Friday, February 3, 2012

Supreme Court Releases Redistricting Opinion

The Legal Intelligencer

A citizen challenge to the state Legislative Reapportionment Commission's final House and Senate maps has "overwhelmingly" shown the commission divided too many political subdivisions, a much-anticipated majority opinion from the state Supreme Court said Friday.

Ciavarella Has Judicial Immunity From Some Civil Claims

The Legal Intelligencer

Echoing his earlier ruling in the civil class action brought by juveniles against former Luzerne County Common Pleas Court Judge Mark A. Ciavarella Jr., a federal judge has ruled in a separate suit that Ciavarella is shielded by judicial immunity from some, but not all, of the allegations.

'Boys Don't Cry' inmate appeals to Supreme Court

The Associated Press

LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) - A death row inmate whose murder case inspired the 1999 film "Boys Don't Cry" has filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Court rules against abortion protester's lawsuit

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A federal appeals court in Philadelphia has ruled that an anti-abortion protester arrested near the Liberty Bell in 2007 can't collect damages from park rangers who detained him.

Fed court upholds dismissal of Pa. trooper's suit

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says a federal judge in Pittsburgh was right to dismiss a retired Pennsylvania State Police lieutenant's whistleblower lawsuit that claimed his superiors retaliated against him for cooperating in a sex harassment investigation of another trooper.

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal - Feb. 3

The Legal Intelligencer

Can't find a paper, but want a sneak peek at the stories inside The Legal this morning? Consider this your personal delivery service.

Was Penn State's GC Counsel for University Officials?

The Legal Intelligencer

In-house lawyers represent the entity that issues their paychecks, not the executives and staff. But as seen in testimony from two Penn State officials, a company's lawyers and constituents can understand the relationship differently.

DOJ Faces Hurdles In Cigarette Label Warnings Dispute

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The Legal Intelligencer

The Justice Department faces an uphill fight to convince a judge in Washington to uphold as valid rules that would require tobacco companies to include graphic warning labels on cigarette packages and in advertisements.

Chapter 11 Plan Appeal Viable Long After Effective Date

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The Legal Intelligencer

The "effective date" of a Chapter 11 plan represents the point in time when a debtor begins to implement the plan's provisions and make distributions to creditors. Often, parties will feel safe in assuming that once a confirmed plan goes effective and substantial implementation of it has occurred, the "train has left the station" and any remaining objections to confirmation have become moot.

Jumping on the Media Bandwagon: Unsafe at Any Speed?

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The Legal Intelligencer

The commonwealth of Pennsylvania might never see a more explosive legal drama than the prosecution of former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky that continues to unfold in State College. Some see Joe Paterno as the latest victim in the Sandusky saga, having first lost the head coaching position he held for more than half a century and, more recently, his brief battle with lung cancer. Others point to the many children whom Sandusky allegedly abused/sexually assaulted over an extended period of time and argue the Penn State Board of Trustees had no choice but to fire Paterno. Wherever you fall on that spectrum of feeling or conviction, Paterno's passing is a great, great loss to his family, friends, former colleagues and players, Penn State and the commonwealth — for which we offer our sincere condolences.

People in the News

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The Legal Intelligencer

Jacqueline Z. Shulman, a partner in the labor relations and employment law department of Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel, presented new legal updates essential for HR professionals at the Greater Pottstown Area HR Association, an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Allegheny County Owes Sex Offenders $325K in Attorney Fees

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The Legal Intelligencer

Allegheny County must pay a group of sex offenders nearly $325,000 in attorney fees after the group successfully challenged the enforceability of a local ordinance restricting the offenders' residency.

K&L Gates Opens Office in Milan

The Legal Intelligencer

K&L Gates has continued its geographic expansion, merging with an Italian firm to launch a new office in Milan and the firm's first in the European country.

Expedia Doesn't Have to Pay Phila. Hotel Tax

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The Legal Intelligencer

Online travel service Expedia Inc. does not have to pay Philadelphia hotel tax on the fees it charges users for its services because the company is not a hotel operator, the Commonwealth Court ruled 5-2.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Class Certification Denied in Antitrust Whole Foods Suit

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The Legal Intelligencer

A Washington federal judge has denied class certification in an antitrust case against Whole Foods Market Inc., striking a blow to the 2008 lawsuit brought by an unhappy customer concerned about rising prices.

Regulators Prepare to Examine Facebook IPO

Corporate Counsel

Before the IPO comes the S-1, and now it's here: the long-time-coming regulatory filing from Facebook and the antecedent to an initial public offering that is expected to be one of the largest in history, seeking to raise $5 billion in capital, on its way to an estimated valuation between $75 and $100 billion.