Category: Feature
Physician-Assisted Suicide: Legislatures Should Take Action
By: Karli Cozen When a terminally-ill person with only a few months to live is experiencing great pain and suffering, shouldn’t the law empower them to end that suffering and die on their own terms? The Supreme Court addressed the issue of physician-assisted suicide in Washington v. Glucksberg. In this 1997 case, the Supreme Court…
Oct 2016
The Converse Shoe Case: Why We Should “Chuck” the Aesthetic Functionality Doctrine
By Max Scharf Converse is currently in the midst of litigation which seems to completely depend on the status of the aesthetic functionality doctrine. When consumers think of Converse, they often think of their Converse All Star sneakers (as seen below), also known as “Chuck Taylors.” In October 2014, Converse filed suit against Wal-Mart (and…
Mar 2016
Pharma Bro and Drug Prices
On a global scale, the pharmaceutical industry makes about 300 billion dollars a year. One third of that market is controlled by ten of the largest drug companies. Six of those companies are based in the United States. It seems that much of the success of these pharmaceutical companies comes at the expense of providing…
Mar 2016
Follow the Crowdfunding
By Dan Ovadia What is Crowdfunding? Crowdfunding is the process by which a business raises a relatively small amount of capital from a large number of funders. Crowdfunding networks rely on social media to get the word out about their product while attracting a broad base of supporters. The crowdfunding concept has arguably existed as…
Mar 2016
NFL & Concussions: Should the League Be Liable?
By: Alyssa Jones Football is ingrained in American culture. This has been evidenced by the fact that professional football has been voted as America’s favorite sport for thirty years straight. Furthermore, the recent Super Bowl 50 garnered 111.9 million television viewers. And the National Football League (“NFL”) grosses over seven billion dollars annually. Yet, despite…
Mar 2016
Affirmative Action: Why Fisher I matters even more
Abigail Fisher. Photo credit: The Daily Texan With the Black Lives Matter movement gaining support nationwide, the release of Turning the Tide, a report by Harvard’s Graduate School of Education recommending a college-admissions overhaul, and Fisher v. University of Texas-Austin (“Fisher II”) pending, affirmative action is back in the spotlight just in time for…
Mar 2016
Is the NFL liable for player’s concussions?
Football is ingrained in American culture. This has been evidenced by the fact that professional football has been voted as America’s favorite sport for thirty years straight. Furthermore, the recent Super Bowl 50 garnered 111.9 million television viewers. And the National Football League (“NFL”) grosses over seven billion dollars annually. Yet, despite our country’s…
Mar 2016
Police and Mental Illness: A Deadly Combination
“Let me stress the ‘help’ part, this was a call for help.” –Mary Wilsey “I didn’t call for them to take him to the morgue, I called for medical help.” –Shirley Harrison Throughout childhood you were taught that whenever there is an emergency you call 911-you call the police-and they will come and help…
Feb 2016
Zubik v. Burwell: The Contraceptive Coverage Mandate Returns to the Supreme Court
ACA and RFRA: Setting the Scene The Affordable Care Act (ACA, commonly known as Obamacare) requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide health insurance. This insurance must cover certain contraceptive methods, including the so-called “morning after” pill. However, regulations under the ACA allow non-profit religious organizations to opt-out of providing contraceptive coverage to…
Feb 2016
Is This Really Legal? Warrantless Entry, Arrest, and Excessive Force in Alabama
A recent post-game celebration in Tuscaloosa, Alabama received national attention after local news reported an altercation between University of Alabama students and local police. Videos of the incident, captured by bystanders, paint a violent picture as police tasered students multiple times, threw them to the ground, struck them with batons and dragged them outside of…
Jan 2016