Executive pay in America: Principles, not pitchforks Jun 16, 2009
Some will have to submit senior managers compensation for review by a new, government-appointed special master. The rest of corporate America will escape such constraints, but the government still wants firms to take a fresh look at the way they reward staff. (The Economist)
State colleges seek 5.15 percent tuition hike Jun 16, 2009
A special master awarded unionized faculty members raises of 11 percent over the next two years, but the state college system has appealed that decision and is awaiting a decision from the Commission of Industrial Relations. No state college employee earning more than 75,000 will get a raise next year. (Beatrice Daily Sun, NE)
Burress hearing delayed to Sept. 23 Jun 16, 2009
Plaxico Burress of New York Giants appears in court, gun case adjourned until September 23 - ESPN. Updated: June 15, 2009, 3:25 PM ET. (ESPN -- Football News)
All Bow to the Pay Czar Jun 6, 2009
Masters of the universe, prepare to meet your special master ... The appointment of Kenneth Feinberg as the "special master for compensation" is expected to happen next week. (Slate)
Don't flush that fertilizer! Jun 6, 2009
The Wall Street Journal's Deborah Solomon is set to announce, perhaps as early as next week, that Feinberg will be appointed "Special Master for Compensation." His job: Overseeing whether recipients of bailout money stay within executive compensation restrictions imposed by Bush, Obama and Congress. Feinberg's primary qualification appears to be that he previously ran the federal government's compensation system for 9/11 victims. (Salon)
White House Set to Appoint a 'Pay Czar'... Jun 5, 2009
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration plans to appoint a "Special Master for Compensation" to ensure that companies receiving federal bailout funds are abiding by executive-pay guidelines, according to people familiar with the matter. The administration is expected to name Kenneth Feinberg, who oversaw the federal government's compensation fund for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to act as a pay czar for the Treasury Department, these people said. (The Drudge Report)
Ex-DA denies claims May 28, 2009
The next year, a special master in Hinds County Circuit Court recommended Scruggs also owed back legal fees to Wilson, totaling about $15 million. In the end, DeLaughter rejected that recommendation, concluding Scruggs owed Wilson no more than a belated $1. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Vick begins next phase of sentence May 21, 2009
The NFLPA could file a grievance on Vick's behalf with the "special master," who is essentially an arbitrator for labor disputes, asserting that teams have agreed with one another to shun Vick. It seems unlikely the language would actually protect Vick, or that Vick would even pursue such a claim, though Vick's situation is so unusual that it is hard to draw lessons from the past. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
Supreme Court race tops Pa. primary ballot May 11, 2009
Daily American Online - Supreme Court race tops Pa. Three judges are competing for the nomination Superior Court judges Joan Orie Melvin and Cheryl Allen, both based in Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Paul Panepinto. (Somerset Daily American, PA)
Hughes Energy ordered to pay $4M for Ponzi May 6, 2009
The court also appointed a special master to handle the liquidation of the assets of the corporation, which is based in Wayne County, Ill. said A. Courtney Cox, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
Atlanta watershed project in jeopardy May 2, 2009
When Mayor Shirley Franklin took office, the question was whether the council would muster the nerve to pass the fee increases needed to pay for the program or whether the federal judge would be forced to appoint a special master to oversee it. Atlanta council members have proved a willingness to pass rate increases with two four-year programs. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Report urges park usage rules Apr 28, 2009
Long-running art sales and craft fairs are permitted uses of Kapi'olani Park, but the city should come up with guidelines for the popular Waikiki gathering place to avoid future legal challenges and uses of the park inconsistent with its public trust, a court-appointed special master said. In a 76-page report filed with state Probate Court last week, attorney Bruce Graham writes that, "Kapi'olani Park is a special situation and deserves its own rules and regulations. The rules for the park... (Honolulu Advertiser)
The Case Against Larry Apr 13, 2009
The "Special Master" has spoken, and the Chiefs now have the ability to take away Larry Johnson's money. So what's next. (WarPaintIllustrated.com)
White lightning, anyone? Apr 12, 2009
A special master ruled that Burress, despite his run-in with the law, didn't owe the Giants any of the up-front bonus he received. This is one of the top three issues owners have targeted, along with a rookie wage scale and the feeling that the current CBA penalizes them for investing in new stadiums because they are incurring all the risk. (Boston Globe)
Brooke Corp. Sued for Racketeering Apr 10, 2009
A court-appointed special master charged with overseeing Brooke's operations and assets didn't immediately return a phone call for comment Thursday. The lawsuit says Brooke bought the insurance agencies from third parties and resold them to the plaintiffs, who borrowed the money for the transactions through Aleritas. (ABC News -- Wire)
