Litigation Commons^™

Enhancing Accountability At The Department Of Veterans Affairs: The Legality Of The Veterans Access, Choice, And Accountability Act Of 2014 Under The Due Process Clause, Ashton Habighurst

Catholic University Law Review

In April 2014, news of long delays at the Phoenix VA Medical Center and the subsequent deaths of forty Veterans awaiting medical appointments shocked the nation. Based on this perceived failure among VA’s senior medical staff, legislation swept through the House and the Senate in an attempt to enhance accountability at the VA. By August 2014, President Obama signed the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 into law. This Act revises the termination procedures concerning the VA’s senior executives, by eliminating the notice requirement, significantly reducing the appellate procedures for adverse employment decision to the Merit Systems Protection …

Blackness As Character Evidence, Mikah K. Thompson

Michigan Journal of Race and Law

Federal Rule of Evidence 404 severely limits the government’s ability to offer evidence of a defendant’s character trait of violence to prove action in conformity with that trait on the occasion in question. The Rule states that such character evidence is generally inadmissible when offered to prove propensity. The Rule also allows the government to offer evidence of an alleged victim’s character for peacefulness in homicide cases where the defendant asserts the self-defense privilege. Although criminal defendants may offer character evidence under limited circumstances, Rule 404 creates a significant disincentive for doing so. Where a defendant offers evidence of an …

Newsroom: Judge Edward Clifton Joins Faculty, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Design Litigation And The State Of The Art: Terminology, Practice And Reform, Edward T. O'Donnell

Akron Law Review

We suggest that rather than ignore these problems, or bemoan them ineffectually, the judiciary should accept the fact that the decision to venture into the area of scientific and technological controversy' carries with it a duty to reconcile the law with the essentials of the scientific method. Some courts already have begun to do so. For instance, suggestions that the manufacturer's obligation to design a safe product necessarily must be limited by the state of the art are common in negligence, warranty and strict liability decisions alike. Unfortunately these statements usually are dicta rather than holdings. Worse, the authors of …

The Products Liability Crisis: Modest Proposals For Legislative Reform, William P. Bivins Jr.

Akron Law Review

This article will attempt to identify some of the sources of the problems which are adversely affecting the system of products liability litigation and will offer proposals for reform within the framework of the law of products liability.

Is A Paid Idea Tuition Reimbursement Case Moot? The Intersection Of Pendency, Tuition Reimbursement, And Mootness, Daniel W. Morton-Bentley

Brigham Young University Education and Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Of Ethics And Economics: Contingent Percentage Fees For Legal Services, Janet Ann Laufer

Akron Law Review

The contingent percentage fee "is the dominant system in the United States by which legal services are financed by those seeking to assert a claim." The contingent fee is practically the exclusive method of compensating attorneys in personal injury cases.' Contingent percentage fees are also frequently employed in antitrust litigation, class suits, minority stockholder suits, worker's compensation practice, tax practice, and will settlements.'I While the Ethical Considerations of the Code of Professional Responsibility authorize use of the contingent fee in most civil cases," contingent fees are generally considered unethical when applied to criminal cases, divorce cases, and arrangements for procuring …

Hypnosis In Our Legal System: The Status Of Its Acceptance In The Trial Setting, Joel R. Hlavaty

Akron Law Review

Hypnosis is a method of therapy which has been utilized by society for quite some time. Recently, it has gained popularity as a new device to be used in the trial setting. Although it is a legitimate method of therapy in the medical and psychological professions, in the hands of attorneys and the legal system it takes on a whole new life. This new life is plagued with questions of admissibility, reliability and suggestibility. This comment will examine these questions and the use of hypnosis in the various stages of trial. This paper will show that some courts hold such …

The Citizen's Relief Against Inactive Federal Officials: Case Studies In Mandamus, Actions "In The Nature Of Mandamus," And Mandatory Injuctions, Howard W. Brill

Akron Law Review

Historically, the citizen-plaintiff would have sought the common law writ of mandamus if he were able to scale, or avoid, the threshold barriers of standing and sovereign immunity. This article will examine briefly the history of the writ of mandamus, the requirements for issuance of the writ, and the defenses accepted by courts to deny its issuance. The article will focus specifically on the unique position of the writ in federal courts, including its abolition by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Maintaining The Integrity Of The Ohio Appellate System, Richard L. Aynes

Akron Law Review

Appellate courts have traditionally played an important role in maintaining the integrity of the judicial system. They not only serve to correct errors which may occur at trial but also provide a reflective forum for the refinement of established principles of law and the development of new ones. Equally as important, they maintain the boundaries of various departments of government. If operating properly, they ensure that the humblest citizen shall be placed on an equal footing with one who occupies the highest position and that for every illegal wrong there is an adequate remedy. These functions become all the more …

Oral Argument - Let It Be, Thomas J. Moyer

Akron Law Review

In any discussion concerning the need to change the existing rules of appellate practice, oral argument is perhaps the most vulnerable element. While the elimination of a right to oral argument could reduce the time some cases pend in the court, the right to oral argument provided by Appellate Rule 21 should not be eliminated.

