Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.03.23

* Welcome to 2023! We're getting a new USNWR ranking system in response to the quasi-boycott. Among the changes, the magazine says it will no longer consider student debt, which critics claimed incentivized admitting rich students. Weird that we call them the 1% for a reason but they're just coming out of the woodwork when law schools want cover for high tuition. [NY Times] * Alan Dershowitz argues that he shouldn't be sanctioned in the Kari Lake suit because when his name ended up on the court filings he had only meant to opine on a limited legal issue that wasn't cited in the sanctions order. It seems to me that the right conclusion is that he's got a claim against the other lawyers if they really put his name on it without his consent... but not a claim to be shielded from sanctions. [Arizona Capitol Times] * Lawsuits continue pursuing insurance payouts for lost business during COVID. Even with policies that had no protection against pandemics, courts have so far taken the stance that the only "business losses" protected against COVID are the risk of insurers losing revenue. [Reuters] * New Hogan Lovells spinoff seeks more rate flexibility. That possibly adds some color to this rumored Shearman merger. [Law.com] * Did you know that all crimes against opossums were legal for the last five days in North Carolina? [NC Rabbithole] * Associated Press wants you to know that legalizing marijuana has led to a spike in kids accidentally eating edibles. Weird that "guns" remain the leading cause of death among children but we're not hearing the same moral panic as when a kid turns off Paw Patrol to zone out to Phish. [AP]

By Joe Patrice on January 03, 2023 9:01 am

Winners podium* Welcome to 2023! We’re getting a new USNWR ranking system in response to the quasi-boycott. Among the changes, the magazine says it will no longer consider student debt, which critics claimed incentivized admitting rich students. Weird that we call them the 1% for a reason but they’re just coming out of the woodwork when law schools want cover for high tuition. [NY Times]

* Alan Dershowitz argues that he shouldn’t be sanctioned in the Kari Lake suit because when his name ended up on the court filings he had only meant to opine on a limited legal issue that wasn’t cited in the sanctions order. It seems to me that the right conclusion is that he’s got a claim against the other lawyers if they really put his name on it without his consent… but not a claim to be shielded from sanctions. [Arizona Capitol Times]

* Lawsuits continue pursuing insurance payouts for lost business during COVID. Even with policies that had no protection against pandemics, courts have so far taken the stance that the only “business losses” protected against COVID are the risk of insurers losing revenue. [Reuters]

* New Hogan Lovells spinoff seeks more rate flexibility. That possibly adds some color to this rumored Shearman merger. [Law.com]

* Did you know that all crimes against opossums were legal for the last five days in North Carolina? [NC Rabbithole]

* Associated Press wants you to know that legalizing marijuana has led to a spike in kids accidentally eating edibles. Weird that “guns” remain the leading cause of death among children but we’re not hearing the same moral panic as when a kid turns off Paw Patrol to zone out to Phish. [AP]