Menu
Blog Archives
Neurologically Speaking, Narcissists Are Needy
August 5, 2015
We’ve written about narcissists a fair amount here and today’s post shows us that the brains of narcissists are indeed very special—but not in a good way since they have “weakened frontostriatal connectivity”. But you probably knew that already. It’s a sort of neural disconnect, say the authors, between the self and reward. That disconnect may lead the narcissist to seek excessive reassurance from others. Researchers from the University of Kentucky at Lexington recruited 50 undergraduate...
August 5, 2015
We’ve written about narcissists a fair amount here and today’s post shows us that the brains of narcissists are indeed very special—but not in a good way since they have “weakened frontostriatal connectivity”. But you probably knew that already. It’s a sort of neural disconnect, say the authors, between the self and reward. That disconnect may lead the narcissist to seek excessive reassurance from others. Researchers from the University of Kentucky at Lexington recruited 50 undergraduate...
California Appellate Court Affirms Order Denying Motion to Compel Arbitration
August 4, 2015
In Pinela v. Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. (6/29/15) --- Cal.App.4th ---, the plaintiffs brought a class and PAGA representative action alleging a number of wage and hour violations. The trial court granted the defendant's motion to compel arbitration, except as to the PAGA claims. The trial court later reconsidered and denied the motion, holding that the arbitration agreement was illusory, The Court of Appeal affirmed, holding as follows: Under Code of Civil Procedure section 1008, a trial court...
August 4, 2015
In Pinela v. Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. (6/29/15) --- Cal.App.4th ---, the plaintiffs brought a class and PAGA representative action alleging a number of wage and hour violations. The trial court granted the defendant's motion to compel arbitration, except as to the PAGA claims. The trial court later reconsidered and denied the motion, holding that the arbitration agreement was illusory, The Court of Appeal affirmed, holding as follows: Under Code of Civil Procedure section 1008, a trial court...
Surprise! You Just Got Sued for Legal Malpractice
August 4, 2015
Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable. —Jane Austen When clients hire law firms to defend them in litigation, they are looking for many things. They want sound advice, they want effective advocacy on their behalf, they want to win, and they want all of this done for as little money as possible. But perhaps more important than all of this is the client’s desire not to be surprised. Indeed, there is no surer way to find yourself...
August 4, 2015
Surprises are foolish things. The pleasure is not enhanced, and the inconvenience is often considerable. —Jane Austen When clients hire law firms to defend them in litigation, they are looking for many things. They want sound advice, they want effective advocacy on their behalf, they want to win, and they want all of this done for as little money as possible. But perhaps more important than all of this is the client’s desire not to be surprised. Indeed, there is no surer way to find yourself...
Empirical Analysis of Opting Out of Workers’ Comp
August 4, 2015
Allison Morantz (Stanford) has just written and posted on SSRN the article I've been hoping to see ever since I practiced in Texas some 20 years ago -- Rethinking the Great Compromise: What Happens When Large Companies Opt Out of Workers' Compensation? Here's the abstract: The “great compromise” of workers’ compensation, whereby workers relinquished the right to sue their employers in exchange for no-fault insurance coverage for occupational injuries, was one of the great tort reforms of the Twentieth...
August 4, 2015
Allison Morantz (Stanford) has just written and posted on SSRN the article I've been hoping to see ever since I practiced in Texas some 20 years ago -- Rethinking the Great Compromise: What Happens When Large Companies Opt Out of Workers' Compensation? Here's the abstract: The “great compromise” of workers’ compensation, whereby workers relinquished the right to sue their employers in exchange for no-fault insurance coverage for occupational injuries, was one of the great tort reforms of the Twentieth...
Silicon Valley Company’s Software Starting to Take Divorces, Other Court Disputes Online
August 3, 2015
Imagine working out a divorce without hiring an attorney or stepping into court or disputing the tax assessment on your home completely online. A Silicon Valley company is starting to make both possibilities a reality with software that experts say represents the next wave of technology in which the law is turned into computer code that can solve legal battles without the need for a judge or attorney. "We're not quite at the Google car stage in law, but there are no conceptual or technical...