Unveiling Ohio's Hidden Court, Robert L. Black Jr.

Akron Law Review

An intermediate appellate court whose opinions are largely unpublished tends to be invisible. The court seems to be unproductive, and the bar is unaware of what in fact is being decided. The low profile becomes a matter of grave concern, however, when under-publication becomes suppression of precedent.

Appellate Capacity And Caseload Growth, Thomas B. Marvell

Akron Law Review

This article has two purposes. The first is to show that, indeed, the three categories of responses to caseload growth are the only feasible responses. This article argues that case-management techniques, another popular response, is of little or no use in reducing the substantial backlogs that result from the caseload growth. Instead of focusing on case management techniques one should focus on the judges - their number and their productivity - as sources of appellate court delay.

Response To Professor Parness And Mr. Reagle, Jack Grant Day

Akron Law Review

I subscribe to so much of the reform suggestions proposed by the authors that I believe my response can be most useful if confined to some emphasis or expansion of concurrent views, specific reference to disagreements and support for points of reform needed but not recommended.

Reforms In The Business And Operating Manner Of The Ohio Courts Of Appeals, Jeffrey A. Parness, Jack E. Reagle

Akron Law Review

This article will review, and comment upon, some of the techniques available to the Ohio appeals courts. The task of preparing this article was facilitated greatly by the many Ohio appeals court judges who responded to a survey letter, reproduced in the appendix, sent by the authors in the Summer of 1981. The results of this survey are incorporated in the following pages, though we are confident they do not represent the judges' last words. To promote further dialogue, we have deleted references to the names of the particular judges whose remarks are noted, and have instead assigned each judge …

The Propriety Of Prospective Relief And Attorney's Fees Awards Against State-Court Judges In Federal Civil Rights Actions, Stephen J. Shapiro

Akron Law Review

During the past thirty years, the United States Supreme Court has refined a system of immunities for governmental officials when those officials are sued under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for violation of constitutional rights. The kind of immunity granted varies with the kind of governmental function exercised by the official when committing the alleged constitutional violation. Persons exercising legislative functions are absolutely immune from suit either for damages or for prospective (declaratory or injunctive) relief. Those exercising prosecutorial functions are absolutely immune from damages but may be sued for prospective relief. Those exercising executive functions are granted only a conditional, …

Procedural Defenses Available To The New-Party Defendant: The Necessity Of Obtaining Leave To Amend And Relation Back, F. Thomas Vickers

Akron Law Review

The application of the Rules of Civil Procedure to these various situations has been the subject of much judicial attention. In this regard, two issues have provoked the greatest amount of controversy, to wit: (1) whether leave of court is required prior to amendment of the complaint to add a new-party defendant, and (2) when and under what circumstances may a new-party defendant be brought into a civil action after the statute of limitations applicable to the claim asserted against him has expired. It is upon these questions that this paper is primarily focused.

Microcomputers, Risk Analysis, And Litigation Strategy, Stuart S. Nagel

Akron Law Review

This article covers three important aspects of litigation strategy. The first part is concerned with varieties of sensitivity analysis in civil and criminal cases. Sensitivity analysis refers to how the bottom-line conclusion of going to trial, accepting a settlement, or choosing another alternative is affected by changes in the inputs, which mainly relate to such matters or criteria as (1) the predicted damages, (2) the probability of receiving them, (3) the settlement offered, (4) the litigation costs, and (5) the settlement costs.

The second part deals with the use of decision matrices and microcomputers for analyzing litigation-strategy decisions, including sensitivity …

Nonbank Banks: A Bank Is Always A Bank Unless Of Course It Is A Nonbank Bank: Board Of Governors V. Dimension Financial Corporation, Joseph Reece

Akron Law Review

Board of Governors v. Dimension Financial Corporation is of major significance because it is the first Supreme Court case addressing the issue of whether "nonbank banks" should be regulated under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (BHCA). In rendering the Dimension Financial decision, the Supreme Court may have taken a major step in diffusing the controversy between financial institutions, the Federal Reserve Board, and Congress by determining when a bank is a "bank" for purposes of regulation under the BHCA.

