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Congress vs 'Defensive Medicine'
Due to the rising cost of 'defensive medicine,' the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation to limit or ban punitive damages in product liability lawsuits over injuries allegedly caused by FDA-approved products. 2003 H.R. 5. The HEALTH 'Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-Cost Timely Healthcare' Act of 2003 was introduced in the House on February 5. This bill passed in the House on March 13 and is currently on the calendar of the Senate.
Sec. 7(c)(1)(A) of the bill addresses punitive damages for FDA-approved products (drug, device, or biological product intended for humans). 'Punitive damages may not be awarded against the manufacturer or distributor of a medical product ' on the basis that the harm to the claimant was caused by the lack of safety or effectiveness of the particular medical product involved, unless the claimant demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) the manufacturer or distributor ' failed to comply with a specific requirement of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or regulations promulgated thereunder; and 2) the harm attributed to the particular medical product resulted from such failure to comply with such specific statutory requirement or regulation.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.
CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys
Each stage of an attorney's career offers opportunities for a curriculum that addresses both the individual's and the firm's need to drive success.
Discovery of Claim Construction and Infringement Analysis May be Compelled Prior to a Markman Hearing
A defendant in a patent infringement suit may, during discovery and prior to a <i>Markman</i> hearing, compel the plaintiff to produce claim charts, claim constructions, and element-by-element infringement analyses.