Professional Documents
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DE MINIMIS
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2012 Established 1948; Revived 2012 VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7
But it might not be as simple as pointing to inaccurate or bamboozling food packaging labels. A federal judge in California in 2009 appeared to credit American consumers with a certain level of discernment and attentiveness when he threw out a case against PepsiCo which accused the company of false advertising because Capn Crunchs Crunch Berries cereal does not contain real berries. He ruled that a reasonable consumer would not be deceived into believing that the product in the instant case contained a fruit that does not exist. Yet the food-labelling lawsuits in California are not going away. (Since California laws are famously plaintiff-friendly, those inclined to forum-shop often opt for its courts.) One suit is against Chobani, a yoghurt maker, for listing evaporated cane juice, rather than sugar, as an ingredient in its pomegranate-flavoured yogurt. The Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly warned companies not to use the term because it is false and misleading, according to the suit. If it succeeds, the damages will flow, since they will be based on the money generated by product sales. Chobanis revenues are expected to total $1.5 billion this year and the lawsuit cites 18 flavours of yogurt, more than half its line. Earlier this year, Ferrero, the maker of Nutella, was sued in a class action suit in California after a misleading promotion led consumers to believe that the famously addictive spread carried nutritional and health benefits. (So much for the reasonable consumer.) Ferrero settled for three million dollars nice for lawyers and litigants, but peanuts (hazelnuts?) for a conglomerate with annual revenue of several billions. Bronwen Ewens
Dear Still Waiting Sincerely, Aunt Myrtle If what you need is your friends to stop asking, then just explain to them that youre feeling especially worried, and would they mind if you just let them know if and when youre successful? Just as your friends arent being rude by asking, youre not being rude by asking them to stop. At any rate, even if you are, being in law school, theyre probably so stressed by something (assessments, applications, workload, self-absorption) that they wont even notice. More likely though, theyll be happy so long as you dont stop them joining in the celebrations when you get one.
Dear Agony Aunts All of my friends seem to be just sifting through interview offers while I get nothing. I want to be happy for them, and I am, but I desperately want to stop them asking me if I got any, because it feels like its rubbing it in. How do I get them to stop asking without sounding rude or unsupportive of their offers? Still Waiting for a Clerkship
De Minimis has received many letters about clerkship angst over the past few weeks and would like to take the chance to remind you that the only validation you need for your intellect is your own. Further, you are GREAT and SMART so please smile about this and enjoy the warmer weather that has hit us!
[VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7]
It is now up to the Queensland Department of Prosecution to decide whether they will charge Patel again. Tony Moynihan, Director of Public Prosecutions, stated that on the evidence it is in the public interest to pursue a new trial. It's possible that the Department will include more deceased and injured individuals in their case. For now, Patel's former lawyer says Patel is planning to release a 'bombshell' book where the 'truth will come out' about the sensational case.
De Minimis
[VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7]
L IS FOR...
Lousy excuses 1. The dog ate my article.
QUIZ
Which novel opens with the line: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times? 2. Where was the last man to conquer England from? 3. What it the capital and largest city of Cuba? 4. Is pumpkin a fruit or a vegetable? 5. Approximately how much of the earths surface is covered by ocean? 6. What position will Stephen Gageler leave to become a justice of the High Court? 7. Finish the line: where they burn books, they will ultimately burn 8. Who painted the Mona Lisa? Where was in painted? And where is it now? 9. How many volleyball players are on the court at any one time? 10. Which novel closes with the line: This is not an exit.
ANSWERS: 1. A Tale of Two Cities, Dickens; 2. Normandy William of Normandy in 1066; 3. Havana; 4. Fruit; 5. ~70%; 6. Commonwealth Solicitor-General; 7. ...people also- Heinrich Heine; 8. Leonardo Da Vinci, historians are insure but it was probably started in Italy and finished in France where it now resides, Louvre in Paris; 9. 6; 10. American Phase 2 of the marketing plan (Source: University of Melbourne Development Office)
De Minimis
[VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7]
De Minimis