Consumer Law

Civil Justice Roundup: New York Times Edition

By Kia Franklin

Whoa, the New York Times was on civil justice speed this week! I mean, they were just churning it on out. Here are some of the highlights, for your weekend reading pleasure.

- Adam Cohen makes some good points about the need to change the legal profession in light of the economic crisis, and suggests what those changes should look like. This includes exposing law students to extralegal career opportunities, quelling tuition hikes, and reducing the salaries of young associates at Big Law. Cohen suggests that "Lower pay should mean that associates will not need to work the grueling hours many have been forced to." Mmm... one can hope, but I suspect the work hours won't change that much.

- The House passed the bill to give FDA the power/responsibility of regulating big tobacco, which Justinian mentioned before here. Prior NYT coverage of the issue can be found here (and in the Washington Post here).

- Philip K. Howard, a tort "reform" proponent who has accused the law of "terrorizing doctors" and even compared it to a cancer, proposes health courts. Relatedly, Max Kennerly offers a thorough critique of the op ed, pointing out the added inefficiencies that health courts would likely produce. Kennerly argues that if the goal really is to simplify the process in a way that is truly fair and equitable to victims of malpractice, health courts are not the way to do it.

- Go Iowa! A couple things on the Iowa Supreme Court's decision striking down the marraige law restricting gay marriage. First, two law professors write about the decision and the language of the court. Second, a piece explaining why Iowa was the chosen state for this ongoing effort to secure this right.

- The workers' comp swamp. This article describes the extensive legal labyrinth that injured workers have to go through just to obtain the medical treatment and wage compensation they need after being hurt on the job. Relatedly, this article discusses the unfriendly, even downright hostile dynamic created by the desire to reduce workplace injuries, or at least to reduce those that are reported

Full post as published by TortDeform.com on April 03, 2009 (boomark / email).