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Wash U’s 2015 “Conducting Empirical Legal Scholarship” Workshop
January 31, 2015
Wash U's Center for Empirical Legal Research in the Law will host it's 14th annual Conducting Empirical Legal Scholarship...
January 31, 2015
Wash U's Center for Empirical Legal Research in the Law will host it's 14th annual Conducting Empirical Legal Scholarship...
Theme Park to Get Hotel Staffed by Robots
January 30, 2015
A hotel with robot staff and face recognition instead of room keys will open this summer in Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Prefecture, the operator of the theme park said Tuesday. The two-story Henn na Hotel is scheduled to open July 17. It will be promoted with the slogan “A Commitment for Evolution,” Huis Ten Bosch Co. said. The name reflects how the hotel will “change with cutting-edge technology,” a company official said. This is a play on words: “Henn” is also part of the Japanese...
January 30, 2015
A hotel with robot staff and face recognition instead of room keys will open this summer in Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Prefecture, the operator of the theme park said Tuesday. The two-story Henn na Hotel is scheduled to open July 17. It will be promoted with the slogan “A Commitment for Evolution,” Huis Ten Bosch Co. said. The name reflects how the hotel will “change with cutting-edge technology,” a company official said. This is a play on words: “Henn” is also part of the Japanese...
Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Aniston: Asking for More in Business Negotiation
January 30, 2015
“We’re very much a sexist society,” actress Jennifer Aniston said in a recent interview with the New York Times, addressing not just the constant questions she faces about marriage and children, but about recent revelations of pay discrimination in Hollywood. “Women are still not paid as much as men,” Aniston continued. “I’ve been up against that in negotiations myself.” Aniston was referring an interesting and damning tidbit concerning a business negotiation, leaked by the Sony...
January 30, 2015
“We’re very much a sexist society,” actress Jennifer Aniston said in a recent interview with the New York Times, addressing not just the constant questions she faces about marriage and children, but about recent revelations of pay discrimination in Hollywood. “Women are still not paid as much as men,” Aniston continued. “I’ve been up against that in negotiations myself.” Aniston was referring an interesting and damning tidbit concerning a business negotiation, leaked by the Sony...
Enforceable Mediated Settlement Agreements
January 30, 2015
A written settlement agreement reached after a mediation conducted pursuant to the Texas ADR Act is enforceable in the same manner as any other written contract. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §154.071 (“if the parties reach an agreement and execute a written agreement disposing of the dispute, the agreement is enforceable in the same manner as any other contract.”) General contract law applies to a settlement agreement, whether reached as a result of a mediation or through the parties’...
January 30, 2015
A written settlement agreement reached after a mediation conducted pursuant to the Texas ADR Act is enforceable in the same manner as any other written contract. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code Ann. §154.071 (“if the parties reach an agreement and execute a written agreement disposing of the dispute, the agreement is enforceable in the same manner as any other contract.”) General contract law applies to a settlement agreement, whether reached as a result of a mediation or through the parties’...
Court Appointed Mediator Qualifications and Credentialing
January 29, 2015
Texas law requires that State trial Courts be active in promoting alternative dispute resolution, and authorizes the Courts to refer cases to mediation and appoint mediators. Issues regarding mediator qualifications and ethics have finally resulted in mediator credentialing in Texas in a effort to assist the Courts, attorneys and the public in identifying mediators who have accomplished a meaningful level of mediator training and experience, and who have committed themselves to practice standards...
January 29, 2015
Texas law requires that State trial Courts be active in promoting alternative dispute resolution, and authorizes the Courts to refer cases to mediation and appoint mediators. Issues regarding mediator qualifications and ethics have finally resulted in mediator credentialing in Texas in a effort to assist the Courts, attorneys and the public in identifying mediators who have accomplished a meaningful level of mediator training and experience, and who have committed themselves to practice standards...
Redesigning ADR Protocols for Efficiency and Affordability
January 29, 2015
Considering the large number of mediators and other ADR service providers now actively involved in the Texas civil justice system, it seems reasonable to assume that most received their formal ADR training at one of Texas’ dispute resolution centers, law schools, or other academic institutions. If this assumption is correct, it also seems reasonable to assume that a significant number of Texas mediators continue to follow the same basic ADR protocols they learned during their early ADR training. While...
