Decide

Homeless Woman vs. Grants Pass: Supreme Court to Decide Landmark Case on Criminalizing Survival

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Portland, Oregon – Ed Johnson, a prominent lawyer and tour guide at the U.S. Supreme Court in the late 1980s, is set to return to the iconic building on April 22. However, this time he won’t be giving tours. Johnson, the director of litigation at the Oregon Law Center, will be involved in arguing “Grants Pass v. Johnson,” a significant case that could shape how cities address the issue of homelessness. In this case, Johnson will be representing Gloria Johnson, a homeless woman who alleges that the Grants Pass police attempted to force her out … Read more

Missouri Legislator Proposes Letting Juries Solely Decide Death Penalty for Convicted Murderers

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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri – A proposed bill in Missouri is seeking to change the way the death penalty is implemented in the state. Currently, if a jury cannot come to a unanimous decision on a prison sentence for someone convicted of first-degree murder, the trial judge has the authority to decide whether the person should be sentenced to death. However, Representative Bishop Davidson, a Republican from Republic, is sponsoring a bill that would only allow juries to make this decision, excluding the role of the judge. The bill aims to address concerns about the fairness … Read more

The Supreme Court to Decide on Insurer Participation in Bankruptcies, Potentially Impacting the Surge in Mass Tort Lawsuits

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New York, NY – A case coming before the U.S. Supreme Court this term may have far-reaching consequences for the nation’s mass tort lawsuits. The issue at hand is whether insurers should be allowed to participate in bankruptcies where tort claims are involved. Currently, debtors and creditors have the right to participate, but insurers are often left out. The question is whether insurers, who play a role in defending tort cases, should be considered “party-in-interest” and have a say in the bankruptcy process. The Supreme Court will weigh in on this issue in the case … Read more

Supreme Court to Decide on Unconventional Bankruptcy Maneuver in Public Harms Litigation

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Washington, D.C. – In an era of unprecedented civil procedure tactics, corporations facing public harm litigation are increasingly turning to bankruptcy court as an alternative to traditional civil litigation. From the Catholic Diocese and Boy Scouts in abuse cases to Johnson & Johnson’s talc litigation, corporations are leveraging bankruptcy’s special powers to address pending claims that traditional tort litigation has failed to resolve efficiently. The Supreme Court is set to hear Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy deal, which raises questions about the effectiveness of using bankruptcy court in resolving public health crises and whether it circumvents the … Read more