7 Steps to Batten Down Your Financial Hatches Experts forecast that this year's hurricane season, which officially begins today, June 1, will be another doozy, with an above-normal number of storms. (4 views)
Bad Law, Good End A few vivid memories floated to the surface last week with the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in the Great Wine Cases. The majority was right as a matter of public policy. The dissenters were right as a matter of constitutional law. (3 views)
Long after mines shut down, Alaska outpost braves the elements Nobody mentioned a morning wake-up call when I checked in at Ma Johnson's Hotel in McCarthy, Alaska, but I got one anyway. Instead of a cheery voice from a bedside phone (there wasn't one), however, it was a 6 a.m. shotgun blast outside my second-floor window. (1155 views)
Buying a House Is Easy! Every day I strive to simplify the unnecessarily complicated, to remove the veil of secrecy and confusion that cloaks financial decisions, and to illuminate the path to economic enlightenment with an easy-to-follow blueprint. It is in that spirit that in recent months I have been shirking deadlines and letting my voicemail and email boxes overflow in order to devote myself... (9 views)
Jury Trial Waivers, Are They ''Knowing, Voluntary, or Intelligent''? Several weeks ago, we covered jury trial waivers (see ''Employee Dispute Resolution Programs - Jury Trial Waivers Instead of Arbitration Clauses''). That article looked at the employer's side of the argument. This week, we return to the topic, but from the plaintiff's point of view. (588 views)
Finding sanctuary on Kiawah There's something inside the canopy of live oaks over Bohicket Road near Charleston, S.C., that'll slow you down as you enter Kiawah Island. The "Gone With the Wind" glide-along is all part of the arrival drama guests experience as they approach The Sanctuary, the new beach-side hotel that resembles a commanding 19th century seaside mansion. (258 views)
The judicial life of Harry Andrew Blackmun by Biographer Linda Greenhouse ''The roof, indeed, has caved in upon my family and me.'' That was Harry Blackmun's reaction in the spring of 1970 when President Nixon named him to the Supreme Court. Blackmun's forebodings were remarkably prescient. He served on the high court for 24 years. For most of that time he served under a caved-in roof. Upon retirement he joined John Marshall, Roger Taney and... (31 views)
Act 2 Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, for which the first was made. — Robert Browning (34 views)
Expert Witnesses in Litigation: When to Use Them, How to Find Them When Jan Conlin a partner with Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi first began practicing law, she thought she would have a career in the products liability and mass tort fields. But her firm landed some large intellectual property (IP) cases, and she was recruited to work on them. Her cases have dealt with everything from autofocus technology to postage meters to Web... (120 views)
Low Interest Rates Make it the Best Time to Cosolidate Loans Law school financial aid offices across the country are urging soon-to-be graduates to consolidate their student loans before the quickly approaching July 1 deadline. (61 views)
A Wonderland Called theFjords of Norway Pulpit Rock comes on you suddenly. You round a corner and a column of granite simply stops flat. Those already there sit on a broad shelf of rock and unpack their sandwiches and drinks, some with their legs dangling over the edge. There is no guardrail, of course. Preikestolen, Pulpit Rock's Norwegian name, is several stories higher than the Empire State Building. It's one... (41 views)
Family Battles and the Fourth Amendment When a wife says yes, and her husband says no, who wins? We're talking courtrooms, not bedrooms, and we're talking specifically of Georgia v. Randolph. Last month the Supreme Court decided to hear the case. (10 views)
Never Pay Retail and the Best Time to Buy Mom was right about saving money on groceries by shopping on a full stomach. And though you may have felt like the Michelin Man, she had a point about layering, layering, layering until coats went on sale in February. (5 views)
How to Efficently Manage Your Legal Career In 1982, Mary Baquero acquired her Bachelor's degree from the College of St. Catherine. While her three children were growing up, she worked as a legal assistant. It wasn't her dream job, but it helped pay the bills and introduced her to the practice of law. Still, she thought she could do better. (17 views)
