The Fifth Element: Adding to the Daubert Criteria
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
This article examines recent developments in spoliation law affecting civil litigation, including various remedial and punitive strategies that some jurisdictions have adopted.
Practice Tip: Is It Necessary to Sue a Foreign Auto Manufacturer?
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?
Equipment Leasing and CERCLA Liability
In this month's installment, we focus on some of the special issues facing equipment leasing as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in <i>United States v. Atlantic Research Corporation</i>. We recommend some steps in order to address the increased litigation and liability risks facing owners and lessors of equipment, risks that few have addressed.
Food and Product Safety Litigation: How Will It Affect General Liability Insurers?
Litigation stemming from recent product and food safety failures presents a number of important insurance questions under general liability policies. These include questions about the scope of the products-operations hazard, whether non-products coverage is implicated by new theories advanced by the plaintiffs' bar, whether 'no injury' claims for economic harm can be shoehorned into coverage, and whether the many class action claims seeking medical monitoring for potential bodily injury will be covered under general liability policies.
Waiver of Attorney-Client Privilege and Work-Product Protection: Proposed New Federal Rule of Evidence Is under Consideration
At its Sept. 18, 2007 meeting, the Judicial Conference of the United States approved a proposed new Federal Rule of Evidence regarding waiver of attorney-client privilege and work-product protection. Because Rule 502 is a rule dealing with privilege and because the Rule would govern state courts regarding certain issues, the Rule must be enacted directly by Congress. Accordingly, at press time, the Judicial Conference will now submit the Rule to Congress, which will vote 'yay or nay' by no later than December 2007. If Congress approves the new Rule 502, the Judicial Conference will transmit the Rule to the U.S. Supreme Court by Dec. 18, 2007, keeping it on the path to be enacted on Dec. 1, 2008.
FIN 48: Accounting for Uncertain Income Tax Positions
This article provides a brief overview of the two-step, benefit-recognition approach implemented by FIN 48, a summary of the disclosures required by FIN 48, and a discussion of issues associated with protecting FIN 48 compliance documentation from disclosure to taxing authorities.
Verdicts
Recent ruings of importance to you and your practice.
