December 2010

New case from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals addressing the Louisiana Rule and contribution among settling defendants.  The case is Combo Mar., Inc. v. U.S. United Bulk Terminal, LLC, 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 17644 and can be found  here.

This case arises from an allision caused by drifting barges in Louisiana.  Several defendants were sued

New welding fume/government contractor defense case (with LHWCA discussion) from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.  The case is Jowers v. Lincoln Elec. Co., 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 17862 and can be found here.

Facts:  A worker was exposed to manganese fumes while working on Navy ships.  He developed Manganese-induced Parkisonism and brought suit against the

The Vermont Law Review has published an article authored by me and my Damon Key colleagues (and fellow law bloggers) Robert H. Thomas and Tred EyerlyOf Woodchucks and Prune Yards: A View of Judicial Takings From the Trenches, 35 Vt. L. Rev. 437 (2010)(Download here)

Our introduction is a reference

First note:  One commonality between this blog (ocean related legal issues) and a good chunk of my day job (land use litigation) is federalism.  So, when a federalism case pops up…well, you’ll have to indulge me.

Second note:  It is not often that the federal government will sue a municipality for the laws they pass.  But, in this case