New telecom law gets rough treatment in courts; three federal decisions strike key provisions of the telephone deregulation law

Article Abstract:

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was to refashion the telecommunications industry for the 21st century, but 1997-98 court rulings invalidated some of the law's provisions. A federal district court in Texas declared the act an unconstitutional bill of attainder. SBC Communications, Inc. v. FCC invalidated certain FCC regulations for the opening of Bell telephone companies to competition. Alarm Industry Communications Committee v. FCC challenged FCC interpretation of 'entity' in a provision of the law affecting one Bell, Ameritech Corp.

Communications Equipment, Telecommunications Equipment, Communications Equipment Manufacturing, Laws, regulations and rules, Telecommunications services industry, Telecommunications industry, Telecommunications systems

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Costs mount for indigent defense

Article Abstract:

A report by the General Accounting Office documents but cannot fully explain the soaring costs that accompanied a modest rise in the number of cases closed for indigent federal criminal defendants from 1990 to 1993. The July 19, 1995, report from the nonpartisan congressional office shows 23% more cases closed by 1993, with per-case costs more than doubled. Among the causes are mandatory minimum sentences leading to more jury trials, complex sentencing guidelines, and more complex, multidefendant cases.

Economic aspects, Legal assistance to the poor, Defense (Criminal procedure)

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Bipartisan this, 'Winstar' may add billions to budget

Article Abstract:

Court rulings following 1996's United States v. Winstar may add billions of dollars to the federal budget as the rulings allowed savings and loan association owners to file claim against the government for damages FIRREA caused due to changes the law made in their contracts with federal regulators. More than 100 such savings and loan associations are in line to sue the federal government. The government is to indicate in late Feb 1997 whether it has affirmative defenses.

Cases, Finance, Remedies, Government liability, Savings and loan associations, Savings and Loan Associations Bailout Crisis, 1987-

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