Chiefs RB Johnson loses grievance on bonuses Apr 7, 2009
Special Master Stephen Burbank ruled that if the Chiefs cut him, they do not have to pay him a $3. 5 million guaranteed salary next season because he breached his contract after being suspended last season, NFL Players Association general counsel Richard Berthelsen said. (ESPN -- Football News)
Garcia signs on with Raiders Apr 7, 2009
University of Pennsylvania special master Stephen Burbank agreed with the NFL Players Association that money already earned, such as a signing bonus, cannot be forfeited even if a player subsequently gets into trouble. Johnson also can keep money he's earned so far, though the Chiefs - if they release Johnson - do not owe him future pay after the running back had two nightclub altercations last year. (Boston Globe)
Burress wins grievance, can keep $1M bonus Apr 7, 2009
University of Pennsylvania Special Master Stephen Burbank agreed with the NFL Players Association that money already earned, such as a signing bonus, cannot be forfeited even if a player subsequently gets into trouble, the union's general counsel Richard Berthelsen told the Associated Press. THE HUDDLE. (USA Today -- Sports)
Burress can keep $1 million bonus from Giants Apr 7, 2009
Thats the ruling issued Monday by University of Pennsylvania Special Master Stephen Burbank after a hearing last week on a grievance filed on behalf of the two players by the NFL Players Association, the unions general counsel Richard Berthelsen told The Associated Press. Berthelsen said Burbank sided with the union in finding that money already earned by a player, such as a signing bonus, cannot be forfeited even if the player subsequently gets into trouble. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Fifteen candidates running for five nominations Apr 5, 2009
For the last 13 years he has heard tax appeal and eminent domain cases as a special master for the Court of Common Pleas. Mr. Marmo was rated "recommended" by the bar association and endorsed by the county Democratic Party. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Giants release Burress 4 months after shooting Apr 5, 2009
The grievance, which contests whether teams can withhold guaranteed salaries and bonus money from players because of off-field conduct, was heard earlier this week by a special master, Stephen Burbank at the University of Pennsylvania law school. His ruling is expected within a week. (Muscatine Journal, IO)
Breed ban has bite Apr 5, 2009
Pet owners may appeal decisions to a special master appointed by the city manager. Source: Cindy Rarrat, animal-control services provider for Sioux City. (Sioux City Journal)
Giants pull stunner by cutting Burress Apr 4, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009. Search stories on N&O.com. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Giants decide to release Burress Apr 4, 2009
" The decision to release Burress might lead the Giants to look for a deep threat receiver in the draft later this month. New York has 10 draft choices. The only player currently on the roster who might fill that role is Mario Manningham, a second-year player out of Michigan who did little in an injury-plagued rookie season. Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon have shown the ability to be a deep threat on occasion, but neither is as consistent as Burress at stretching a defense. The Giants talked... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
NFLPA presents Burress, Johnson money case Apr 3, 2009
NFL Players Association general counsel Richard Berthelsen said Thursday that the union and NFL attorneys made their arguments during a 3-hour hearing before Special Master Stephen Burbank at the University of Pennsylvania law school on Wednesday. The two sides expect Burbank's ruling within a week. (ESPN -- Football News)
Treating Autism as if Vaccines Caused It Apr 2, 2009
To sift through the 15,000-page record of the Autism Omnibus hearings and the decisions by the three special masters who considered the evidence is to peek into a medical universe where autism is considered a disease of environmental toxicity, rather than an inherited disorder, and where doctors expose children to hundreds of tests simply to justify the decision to "detoxify" them ... But Special Master Denise Vowell found Colten's suffering particularly egregious, because the boy had never... (Slate)
Texas Judge Asks for Dismissal of Charges in Inmate's Execution Apr 1, 2009
Under Rule 10(b) of the Procedural Rules for the Removal or Retirement of Judges, the commission, when it sets the hearing date, will submit a written request for the appointment of a special master -- an active or retired district judge or court of appeals justice -- who will preside over the hearing. The special master will make findings of fact in a report to the commission, which will hold another public hearing at the conclusion of which the commission will make its decision about the case,... (Law.com)
Falcons, Vick reach settlement on breach claim Apr 1, 2009
The Falcons were awarded a $20 million claim by the NFL's special master in a grievance filed against Vick, alleging he breached his contract when he was criminally convicted. However, Judge Doty overturned the special master's ruling, saying that Vick was only responsible for $3. (ESPN -- Football News)
Hawk lawyer wants charges dropped Mar 28, 2009
