Discovery in an Arbitration. The Second Circuit held that section 7 of the Federal Arbitration Act does not authorize an arbitrator to compel pre-hearing document discovery from non-parties to the arbitration.

The decision in Life Receivables Trust v. Syndicate 102 at Lloyd's of London can be found here.

Caught in the legal recession? Well, I try not to go off topic, but when the ABA asks for help, who am I to withhold it?

The ABA Journal is surveying lawyers about the job market and the current state of the economy. Here is the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=9Dhw2g7bX_2bxfq4mW8eB1Cg_3d_3d

Survey results will be published in the January ABA Journal. Answers will be kept confidential and used only in combination with all other responses received.

Well you've been informed.

Diversity. The Second Circuit has held that CPLR 901(b), which prohibits a lawsuit seeking a statutory penalty from being brought as a class action, can be applied in a federal court sitting in diversity.

The decision in Shady Grove Orthopedic Associates, P.A. v. Allstate Ins. Co. can be found here.

Swastica tatoos. The Second Circuit held that it was a violation of the Confrontation Clause for a District Court to prevent a minority-group defendant from cross-examining a government witness about his swastica tatoos.

The decision in United States v. Figueroa can be found here.

Purchase Money Obligation. The Second Circuit has asked the New York Court of Appeals to construe the term "purchase money obligation" as it is used in UCC 9-103(a)(2). The Court needs the answer to this certified question so that it can determine what status in bankruptcy should be accorded to the "negative equity" that someone who trades in an old car rolls over into a new car-financing contract.

The decision in In re Faith Ann Peaslee can be found here.