The Unforgettable Memories of Golden Pond Manor in New Hampshire There really is a Golden Pond. From my room's terrace overlooking Squam Lake in New Hampshire, I watched the day turn to dusk and listened to the haunting songlike calls of loons in the distance. The search ended here when movie producers wandered New England looking for the perfect lake to film ''On Golden Pond,'' the poignant, Oscar-winning story about love, growing old... (208 views)
The Case between the Devil vs God and the First Amendment Law Is God about to be expelled from the public schools of Florida, Alabama and Georgia? Maybe so, if the Supreme Court lets a lower court's opinion stand in a case appealed by Sharah Harris' mom. (21 views)
Who Wants Your Stinkin' Identity? Just give me one second... I know I've got your Social Security number, date of birth, and history of home addresses and credit cards lying around here somewhere. Hey, that's where I put my sunglasses... (13 views)
The Art of the Marquesas Islands Allures Visitors MARQUESAS ISLANDS - A growing interest in South Pacific art has recently become evident in the United States. In San Francisco, the newly constructed de Young Museum's permanent collection will have a major emphasis in the art of Africa, Oceania and the Americas. (299 views)
Striking a Blow for Federalism In the cases of James Maxwell and Alvin Smith, the underlying elements are clear: The defendants liked to look at photographs of naked boys and girls. The question presented in two cases now pending in the Supreme Court is whether their dirty little hobby violated federal law. (19 views)
The Scary Stage of Retirement and Pensions My good friend Billy Bob Rutabaga told me that he didn't just fall off the turnip truck. Billy Bob was my lab partner. We were both taking a course in automotive electricity at the community college. I was amusing myself. Billy Bob wanted a better life for himself and his family. (5 views)
Attorneys to pay Tax on Contigency Fees taken from Plaintiffs When your clients are suing their employers, or former employees, probably the last thing on their minds is tax liability. But thanks to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, lawyers need to be discussing tax liability issues with their clients, whether the employee or employer. (41 views)
Bicycling Tour of the Farmlands of France: Explore French Countryside with a Bicycle BOURGES, France - The Central Loire Valley spreads like a tablecloth under Paris, a land rich in agricultural resources, royal chateaux and fine vineyards. It is a flat, rolling land strewn with the color of fruit orchards, corn fields, vegetables and sunflowers, with white Charolais cattle, goats, horses and sheep grazing together amid rolled golden hay bales baking in... (70 views)
New Mexico Church Gives Hope to Pregnant Teens: How A Little Church is Having Big Impact The question is, When is a ''compelling governmental interest'' really, truly, a compelling governmental interest? At some point in its October term, the Supreme Court will take one more look at that abiding question. (77 views)
Don't Hate Me Because I'm Fabulous Being fabulous can be such a burden — the covetous glances, the minimally hushed comments (''Check her out''), and all that fawning (''It must be so awesome being you!''). (15 views)
Maximize Pro Bono Legal Services with Little-Known Cy Pres Awards Pro bono legal services for Washington, DC, consumers saw a real boost this past winter with a $10-million donation divvied up between four law student clinical programs in the region. The windfall was a cy pres award stemming from a class-action lawsuit against a cable company accused of overcharging customers. (119 views)
Cruise Through Europe in Luxury: How the Ship Became Home Away from Home Looking back over the 12 days my husband and I spent aboard the Brilliance of the Sea, it is difficult to decide which was the best - the ship or the ports of call. They each offered so much. (25 views)
Miranda Rights: What You Need To Know About Constitutional Protections Verily, verily, just as the Preacher might have said, of the making of Miranda cases there shall be no end. On Monday, in Maryland v. Blake, the Supreme Court agreed to hear yet another one. (162 views)
How to Take Advantage of the 'Court of Peeves' for Your Legal Practice The Court of Peeves, Crotchets & Irks opens its April assizes with a motion from Phyllis Urban of Bedford, Ind., to ban such grammatical insults as ''the fugitive went missing in March.'' The court has banned ''went missing'' before, to absolutely no effect, but willingly will ban it again. Into exterior darkness, go! (15 views)
A Beginner's Guide to Visiting Rome: Tips and Tricks for a Memorable Trip With the eyes of the world recently focused on Rome following the death of Pope John Paul II, many who love the Eternal City have a stronger than ever yearning to return, and those who have long wished to visit are now more certain than ever that they must see it. (45 views)