OverlawyeredChronicling the high cost of our legal systemRolling redesign, cont'd- March 22, 2008 As you can see, I've embarked on a step-by-step redesign of the site, still very rough and unfinished, but I hope smoothing out as we get into next week. Reactions welcome, including whether readers would like to go back to the old pink-and-grey color scheme (widely disliked, but distinctive), which features are best included on the front page, etc. I think a three-column format is now fairly standard in sites of our type and should allow us to keep recent comments and posts high up for the...http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/rolling_redesign_contd.html Deep Pockets File: Bauer v. Nesbitt- March 22, 2008 On September 3, 2003, 19-year-old Frederick Nesbitt was underaged at "Wing Night" at the C View Inn in Cape May, New Jersey, so the waitress at the bar only served him soda while his companions drank pitchers of beer. (His 21-year-old companion James Hamby had a suspended license for drunk driving.) But Nesbitt had been drinking rum and drinking beer with the others before they got to the bar; and Hamby spiked Nesbitt's drinks with rum under the table at the bar, which was presumably busy...http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/deep_pockets_file_bauer_v_nesb.html New feature: Most recent comments- March 22, 2008 Our new Movable Type upgrade finally allows us to add a feature we've wanted to add for a long time, a list of the most recent reader comments. Check out the right-hand sidebar.http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/new_feature_most_recent_commen.html "What is wrong with tort law"- March 22, 2008 Colloquy of Coyote and commenters, based on the John Ritter malpractice jury verdict.http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/what_is_wrong_with_tort_law.html Hillary's Michigan do-over angels- March 22, 2008 The ten big donors who bootlessly pledged up to $12 million include some familiar names, such as John Eddie Williams and Peter Angelos, as well as a new one, Calvin C. Fayard, Jr., of the firm Fayard & Honeycutt, A.P.C., who boasts connections with former Louisiana AG Charles Foti (Folo, Mar. 20; "Michigan Missives", The Caucus (NY Times), Mar. 19).http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/hillarys_michigan_doover_angel.html Site search fixed- March 21, 2008 With help from the Movable Type people we've restored site search, which had been broken for the past couple of days since our software upgrade. In coming weeks watch for some enhancements to the site that will be made possible by the new upgrade.http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/site_search_fixed.html Starbucks barista tip pool- March 21, 2008 I'm covering a judge's $100 million ruling against the coffee chain at Point of Law.http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/starbucks_barista_tip_pool.html Florida high court sanctions Jack Thompson- March 21, 2008 It "won't accept any more filings" from the embattled anti-videogame attorney "without the signature of another Florida Bar member." (DBR). Relaedly, Above the Law is retiring Thompson to a Hall of Fame in which he will be ineligible for further naming as ATL's Lawyer of the Day, because it just isn't fair to other lawyers who do outlandish things to let Thompson win so often.http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/florida_high_court_sanctions_j.html March 21 roundup- March 21, 2008 Updates galore:Bogus Michael Boyle v. Ford verdict tossed by appellate court. Law.com More on the Patent Troll Tracker lawsuit. Law.com Federal district court rejects challenge to Michigan Proposition 2 ban on racial set-asides after far too much litigation over the voter initiative. Open Market Blog" Criminal charges reinstated against Empire State Building parachutist. Turkewitz In the other Mississippi judicial bribery scandal (Oct. 12, Sep. 8, etc.), two judges report to federal prison..http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/march_21_roundup.html Quoted in today's Times- March 21, 2008 I'm quoted on the Melvyn Weiss guilty plea, and on the way certain crooks have successfully been passing themselves off as white knights in press coverage of shareholder and consumer litigation. (Jonathan D. Glater, "High-Profile Trial Lawyer Agrees to Guilty Plea", New York Times, Mar. 21). For more on Weiss's plea, see yesterday's post. More Weiss reactions include a NY Sun editorial: Mr. Weiss and his partners made their careers, and their fortunes, casting those they were suing --...http://www.overlawyered.com/2008/03/quoted_in_todays_times.html |