LJN Newsletters

In a decision that caused a stir among the bench and bar, New York State's highest court, the Court of Appeals, sanctioned a highly controversial practice that enables custodial spouses to draw child support twice from the same income stream.

The California Supreme Court is struggling to decide whether state law allows courts to grant visitation rights to grandparents over the objections of parents who have not been declared unfit. There is widespread interest in the case, with amici curiae including the Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, the Coalition for Restoration of Parental Rights, the American Civil Liberties Union and two gay and lesbian groups.

It seems obvious: If you want to know about a litigant's mental state or a child's psychological needs, ask the litigant's or child's therapist. Wrong! There are good reasons not to confuse treating-therapists with expert witnesses. The testimony of treating-therapists rarely contributes to the litigation and calling on the treating-therapist will usually destroy therapy.

A Manhattan Supreme Court justice has ordered a celebrity artist who tried to avoid almost $2 million in legal fees by claiming that his law firm's bills were unethically high to pay up.

Exclusive to online subscribers, more cases and happenings of interest to the e-commerce industry.

National cases of importance to your practice.

Recent cases for your review.

On Feb. 24, 2004, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important decision concerning whether the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits employers from engaging in "reverse discrimination" by favoring older workers over younger workers. In General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc. v. Cline, the Supreme Court held that the ADEA does not prohibit employers from favoring older employers over younger ones. Because this decision resolves a conflict in various federal circuit courts of appeal, the Supreme Court's opinion eliminates any uncertainty concerning this issue at the federal level.