1st Circuit Case Commentaries

Non-Assignability Clauses and ERISA: Establishing Boundaries in Health Insurance Benefit Assignments

Date: Sep 12, 1998

Non-Assignability Clauses and ERISA: Establishing Boundaries in Health Insurance Benefit Assignments Introduction The case of City of Hope National Medical Center v. HealthPlus, Inc., 156 F.3d 223...

Strict Products Liability Limitations for Hotel Operators: Acosta-Mestre v. Hilton International

Date: Aug 26, 1998

Strict Products Liability Limitations for Hotel Operators: Acosta-Mestre v. Hilton International Introduction Acosta-Mestre v. Hilton International of Puerto Rico, Inc. is a pivotal case decided by...

Alvarez-Fonseca v. Pepsi Cola: Reinforcing Burden of Proof in Age Discrimination Claims

Date: Aug 6, 1998

Alvarez-Fonseca v. Pepsi Cola: Reinforcing Burden of Proof in Age Discrimination Claims Introduction The case of Jose R. Alvarez-Fonseca v. Pepsi Cola of Puerto Rico Bottling Company addresses...

Affirming UCC §2-207: Limitations on Damages-Limitation Clauses in Merchant-to-Merchant Contracts - Chipco v. Adell Plastics

Date: Aug 5, 1998

Affirming UCC §2-207: Limitations on Damages-Limitation Clauses in Merchant-to-Merchant Contracts Introduction In the landmark case of JOM, Inc., d/b/a Chipco International, Ltd. v. Adell Plastics,...

Essential Job Functions and Collective Bargaining Agreements Under ADA: Laurin v. Providence Hospital

Date: Jul 29, 1998

Essential Job Functions and Collective Bargaining Agreements Under ADA: Laurin v. Providence Hospital Introduction In the landmark case of Sharon Laurin v. The Providence Hospital and Massachusetts...

Clarifying Honest Services Fraud: First Circuit Upholds Convictions Under Revised Standards

Date: Jul 21, 1998

Clarifying Honest Services Fraud: First Circuit Upholds Convictions Under Revised Standards Introduction In the case of United States v. Francis H. Woodward, the United States Court of Appeals for...

Affirmation of HECK v. HUMPHREY in section 1983 Unconstitutional Conviction Claims

Date: Jul 21, 1998

Affirmation of HECK v. HUMPHREY in section 1983 Unconstitutional Conviction Claims Introduction In the appellate case JUSTINA FIGUEROA, A/K/A JUSTINA FIGUEROA ECHEVARRIA, ET AL. v. MIGUEL RIVERA,...

Defining Employee Status for Medical Malpractice Immunity: First Circuit's Decision in Torres Vargas v. Cummings

Date: Jul 11, 1998

Defining Employee Status for Medical Malpractice Immunity: First Circuit's Decision in Torres Vargas v. Cummings Introduction In the landmark case Ines Torres Vargas, et al. v. Dr. Manuel Santiago...

Supervisory Liability and Qualified Immunity: Insights from Grancid Camilo-Robles v. Defendants

Date: Jun 30, 1998

Supervisory Liability and Qualified Immunity: Insights from Grancid Camilo-Robles v. Defendants Introduction In the landmark case Grancid Camilo-Robles v. Dr. Guillermo Hoyos et al., the United...

Establishing Chapter 93A Liability for Bad Faith Payment Practices: Dooyang Corp. v. Arthur D. Little

Date: Jun 26, 1998

Establishing Chapter 93A Liability for Bad Faith Payment Practices: Dooyang Corp. v. Arthur D. Little Introduction In the landmark case of Arthur D. Little, Inc. v. Dooyang Corporation, decided on...

Protecting Attorney-Client Privilege Over Public Access: Siedle v. Putnam Investments

Date: Jun 17, 1998

Protecting Attorney-Client Privilege Over Public Access: Siedle v. Putnam Investments Introduction Edward A.H. Siedle, a former in-house counsel for Putnam Investments, Inc., initiated legal action...

Affirmation of ADA Protections for Employees with Mental Disabilities in Leave Requests

Date: Jun 6, 1998

Affirmation of ADA Protections for Employees with Mental Disabilities in Leave Requests Introduction The case of Elizabeth Criado v. IBM Corporation addresses significant issues under the Americans...

First Circuit Affirms Substantial Evidence Standard in ERISA Disability Disputes

Date: Jun 3, 1998

First Circuit Affirms Substantial Evidence Standard in ERISA Disability Disputes Introduction The case of Robert Doyle v. The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company, adjudicated by the United States...

Enforcing Capital Contribution Obligations in Real Estate Partnerships: Insights from Bank v. IBM

Date: May 30, 1998

Enforcing Capital Contribution Obligations in Real Estate Partnerships: Insights from Bank v. IBM Introduction The case of BANK v. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPoration (IBM), decided by the...

Terry v. Bayer Corporation: Affirmation of Disability Benefits Termination under ERISA Standards

Date: May 28, 1998

Terry v. Bayer Corporation: Affirmation of Disability Benefits Termination under ERISA Standards Introduction Terry v. Bayer Corporation, 145 F.3d 28 (1st Cir. 1998), presents a significant appellate...

Interpreting AEDPA § 2254(d)(1): Establishing a Two-Step Framework in O'Brien v. Dubois

Date: May 27, 1998

Interpreting AEDPA § 2254(d)(1): Establishing a Two-Step Framework in O'Brien v. Dubois Introduction Robert O'Brien v. Larry E. Dubois, a landmark case decided by the United States Court of Appeals...

Retaliation in Employment Law: Provencher v. CVS Pharmacy Establishes Clarified Standards

Date: May 27, 1998

Retaliation in Employment Law: Provencher v. CVS Pharmacy Establishes Clarified Standards Introduction Provencher v. CVS Pharmacy is a landmark case adjudicated by the United States Court of Appeals...

Negligence and Evidence Destruction: Insights from Testa v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Date: May 22, 1998

Negligence and Evidence Destruction: Insights from Testa v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Introduction In the landmark case of Louis R. Testa v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., decided on May 21, 1998, the United...

Broad Interpretation of FMLA Protections Affirmed in Hodgens v. General Dynamics

Date: May 22, 1998

Broad Interpretation of FMLA Protections Affirmed in Hodgens v. General Dynamics Introduction In the landmark case of John M. Hodgens v. General Dynamics Corporation (144 F.3d 151, First Circuit, May...

Limitations on Contractual and Estoppel Claims in At-Will Employment: Hinchey v. NYNEX

Date: May 21, 1998

Limitations on Contractual and Estoppel Claims in At-Will Employment: Hinchey v. NYNEX Introduction The case of John A. Hinchey v. NYNEX Corporation, and Telesector Resources Group, Inc. (144 F.3d...