Paul & Sugerman PC

Two stories in today's news provide court-side glimpses of two forms of market abuse that led us skipping down the garden path to the cratered economy. In this one from the Oregonian you can learn all about the alleged scams by various Oregon flimflam men who saw that the trough was unguarded. They apparently goosed...

Here's a half-decent summary of how mandatory arbitration clauses strip away patients and families' ability to hold bad nursing homes accountable for abusive care. It's only half right, though, as the writer misses the most significant problem with mandatory arbitration clauses. Too often, they come with rules that make pursuit of any claim impossible. As well,...

Special guest today. I received a lengthy email from one of the jurors in the Craig Berkman/Arthur Andersen case, and I've republished most of it below. The juror is Karmen, a woman, who identifies herself as a juror who sat on the recent Berkman trial. Here is her account, which I've edited just a bit...

The outcome of the Berkman investment fraud trial-a $36 million verdict against Craig Berkman-isn't all that surprising to casual observers. A few twists: the jury concluded that the defunct accounting firm, Arthur Andersen was on the hook for $23 million, with Berkman on for $13 million. The article is interesting for more, as it gives a...

Here's a nice summary of an important trial result in Portland. Lois Whitmore, a healthy and active 78-year old Wal-Mart shopper suffered life-changing injuries when a Wal-Mart fixture fell and broke her foot. Before the injuries, Ms. Whitmore walked several miles a day, and after each step caused her pain. Kudos to my friend and colleague,...

By the narrowest of margins, the U.S. Supreme Court reportedly recognized that the right of habeas corpus applies to detainees at Guantanmo Bay. The opinion is not yet up on the Supreme Court's website, so I haven't been able to look at it first hand. Maybe this seems distant and esoteric. While many of us question...

The U.S. Supreme Court granted cert in Williams v. Philip Morris again, but it's a little quick for Philip Morris to start celebrating, as it's a long way to a reversal. Here's the kind of analysis, from Portland's Ater Wynne, that drives me to drink: "The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to review only whether the...