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Insurer Permitted to Recoup Defense Costs Under Quantum Meruit Theory

Jay Levin

Predicting what the Texas Supreme Court would do, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota has allowed an insurer to recover defense costs expended in defending its insured in a liability action. Extrapolating from, and expanding on, a Court of Appeals of Texas opinion, the Minnesota court used a <i>quantum meruit</i> theory to allow the insurer to recoup its defense costs.

Features

Causes of Action for Loss of Cryopreserved Embryos

Janice G. Inman

There has been much discussion of the ethics and liability issues created by recent advances in reproductive science. While fertility treatments allow couples that might otherwise not be able to conceive or carry a baby to term create much-wanted families, fertility clinics and the health care professionals working in them are dealing with a highly emotional issue. When patients don't get the results they wanted -- particularly when mistakes are made -- the chances of being sued run high.

Features

Drug & Device News

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent developments of importance to you and your practice.

Med Mal News

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent developments you need to know.

Verdicts

ALM Staff & Law Journal Newsletters

Recent rulings you need to know.

Experts on Juries

Leonard Post

As blanket occupational exemptions for jury duty become a relic, litigators are split on whether there is a need for specific jury instructions to keep jurors from relying on their expertise in evidentiary matters. This issue tends to be particularly troubling for medical malpractice attorneys, as the pool of potential jurors with knowledge of medical issues -- doctors, nurses, physical therapists, etc. -- is so large. One court system -- New York's - instructs professionals to keep their expertise outside of the jury room. No other court currently singles out professional jury-deliberation conduct in jury instructions.

Features

Federal Preemption and Tort Claims

Lawrie Demorest & Brendan Krasinski

For medical device manufacturers, federal preemption can be a powerful defense to state tort claims. Although there is some split of authority, most federal courts of appeals that have addressed the issue have held that when a medical device reaches the market via the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) rigorous "premarket approval" (PMA) process, many state common law claims are expressly preempted by the Medical Device Amendments (MDA) of 1976.

<b>Meyerowitz on Marketing:</b> Your Guide to Getting on the Web: Content Is King

Steven A. Meyerowitz

Here are the Rules of Effective Web Writing: Be Factual. Be Brief. Be Clear.

<b>The Place to Network:</b> Mentors

Olivia Fox Cabane

Mentors are people who can guide you, advise you, and share their experiences and their mistakes so you won't make the same ones. By visibly endorsing you, they can give you credibility; by bringing you to events with them, you'll gain visibility; and by introducing you to their contacts, they'll give you access. Visibility, credibility, and access ' mentors are important indeed.

Lights, Camera, Preparation!

Kristin Vogt & Cheryl Riley

Television interviews are a great media opportunity for attorneys to take part in. Before heading to the studio though, there are many points to remember to ensure successful exposure for you and your firm. Preparation is the key factor and includes ex-pressions, clothing, attitude, and presentation, all of which has a large impact on the interview. If these items are not properly thought out in advance, the interview could quickly become a small disaster. There are certain steps to take prior to an on-air appearance to prepare for an in-terview that enhances your firm's awareness and your expertise.

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