In analyzing the issue before it, the Dimension Court reviewed applicable statutes, relevant case law, and legislative history and …

One Step Forward And Two Steps Backward - Goodwill As A Distributable Asset Of A Law Partnership, Jean Hoffman

Akron Law Review

The Ohio Supreme Court examined both the traditional and modern views of goodwill as an asset in a law partnership and held that it was not against public policy to include measurable goodwill as an asset upon the dissolution of a law partnership. The court also concluded that ethical considerations did not preclude finding goodwill in a law partnership. However, the court held that goodwill could be distributed upon the dissolution of the partnership only when it was specifically provided for in the partnership agreement. This paper will examine the Spayd v. Turner, Granzow and Hollenkamp court's findings and the …

Prince V. St. Francis-St. George Hospital, Inc., Michael Christie

Akron Law Review

This note considers the possible impact on Ohio law of the Prince holding. A review of Ohio's prior position on invasion of privacy suggests that the holding of Prince represents a substantial departure from past decisions in two respects: first, the plaintiffs alleged that their privacy was invaded when information was communicated to only one other person, and second, the invasion of the privacy of one spouse served as the basis for a claim of the other spouse. This apparent departure of Prince from prior decisions is discussed in the context of a physician's duty of confidentiality and defendant's breach …

United States Trust Co. V. I.R.S., Scott D. Brackett

Akron Law Review

During the course of its administration, an estate may receive income that is subject to federal income tax. When, and if, an estate receives such income the executor is faced with the task of filing the estate's income tax return along with a number of related considerations. One of the more important considerations is the allocation of the burden of such tax between the beneficiaries of the estate and the estate itself.

Subchapter J of the Internal Revenue Code provides the mechanism to allocate that burden between the beneficiaries and the estate. Generally, Subchapter J attempts to allocate the tax …

Bad News: Privacy Ruling To Increase Press Litigation, The Florida Star V. B.J.F., Mary Ellen Hockwalt

Akron Law Review

This note analyzes the history and precedent upon which the Court relied in reaching Florida Star's "harsh outcome." Next, the note discusses how the Court, by refusing to extend its holding beyond the facts of the case and give broad Constitutional protection to publications of truth, failed to provide lower courts with any guidance in deciding future invasion of privacy actions. Finally, the note examines the Court's balancing test: weighing the privacy interests of a crime victim against the newspaper's freedom to print truthful information.

Don’T Forget About The Jury: Advice For Civil Litigators And Criminal Prosecutors On Differences In State And Federal Courts In New York, Ariel Atlas

Cornell Law Library Cantwell Prize for Exemplary Student Research Papers

In civil cases, forum selection has become an integral part of litigation strategy. Plaintiffs have the initial choice of where to file a complaint, and thus where to begin a lawsuit. Defendants have the power to remove cases, under circumstances prescribed by statute, from state court to federal court. Many factors enter into the decision of where to file a complaint or whether to remove a case including convenience, applicable law, and suspected biases. But what about the jury? Should a plaintiff consider characteristics of the jury when deciding where to file a complaint or a defendant in a civil …

Procuring Trial Testimony From Corporate Officers And Employees: Alternative Methods And Suggestions For Reform, Richard J. Oparil

Akron Law Review

This article discusses the situation under the current Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including some alternative methods of obtaining testimony at trial. The article then discusses various ways the problem could be solved through rule changes to help ensure live trial testimony by corporate officials.

The Constutionality Of Punitive Damages: Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company V. Cleopatra Haslip, Thomas P. Mannion

Akron Law Review

This Note examines the history of the constitutional challenges to the doctrine of punitive damages. Next, this Note explores the Supreme Court's decision in Haslip. Finally, this Note examines the ramifications of the Haslip decision.

The Supreme Court's Impact On Litigation, Stephen L. Wasby

Akron Law Review

The focus of this article is on that segment of the litigation cycle in which lawyers' attention to the Court's rulings affects the cases they bring and how they bring them. To indicate the Court's importance for litigating organizations' existence and functioning, we first explore a set of cases involving the NAACP. These cases, involving the organization's survival, show how the need for organizational maintenance affects an organization's ability to litigate as it would like to do. Drawing on the law of procedure, we next examine cases affecting organizations' ability to bring cases. Then we turn to see how Supreme …

The American Inns Of Court: Preparing Our Students For Ethical Practice, Joryn Jenkins

Akron Law Review

Despite the recognition of the merit and effectiveness of the American Inns of Court concept, and despite the rapid growth of this burgeoning movement, and despite the intrinsic involvement of over one thousand law students and of nearly one hundred law schools affiliated with Inns across the country, many legal educators are unaware of the Inns' existence, purpose, possibilities, and successes. Why should this ignorance be remedied?

Mcintyre V. Ohio Elections Comm'n: "A Whole New Boutique Of Wonderful First Amendment Litigation Opens Its Doors", Mark A. Whitt

Akron Law Review

This Note analyzes the Court's decision in McIntyre. Part II defines the issue presented in the case and provides a general background on disclosure statutes, with particular attention drawn to the Supreme Court's decision in Talley v. California. A brief discussion of various state court decisions post-Talley is also provided. The Statement of the Case in Part III presents the facts, procedural history and holding of the case. Part IV analyzes the Court's holding.

This Note disagrees with the Court's holding for three reasons. First, it argues that the Court misinterpreted the history of anonymous political speech and engaged in …

Newsroom: Logan On Bp Settlement, Roger Williams University School Of Law

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.