August 3, 2015
Imagine working out a divorce without hiring an attorney or stepping into court or disputing the tax assessment on your home completely online. A Silicon Valley company is starting to make both possibilities a reality with software that experts say represents the next wave of technology in which the law is turned into computer code that can solve legal battles without the need for a judge or attorney. "We're not quite at the Google car stage in law, but there are no conceptual or technical...
You’re Not Entitled to Privacy When You Make a “Butt Call”!
August 3, 2015
A court ruled that there is no privacy to people who make “butt calls” and particularly when the party making the “butt call” admitted “that he was aware of the risk of making inadvertent pocket-dial calls and had previously made such calls on his cellphone.” On July 21, 2015 the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals considered in the case of Huff v. Spaw : …whether a person who listens to and subsequently electronically records a conversation from an inadvertent “pocket-dial” call violates...
August 3, 2015
A court ruled that there is no privacy to people who make “butt calls” and particularly when the party making the “butt call” admitted “that he was aware of the risk of making inadvertent pocket-dial calls and had previously made such calls on his cellphone.” On July 21, 2015 the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals considered in the case of Huff v. Spaw : …whether a person who listens to and subsequently electronically records a conversation from an inadvertent “pocket-dial” call violates...
Gerry Spence’s Classic “Bird” Closing Argument
August 3, 2015
Once there was a wise old man and a smart-aleck boy. The boy was driven by a single desire-to expose the wise old man as a fool. The smart aleck had a plan. He had captured a small and fragile bird in the forest. With the bird cupped in his hands so that the old man could not see it, the boy's scheme was to approach the old man and ask, "Old man, what do I have in my hand?" To which the wise old man would reply, "You have a bird, my son." Then the boy would ask, "Old man, is the bird...
August 3, 2015
Once there was a wise old man and a smart-aleck boy. The boy was driven by a single desire-to expose the wise old man as a fool. The smart aleck had a plan. He had captured a small and fragile bird in the forest. With the bird cupped in his hands so that the old man could not see it, the boy's scheme was to approach the old man and ask, "Old man, what do I have in my hand?" To which the wise old man would reply, "You have a bird, my son." Then the boy would ask, "Old man, is the bird...
LegalZoom Takes On A State Bar That Doesn’t Want Competition
August 2, 2015
In LegalZoom v. North Carolina State Bar Association, the innovative provider of affordable legal services has challenged...
August 2, 2015
In LegalZoom v. North Carolina State Bar Association, the innovative provider of affordable legal services has challenged...
Hilton Helps Guests Book Perfect Room With Google Maps APIs
August 2, 2015
No one likes surprises when they reserve hotel rooms, so it’s crucial for Hilton that people see exactly what they’ll be getting before they arrive. Currently, Hilton’s HHonors guests can use the HHonors website and app as a one-stop tool to control their on-property experience – from finding the best hotels in the right neighborhoods and booking the most suitable one, to soon, using the app as a room key. With a spirit of constant innovation, we’re always looking for new ways to enhance...
August 2, 2015
No one likes surprises when they reserve hotel rooms, so it’s crucial for Hilton that people see exactly what they’ll be getting before they arrive. Currently, Hilton’s HHonors guests can use the HHonors website and app as a one-stop tool to control their on-property experience – from finding the best hotels in the right neighborhoods and booking the most suitable one, to soon, using the app as a room key. With a spirit of constant innovation, we’re always looking for new ways to enhance...
A New Appellate Court Opinion on “Pocket Dialing”
August 2, 2015
Yes, I know we all call it something else other than "pocket dialing," but congratulations to the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for using a more polite term. Huff vs Spaw (Download in PDF) was issued this week. I don't usually comment on substantive law issues, but the facts on this one are pretty interesting. James Huff inadvertently placed a pocket-dial call to Carol Spaw while he was on a business trip in Italy. He discussed the possible firing of Spaw's supervisor first with a colleague...
August 2, 2015
Yes, I know we all call it something else other than "pocket dialing," but congratulations to the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for using a more polite term. Huff vs Spaw (Download in PDF) was issued this week. I don't usually comment on substantive law issues, but the facts on this one are pretty interesting. James Huff inadvertently placed a pocket-dial call to Carol Spaw while he was on a business trip in Italy. He discussed the possible firing of Spaw's supervisor first with a colleague...
