CMLawLibraryBlog

New Psychological Test Identifies Injury Fakers

Sue Altmeyer, Electronic Services Librarian, sue.altmeyer@law.csuohio.edu | March 13, 2008 - 16:51

The Fake Bad Scale is a 43 question test which aims to identify people faking physical pain or emotional distress. The test was added to the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) last year, and is being used by experts in personal injury cases. An American Psychological Association panel found that the test was not supported by good research. Two Florida State Court cases held that the tests were not admissible evidence. David Armstrong, Malingerer Test Roils Personal Injury Law, The Wall Street Journal, Mar. 5, 2008; Debra Cassens Weiss, Test to Spot Liars Takes Center Stage in Personal Injury CasesABA Journal, Mar. 5, 2008; Dan Slater, Test for Malingerers Comes Under Fire,Wall Street Journal Law Blog, Mar. 5, 2008.

Westlaw KeyRules: Find Rules that Apply to Your Motion

Sue Altmeyer, Electronic Services Librarian, sue.altmeyer@law.csuohio.edu | March 13, 2008 - 15:37

If you are filing an unfamiliar type of motion, or you are filing in a different jurisdiction, you may not be aware of all the procedural rules that apply. Westlaw KeyRules is a new database that lists the applicable rules for particular pleadings and motions in a given jurisdiction. See West Elert: KeyRules Both federal or state and local rules are listed. The database is also handy for a comparative study of court rules, as multiple jurisdictions can be searched at once.

Try it by going to the KEYRULES-ALL database, and click on Available Jurisdictions. Note that Ohio federal district courts and state common pleas courts for the larger Ohio counties are available. Select a jurisdiction, select a type of motion or pleading, and run the search.

Keyrules can be accessed under the Litigation tab, or by looking in the Directory under litigation. Thanks to Amy Wright of ZiefBrief., who astutely points out that KeyRules is the product of human editors, so you should double-check to be sure you are looking at all necessary rules.

Law Schools Teaching the Practice of Law...

Jessica Mathewson-Library Media Technical Asst.-jessica.mathewson@law.csuohio.edu | March 13, 2008 - 12:59

The Washington and Lee School of Law has announced plans to revamp its 3L curriculum. As reported by the National Law Journal, W & Lee plan on replacing all 3L academic classes with "experiential" learning. In other words, students would receive practical real world experience.

Change has been in the air. Stanford and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching along with 10 other law schools have joined in tackling the issues raised in the two-year study by the Carnegie Foundation. The law library owns a copy of this study: Educating Lawyers: Preparation for the Profession of Law, San Francisco : Jossey-Bass/Wiley, KF272 .E38 2007.

Ohio Legislature Considers Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Sue Altmeyer, Electronic Services Librarian, sue.altmeyer@law.csuohio.edu | March 13, 2008 - 10:51

As federal law does not explicitly* prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians, it falls to the states and cities to pass such legislation. Ohio legislators recently introduced bills which aim to end discrimination based on sexual preference, HB 502 and SB 305. Republican House Speaker, Jon Husted, appears to be in favor of the bill, because, "We need to be an inviting place for a quality workforce." Source: Advocates of Anti-Discrimination Legislation Begin Drive for Passage in House, Senate Gongwer News Service, March 12, 2008. Ohio would be the 22nd State to pass this type of legislation. See Ohio Lawmakers Seek Sexual Orientation Protections Mansfield News Journal, Mar. 12, 2008 (AP article).

To find out which Ohio cities have ordinances against discrimination based on sexual preference, see Over Half the Nation Will be Covered by an Equality Law by Brian DeWitt, Gay People's Chronicle, May 11, 2007. You may want to check the ordinances of a particular city, because it is possible an ordinance was passed after this article was written.

*Note: Federal law prohibiting discrimination based on gender may possibly be utilized in a case where discrimination occurred based on sexual preference, depending on the circumstances.

Help with Law School Induced Stress and Depression

Sue Altmeyer, Electronic Services Librarian, sue.altmeyer@law.csuohio.edu | March 13, 2008 - 10:38

Studies have shown that law school is a breeding ground for depression, anxiety and stress. Ruth Ann McKinney, Depression and Anxiety in Law Students, 8 J. Legal Writing Institute 229 (2002). A booklet issued recently by the American Bar Association may help. Hidden Sources of Law School Stress, by law professor Lawrence Krieger examines why law school is so stressful, and what you can do about it. The ABA's Mental Health Toolkit , p. 12-17, 37-44, tells students how to cope and get help. The Toolkit also advises Student Bar Associations and school administration on helping students with stress. Source: Dan Slater, Is Lawyer Malaise Moving From the Firm to the Campus? Wall Street Journal Law Blog.

We also have free counseling services on campus at the CSU Counseling Center. Feel free to contact them at (216)-687-2277.

CMLawLibraryBlog

New Psychological Test Identifies Injury Fakers

Westlaw KeyRules: Find Rules that Apply to Your Motion

Law Schools Teaching the Practice of Law...

Ohio Legislature Considers Ban on Sexual Orientation Discrimination

Help with Law School Induced Stress and Depression

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