Meanwhile, Creed ordered a special master -- a lawyer to be mutually agreed on by both sides -- to review documents and information from Hawk's computer found by investigators that Hawk's attorneys say are communications between an attorney and client, and should not have been looked at by prosecutors. Creed said he would rule later on whether Hawk's attorney can view Hanford Police Department reports from around the time of Debbie Hawk's disappearance. (Fresno Bee -- Local)
Law Offices of Waukeen Q. McCoy: Trial Judge Susan Illston Denies Minorities After They Prevail at Trial Against Federal Express Mar 25, 2009
Specifically, FedEx, on April 13, 2007, stated immediately after McCoy's filing in response to the fee petitions that: "there is no testimony as to how the McCoy Firm determined the hours spent on Alvarado [Boswell or Evans] to support a fee petition for Plaintiff Alvarado [Boswell or Evans] given that this was a fourteen plaintiff case, and Alvarado's claims were severed for trial over two years after the litigation was commenced in this Court... Further, McCoy provides in his Declaration the... (PR Newswire)
Fee Fight Yields $25,000 Sanction for Plaintiffs Lawyer Mar 24, 2009
Illston appointed a special master, Edward Swanson of , to deal with the fees, and FedEx accused McCoy of fabricating many of his hourly estimates. McCoy , and now Illston, after he failed to produce contemporaneous time records he had been ordered to turn over. (Law.com)
Stop dodging on inmate health Mar 22, 2009
In the latest sad twist of a lengthy class-action lawsuit on behalf of sick California inmates, state officials filed a motion to replace the federal receiver, J. Clark Kelso, with a "special master" to assist in bringing state prison health facilities up to constitutional standards ... "Special masters" can oversee compliance activities but lack the direct executive power of a receiver. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
N.J. Judge Won't Certify Class Action by Vioxx Users Mar 20, 2009
The plaintiffs asked Higbee to have a jury assess aggregate liability, based on common facts pertaining to development and marketing of the drug, and to appoint a special master to calculate individual class members' damages. The putative class would have included users from every state except California, where a similar suit is already pending. (Law.com)
Mental health advocates say budget cuts put public safety, patients at risk Mar 16, 2009
Problems were still glaring as recently as 2001, when a scathing court-ordered report slammed management of the state hospital and Judge Kevin Chang was chosen as a "special master" to oversee the hospital's improvement. Federal oversight ended in 2006. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Main California prison lawsuits at a glance Mar 15, 2009
He appointed Michael Keating as special master. Keating was succeeded by Matthew A Lopes Jr. in October 2007. (Fresno Bee -- State)
State legislators threatening Philadelphia over casinos Mar 15, 2009
Casino developers have asked the state Supreme Court to appoint a "special master" judge, who would speed things through the legal process. Ms. Whitaker said many local residents support the casino and the 1,100 jobs it will bring. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
Penn-Mont sued by Labor Department Mar 13, 2009
The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and seeks full restitution and accounting of the plan assets by a special master appointed by the court. The suit also asks that the defendants be removed as fiduciaries and service providers, and replaced by new fiduciaries for the plans. (Philadelphia Business Journal, PA)
Hawaii systems for handling mentally ill failing, attorney says Mar 10, 2009
In 2001, a scathing report criticized management of the state hospital, and Judge Kevin Chang was appointed "special master" to oversee the hospital's effort to improve conditions and services for the mentally ill. It took five more years for the state to satisfy the requirements of the decree. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Colorado Wins Water Dispute Mar 10, 2009
In an opinion Monday, the court is upholding a ruling by a special master appointed to oversee the case that the fees for expert witnesses should be about $163,000, not the $9 million sought by Kansas. Colorado already had agreed to pay Kansas more than $34 million after the high court decided in 1995 that groundwater pumping in Colorado diverted millions of gallons of upstream water that rightfully belonged to Kansas. (CBS News -- US)
9/11 Mediator Wraps Up Work; Only 3 Cases Left Unsettled Mar 6, 2009
Ninety-seven percent of those who lost family members or were injured in the attacks elected to go through the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 administered by Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg. The fund ultimately awarded $7 billion on 5,560 claims. (Law.com)
Faculty At Unionized NU Campuses Win Pay Increases Feb 27, 2009
A special master says faculty at the University of Nebraska Kearney should have their pay increased by a total of 5 ... At the same time, the special master said faculty at the NU Omaha campus should get 3. (Nebraska Statepaper)
City, Duke face challenge in water suit Feb 24, 2009
South Carolina v. North Carolina is overseen by San Francisco attorney Kristin Linsley Myles, whom the U.S. Supreme Court appointed as special master, similar to a judge, with authority over decisions in the case. Myles ruled in May to open the case to allow Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK), Charlotte and local utility CRWSP to weigh in on the issue. (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)
