit, Daphne Barak-Erez

Translated Opinions

[This abstract is not part of the Court's opinion and is provided for the reader's convenience. It has been translated from a Hebrew version prepared by Nevo Press Ltd. and is used with its kind permission.]

This is a petition against the First and Second Respondents’ decision not to permit the Petitioner (a single woman, born in 1974) to use sperm donations by an anonymous donor (the Third Respondent), which were preserved for her (for a fee). The Petitioner had her first daughter from the Third Respondent’s donation. She is now interested in undergoing an additional insemination process with that …

Gottesman V. Vardi, Uzi Vogelman, Salim Joubran, Noam Sohlberg

Translated Opinions

[This abstract is not part of the Court's opinion and is provided for the reader's convenience. It has been translated from a Hebrew version prepared by Nevo Press Ltd. and is used with its kind permission.]

The Second Appellant (hereinafter referred to as "Gottesman") is an architect who designed a unique dwelling (hereinafter referred to as "the house") for the Respondent (hereinafter referred to as "Vardi"). Gottesman asked to photograph the house in order to showcase it on his firm's website. Vardi refused. In addition, Gottesman published computer simulations of Vardi's house on the website without giving details that would …

Innovation In China: Fragmentation, Structured Uncertainty, And Technology Standards, Michael Murphree, Dan Breznitz

Cardozo Law Review de•novo

This Article discusses the history of China’s attempts to develop indigenous technology standards. A case study is presented on China’s attempts to develop digital optical storage media standards, the failure of which we attribute to fragmentation of production and structured uncertainty in China’s economy. Despite the market failures of China’s domestic standards development efforts, we conclude by highlighting some of the appurtenant benefits they produce for Chinese manufacturers.

Tzedek Tzedek Tirdofi: How Female Religious Court Advocates Can Mitigate A Lack Of Judicial Review Of The American Beth Din System, Raquel J. Greenberg

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

No abstract provided.

Asking The First Question: Reframing Bivens After Minneci, Alexander A. Reinert, Lumen N. Mulligan

Articles

In Minneci v. Pollard, decided in January 2012, the Supreme Court refused to recognize a Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents suit against employees of a privately run federal prison because state tort law provided an alternative remedy, thereby adding a federalism twist to what had been strictly a separation-of-powers debate. In this Article, we show why this new state-law focus is misguided. We first trace the Court’s prior alternative-remedies-to-Bivens holdings, illustrating that this history is one narrowly focused on separation of powers at the federal level. Minneci’s break with this tradition raises several concerns. On a …

The Right To Palimony: Why New York Should Change Its Law To Enforce Claims Between Unmarried Cohabitants, Ashley Frankel

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The note advocates for legal reform in New York to align its palimony laws with New Jersey's approach, emphasizing the need for written and attorney-reviewed agreements to reduce ambiguity and litigation. It highlights the growing trend of unmarried cohabitation and the urgency of establishing clear legal frameworks to address the needs of such couples.

Sex Matters: Considering Gender In Consumer Contracting, Amy J. Schmitz

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

We hear about the so-called "War on Women" and persisting salary gaps between men and women in the popular media, but contracts scholars and policymakers rarely discuss gender. Instead, dominant voices in the contracts field often reflect classical and economics-driven theories built on assumptions of gender neutral and economically rational actors. Furthermore, many mistakenly assume that market competition and antidiscrimination legislation address any improper biases in contracting. This Article therefore aims to shed light on gender's importance by distilling data from my own e-survey of Colorado consumers along with others' research regarding gender differences in contract outcomes, interests and behaviors. …

Employing Arbitration: Flsa Collective Actions Post-Concepcion, Iliza Bershad

Cardozo Law Review

No abstract provided.

After Class: Aggregate Litigation In The Wake Of At&T; Mobility V Concepcion, Myriam E. Gilles, Gary Friedman

Articles

Class actions are on the ropes. Courts in recent years have ramped up the standards governing the certification of damages classes and created new standing requirements for consumer class actions. Most recently, in Wal-Mart v Dukes, the Supreme Court articulated a new and highly restrictive interpretation of the commonality requirement of Rule 23(a). But all of this pales in comparison to the Court's April 2011 decision in AT&T Mobility v Concepcion, broadly validating arbitration provisions containing class action waivers. The precise reach of Concepcion warrants close scrutiny. Our analysis suggests that following Concepcion, some plaintiffs will be able to successfully …

Alumni Association Of The Arab Orthodox School In Haifa V. Minister Of Finance, Miriam Naor, Dorit Beinisch, Eliezer Rivlin

Translated Opinions

Facts: The Budget Elements Law was amended in 2011 to include a new section 3b, which provided that if an entity that receives support or budgeting from the government incurs an expense that falls within any of several listed categories, the Minister of Finance can reduce the entity’s budget or support by an amount no greater than three times the size of the said expense. Of the categories listed, the petitioners focused their challenge on two of them: the first, sub-section 3b(b)(1), referring to an expense which was “in essence” a negation of the values of the State of Israel …

To Be Or Not To Be (A Parent)? - Not Precisely The Question: The Frozen Embryo Dispute, Yehezkel Margalit

Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights & Social Justice

The article explores the legal and ethical complexities surrounding disputes over frozen embryos, particularly focusing on the balance between the right to become a parent and the right to avoid parenthood. It examines the legal status of frozen embryos and proposes a compromise solution where the objecting spouse is granted nonparenthood status, allowing the other partner to use the embryos without imposing parenthood on the unwilling party. The analysis emphasizes the importance of legal parenthood for societal welfare and the challenges posed by evolving reproductive technologies.