Joseph Hage Aaronson

RICO: § 1964(c), Like Most Statutes, Doesn’t Create Private Contractual Right against Government (It’s Not an “Offer” a Plaintiff Can “Accept” by Filing Suit, Such That Dismissal = Breach) — Dismissal of RICO Claim ≠ Taking

Julian v. United States, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 14233 (Fed. Cir. Aug. 4, 2016): Plaintiffs Christopher B. Julian and Renee G. Julian filed suit in the United States Court of Federal Claims alleging that the government breached an implied contract …

Emails Produced by Entity and Bearing Its Bates Numbers Are Authentic When Offered by Opponent — Emails That Could Be Rendered Admissible at Trial OK on Summary Judgment Per Rule 56(c)(2) — Emails as Admissions of Party Opponent, Business Records

Musket Corp. v. Suncor Energy (USA) Mktg., Inc., 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 157664 (S.D. Tex. Nov. 15, 2016): Pending before the court are (1) plaintiff Musket Corporation's ("Musket") objections to and motion to strike defendant Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Marketing, Inc.'s…

Is Prudential Standing Jurisdictional and Immune from Waiver? — Circuit Split — Can Prudential Standing Be Divorced from Constitutional Standing & Assessed As a Non-Jurisdictional Issue Under Rule 12(b)(6)? (Raised but Undecided)

Martinez v. Bank of Am., N.A., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 20219 (3d Cir. Nov. 9, 2016): Appellant Gelver Martinez appeals from orders of the District Court dismissing his complaint and denying his motion for reconsideration. We will affirm. I. This…

Inherent Power — Bankruptcy Court Has Inherent Power to Sanction Litigation Abuse & Broad Equitable Powers under § 105 But Cannot Deny a Statutory Exemption Based on Debtor’s Bad Faith Conduct

Clabaugh v. Grant (In re Grant), 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 17139 (10th Cir. Sept. 20, 2016): * After examining the briefs and appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously to honor the parties' request for a decision on the briefs…

Grable Jurisdiction: Reliance on FAA Regs in Negligent Aircrash Case Insufficient — Removal: Only Complete Preemption Is a Ground for Removal, Not Ordinary Preemption — 3 Types of Ordinary Preemption

Bagley v. Teirstein, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138601 (S.D. Cal. Oct. 5, 2016): The matter before the Court is the motion to remand (ECF No. 18) filed by Plaintiff James Bagley. I. Background On September 15, 2015, Plaintiff James Bagley …

Voicemail Authentication — Recipient Recorded VMs on Cassette Tape Recorder & Testifies They Were Not Altered Before Recording Made & Content Is Same As He Heard When Listening to VMs Originally — Multipart 3d Cir. Authentication Test (Criminal Cases)

United States v. Credico, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 157640 (E.D. Pa. Nov. 14, 2016): Defendant Justin Michael Credico is charged with making threats to law enforcement officers and their families in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 115(a)(1)(A) and (B). On…

Arbitration — Excess Insurer/Reinsurer with Follow-Form Policy May Not Participate in Arbitration under Primary Policy (No Agreement to Arbitrate with It) — Whether Arbitration Clause Is Valid or Applicable Is Question for Court, Nor Arbitrators

State of Wis. Local Govt. Prop. Ins. Fund v. Lexington Ins. Co., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 18980 (7th Cir. Oct. 21, 2016): This dispute arises from the 2013 fire at the Milwaukee County Courthouse (the "Courthouse"). Milwaukee County (the "County")…

New York State Spoliation Law — Adverse Inference OK for Negligence — Lack of Lit. Hold ≠ Gross Negligence Per Se — Ct. App. Not Bound by App. Div.’s Characterization in Certification Order

Pegasus Aviation I, Inc., v. Varg Logistica S.A., 26 N.Y.3d 543, 46 N.E.3d 601, 26 N.Y.S.3d 218 (2015): A party that seeks sanctions for spoliation of evidence must show that the party having control over the evidence possessed an obligation …

Experts — 26(e) ≠ Extension of Deadline to “Deliver Lion’s Share of Expert Info” or Right to Submit “New Rather Than Supplementary” Opinions — 4 Factors to Judge Whether Exclusion OK — Continuance Usually Preferable — Good Quotes

Matter of the Complaint of C.F. Bean LLC (C.F. Bean LLC v. Suzuki Motor Corp.), 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 19997 (5th Cir. Nov. 4, 2016): This appeal involves a third-party complaint alleging maritime products liability. In 2012, Mark Barhanovich was…

