Legal Talk Network » Boston University School of Law

The Constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act

admin — Tue, 01 May 2012 19:17:31 +0000

There is a great debate before the U.S. Supreme Court on whether the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act minimum coverage provision is in fact constitutional. For insight into the case, host David Yas, a BU Law alum, former publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a V.P. at Bernstein Global Wealth, turns to Wendy Mariner, professor of law at BU School of Law and the lead author of an amicus brief submitted to the court by more than 100 health law professors. Together, they discuss Department of Health and Human Services v. Florida and the amicus brief, and examine some of the interesting points that arose during the court’s oral arguments.

Shareholder Activism

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 14:13:00 +0000

In this BU Law podcast, host David Yas, a BU Law alum, former publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a V.P. at Bernstein Global Wealth, welcomes David H. Webber, associate professor of law at BU Law, to talk about his interesting research in the area of shareholder activism and his paper “The Plight of the Individual Investor in Securities Class Actions,“ which will soon be published in the Northwestern University Law Review. Together they look at the forces that are driving shareholder activism, the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, corporate governance reform and how to remedy conflicts between institutional and individual investors in class actions.

The Impact of BU Law’s LL.M. Programs

admin — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:32:30 +0000

BU Law has offered a post-graduate legal education leading to the Master of Laws degree for more than 125 years. In this BU Law podcast, host David Yas, a BU Law alum, former publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a V.P. at Bernstein Global Wealth, welcomes John N. Riccardi, BU Law’s assistant dean for Graduate and International Programs and director of the Office of Graduate and International Programs, to take a look at the School’s graduate programs for international lawyers. Later in the program, David is joined by former student Johan S. Ellefsen, who talks about his experience with the LL.M. program and where he is today.

The Economic Impact of Lawsuits by Patent Trolls

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:28:44 +0000

Patent litigation has taken off in recent decades. While many of the most visible patent lawsuits are initiated by major technology companies seeking to gain leverage over competitors, an increasing number are brought by patent trolls—firms that acquire patents with no intention of developing a technology with them, but instead use them to threaten practicing companies with litigation over alleged infringements. In this BU Law podcast, host David Yas, a BU Law alum, former publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a V.P. at Bernstein Global Wealth, joins James E. Bessen, lecturer in law at Boston University School of Law and a faculty associate at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard, to talk about his paper, The Private and Social Costs of Patent Trolls. Together they discuss the economic impact of the surge in lawsuits by patent trolls, the potential for legislation to solve this problem, and how the patent war is ultimately affecting innovation.

Gender Equality in Citizenship Laws

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:02:52 +0000

There is great debate over a law that makes it easier for mothers to transmit citizenship to their out-of-wedlock children than it is for fathers. In this edition of the BU Law podcast, host David Yas, a BU Law alum, former publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a V.P. at Bernstein Global Wealth welcomes Kristin A. Collins, Associate Professor of Law at BU School of Law, to spotlight the Supreme Court case Flores-Villar v. United States, the importance of gender equality in citizenship laws and reaction to the Supreme Court’s decision.

The Odd Clauses of the U.S. Constitution

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:45:40 +0000

The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land, and throughout history, legal provisions like the First Amendment and Second Amendment have taken center stage. But what about the lesser-known parts of our Constitution? In this edition of the BU Law podcast, host David Yas, a BU Law alum, former publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a V.P. at Bernstein Global Wealth, welcomes law professor and humorist Jay Wexler to discuss his new book, The Odd Clauses: Understanding the Constitution Through Ten of its Most Curious Provisions. In a wide-ranging conversation, they touch on constitutional oddities such as the Titles of Nobility Clause and the Letters of Marque Clause, and discuss instances where these long-ignored provisions have suddenly become headline news after decades or centuries in hibernation.

An Observation of Race and Reproductive Rights in a Medical Setting

admin — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 18:25:43 +0000

There is great debate over the current healthcare system and the treatment of the poor and women of color in a medical setting. In this edition of the BU Law podcast, host David Yas, a BU Law alum, former publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a V.P. at Bernstein Global Wealth welcomes Khiara M. Bridges, associate professor of law at BU School of Law and associate professor of anthropology, to discuss her new book, Reproducing Race: An Ethnography of Pregnancy as a Site of Racialization. Professor Bridges talks about her observations at a public hospital in Manhattan, her views on the state of the current healthcare system, how the new healthcare law will impact women of color and what needs to change in our society when it comes to race, public health and women’s issues.

Antibiotic Resistance and Health Law

admin — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 18:34:51 +0000

When we’re sick, our immediate response is to go to the doctor, and often times we’re given antibiotics to combat the ailment. There’s a growing problem today, which is that many microbes that cause infections in people are becoming resistant to antibiotics. To tackle the legal bugs of this issue, host David Yas, a BU Law alum, former publisher of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and a V.P. at Bernstein Global Wealth Management, talks with Kevin Outterson, associate professor and co-director of the Health Law Program at Boston University School of Law. They take a look at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s initiative to curb the overuse of antibiotics, the current legislation involving antibiotics and prescription privacy and how legal incentives can be used to address this public health issue.

Managing a Law Firm as a Business

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 19:58:05 +0000

Economic factors have fundamentally changed the way lawyers do business. It is much more competitive in the legal profession now and some even say the end has come for the billable hour! Host and media veteran, Dan Rea of WBZ-Radio 1030 welcomes James W. Jones, Co-managing director and senior vice president of Hildebrandt Baker Robbins, to discuss recent trends in the legal marketplace. Jim talks about technology, outsourcing, competition among firms and the skills that law grads will need to be successful, as law firms evolve their business models.

Representing Death Row Inmates

admin — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:49:00 +0000

A lawyer who has spent 30 years representing inmates who sit on death row is our guest on this edition of the BU Law podcast. Host and media veteran, Dan Rea of WBZ-Radio 1030 welcomes Kenneth J. Rose, senior staff attorney at the Center for Death Penalty Litigation in North Carolina, to spotlight the Center and their work with death row inmates. Dan and Ken discuss the personal 10-year battle to save a mentally challenged farmhand, Bo Jones from execution, the 2009 Racial Justice Act, misrepresentation by attorneys and the great debate over the death penalty.