Their sorrows, his cause Feb 22, 2009
He urged Senate majority leader Tom Daschle to support the appointment of a former Kennedy chief of staff, Kenneth Feinberg, as the special master of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund ... Kennedy remained a lifeline for families affected by the 9/11 attacks and he urged then-Senate majority leader Tom Daschle (right) to support the appointment of a former Kennedy chief of staff as the special master of the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund. (Boston Globe)
Judge Charged With Blocking Execution Appeal Feb 20, 2009
Seana Willing, executive director of the judicial commission, said the Texas Supreme Court will appoint a special master to hear the matter. According to commission documents, the special master is a sitting or retired district or appellate judge. (Click2Houston, TX)
Judging autism Feb 19, 2009
Last Thursday, each judge, known as a special master, reviewed the claim of one family, and in each case, ruled against it ... In the vaccine court case of Michelle Cedillo, heard in 2007, the special master George L. Hastings commented on the anti-vaccination side's medical experts: "I have no doubt that the Cedillo parents and relatives are sincere in their belief that the MMR [measles, mumps and rubella] vaccine played a role in causing Michelle's devastating disorders. Unfortunately, the... (Salon)
Bill targets housing authority Feb 17, 2009
Lawmakers are considering appointing a special master and an advisory council to oversee rehabilitation of public housing projects in the Islands a move the state attorney general says could cause conflict with the existing public housing director and board ... Sakamoto said the suit likely will result in the court appointing a special master of its own ... Chad Taniguchi, executive director of the housing authority, also opposes the special master and advisory council proposal. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Despite ruling, vaccine-autism feud wont fade Feb 14, 2009
The evidence is weak, contradictory and unpersuasive, concluded Special Master Denise Vowell ... I must decide this case not on sentiment but by analyzing the evidence, said Special Master George Hastings Jr., writing specifically about Michelle Cedillo of Yuma, Ariz. (MSNBC -- Health)
Autism ruling doesn't sway vaccine believers Feb 14, 2009
The panel of "special masters" ruled that these petitioners had not presented sufficient evidence to prove that the childhood vaccines caused in their children ... The defendant, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, released a statement Thursday: "Hopefully, the determination by the Special Masters will help reassure parents that vaccines do not cause autism." ... But Thursday, Special Master George L. Hastings Jr. wrote in his ruling in the Cedillos case, "The evidence advanced by... (CNN -- Health)
Court rejects autism-vaccine link Feb 13, 2009
Each individual claim filed by the families of Michelle Cedillo, Colten Snyder and Yates Hazlehurst against the secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) was dismissed by special masters serving on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, who cited lack of evidence ... "Unfortunately, the Cedillos have been misled by physicians who are guilty, in my view, of gross medical misjudgment," Special Master George L. Hastings Jr., wrote in his decision in that case ... In her decision on the Snyder case,... (Insight on the News)
Vaccine Court Deals Stunning Blow to Autism Conspiracy Theorists Feb 13, 2009
"Petitioners' theories of causation were speculative and unpersuasive," wrote Special Master Denise Vowell in the case of Colten Snyder v. HHS. "To conclude that Colten's condition was the result of his MMR vaccine, an objective observer would have to emulate Lewis Carroll's White Queen and be able to believe six impossible (or at least highly improbable) things before breakfast.". The vaccine court, which began operating in 1990, assigns special masters to weigh claims of vaccine injury brought... (Slate)
U.S. vaccine court denies family's autism case Feb 13, 2009
"I conclude that the petitioners have not demonstrated that they are entitled to an award on Michelle's behalf," Special Master George Hastings, a former tax claims expert at the Department of Justice, wrote in the Cedillo ruling ... No judges but instead three "special masters" heard the three test cases representing thousand of other petitioners. (Yahoo News -- Top Stories)
Carns slams sewer recommendations Feb 13, 2009
Carns, a proponent of filing for bankruptcy protection, said the report dated Jan. 20 by Special Master John S. Young disappointed him. The Special Master endorses deplorable recommendations that place the financial burden on the true innocent parties in the debt crisis: Jefferson County taxpayers, Carns said in a news release distributed Thursday ... He said no public hearings were held to discuss the selection and performance of the Special Masters. (Birmingham Business Journal, AL)
DeLaughter Timeline Feb 13, 2009
Jan. 9, 2006: A special master appointed by Hinds County Circuit Court to evaluate the evidence in Wilson's lawsuit made recommendations that largely sided with Wilson, leading his attorneys to seek $15 million in legal fees ... Summer 2006: DeLaughter rejects the special master's recommendations, concluding Scruggs owes Wilson nothing more than the $1. (The Clarion-Ledger)
