November 30, 2015

When The Movies Get It Right: Spotlight Explains Why Lawyers Sometimes Have To Represent Bad Men

November 30, 2015/ Greg Kanaan

Nowhere in the rules does it say that you can breach confidentiality because you have a moral objection to your client’s alleged acts. The best you can do is refuse to accept the case at the outset, or withdraw from representation later on. But even that can be highly difficult to accomplish. Maybe your firm represents the client and you have no choice about what cases you’re assigned. Maybe you’re in the midst of trial, settlement talks, or arbitration and a judge won’t let you withdraw because it would do greater harm to your client. You may not have a choice in the matter.

August 03, 2015

The NFL Has A Serious Due Process Problem, And Why Due Process Is Important To Everyone

August 03, 2015/ Greg Kanaan

This Washington Post article discusses the issue and ultimately concludes that the entire process was mishandled. Attorney John Dowd (who conducted MLB’s investigation into Pete Rose’s gambling way back when) states that “the entire NFL disciplinary process lacks integrity and fairness,” referring to the ruling against Brady as “an ambush." In other words, there was inadequate due process.

May 14, 2015

A Brief Review of Extremely Important Matters: Sports Leagues Banning Live-Streaming Apps, Getty Wanting Amateurs, Hollywood's Gender Bias, and Other Miscellany

May 14, 2015/ Greg Kanaan

A lot of people are unhappy about the Mayweather-Pacquaio fight, and not because Pacquiao lost. The fight of the century was rebroadcast on Periscope and Meerkat, the live-streaming apps, allowing people to watch the fight for free instead of ponying up the $100 pay-per-view fees. Now, the PGA and NHL are banning the apps outright and threatening any live-streamers with infringement suits.

January 20, 2015

Attorney For Chris Kyle’s Killer Is Concerned That American Sniper Will Harm His Client. He Has A Point.

January 20, 2015/ Greg Kanaan

J. Warren St. John, the defense attorney for Eddie Ray Routh, the former marine who killed American Sniper Chris Kyle at a shooting range in 2013, recently gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter complaining that the popularity of the film American Sniper will prevent his client from getting a fair trial. According to St. John, the film lionizes Kyle and as a result, it will be harder to find a jury that isn’t influenced in some way by the film’s portrayal.

January 13, 2015

We Are All Charlie: Freedom Of Speech Becomes A Global Discussion

January 13, 2015/ Greg Kanaan

It's been fascinating to watch an institution as uniquely American as free speech take on such global heft over the last few months, particularly in the wake of the terrorist assault on French magazine Charlie Hebdo last week. When the Pope - the leader of an institution not known for its progressive stance on civil rights - publicly states that liberty of expression keeps the world out of danger, you know that it doesn't belong to us anymore.

January 05, 2015

Why I Believe Martin Luther King’s Words Should Be In The Public Domain

January 05, 2015/ Greg Kanaan

under current copyright law, Dr. King’s words are treated no differently than a Pitbull/Kesha song. I understand that the King family (who owns the copyrights to the speeches, as well as Dr. King’s life rights) only wants to protect their patriarch’s legacy. But I think Dr. King’s words are too historically significant to be treated like everything else. I argued back then that copyright law should be reformed to create special exemptions protecting works of historic importance.

November 26, 2014

Jon Favreau's "Chef" And The Right To Be Forgotten

November 26, 2014/ Greg Kanaan

There's a moment about 40 minutes into the movie Chef that perfectly encapsulates our tortured relationship with privacy in the internet age. Carl Casper, the executive chef of a posh Brentwood bistro is savaged by food critic Ramsey Michel in his latest review. Carl (played by the film's writer and director, Jon Favreau of Swingers and Iron Man fame) loses control and against the advice of his friends, starts a Twitter feud with Michel, resulting in a public meltdown with Carl screaming at Michel in front of a hundred shocked onlookers.

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