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Txt msgs and other driving distractions
Robert L. Sachs Jr.
Our cars, like our homes and offices, have become chock-full
of electronic gadgets. And that’s made them more dangerous:
Studies show that drivers are increasingly likely to have serious
accidents if they are distracted by cell phones, GPS systems,
MP3 players, video players, and laptop computers. Find out if
your client’s accident was caused by a driver who was watching
a screen instead of the road.
Finding insurance in truck crash
cases
Michael Jay Leizerman
In most tractor-trailer accidents, failure to give notice of
a claim to an insurance company defeats coverage. But if the
crash involves a commercial motor carrier, your client is protected
by the federally mandated Motor Carrier Safety (MCS)-90 endorsement
attached to the carrier’s policy. Growing case law has
bolstered the power of the MCS-90, and understanding how to
use it will ensure that your clients receive just compensation
for their injuries.
New technology fuels crash reconstruction
Steven M. Schorr
Accident investigation used to be a matter of hand-measuring
and educated guesswork. But new technologies have made the job
easier, faster, and much
more accurate. Laser scanners, computer-aided collision reconstruction,
photogrammetry, and black-box data are key parts of the modern
investigator’s toolkit and can help you pinpoint invaluable
information about a crash.
Driving the dram-shop case
Michael J. Hopkins
Most courts use a “visible intoxication” standard
for holding bar owners and employees liable for continuing to
serve alcohol to someone who was clearly drunk. But the defense
can be quick to offer a range of excuses for not noticing a
customer’s state, ranging from the loudness of the bar
to drunken eyewitnesses. Here’s how to counter the usual
defenses in a dram-shop case, and make sure that liquor licensees
live up to their obligation to keep their customers—and
the public—safe.
Your first auto case
Edward H. Moore
You’re a new lawyer, and you’ve landed your first
auto crash case. Now you need to investigate the accident, track
down paperwork, prepare your witnesses, and take care of many
other details. This guide will help you ensure that both you
and your client are ready to go to court or settlement.
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A clear path for railroad negligence
cases
Sharon L. Van Dyck
In 2002, a horrific railway accident in Minot, North Dakota,
focused public and congressional attention on how the expansion
of federal preemption had immunized railroad companies from
real accountability. Last year, Congress amended the Federal
Railroad Safety Act to limit preemption, clearing the way for
victims of railroad negligence to seek justice.
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News & Trends
Widely advertised ‘restless legs’
drugs move into court
New York’s high court allows ex
parte interviews after discovery
Court policies on sealed and secret information
diverge
Maryland judge rubs out fingerprint evidence
Judges need better security, says Justice
Department report
Ninth Circuit rules ADA plaintiff can
sue for barriers not encountered
Departments
President’s page
Defending justice, one case at a time
Letter
Supreme Court review
Court may put its own spin on money-laundering
question
Speaking & writing
Good counsel
Hearsay
Justice in motion
Momentum builds in Congress to end mandatory
arbitration
California is first to protect children
from unsafe plastics
AAJ programs let members learn when and
where they want
Fight for Justice campaign undermines
ATRA ‘hellholes’ report
Books
Federal Preemption: States’
Powers, National Interests by Richard A. Epstein and
Michael S. Greve, editors
Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul
of Clarence Thomas by Kevin Merida and Michael A. Fletcher
Experts & Professional Services
Classifieds
Lawyer Networking
Products & Services
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