NEW ORLEANS:  The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), meeting here this week for its annual meeting and policy summit, is justly known as a clearinghouse through which state legislators across the nation exchange helpful information about the successes and failures of various policy initiatives. Perhaps in no other area is there such…

In his 2011 State of the Union Address, President Obama promised to support legislation “to rein in frivolous lawsuits.” Early next month, the House Judiciary Committee will vote on a bill to make Obama fulfill that promise. Frivolous suits are a serious problem, especially for small businesses. In March 11 committee testimony, Elizabeth…

The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation’s new book, Rules for Growth: Promoting Innovation and Growth Through Legal Reform, should be required reading for every federal policymaker trying to get America’s economy growing again.  That includes you, Mr. President.  The product of three years of intense study by experts in several…

Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is not the problem in Washington, D.C.  If anything, the man frequently described as one of the most conservative members of Congress is standing up for the everyday Americans who are fed up with how liberal elites are fleecing taxpayers.  Like other Republicans, King wants to stop the out-of-control spending and eliminate…

Imagine a baseball game that appears almost over, but then goes into extra innings for almost 15 years. With that image in mind, one can begin to understand the nature of Marshall vs. Marshall, the endless Anna Nicole Smith inheritance litigation, which has become the farcical World Series of legal system abuse. In what may – hopefully &ndash…

The fourteen-year jackpot justice abomination that is the Anna Nicole Smith case continues, but may hopefully reach a just conclusion soon. Although media attention understandably centers upon the tawdry celebrity element of this dispute, it has actually spawned an alarming Supreme Court decision that should trouble all Americans.  As readers…

An Update on the Interminable Marshall v. Marshall Saga Longtime supporters and activists may recall CFIF’s April 2007 commentary on the absurd Anna Nicole Smith courtroom drama, and why it mattered to otherwise-disinterested American citizens.  At that time, we described how the celebrity train wreck known as the late Anna Nicole…

This week marks the one year anniversary of the death of former Playboy Playmate Anna Nicole Smith.  A mere 12 months after her passing, the lasting legacy of her endless pursuit of her late husband's fortune continues to play out.  In fact, perhaps no other case in the history of our nation better highlights the need for tort reform than…

As tawdry and ridiculous as the tale of Anna Nicole Smith is, her saga has already had important real-world consequences to Americans.   By gaming our legal system in pursuit of her deceased husband's fortune, including a victory at the U.S. Supreme Court, Ms. Smith's tragic life leaves a legacy beyond tasteless late-night jokes and tabloid…