An appellate court recently ruled that an automobile dealership that could not file suit to enjoin an additional dealership under the statute's specific additional "add-point" statute could nevertheless file an administrative proceeding based on a "generic" statute that prohibits conduct by a manufacturer that is "capricious, in bad faith, or unconscionable."
- December 29, 2008Douglas M. Mansfield and J. Todd Kennard
The 2008 Kansas Legislature passed a statute that declares void as against Kansas public policy long-standing contract risk-allocation provisions in many commercial contracts ' including franchise and dealership contracts. The story begins in 2004, when the legislature enacted a prohibition against liability indemnity provisions in construction contracts.
December 29, 2008William R. Wood IICommentary on the latest cases.
December 24, 2008ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |Everything contained in this issue, in an easy-to-read format.
December 24, 2008ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld a copyright infringement verdict against the great-grandson of artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir in a fight over the right to reproduce sculptures created by the French impressionist. The appeals court noted that stare decisis required it to follow its controversial 1996 precedent regarding Walt Disney's copyright for Bambi. Although that ruling "can be, and has been, criticized, it is still binding in this circuit. We are thus bound to follow it," the court said.
December 22, 2008David HorriganIn December, U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson of the Central District of California granted Mattel a sweeping injunction that essentially shuts down MGA's Bratz operation. Larson ordered MGA to cease manufacturing, marketing and selling almost every doll in the Bratz line, as well as any ancillary product that makes use of images of those dolls. He also ordered MGA, at its own expense, to deliver all infringing dolls and products to Mattel for impoundment.
December 22, 2008Alison FrankelThis article examines the accounting principles and the framework underlying fair value measurements and clarifies the difference between mark-to-market accounting and fair value accounting. The article then examines the application of fair value accounting in inactive or illiquid markets, and in doing so, raises certain thematic issues that have surfaced in regard to this topic.
December 19, 2008Vijay Sampath and Jamal AhmadFor a litigator accustomed to practicing in court, representing a client in a Congressional investigation presents unique challenges, as the rules, procedures, processes, and customs differ vastly. One area of stark difference is the status and treatment of attorney-client privilege.
December 19, 2008Steven R. Ross and Raphael A. ProberProposed changes to accounting rules for securitization vehicles will further challenge this already fragile market, threatening its role as a significant source of liquidity.
December 19, 2008Michael J. Venditto

