Archive for the 'Notes' Category

Carvin’s Charges

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

I’ll have to post a precis of the argument in chunks. For now, I’ll try to quickly recap some of the industry’s position, as expressed by Michael Carvin in the first 1/2 hour of argument. This is by no means a complete recap of the issues. Yet, the wire services just don’t have room for […]

Orphan in the storm

Tuesday, October 14th, 2008

Imagine you’re in a strange, rough country. You see a boy being beaten unmercifully in the street by an older boy who is shouting, “Thief! Cheat! Liar!”
Thank goodness, you see 3 cops come to break it up. But the cops take the older boy’s word, and start hitting the child too, yelling, “You thief! […]

DOJ Appeal–Oral Arguments Set for Oct. 14.

Friday, June 13th, 2008

“It is ORDERED, on the court’s own motion, that this case be scheduled for oral argument on October 14, 2008, at 9:30 A.M., before Chief Judge Sentelle and Circuit Judges Tatel and Brown.”
The following is the text of the Clerk’s Order, June 11, 2008:
United States Court of Appeals
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
____________
No. 06-5267 September […]

2007-07-24 MULHOLLAND v ALTRIA Decision

Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

MULHOLLAND v ALTRIA Decision, July 24, 2007

more emerges on Bush interference with prosecution

Thursday, July 12th, 2007

This week Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel that when he was Surgeon General, the Bush administration repeatedly watered down or suppressed his public health efforts, including those on tobacco and secondhand smoke.
Dr. Carmona served as Surgeon General from 2002 to 2006. During that time he was invited to testify in the DoJ tobacco […]

Eubanks Speaks out on Tobacco Case, Attorney Firings

Friday, March 23rd, 2007

Followers of this blog have undoubtedly read Carol Leonnig’s Washington Post Page One story about lead prosecutor Sharon Eubanks’ allegations of political interference in the latter days of the tobacco trial.
However, the NPR audio interview by John Ydstie with Eubanks has several noteworthy segments which should be written down for posterity:
1. When asked if Gonzales […]

fuller picture of Bush interference

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

An article in today’s Washingon Post provides a fuller and more detailed picture of the Bush administration’s political interference in the trial. Sharon Eubanks, the leader of the Justice team, provides new details on what happened and who did what.
The evidence that the Bush administration political interference, via political appointee, Robert D. McCollum, had forced […]

“LIGHT” AD RESTRICTIONS APPLY OUTSIDE US, KESSLER RULES

Friday, March 16th, 2007

From Judge Kessler’s Memo on Order #1028, issued March 16, 2007:
In sum, the Court concludes that the provisions in the Remedial Order prohibiting the use of express or implied health messages or descriptors in Section II. A. 4. do apply to actions of the Defendants taken outside the United States. To rule otherwise would not […]

DR. LANE MAKES HIS CASE FOR AFLATOXIN

Tuesday, December 19th, 2006

Dr. Kerry Lane has been investigating the link between the cigarette ingredient aflatoxin and cancer for many years now. On December 4, 2006, he set forth his case in an accompanying brief to his request to file the brief as amicus curiae.
Dr. Lane’s brief is unlikely to be accepted. It’s certainly late(!), and aflatoxin has […]

COURT OF APPEALS GRANTS STAY OF KESSLER JUDGEMENT

Monday, November 13th, 2006

On Oct. 31, 2006, a 3-judge DC Court of Appeals panel granted the Defense’s motion to stay Judge Kessler’s Judgement and Order.
It’s odd, to me, that no news source pointed out that the panel included, once again, Judges Sentelle and Tatel. Judge Sentelle, once again, found for tobacco. Judge Tatel, once again, dissented from […]