On a 5-4 vote, the Supreme Court yesterday overturned a $79.5 million jury award against tobacco company Phillip Morris, holding that the damages award violated the company’s due process rights because, the punitive damages award was intended, at least in part, to punish Phillip Morris for harm allegedly cause to persons other than the plaintiff, [...]
Monthly Archives: February 2007
More on Scooter
Over at the Powe Line blog, a reader offered the following observations on Victoria Toensing’s Washington Post column on the Scooter Libbey witch hunt trial. This prosecution is possibly one of the more pointless, politically motivated exercises to find its way into a court room in quite some time. Read on for the substances of [...]
Libby is a Scapegoat
So saith attorney Victoria Toensing in tomorrow’s Washington Post. I happen to agree with Victoria. If Scooter Libbly is convicted on this bogus charge by this hyperactive prosecutor, it is an injustice.
BALCO Reporters Avoid Jail
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, two reporters avoided jail for reporting on the BALCO steroids story when a criminal defense lawyer pleaded guilty to leaking the information to them. While I continue to question the wisdom of this ridiculous investigatiojn, I’ve got to say, its always a bad idea to leak Rule 6(e) info.
Those Litigious Olivieri’s
Looks like the First Family of Philadelphia Cheesesteaks is back in court again. This time, Frank, Jr., now proprietor of Pat’s King of Steaks, is suing cousin Rick Olivieri, the maestro at Rick’s Steaks and self-crowned “Prince of Philly Steaks,” located at the Reading Terminal, over Rick’s allegedly unlawful use of Pat’s “crown” logo. The [...]
Sentencing is Out of Whack
Stuart Taylor, who always has an interesting viewpoint on legal matters, has written an excellent essay for the National Journal in which he discusses the completely out of whack sentencing system. Taylor focuses on the recent trend of lengthy prison terms for white collar offenders. In my view, Taylor hots the nail squarely on the [...]
Arthur Branch Criticizes Libby Prosecution
Former Senator Fred Thompson, who plays New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s “Law & Order” has criticized the Scooter Libby prosecution as “a travesty of justice.” I have to agree with Senator Thompson. And not just because I love Arthur Branch.
S&C Associate’s Destroyed Hard Drive May Destroy His Case
The New York Law Journal reports that former Sullivan & Cromwell asociate Aaron Charnley has apparently destroyed a personal computer hard drive that may have contained information relevant to the litigation between Charnely and the firm. Charnely has been given until February 14th to explain his actions to the Court. One word comes to mind [...]
Anna Nicole Smith Dead – Foul Play?
As you have likely heard, former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith died today. It appears that the cirsumstances of her death are suspicious, and there is speculation that foul play may have been involved. Court TV’s story on Anna Nicole’s death can be found here. More is available here, here, here, and here.
UPDATE: While [...]
D.A. Asks State AG to Take Over Reid Investigation
Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor has asked the State Attorney General’s office to take over the criminal investigations into Eagles Coach Andy Reid’s sons, citing conflicts of interest. Apparently Castor, who had previously recused himself personally, is friends with one of the lawyers for the Reid boys, and is also considering joining the law [...]