<i>Daubert </i>Tool Lets Lawyers Track History of Experts
Expert testimony can be the linchpin that makes or breaks a case. But lawyers have had a tougher time getting that testimony admitted since 1993, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided in <i>Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals</i> that scientific testimony must be not only relevant, but reliable. In 1999's <i>Kumho Tire v. Carmichael</i>, the Court extended that rule to all experts. This means that a lawyer preparing to qualify or challenge an expert at trial must answer a number of questions. What is the state of the case law under <i>Daubert</i>? How has the particular court or judge applied the rule? How have courts ruled on this type of expertise? Has this expert ever come before a judge?
Counterfeit Drugs: FDA Suggests New Counter Measures
<b><i>No 'Magic Bullet,' Says Task Force</i></b> The FDA's Counterfeit Drug Task Force issued its interim report on October 2. It contains potential options for a multi-pronged approach to combat counterfeit drugs. In recent years, the FDA has seen an increase in the number and sophistication of efforts to introduce counterfeit drugs. The FDA noted at the time the report was issued that the problem of counterfeit drugs is being treated separately from the problem of unapproved and potentially unsafe drugs that are being imported via the Internet and other unregulated international channels. Under current law, those drugs are purchased outside of U.S. and foreign consumer protection systems, so they are "buyer beware" products that have traveled outside of the regulatory protections of the legal U.S. drug distribution system.
Over-the-Border Drug Debate Heats to Boiling
<b><i>The State of the Re-Importation Debate</i></b> When Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois announced in mid-September that his state was considering buying drugs from Canada for its employees and citizens, the debate over cross-border drug purchases via the Internet and by other means, got even hotter than it was before. The pharmaceutical industry is fighting a battle similar in scope to the music industry's Internet copyright infringement war, but because no suits have been brought against 80-year-old diabetics buying insulin from pharmacies in Montreal, national debate on the issue of the purchase of foreign drugs has gotten less press of late than the debate over music piracy.
Features
Case Briefing
The latest rulings of importance to your practice.
Features
News from the FDA
The latest information for use in your practice, including rulings, draft guidances, seminars, and more.
Features
Courthouse Steps
Recently filed cases in entertainment law, straight from the steps of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Features
V4 Signals A New Path
Recently, at Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., we identified a need to reduce the number of e-mails our team was exchanging with our clients to send versions of documents and felt that the solution should be in the form of a central repository for all of our information. After analyzing a Citrix solution and deciding we weren't willing to devote an entire server to third-party dial-in access plus the costs of the underlying software, we looked at iCONECT, which recently re-launched its flagship product, (previously known as simply as iCONECT), giving it the moniker "V4." Everyone involved in our in-house review really liked how we could store documents, transcripts, images, calendars and case information in one place.
Features
<B><I>Practice Tip</b></i> Protecting Against Metadata Mishaps
Whenever you create, open or save a document using any Microsoft Office application (<i>eg</i>, Word), the document may contain "metadata" - embedded information that you may not know about because it is usually hidden on screen. Metadata is used to enhance several Word functions, such as editing, viewing, filing and document retrieval. Harmless, right? Well, that depends on the type of metadata, the document's method of distribution and your firm's and clients' privacy needs.
Need Help?
- Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
- Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.
MOST POPULAR STORIES
- The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year LaterThe 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.Read More ›
- Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar InvestigationsThis 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.Read More ›
- The Roadmap of Litigation AnalyticsLitigation analytics can be considered a roadmap of sorts — an important guide to ensure the legal professional arrives at the correct litigation strategy or business plan. However, like roadmaps, litigation analytics will only be useful if it's based on data that is complete and accurate.Read More ›
- The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance ProgramsThe 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.Read More ›
- Understanding the Potential Pitfalls Arising From Participation in Standards BodiesChances are that if your company is involved in research and development of new technology there is a standards setting organization exploring the potential standardization of such technology. While there are clear benefits to participation in standards organizations — keeping abreast of industry developments, targeting product development toward standard compliant products, steering research and intellectual property protection into potential areas of future standardization — such participation does not come without certain risks. Whether you are in-house counsel or outside counsel, you may be called upon to advise participants in standard-setting bodies about intellectual property issues or to participate yourself. You may also be asked to review patent policy of the standard-setting body that sets forth the disclosure and notification requirements with respect to patents for that organization. Here are some potential patent pitfalls that can catch the unwary off-guard.Read More ›
