You Reap What You Patent – Justia Weekly Writers’ Picks

Bowman v. Monsanto, United States Supreme Court (5/13/13) Agriculture Law, Patents Monsanto invented and patented Roundup Ready soybean seeds, which contain a genetic alteration that allows them to survive exposure to the herbicide glyphosate. It sells the seeds subject to a licensing agreement that permits farmers to plant the purchased seed in only one growing season. Growers may consume or

Justia Writers’ Round Up – Supreme Court Opinions Issued May 13, 2013

Sign Up to Receive FREE Supreme Court Summaries by Email Bowman v. Monsanto Co. Agriculture Law, Patents Monsanto invented and patented Roundup Ready soybean seeds, which contain a genetic alteration that allows them to survive exposure to the herbicide glyphosate. It sells the seeds subject to a licensing agreement that permits farmers to plant the purchased seed in only one

Solidarity Forever – Justia’s Weekly Writers’ Picks

Bailey v. Callaghan, US 6th Cir. (5/9/13) Communications Law, Constitutional Law, Education Law, Labor & Employment Law Michigan’s 2012 Public Act 53 provides: “A public school employer’s use of public school resources to assist a labor organization in collecting dues or service fees from wages of public school employees is a prohibited contribution to the administration of a labor organization,”

Ripple in Still Water – Justia Weekly Writers’ Picks

United States v. Tebeau, US 8th Cir. (4/30/12) Criminal Law Defendant owned more than 300 acres of land where he has held weekend music festivals at which drug use was widespread. Defendant invited various bands to perform at the festivals and he also performed with his own Grateful Dead tribute band. After law enforcement conducted an undercover investigation into the

FastCase to Launch “Bad Law Bot”

A heads up that our friends at FastCase are about to launch the “Bad Law Bot” – or as they refer to it, their newest team member! No, this isn’t some evil case law robot sent to do us all harm from the future, but rather a cool enhancement to FastCase’s authority check feature. The Bad Law Bot algorithmically checks

Justia Weekly Writers’ Picks: One for the Road

Abdouch v. Lopez, Nebraska Supreme Court (4/19/13) Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Injury Law Plaintiff was a resident of Nebraska. In 1963, Plaintiff received a copy of the book “Revolutionary Road,” which was inscribed to her by the late author Richard Yates. Plaintiff’s inscribed copy of the book was later stolen. Ken Lopez and his company, Ken Lopez Bookseller (KLB), bought

Justia Weekly Writers’ Picks

Missouri v McNeely, United States Supreme Court (4/17/13) Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law McNeely, stopped for speeding and crossing the centerline, declined to take a breath test to measure his blood alcohol concentration (BAC). He was arrested and taken to a hospital. The officer never attempted to secure a search warrant. McNeely refused to consent, but the officer directed

Justia Weekly Writers’ Picks – What Would Sister Bertrille Do?

McCarthy v. Fuller, US 7th Cir (4/10/13) Constitutional Law, Contracts, Non-Profit Organizations In 1956, Sister Ephrem of the Most Precious Blood, experienced apparitions of the Virgin Mary, during which, Sister Ephrem claimed, she was told: “I am Our Lady of America.” The Archbishop supported a program of devotions to Our Lady of America. In 1965 Pope Paul VI approved creation

Justia Weekly Writers’ Picks – 4th Amendment Friday

Florida v. Jardines, United States Supreme Court (3/26/13) Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law Police took a drug-sniffing dog to Jardines’ front porch, where the dog gave a positive alert for narcotics. The officers then obtained a warrant for a search, which revealed marijuana plants. Jardines was charged with trafficking in cannabis. The Supreme Court of Florida approved the trial

Justia’s Weekly Writers’ Picks – Down by the Mystic River

In re Bulger, US 1st Cir. (3/14/13) Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Legal Ethics James “Whitey” Bulger was the leader of a criminal organization in Boston from 1972 to 1999. An indictment returned by a federal grand jury charged Bulger with a number of federal offenses, including violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, and the indictment alleged