| Mediation first, urges Harman
Family justice minister Harriet Harman called for separating parents to be encouraged to agree the future of their children's welfare rather than going to court, which can badly affect their children. In 2005 around 70,000 children were the subject of dispute between their parents where the case did not include any allegations of harm to children. Harman said many of them did not need to be heard by a court. The Department for Constitutional Affairs is investing £14 million a year in family mediation and the number of couples receiving publicly funded mediation has gone up from 400 in 1997 to 14,000. Harman said: "When arguing parents come before a court, the court's decision will be made in the child's best interests. But it is even better for the child for the parents not to have to go to court in the first place.
CA: State Law Banning Forced Arbitration Preempted
The Federal Arbitration Act preempts a California law that bars enforcement of predispute arbitration agreements in construction and design defect disputes, the Third District Court of Appeal has ruled. The justices Thursday reversed an El Dorado Superior Court judges ruling that John T. Shepard could not be forced to arbitrate with the builder of his house in the Cottonwood Park development in Placerville. Shepard claims that a plumbing pipe installed by Edward Mackay Enterprises, Inc. and Cottonwood Development and their subcontractor, Gary Lewis Construction, leaked and damaged his house and possessions. The defendants asked Judge Suzanne Kingsbury to compel Shepard to comply with a binding arbitration clause in the real estate purchase agreement. Shepard opposed the motion on the basis of Code of Civil Procedure Sec.
Letter: Medicare negotiation would help seniors
Currently, costs for health care are crippling many on fixed incomes who cannot afford prescription drugs. Possible solutions seem to come from all sides, leaving most of us wondering what to make of the future of health care. However, we need not wait for comprehensive changes to be put in place before we can make a difference that directly affects United States citizens, and more specifically, the 43 million Medicare beneficiaries. A difference could be made if Medicare could have the authority to negotiate prescription drug prices with drug manufacturers. Medicare is waiting for the U.S. Senate to pass a bill to allow Medicare to do just that — negotiate — with the bargaining power of 43 million Medicare beneficiaries. We would see a reduction in our prescription drug prices.
Lawmakers seek consensus on MBA dispute
State lawmakers appear close to resolving a dispute surrounding Towson's joint Master's in Business Administration degree.
While still saying that they oppose the existence of legislation challenging the MBA's legality, administrators are starting to recognize that a re-review of the program is on the horizon.
"We may be forced into a review of our program," Towson President Robert Caret said at Monday's University Senate meeting.
Members of the House of Delegates' education and economic development subcommittee met on Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss the legislation and hammer out an agreement.
Towson started offering an MBA degree in partnership with the University of Baltimore last fall. Lawmakers supporting Morgan State University have alleged that Maryland is violating the state's desegregation agreement with the federal government by allowing TU to offer a joint MBA.
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