Earlier this year, the City of Seattle filed a lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia in response to a wave of car thefts. The City’s case relied on an interesting legal theory – that the automakers’ failure to install immobilizers amounted to a violation of the City’s public nuisance laws. Although the action has been stayed pending a Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation in California, the lawsuit is a first of its kind. A rare instance of a city taking on a corporation, the lawsuit implies that companies have responsibilities to groups beyond their consumers.
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When I was a child, I attended school at Sequent Computer Systems in Portland, where my father worked. The school, known as Sequent Learning Center, offered kindergarten through 5th grade and day care for children of employees. I have fond memories of lunches at the corporate cafeteria and walking around campus with my dad.
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Ok, I know I’m 20-years late to this one. But, I’m an inept cook. So, it wasn’t until a coworker mentioned that Kitchen Confidential was her favorite book that I considered it. I found an audiobook version and it seemed like the perfect companion for a long day hike.
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When I practiced patent prosecution, I felt conflicted about doing work for smaller clients, such as small businesses and individual inventors. On one hand, I was grateful for their business. But on the other, I felt that I was not providing a service that would benefit them.
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My coworker’s wife recently revealed to me that she used to practice environmental law in Los Angeles. “Used to?” I responded with eyebrows raised. To me, environmental law has always seemed a truly benevolent practice area - thus, a coveted field.
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