Autism tie to shots rejected Feb 13, 2009
The evidence "is weak, contradictory and unpersuasive," concluded Special Master Denise Vowell. "Sadly, the petitioners in this litigation have been the victims of bad science conducted to support litigation rather than to advance medical and scientific understanding" of autism. (Daily Breeze)
Should court ruling end autism debate? Feb 13, 2009
The special master is right ... Today the special masters say its alright to inject infants with a solution that contains 50,000 ppb mercury 10 times or more. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Health)
Court rejects claims that vaccines cause autism Feb 13, 2009
In blunt ruling, special masters call evidence of a link 'weak, contradictory and unpersuasive ... The special masters who decided the case expressed sympathy for the families, some of whom have made emotional pleas describing their children's conditions, but the rulings were blunt: There's little if any evidence to support claims of a vaccine-autism link ... The evidence "is weak, contradictory and unpersuasive," Special Master Denise Vowell concluded. (DetNews.com)
Court denies link between vaccines and autism Feb 13, 2009
The decision by three independent special masters is especially telling because the special court's rules did not require plaintiffs to prove their cases with scientific certainty - all the parents needed to show was that a preponderance of the evidence, or "50 percent and a hair," supported their claims ... In his ruling on one case, special master George Hastings said the parents of Michelle Cedillo - who had alleged that a measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine caused their child to... (Boston Globe)
Audit challenges juvenile center Feb 12, 2009
Also yesterday, the state Supreme Court appointed Berks County Senior Judge Arthur E. Grim as a special master to review juvenile cases adjudicated in Luzerne County. The court specifically directed him to review cases in which Judge Ciavarella committed juveniles to the detention facilities owned by Mr. Zappala and cases in which there are allegations that Judge Ciavarella denied defendants the right to counsel. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
lawfully block a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility proposed on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River Apr 1, 2008
High court appointed a special master to sift through thousands of documents and hear arguments from both sides ... The Court appointed a special master, , to sift through thousands of documents and hear arguments from both sides. (Law.com Newswire)
Insurers Told to Cover NYC's Defense Costs Over Sept. 11 Health Claims Mar 27, 2008
Among the other witnesses expected to testify at the hearing is Kenneth Feinberg, former special master of the federal fund, which distributed money to the families of those killed in the terror attacks as well as those injured on Sept. 11, 2001. Napoli said the Lloyd's decision means there will be more money available to compensate those injured in the cleanup. (Law.com)
Rulings in Scruggs' cases suspect, lawyers say Mar 23, 2008
In January 2006, special master Bobby Sneed, appointed by the Hinds County Circuit Court to evaluate the evidence in Wilson's lawsuit, made recommendations that largely sided with Wilson, leading his lawyers to seek $15 million in legal fees. Three days afterward, Scruggs replaced his lead counsel, Jack Dunbar of Oxford, remarking, according to another attorney, John Jones of Jackson, that "Hinds County Circuit Court is a snake pit, and I need a snake.". (The Clarion-Ledger)
Judge will consider release of Portland archdiocese documents Mar 15, 2008
A federal bankruptcy judge said Thursday she is inclined to agree with an attorney for abuse victims, who argued against sending church documents to another judge to act as a special master to resolve a dispute over their public release. But U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Elizabeth Perris said she will give both sides until the end of August to argue the case. (Coos Bay-North Bend The World, OR)
Vaccine settlement complex, may not be first Mar 8, 2008
The case may not be a first, said Gary Golkiewicz, chief special master for the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. He oversees the special "vaccine court" which rules on requests for payments from the vaccine injury fund. (CNN -- Health)
Special Masters Appointed in Program to Resolve U.S. VIOXX(R) Product Liability Lawsuits Mar 8, 2008
Responsibilities Include Deciding Claimant Appeals NEW YORK, March 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement is from Hughes Hubbard LLP and Herman Herman Katz r, LLP: United States District Judge Eldon E. Fallon met this week with the newly appointed Special Master and Deputy Special Masters who will decide any appeals taken from the findings of the Claims Administrator permitted under the resolution program for Vioxx product liability litigation in the United States, and will conduct... (PR Newswire)
Suggs Files Grievance Against Ravens Mar 8, 2008
065 million franchise tag for linebackers, the average of the top five linebackers' salaries in the NFL. An arbitration hearing before an NFL special master to resolve the issue hasn't been scheduled. Suggs contends he played more than 50 percent of his snaps at defensive end last year. (ABC 7 News, DC)
