Ultimately, a defendant's ability to stick to that strategy depends on how often and how hard it gets hit with big verdicts.

The length of exposure is a critical issue in these cases. The scientific evidence on causation is stronger for long-term use than short-term use, but that doesn't mean the defendant just lays down.

To the extent that ultimately there is a wide settlement, this win plays in Merck's favor.

With trial lawyers, rapport with the jury is very important. An out-of-state lawyer may find it more difficult to connect with a jury, but it's all about preparation.

We also introduced, and this is very appealing to our channel partners, the ability to deploy and use 3Com's legacy fat APs,

The proposal would limit your ability to get any tax break for the mortgage interest you pay. Economists are estimating that this would drop house values by 15 to 20 percent.