Where there's smoke
2/19/13
By Suhrith Parthasarathy
New Zealand is expected to be the first country after
Australia to force cigarette makers to sell their products in
plain packages, reports the Sydney Morning Herald. Tariana
Turia, New Zealand's associate minister of health, announced on
Tuesday a plan to introduce legislation that will standardize
the color and design of packets and vowed that the law, once
passed, "will remove the last remaining vestige of glamour from
these deadly products."
There is, however, a wrinkle to Turia's proposal. Several
tobacco-growing nations, led by the Ukraine, are challenging the
Australian law in front of the World Trade Organization, and
Turia said she won't introduce her legislation until the WTO
challenges are resolved. Phillip Morris International is also
pursuing a case in international arbitration, arguing that the
Australian proposal violates an investment treaty with Hong
Kong, causing billions of dollars in damages.
Noteworthy question
2/19/13
By Dan Brillman
Much is made of Clarence Thomas's penchant for not asking
questions from the bench. Oh, the silent partner of the Supreme
Court may crack a joke once every seven years, and away from the
court he is a hot ticket on the legal speaking circuit. But what
if he has a burning question during oral arguments?
Well, just asking it would be too easy. So he writes it down
and slides it over to Justice Stephen Breyer, reports TheWashington Post (hat tip: ABA Journal).
At a recent speech at Harvard, Thomas revealed he sometimes
passes notes to his colleague that ask "What about this, Steve?"
"I'll say it was just something I was throwing out," he
continued, with a reported chuckle to the audience. "So you can
blame some of those Breyer questions on me."
I am the walrus
2/19/13
By Caitlin Tremblay
A Canadian man dubbed the "Kanye West of walrus training" is
the target of a new lawsuit.
Philip Demers, a walrus trainer in Niagara Falls, Ontario,
is being sued by Marineland, the theme park that employed him
until 2012, according to ABC News. Among the charges: Demers
trespassed and intimidated and then plotted to steal Smooshi, a
walrus with whom he had a close relationship, according to the
complaint.
Marineland says Demers became "upset and displeased" after
his pitch for a reality TV show called "The Walrus Whisperer"
was rejected in August 2011. The show billed Demers as the Kanye
West of walrus training for being outspoken and dramatic.
Demers, who left his job at the theme park in August 2012, says
the reality TV rejection had nothing to do with his resignation.
He has since become an outspoken critic of Marineland, claiming
the animals live in poor conditions.
Canada's Accredited Zoos and Aquariums investigated Demers's
claims but concluded that Marineland was doing everything by the
book. Demers says he is skeptical of the findings because the
organiztion has a close relationship with Marineland.
The theme park hasn't commented further on the lawsuit filed
in Ontario but Demers has hopes he and the walrus will be
reunited soon. "Smooshi and I share an anomaly of a relationship
which continues to inspire me, and I do dream of a day when we
can be reunited," he told ABC News.
Summary Judgments for February 15
Summary Judgments for February 14
Summary Judgments for February 13
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