A divided front in tobacco wars: lawyers who filed a failed federal class action will try to derail Liggett pact

Article Abstract:

Tobacco victims' attorneys in the Castano Group, having lost class action status in 1996, will attempt to challenge the proposed Liggett Group's settlement. The settlement would bind all Liggett claimants including future ones, set up a Liggett settlement fund, and allow Liggett to be released from liability in the 22 states in which medical reimbursement suits have been filed. Liggett would turn over tobacco industry documentation to those states for use against other tobacco companies. Castano claimant lawyers will lose out under this arrangement, although some observers say plaintiffs could ultimately benefit.

Class actions (Civil procedure), Compromise and settlement, Class action lawsuits, Settlements (Law), Tobacco industry, Liggett Group Inc., LIG, Vector Group Ltd., BGL

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The benches are turned: federal judges win big precedent and small awards after an eight-year battle over Social Security taxes

Article Abstract:

Terry Hatter and other federal judges won their lawsuit over improperly withheld Social Security taxes, but the victory was a hollow one. The judges claimed the taxes were a pay cut in violation of the US Constitution compensation clause. However, in awarding compensation to only half of the plaintiffs, Federal Claims court Judge James Turner held that the judges' raises offset some of the money claimed, a decision resulting in very small awards. The US Supreme Court may ultimately hear the case, although the first attempt to do so ended when four Justices recused themselves.

Administration of Human Resource Programs (except Education, Public Health, and Veterans' Affairs Programs), Social Security, Taxation, Judges, Social security taxes, Hatter, Terry

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Still in the loop: ABA's changing role in selecting federal judges has triggered praise and criticism

Article Abstract:

The ABA's system of rating judges who are candidates for federal judgeships has ironically been even more prominent since President Bush stopped giving the ABA advance notice of judicial nominations. The ABA has been criticized for giving positive ratings to some of Bush's most controversial nominees. There have also been allegations of conflicts of interest against a member of the ABA's Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary.

Evaluation, Political aspects, Federal court judges, A.B.A. Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary

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