Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Recalled Mattel Toys: Class Action Suits Seek Medical Monitoring Image

Recalled Mattel Toys: Class Action Suits Seek Medical Monitoring

Gina Passarella

Two Pennsylvania law firms have filed class action suits against toy company Mattel Inc. The suits were filed in an effort to compel Mattel, the importer of millions of Chinese-made toys that have been recalled recently due to lead paint and small magnets, to pay for lead testing for children who may have been affected by the toys.

Fee Contracts: Failure to Include Language Costs Millions Image

Fee Contracts: Failure to Include Language Costs Millions

Brenda Sapino Jeffreys

The saga of a Texas product liability law firm can serve as a lesson to other firms in Texas, and perhaps, throughout the nation. In September, an arbitration panel ordered John M. O'Quinn's firm to pay a class of 3,450 former breast implant clients nearly $42 million because the fee contracts did not include language permitting the firm to charge for general expenses.

Texas Asbestos Reform: The New Quantitative Standard Image

Texas Asbestos Reform: The New Quantitative Standard

Lianne S. Pinchuk

Because of the devastating impact asbestos litigation has had on U.S. companies, courts and legislatures have finally begun to retake control of asbestos litigation. On June 8, 2007, the Texas Supreme Court issued its opinion in <i>Borg-Warner Corporation v. Flores</i>, marking the latest step in Texas' transition away from easy asbestos verdicts for plaintiffs.

The Fifth Element: Adding to the Daubert Criteria Image

The Fifth Element: Adding to the Daubert Criteria

John L. Tate & Lucy M. Heskins

Any trial lawyer re-reading <i>Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,</i> or reading afresh the Ninth Circuit's application of the <i>Daubert</i> standard on remand from the U.S. Supreme Court may be surprised to learn that a fifth reliability element ' often overlooked ' is frequently applicable and very useful.

Recent Developments in Spoliation Law Image

Recent Developments in Spoliation Law

James W. Weller, Santo Borruso & Aaron S. Halpern

This article examines recent developments in spoliation law affecting civil litigation, including various remedial and punitive strategies that some jurisdictions have adopted.

Features

Practice Tip: Is It Necessary to Sue a Foreign Auto Manufacturer? Image

Practice Tip: Is It Necessary to Sue a Foreign Auto Manufacturer?

Lawrence Goldhirsch

Foreign auto manufacturers often have American subsidiaries that import their products and market them with a warranty from the importer. If such a product injures an American due to a design defect, do you need to sue the manufacturer as well as the importer/seller/warrantor?

The Leasing Hotline Image

The Leasing Hotline

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Highlights of the latest commercial leasing cases from around the country.

Features

Subleasing Pointers: The Perspective of a Prime Landlord, Sublandlord, and Subtenant Image

Subleasing Pointers: The Perspective of a Prime Landlord, Sublandlord, and Subtenant

Alison Jones, Randy Luffman & Natosha O. Reid

Part One of this series discussed subleasing from the perspective of the Prime Landlord. This second installment addresses the issue from the Sublandlord's perspective.

In the Spotlight: Dealing with Vacancies in the Context of Pass-Throughs Image

In the Spotlight: Dealing with Vacancies in the Context of Pass-Throughs

Myles Hannan

In the vast majority of commercial leases, provision is made for passing through to the tenants the responsibility for paying all or a portion of the operating costs of the building and the real estate taxes payable with respect to the property. However, what if the building is partially vacant? This article explores how leases deal with vacancies in the context of such 'pass-throughs.'

Rent Abatement Clauses: Tenants Should Speak Softly, But Draft a 'Club' Image

Rent Abatement Clauses: Tenants Should Speak Softly, But Draft a 'Club'

Gary A. Goodman & Michael J. Boccio

In commercial lease transactions, a tenant's desire and need to occupy a space and begin transacting business often takes precedence over a landlord's ability to complete all of the bargained-for physical alterations that it has promised. The issue of determining the diminished value of the premises prior to the completion of the landlord's work is customarily resolved through the negotiation of rent abatement provisions that quantify damages where delays in the landlord's construction would lead to a breach of contract.

Need Help?

  1. Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
  2. Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.

MOST POPULAR STORIES

  • The Article 8 Opt In
    The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
    Read More ›
  • Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
    With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
    Read More ›
  • Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
    This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
    Read More ›
  • "Holy Fair Use, Batman": Copyright, Fair Use and the Dark Knight
    The copyright for the original versions of Winnie the Pooh and Mickey Mouse have expired. Now, members of the public can create — and are busy creating — their own works based on these beloved characters. Suppose, though, we want to tell stories using Batman for which the copyright does not expire until 2035. We'll review five hypothetical works inspired by the original Batman comic and analyze them under fair use.
    Read More ›