Widener Law Feeds: Home Page
RECENTLY BLOGGED BY FACULTY
A service of Widener University School of Law: John Culhane, Robert Justin Lipkin, Christopher Robinette, Benjamin Barros, Thaddeus Pope, Tonya M. Evans, Dean Linda Ammons , Andy Fichter
John Culhane: WordInEdgewise.org
NOM Approves of Marriage Between Man, Videogame Woman - Wed, 25 Nov 2009
A Japanese man’s recent marriage to a videogame character, Nena, is reported here:
game
Brian Brown, Executive Director of the National Organization for Marriage (”NOM”), issued a statement approving the union. “We here at NOM believe that marriage is the union of man and woman,” said Brown. “It’s true that the couple can’t procreate, but this marriage, [...]
“Ant-y Maim” - Wed, 25 Nov 2009
“To test your will would take the strength of crazy ants.”1
This morning, I stayed in my car — radio (NPR) on and eyes agog — after I’d reached the coffee shop where I was heading for an emergency hit. This story was the reason:
Researchers at the University of Ulm have demonstrated, probably conclusively, that ants [...]
Texas Outlaws All Marriages (But Only Means it About the Gay Ones) - Mon, 23 Nov 2009
This story notes that the Attorney General’s race in Texas has refueled an issue that had been raised four years ago. When Texas passed its constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, a linguist pointed out that — oops! — the voters had inadvertently banned all marriages. Nice job of drafting by the lawyers involved…
Consider the text [...]
Is Mary Landrieu Defensive, or Right? - Sun, 22 Nov 2009
Probably both.
Today, in advance of the Senate’s strictly partisan vote to proceed to debate on the health care reform bill, 1 Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu attempted to do what might have seemed impossible: She not only defended the $100 million in earmarks gifted to her state, but actually called herself “proud” of having asked for [...]
U.S. Government: Compensate Katrina Victims - Sat, 21 Nov 2009
The recent news that a federal judge has ruled the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and by extension, the U.S. Government, liable for at least some of the preventable disasters associated with Hurricane Katrina should lead the government to do what it should have done long ago: Provide generous, long-tail assistance to help the residents [...]
Robert Justin Lipkin, Founder: Essentially Contested America
The Public Option - Wed, 30 Sep 2009
The public option took a shot to the kidney yesterday. The punch was hard and it was not fair, but it is just a part of the game. The public option may be getting a standing eight-count in boxing parlance, but it should not be counted out. In the next several weeks, the pressure will [...]
Health Care and Dog Care - Thu, 24 Sep 2009
This week, I have ahad a taste of what it might be like not to have health insurance for members of my family. Fortunately, my experience did not involve uninsured children, but instead an uninsured dog. My puppy, Owen, just turned 6 months old and he does not have health insurance. Being [...]
Obama and Paterson - Wed, 23 Sep 2009
This week, news circulated suggesting that President Barack Obama sent emissaries to attempt to convinced New York Governor David Paterson to exit the 2010 New York gubernatorial race. I have heard some argue that the president’s attempt is anti-democratic and that the voters of New York should decide who their governor will be. Of course, [...]
Is the United States Any Longer Governable? Was It Ever Governable? - Fri, 18 Sep 2009
This may be an overly saturnine observation, but it seems that the United States is no longer governable–if by “governable” one means implementing the positions that win elections. The current Health Care Reform crisis is one of many such examples, but there are others also. Indeed, it’s a good test case. If we get [...]
The Power of Money - Thu, 17 Sep 2009
Last week, the Supreme Court heard the oral argument Citizens United v. FEC, which could become a landmark First Amendment case. At issue is the constitutionality of the FEC’s ban of anti-Hillary documentary sponsored by corporate funds. The Court could decide the issue narrowly, on the grounds that this particular commercial speech was [...]
Dean Linda Ammons
Maasai Memories from my Kenya Trip - Tue, 17 Nov 2009
This video was taken at the Kichwa Tembo camp which is located at the north edge of the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya at the base of the Oloololo Escarpment. The video was taken by some guests at the camp. I approached the guests and noticed they had a video camera and [...]
Award given to Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor at this morning’s firm representative breakfast - Wed, 11 Nov 2009
This morning, I was thrilled to present an award to Jennifer Noel and Timothy Snyder of Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor at the Widener Law Fund firm representative breakfast. The award honors a 100% participation rate among alumni in their firm for gifts to the Widener Law Fund. This is the eighth consecutive year that [...]
Bring your game face, former Delaware governor says - Fri, 06 Nov 2009
[this originally appeared on our Law School Site] Law students looking for advice about leadership were given a lot to think about when former Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner visited the Delaware campus recently for an informal talk in the student lounge.