Rule 11 Safe Harbor — Filing Rule 11 Motion after Magistrate Judge’s R&R & before District Judge’s Adoption Is Timely — Plaintiff Retains Right to Withdraw Challenged Claim until Adoption

Margetis v. Furgeson, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 20293 (5th Cir. Nov. 10, 2016): PER CURIAM:* * Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the…

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

RICO: § 1964(c), Like Most Statutes, Doesn’t Create Private Contractual Right against Government (It’s Not an “Offer” a Plaintiff Can “Accept” by Filing Suit, Such That Dismissal = Breach) — Dismissal of RICO Claim ≠ Taking

Emails Produced by Entity and Bearing Its Bates Numbers Are Authentic When Offered by Opponent — Emails That Could Be Rendered Admissible at Trial OK on Summary Judgment Per Rule 56(c)(2) — Emails as Admissions of Party Opponent, Business Records

Is Prudential Standing Jurisdictional and Immune from Waiver? — Circuit Split — Can Prudential Standing Be Divorced from Constitutional Standing & Assessed As a Non-Jurisdictional Issue Under Rule 12(b)(6)? (Raised but Undecided)

Inherent Power — Bankruptcy Court Has Inherent Power to Sanction Litigation Abuse & Broad Equitable Powers under § 105 But Cannot Deny a Statutory Exemption Based on Debtor’s Bad Faith Conduct

Grable Jurisdiction: Reliance on FAA Regs in Negligent Aircrash Case Insufficient — Removal: Only Complete Preemption Is a Ground for Removal, Not Ordinary Preemption — 3 Types of Ordinary Preemption

Voicemail Authentication — Recipient Recorded VMs on Cassette Tape Recorder & Testifies They Were Not Altered Before Recording Made & Content Is Same As He Heard When Listening to VMs Originally — Multipart 3d Cir. Authentication Test (Criminal Cases)

Arbitration — Excess Insurer/Reinsurer with Follow-Form Policy May Not Participate in Arbitration under Primary Policy (No Agreement to Arbitrate with It) — Whether Arbitration Clause Is Valid or Applicable Is Question for Court, Nor Arbitrators

New York State Spoliation Law — Adverse Inference OK for Negligence — Lack of Lit. Hold ≠ Gross Negligence Per Se — Ct. App. Not Bound by App. Div.’s Characterization in Certification Order

Experts — 26(e) ≠ Extension of Deadline to “Deliver Lion’s Share of Expert Info” or Right to Submit “New Rather Than Supplementary” Opinions — 4 Factors to Judge Whether Exclusion OK — Continuance Usually Preferable — Good Quotes

Rule 11 Safe Harbor — Filing Rule 11 Motion after Magistrate Judge’s R&R & before District Judge’s Adoption Is Timely — Plaintiff Retains Right to Withdraw Challenged Claim until Adoption

Recent Articles

Rule 37(d) Sanctions — For Failure to Serve Answers, Objections, Or Written Response to Discovery Requests — Are Not Limited to Intentional Misconduct; Even Innocent Mistakes May Be Covered

Sanctions: (1) Rule 11 Does Not Apply to Litigation Papers Initially Filed in State Court — Only Reaffirmance in Federal Court Post-Removal Is Subject to Sanction — (2) “The Fact That A Legal Theory Is A Long-Shot Does Not Necessarily Mean It Is Sanctionable” (Good Quote)

Supreme Court: Relief under Rule 60(b)(6) Requires Extraordinary Circumstances Even If It Is Invoked to Allow Amendment of The Complaint–Rule 15’s Liberal Approach to Amendment Does Not Change That (Reversing Second Circuit)

FRAP 38 Sanctions — Eleventh Circuit Generally Does Not Impose FRAP 38 Sanctions on Pro Se Litigants, But May Do So If They Have Persisted Despite Judicial Warnings of Frivolousness

Inherent Power Sanctions: No Dismissal with Prejudice If Lesser Sanctions Will Suffice — The Liberal Pleading Standard of Swierkiewicz “Is Still Good Law”

Statements in Briefs As Judicial Admissions

Supreme Court: TRO As Appealable Order — And District Court Inaction As Tantamount to Refusing An Injunction And Thus Appealable

“Slow-Playing Discovery” in Response to Court Order, Prejudicing Opponent, Violates Rule 37(b)(2)(A)

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