CA Supreme Court rules defendants should pay lawyers’ fees in public benefit cases News
CA Supreme Court rules defendants should pay lawyers’ fees in public benefit cases

[JURIST] A divided California Supreme Court has ruled that lawyers participating in cases that benefit the public, including those representing advocacy groups, should have their legal fees paid by defendants. In two 4-3 decisions, the court ruled Thursday that lawyers needed some incentive to bring cases that will likely result in little or no money from damages but that still benefit the public. Defendants should still pay the attorneys' fees in cases that are settled and not tried in court. The dissenting judges in the cases argued that the practice would simply encourage frivolous lawsuits. Read the court's opinion in Graham v. DaimlerChrysler Corp. [PDF] and in the companion case Tipton-Wittingham v. Los Angeles [PDF]. The Los Angeles Times has more (registration required).

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.