Minner, who was widowed at 32 with three young children and only a 10th-grade [...]
Robert Justin Lipkin, Contributor: Ratio Juris
Power: An Introduction—Part 3(b) ii
Power: An Introduction—Part 3(b) i
Power: An Introduction—Part 3(a)
Andy Fichter: Health Law Pulse
Crossing Lines - Tue, 24 Nov 2009
At an address recently given at Widener, Princeton Professor Paul Starr made the point that the health reform plans currently being promoted by House and Senate Democrats are essentially the plans that were proposed in the past by Presidents Nixon, Reagan and Bush I. Contemporary Democrats have in effect compromised with a Republican party that [...]
Evidence-Based Medicine and Legal Liability - Mon, 23 Nov 2009
With reference to the recommendations for breast cancer screening released last week by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (a non-governmental, independent panel of physicians and scientists), and for that matter with reference to the guidelines for Pap tests coincidentally released a few days later by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (also non-governmental), [...]
Of Oysters and Mammograms - Mon, 23 Nov 2009
Posted by: John Culhane
China’s Public Health Challenges - Tue, 17 Nov 2009
Posted by: John Culhane on Saturday, November 14th, 2009, at WordinEdgewise.org.
China’s political and environmental challenges are often chronicled, but less attention has been paid to the public health issues that the nation’s move to developed nation status has caused.
That’s starting to change. In a good summary article in Yale Public Health, (pdf. of Fall issue [...]
Public Option: Size Matters - Tue, 10 Nov 2009
Keep this in mind when you hear opponents of the House healthcare reform bill protest that it would constitute a government take-over of our healthcare system: the Congressional Budget Office and the Kaiser Foundation estimate that a public plan would enroll only 2% of Americans. To put this in perspective, about 15% of the US [...]
Christopher Robinette: TortsProf Blog
Guest Blogger Ben Zipursky’s Reply to Drug and Device Law Blog
I am delighted to have had responses from several thoughtful commentators, including well known voices in products liability law – Restatement Reporter Michael Green, Mark Herrmann and Jim Beck of the Drug and Device Law Blog, and my own colleague,...
Happy Thanksgiving 2009 from TortsProf Blog
We're grateful you read our blog! --Bill, Sheila, and Chris
Monday's Guest Blogger: Jason Solomon
Jason M. Solomon is Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Georgia School of Law. His writing focuses on the theory and practice of civil justice, and his research interests also include regulatory theory and policy, the law of...
Products Liability Casebooks
It's that time of year - time for family, time for turkey, and time to select your casebook for your spring courses. A reader wonders what case book to use for a Products Liability course. Do you use -- Henderson...
Guest Blogger Ben Zipursky on "The Differential Treatment of Medical Devices and Drugs in Preemption Doctrine: A Justified Distinction?"
One year ago, many tort scholars and securities analysts believed that a major shift was about to occur in products liability law: our nation’s highest court was about to declare that claims against pharmaceutical manufacturers were preempted. We all know...
Benjamin Barros, PropertyProf Blog
Press Stories on Stop the Beach
Yesterday's Washington Post had a great story on the Stop the Beach Renourishiment case by Robert Barnes. The case was also discussed by Ashby Jones at the WSJ Law Blog. Both made my Dean very happy. Ben Barros [Comments are...
NY Court of Appeals Decision in Atlantic Yards Case
The New York Court of Appeals has issued its opinion in the Atlantic Yards case. Unsurprisingly, the court allowed the use of eminent domain to transfer private property to a private developer. Ilya Somin comments at the VC, and the...
Post-Argument Panel on Stop the Beach
From Peter Byrne (Georgetown): When: Wednesday, December 2nd, 12:15 PM Where: Hart Auditorium, Georgetown University Law Center 600 New Jersey Ave., NW, Washington, DC Immediately after oral argument in the Supreme Court, hear advocates discuss Stop the Beach Renourishment, Inc....
Thaddeus Pope
Betancourt v. Trinitas -- Most Requested NJ Court Opinion in 2009
Texas Advance Directives Act: More than 1000 Unilateral Refusals
NEW - Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues
Tonya M. Evans
Entertainment Law Course this Friday!
Widener Law News
Alumni Gather for the Philadelphia Happy Hour - Tue, 24 Nov 2009
Alumni Gather for the Philadelphia Happy Hour
Widener Law Hosts Private Pennsylvania Bar Induction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania - Tue, 24 Nov 2009
Widener Law Hosts Private Pennsylvania Bar Induction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
New Lawyers Join the Delaware Bar - Tue, 24 Nov 2009
New Lawyers Join the Delaware Bar
New Lawyers Join the Pennsylvania Bar - Fri, 20 Nov 2009
New Lawyers Join the Pennsylvania Bar