A punitive surprise: Alabama high court beats Legislature to tort reform punch

Article Abstract:

The Alabama Supreme Court recently announced a new procedure for trying punitive damage claims, on the eve of the governor convening a legislative session to address tort reform. All sides were surprised by the decision in Life Insurance Co v. Johnson, in which an elderly woman sold a worthless insurance policy was awarded $15 million in punitive damages. The trial court cut the award to $12.5 million, and the high court to $5 million. It also announced half of such awards will go to the state.

Tort reform, Exemplary damages, Punitive damages, Alabama

---

Rousting Miss Daisy: U.S. Supreme Court says police can order passengers out of cars during routine traffic stops

Article Abstract:

The US Supreme Court's 1997 decision in Maryland v. Wilson allows the police to order any passenger out of a vehicle during a traffic stop, a move that critics say hurts citizens' Fourth Amendment rights. The decision continues the Supreme Court's shift towards a reasonableness standard for evaluating the legality of searches. The Court majority has opted for ensuring officer safety, but may have weakened protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Police Protection, Police-Local, Interpretation and construction, Laws, regulations and rules, Searches and seizures, Law enforcement, Police, Police officers, Criminal law

---

It's not business as usual; oil company's appeal fuels antitrust reversal of Warren Court decision on price agreements

Article Abstract:

The US Supreme Court ruling in State Oil Co v. Khan meant that manufacturers may use vertical maximum price agreements. These are limits on retail prices These are limits on retail prices often used for goods which sell for more money because they are in high demand. The suit grew out of a suit by a gasoline dealer over the price-setting in a lease with a supplier.

Prices and rates, Service stations (Automotive), Petroleum products, Price fixing, Service stations (Motor vehicles)

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Alternative dispute resolution: its value to estate planners. New guidance on ethics for estate planners
• Abstracts: Lethal compassion: conflicting federal court rulings bring assisted-suicide issue to the forefront. ABA House backs affirmative action; at time of national debate, association takes first stand on issue
• Abstracts: Keeping it simple: making regulators write in plain language. Sunrises without sunsets: can sunset laws reduce regulation?
• Abstracts: A critical assessment of intracorporate loss shifting after prosecutions based on corporate wrongdoing. Beyond Aronson: recent Delaware cases on demand futility
• Abstracts: Confidentiality agreements become increasingly elusive; several states have limited the availability of protective orders, and judges are now more skeptical about issuing such orders

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.