January 29, 2015
Considering the large number of mediators and other ADR service providers now actively involved in the Texas civil justice system, it seems reasonable to assume that most received their formal ADR training at one of Texas’ dispute resolution centers, law schools, or other academic institutions. If this assumption is correct, it also seems reasonable to assume that a significant number of Texas mediators continue to follow the same basic ADR protocols they learned during their early ADR training. While...
Bankruptcy Filings Drop Nearly 13 Percent in Calendar Year 2014
January 29, 2015
During the 12-month period ending December 31, 2014, 936,795 cases were filed in federal bankruptcy courts, down from the 1,071,932 bankruptcy cases filed in calendar year 2013—a 12.6 percent drop in filings. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts released these and the following bankruptcy statistics: Business and non-business bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2014. (Table F-2, Business and Nonbusiness Commenced by Chapter), 2013 and 2014 Bankruptcy Cases...
January 29, 2015
During the 12-month period ending December 31, 2014, 936,795 cases were filed in federal bankruptcy courts, down from the 1,071,932 bankruptcy cases filed in calendar year 2013—a 12.6 percent drop in filings. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts released these and the following bankruptcy statistics: Business and non-business bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending December 31, 2014. (Table F-2, Business and Nonbusiness Commenced by Chapter), 2013 and 2014 Bankruptcy Cases...
TWEET, ADR, TWEET
January 28, 2015
Haskell Murray (Belmont Business School) compiled the following list of ADR twitterers for would-be twitterees. He says that he is sure that the list is incomplete, but it is a good start. “Business” or “Law” notes whether the person teaches in a business school or a law school. If you have a twitter thingee of your own that you would like to add to the list, please add it as a comment. Max Bazerman (Harvard Business) – @MaxBazerman Kristen Blankley (Nebraska Law) – @ADR_Prof Bob...
January 28, 2015
Haskell Murray (Belmont Business School) compiled the following list of ADR twitterers for would-be twitterees. He says that he is sure that the list is incomplete, but it is a good start. “Business” or “Law” notes whether the person teaches in a business school or a law school. If you have a twitter thingee of your own that you would like to add to the list, please add it as a comment. Max Bazerman (Harvard Business) – @MaxBazerman Kristen Blankley (Nebraska Law) – @ADR_Prof Bob...
Small Firms Using Data Tools Too
January 28, 2015
You probably think of big data as the province of big firms. Those are the firms more likely to represent the large corporations that amass big data, advising about its retention, management and discovery. Large firms even use big data themselves for internal benchmarking and competitive intelligence. Big, it would seem, wields big. Small firms, however, also stand to benefit from big data. Various technology tools enable even solo lawyers to analyze large data sets in ways that provide them with...
January 28, 2015
You probably think of big data as the province of big firms. Those are the firms more likely to represent the large corporations that amass big data, advising about its retention, management and discovery. Large firms even use big data themselves for internal benchmarking and competitive intelligence. Big, it would seem, wields big. Small firms, however, also stand to benefit from big data. Various technology tools enable even solo lawyers to analyze large data sets in ways that provide them with...
Should Google Stop Pointing Out Police Cars on Waze Traffic App?
January 28, 2015
Add law enforcement officers to the list of those concerned about personal privacy and safety implications of Internet tracking. Among other services provided by Waze, the popular Google traffic application makes it easy for drivers to share with fellow motorists the location of any speed traps they spot. However, some fear the app also could aid those targeting law enforcement officers, the Associated Press reports. Among those concerned about a potential threat is Sheriff Mike Brown of Bedford...
January 28, 2015
Add law enforcement officers to the list of those concerned about personal privacy and safety implications of Internet tracking. Among other services provided by Waze, the popular Google traffic application makes it easy for drivers to share with fellow motorists the location of any speed traps they spot. However, some fear the app also could aid those targeting law enforcement officers, the Associated Press reports. Among those concerned about a potential threat is Sheriff Mike Brown of Bedford...
