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Supreme Court Opens Term With Tobacco Case

October 7, 2008

On the opening day of its fall term, the Supreme Court jumped right into a controversial case in which tobacco companies are seeking to block litigation in state courts over health claims made about “light” cigarettes. By the end of Monday’s hourlong arguments in Altria Group v. Good, most justices appeared to agree with Altria — the parent company of Philip Morris — that the federal cigarette labeling law pre-empts state tort suits like the one before the Court. In August 2007, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled that the suit, in which a group of Maine smokers allege that claims of reduced tar and nicotine were false, was not pre-empted.

Read full article Law.com

Laveen could shape the future of zoning

Laveen, facing ever-increasing encroachment from Phoenix development, is fighting to challenge numerous “rezonings” in their area. Legally this may greatly restrict municipal power, so we’ll just have to keep an eye on this. AZ Central has the story:

“Crusade could bring flurry of zoning referendums”
by Casey Newton, The Arizona Republic

Laveen resident Randy Jones is cruising up 35th Avenue in his pickup truck, a pair of neighbors in the backseat and Toby Keith on the radio, when he spots a sign announcing a possible rezoning.

Most Valley residents shrug at signs like this one, if they see them at all. Jones pulls over like a cop responding to a crime.

“That could be troublesome,” says Carol Pacey, a fellow activist, as she whips out a pen and paper. Jones agrees. They scribble down the developer’s information.

Read Full Article AZ Central

License Plates

An Arizona pro-life or anti-abortion (whatever term you prefer) group had sought license plates with a message of “Choose Life”. The 9th Circuit ruling in favor of the group was upheld by the Supreme Court, as they regarded any restriction as not content-neutral for free speech considerations. East Valley Tribune has the latest:

“Supreme Court OKs anti-abortion license plate”
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday wiped out the last legal hurdle for anti-abortion groups to get their own special state license plates.

‘Choose Life’ license plates due out soon

Without comment, the high court upheld a unanimous decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which concluded that the state License Plate Commission illegally denied the request by Arizona Life Coalition to issue a plate with the message “Choose Life.”

Read Full Article East Valley Tribune