Incorporation of Standard Contract Terms on Websites
The draft of the American Law Institute’s Restatement of Consumer Contracts reflects the jurisdiction of the US courts on the ‘adoption’ (as the draft calls it) of standard contract terms into consumer contracts. This draft is of great value to European lawyers in understanding US developments, but it may also stimulate a reflection on the state and possible evolution of European legal systems.
Can Deputization Pacts Ease Tribes’ Jurisdiction Woes?
An article for Law360 details the difficulties that law enforcement agencies face in attempting to regulate and ensure public safety in Indian Country, an area of jurisdiction which includes the United States’ 300 reservations as well as other tribal lands.
Restatement of the Law, Liability Insurance: Practitioners’ Perspectives
Restatement of the Law, Liability Insurance (RLLI), was approved by membership at the 2018 Annual Meeting and the Official Text is now available. The project greatly benefited from its diverse and engaged Advisers and Members Consultative Group. In this Q&A, we posed questions to two of those most involved in the project.
Toward Clearer Guidance on Drafting Principles of the Law
The ALI Style Manual, a somewhat obscure publication that nonetheless plays an important role in our work, provides relatively clear drafting guidance for Restatements and model codes. Drafting guidelines for Principles projects, however, are not as well specified. This gap has led to some confusion and disagreement among project participants and inconsistencies in our drafts. My hope is that this letter’s focus on the issue will lead us to more consistency in our Principles projects.
In a Divergence From Other US Federal Circuits, The US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Rules That 28 U.S.C. § 1782 May Permit US Discovery for Use in Non-US Private Arbitrations
In contrast to its sister Circuits, a unanimous three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit held that the word “tribunal” in the relevant clause of Section 1782 includes private arbitrations. This decision could make it easier for parties engaged in non-US arbitrations to obtain discovery from US entities, particularly those that fall within the Sixth Circuit’s jurisdictional reach.
Oregon Ethics Watchdog to Secretary of State: Don’t Hire Family
Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno cannot hire her son, or any other family member, to work for her office without running afoul of the state’s conflict of interest law, Oregon’s ethics watchdog says.
The ALI Adviser is intended to inform readers about the legal topics and issues examined in many of ALI’s current projects; posts do not necessarily represent the position of the Institute taken in those projects. Posts on The ALI Adviser are written by ALI project participants, ALI members, and outside sources.