Feb 9, 2012 59°F/15°C
Quick Links

LAW > Faculty & Administration > Faculty News > January-June 2012 Chapman University School of Law

Faculty News

January to June, 2012

February 1, 2012

The Examiner

With the Republican primaries heating up, Professor Hugh Hewitt's article, "Why the GOP primaries didn't matter in 1952, 1980 and 2012" comes along at a perfect time. Professor Hewitt's article recalls the political climates of past elections and compares them to the primary of today. He says, "When Truman was forced from office, just as LBJ was, and when Carter and George H.W. Bush were denied second terms, the elections were about the overwhelming sense that the country needed a U-turn." Based on his analysis, Professor Hewitt predicts, "Mitt Romney will beat Barack Obama [. . .]." Find out why.

February 1, 2012

The National Law Journal

The National Law Journal named Professor Michael Bazyler as their Appellate Lawyer of the Week for the first week of February 2012. The article accompanying the announcement discusses Professor Bazyler's passion regarding the Nuremberg Trials, his upbringing in post-war Poland, and his dedication to writing and litigation on human rights abuses. In spite of all the challenges and complexity of human rights litigation, Bazyler says, "It's a very worthy thing to do and it's something I try to instill in the students I teach. These are the students who will become lawyers and they can make a better world." Read more about Professor Bazyler.

February 1, 2012

Los Angeles Daily Journal

Professor Anthony Caso recently published an article for the "Los Angeles Daily Journal" entitled, "Prop. 65: Reigning in the bounty hunters." In the article, Professor Caso discusses the need for reform of Prop. 65, the "Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986" in which "private citizens can sue businesses for alleged violations." Professor Caso argues that "The chief problem with Proposition 65 is rooted in a provision promising payment of a portion of civil penalties collected to be paid to the group or individual bringing the lawsuit as a bounty reward." To read more of Professor Caso's arguments, and his proposed fixes, follow the link below.

February 1, 2012

Chapman University School of Law is delighted to report that Professor Francine Lipman has been elected to membership in the American Law Institute (ALI). The ALI is "the leading independent organization in the United States producing scholarly work to clarify, modernize, and otherwise improve the law. [. . .] By participating in the Institute's work, its distinguished members have the opportunity to influence the development of the law in both existing and emerging areas, to work with other eminent lawyers, judges, and academics, to give back to a profession to which they are deeply dedicated, and to contribute to the public good." Congratulations, Professor Lipman!

January 27, 2012

iWatch News

Stories from "the great recession" continue to be published as reporters across the country analyze the breakdown of mortgage companies, and how the lending industry's collapse affects homeowners in foreclosure today. The author writes, "Much of the blame can be directed at a foreclosure machine created during the housing boom to deal with the mad rush of mortgage applications." The article criticizes the "foreclosure machine" as one that prized efficiency over customer service, which resulted in frequent errors. Professor Kurt Eggert has written extensively about the industry and added, "They don't want to spend enough money not to make mistakes." Read more about the topic.

January 18, 2012

Law Professor Blogs Network

Professor Deepa Badrinarayana , along with five other professors of law, signed on to serve as an editor for the "Environmental Law Prof Blog." View the announcement, and be sure to follow the blog in the future as she will be posting articles every other week.

January 10, 2012

SF Weekly Blogs

Scrutiny continues to follow Ross Mirkarim, the recently inaugurated sheriff of San Francisco, as he faces allegations of domestic abuse. The allegations themselves aren't the only cause of concern; the language Mirkarimi has used to describe the situation, one that he calls "a private matter, a family matter" has legal deeply troubled legal scholars, including two of Chapman University's professors. Professor Cianciarulo argues that to classify domestic violence as a problem for families to sort of on their own exposes a mentality "predating the 1970's." Professor Wendy Seiden adds that the use of such language, "sends the message that its' okay for the head of the household to be abusive with his or her spouse or partner." Read more of what the professors had to say.

January 10, 2012

SF Weekly

Discussing Sherriff Ross Mirkarimi's response to domestic violence charges, Chapman Law Professors Marisa Cianciarulo and Wendy Seiden were quoted in the SF Weekly. Specifically, Professor Marisa Cianciarulo, head of Chapman's Family Violence clinic, noted important steps have been taken to move away from thinking about domestic violence a private matter. "To classify domestic violence as a problem for families to sort out on their own exposes a mentality predating the 1970s," Professor Cianciarulo told the SF Weekly. Professor Wendy Seiden further noted that because the law has changed a great deal since the 1970s, to claim the same today "sends the message that it's okay for the head of the household to be abusive with his or her spouse or partner." Read more from in the article, "Ross Mirkarimi Shocks Legal Scholars With Claim That Abuse Allegations Are 'a Family Matter.'"

January 8, 2012

Tribune Chronicle

The Tribune Chronicle featured Professor Hugh Hewitt, highlighting his upcoming return to Warren, Ohio, on January 26 to kick off the Trubine Chronicle's "It All Started Here" speaker series. Other speakers will include Super Bowl champion Paul Warfield, actor and director Austin Pendleton, opera singer Gary Lehman and CEO Michael Capellas. The Tribune praised Professor Hewitt: "Ghost writer for Richard M. Nixon. White House assistant counsel under President Ronald Reagan. Syndicated talk show host. Bench warmer for the Blessed Sacrament Catholic School Royals. Warren native and law professor Hugh Hewitt has packed plenty of experiences into the last 55 years." Read about the Speaker Series in Professor Hewitt's home town.

January 4, 2012

Orange County Lawyer

Dean Tom Campbell has recently published an article entitled, "What is Going on with Our Economy?" In the article, Dean Campbell argues that the financial crisis was caused by two factors. The first "had its origin in the easy money policy of the Federal Reserve, during the administrations of both President Clinton and President Bush"; the second was the influence of federal government, under both parties, and through both Congress and the President, to increase home ownership regardless of whether individuals were financially capable of carrying the mortgage. In addition, Dean Campbell considers two possible solutions for the problem, including an overlooked alternative that involved restoring the Glass-Steagall protections against federally insured commercial banks being affiliated with investment banks. Read Dean Campbell's article in full.