Julian Ku, Hofstra University School of Law: "Strangely enough, the war on terrorism is providing a slight boost for plaintiffs lawyers specializing in tort suits alleging violations of international law. This week, the UK released four men who had previously been detained at Guantanamo Bay. Lawyers for the detainees are threatening to sue. A number [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Friday that the patent for the once-a-week version of Fosamax , the second best selling drug produced by Merck & Co. , is invalid. Fosamax currently dominates the market for treatment of osteoporosis. Under the ruling, generic competitors could release their version of the drug [...]

The European Commission announced Friday that Microsoft may be fined up to five percent of its daily turnover, nearly $5 million per day, unless it complies with last year's antitrust decisions against the software giant. Last month, Microsoft was denied a court action to suspend the EU sanctions . At that hearing, Microsoft agreed to [...]

Extra security measures running through Sunday's election came into force in Iraq Friday on a day when attacks on voting stations around Iraq resulted in 11 deaths. Driving of automobiles is now banned between 7 pm and 6 am, and all pedestrians are being kept away from polling centers. Saturday will see the closing of [...]

German newspaper Tagesspiegel reported Friday that German federal prosecutor Kay Nehm will not pursue war crimes charges against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld , but German officials are saying that a decision has not yet been made. Criminal charges have been filed against Rumsfeld and other senior officials on behalf of four Iraqi citizens. Rumsfeld [...]

In Friday's environmental law news, US-based oil refining company ConocoPhillips has agreed to spend $525 million on emission controls and pay a $4.5 million dollar fine to settle federal charges that it violated air pollution laws. The company said yesterday that upgrading controls at 9 of the company's refineries is expected to reduce the emission [...]

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has lifted a restraining order preventing the execution of Connecticut serial killer Michael Ross , but said that the execution should be delayed until Ross' father can appeal to the Supreme Court. Ross received the death penalty after confessing to murdering eight women and is trying [...]

Leading Friday's corporations and securities law news, Merck & Co. announced the SEC has started a formal probe into the company's handling of Vioxx . Merck had pulled the painkiller from the market on September 30 because of its link to heart attacks and strokes. The Department of Justice and some Congressional committees are also [...]

A British soldier told a UK court martial Friday he failed to report the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Sgt. Thomas Simon's testimony comes as part of the court martial of three British soldiers accused of abusing and assaulting Iraqi detainees at a camp outside Basra in May 2003. Simon testified that he had seen [...]

A Russian judge Friday extended the detention of former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky until May 14. Khodorkovsky was arrested in October 2003 on charges of fraud and tax evasion. The prosecutor in the case argued that Khodorkovsky's continued detention is necessary because he could flee Russia or put pressure on witnesses if he is released. [...]