Under a storm of controversy and additional “fixes” to healthcare reform, President Obama finally signed the highly contested health care bill into law. At least 14 States have filed suits challenging the constitutionality of the new Health Care Law. Lawyer2Lawyer host, J. Craig Williams, and guest co-host, David E. Frank welcome Lanny J. Davis, partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and David B. Rivkin, Jr., partner in the Washington office of Baker Hostetler LLP, to talk about these legal challenges to the new law.

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In every city and town in America, there has been an overwhelming reaction to the political gridlock in Washington D.C. over healthcare, economic recovery, taxes, Afghanistan (almost everything). So why can’t the lawyers in Congress who specialize in negotiating solutions to problems fix Washington?  Co-hosts and attorneys J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi welcome Attorney Philip K. Howard, a well-known leader of legal reform in America and founder of Common Good, to examine the problem.

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It’s estimated that about one thousand coal miners die every year from a disease commonly known as black lung. In this edition of Ringler Radio, host Larry Cohen welcomes Stephen A. Sanders, public interest lawyer and the Director of the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and Attorney John C. Cline, to discuss the latest in black lung litigation. Stephen and John will discuss the correlation between coal mine dust and black lung, legislation passed to help coal miners, the rise of black lung disease in younger miners and the impact this horrible disease has on miners and their families.

In the second part of Lawyer2Lawyer on the Google Books Settlement, attorneys and co-hosts J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi welcome Attorney Jonathan Band and Attorney Cindy Cohn, Legal Director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation , to take a closer look at the complex Google Books Settlement. They explore the deeper legal issues like privacy, copyright and antitrust issues, who this settlement could ultimately benefit or hurt and whether consumers are better off with or without a settlement.

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Access to more digital information or copyright infringement and privacy issues? Recently, Federal Judge Denny Chin postponed the controversial Google books settlement due to the voluminous amount of feedback on both sides of the settlement. Co-hosts and attorneys J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi welcome Professor James Grimmelmann, Associate Professor at New York Law School and a member of its Institute for Information Law and Policy and Attorney Jonathan Band, to talk about the latest developments in the Google Books Settlement. Later in the show, Bob and Craig will be joined by Lee Ann Enquist,  Vice President of West Professional Development, to discuss the new partnership between West LegalEdcenter and Legal Talk Network.

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State legislatures have recognized the need to protect people who have structured settlements.  On this edition of Ringler Radio, host Larry Cohen welcomes Ringler colleague, Jim Early, Senior Vice President-Eastern Region out of New Hampshire welcomes Attorney Peter Vodola from the law firm of Seiger, Gfeller, and Laurie in West Hartford, Connecticut, to discuss the California Structured Settlement Protection Act. They will discuss this new legislation, factoring and the role of the factoring companies and how  this act will ultimately protect consumers.

The legal and social debate over death with dignity and assisted suicide is reignited. Recently, the Death with Dignity bill surfaced in Massachusetts, where Representative Louis Kafka filed the bill on behalf of Al Lipkind of Stoughton, Massachusetts, who fought for legislation prior to his death after battling stomach cancer.Co-hosts and attorneys J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi welcome Barbara Coombs Lee, President of Compassion & Choices to look at both sides of the controversial Death with Dignity Act, assisted suicide, ethical objections and current legislation here in the States and abroad.

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Just recently 15-year old student Phoebe Prince from South Hadley, Massachusetts took her own life after she was being constantly “cyberbullied” by a group of students at her school.  Phoebe’s story is one of many that has left communities reeling, schools in the hot seat and parents enraged by the lack of protection of their children and a lack of discipline against the perpetrators. Co-hosts and attorneys J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi welcome David T. Tirella, partner at the firm Eaton, Powell & Tirella and Debra Johnston,  founder of Students For Safer Schools and mother of Jeffrey Johnston, a victim of cyberbullying, to discuss the latest in cyberbulling prevention, legislation against cyberbullying and what to do if your child becomes a victim.

For more information on Cyberbullying go to stopcyberbullying.org or bullypolice.org

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Tobacco litigation continues to pop up across the states and is growing internationally. On this edition of Ringler Radio, host Larry Cohen welcomes legendary tobacco industry insider and founder of the non-profit organization, Smoke-Free Kids, Inc., Dr. Jeffrey Wigand, to discuss the latest in tobacco litigation. Larry and Dr. Wigand will talk about the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, concerns about smokeless tobacco products and how to protect our children from the dangers of smoking.

Allison Myrick

Allison Myrick

The murder of a young woman in Massachusetts raises new questions about the laws and the legal system in cases involving abusive relationships.

19-year old Allison Myrick was stabbed to death  -  her ex-boyfriend charged with murder. Authorities and family members revealed details including two restraining orders which did not prevent this tragic crime.  Attorneys and co-hosts Bob Ambrogi and J. Craig Williams welcome Attorney Marsha Kazarosian from the Kazarosian Law Offices and the Honorable Judge Eugene M. Hyman from the Santa Clara County Superior Court in California, to explore what could have gone so terribly wrong. They will  look at how the legal system, lawyers, legislators and others can better protect victims in abusive relationships and how we as a community can prevent these tragedies.


Show Notes:
If you or someone you know is involved in an abusive relationship, call National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233) or contact Break The Cycle.  You may donate in Allison Myrick’s honor on line at: www.breakthecycle.org/donate or by phone at, 310-286-3383 x805

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