Top News Clips for the Week of November 14-20
A selection of the need-to-know civil justice news for the week of November 14-20.
Frivolous Lawsuits Have Serious Consequences
The U.S. Chamber features the Institute for Legal Reform’s Executive Vice President Harold Kim in a new podcast, discussing how our legal climate plays an increasingly influential role in a company's planning and operations. The podcast also features Roberto Guerrero, owner of Cumaica coffee in San Francisco, who shares the story of his own legal battle, and his advice for other business owners.
Fraud and Abuse Abound in Asbestos Cases
Last year’s eye-opening decision in the case In re Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC was shocking. We had long suspected that asbestos plaintiffs and their attorneys were gaming the system in order to increase their recoveries, but we had no idea just how big of a problem it was. Garlock showed that mitigating evidence had been withheld in almost all the cases brought against it over the past decade, but was the same thing happening in cases brought against other defendants?
Court Announces Expedited Civil Actions Pilot Program
The court has announced that certain civil cases filed in the Camden and Ocean Vicinages on or after November 30, 2015 will be assigned to a new pilot program designed to speed their resolution.
Fighting Fraud with the Consumer Fraud Act
One of our complaints about New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act is that it is overly broad – encompassing many disputes that could resolved more efficiently by other means. We frequently oppose bills that would add to the already cumbersome Act, so it surprised many when came out in support of a recent bill expanding the CFA.
What Do New Jersey’s Lawyers Think About New Jersey’s Judges?
The New Jersey Law Journal has released its latest Superior Court Survey, which is the best information available about what our state’s attorneys think about the quality of our state’s judges.
Top News Clips for the Week of October 31-November 6
A selection of the need-to-know civil justice news for the week of October 31-November 6.
Happy Love Your Lawyer Day
Thank you to all the lawyers on our staff, [...]
Don’t Give Plaintiffs’ Lawyers a Free Pass
In a recent article detailing some of the fraud that has been uncovered in the BP oil spill settlement claims, Reuters’ Alison Frankel makes a great point: plaintiffs’ attorneys should not be given a free pass to behave badly and flout the rules just because they are representing the “little guy.”
Is Arbitration Awful? The New York Times Thinks So.
Earlier this week, the New York Times published a three part exposé on the “dangers” of arbitration. The Times’ slogan may still be “All the news that fit to print.” but a read through this smear job shows there’s a lot more information that should have been fit into this series.