Moritz Legal Information Blog

This week, the New England Journal of Medicine published a study on medical malpractice risk. The abstract, tables, and article from the NEJM can be found here . The study measured the proportion of physicians who face a malpractice claim every year (according to specialty), the proportion of claims leading to a payment, and the size of payments. More news and commentary: Wall Street Journal Law Blog MSNBC ABA Journal

We recently reported on the health care symposium over at SCOTUSblog. SCOTUSblog's new symposium will focus on same-sex marriage. Pieces submitted so far: Marriage Equality State by State Marriage Equality: Religious Freedom, Federalism, and Judicial Activism

We wrote earlier this month that former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's murder and corruption trial would be shown live on Egyptian state television. As JURIST is now reporting, the presiding judge recently ordered an end to this practice. See additional coverage from the Washington Post . See also coverage of Mubarak's Aug. 3 appearance including video from Al Jazeera .

Another TSA lawsuit: Student Aaron Tobey protested TSA procedures by stripping to his shorts at Richmond International Airport, revealing part of the text of the Fourth Amendment written on his chest. Tobey was detained, arrested, and charged with disorderly conduct (the charge was dropped). He is now suing the TSA and others for violation of his First and Fourth Amendment rights. Complaint More: Washington Post Richmond Times-Dispatch As well, the TSA is starting a pilot program at Logan International Airport in Boston, with Behavior Detection Officers questioning travelers and looking for suspicious behavior. More: Boston Herald MSNBC My Fox Boston

The Office of the Law Revision Counsel has released a beta version of its new U.S. Code website . In Custodia Legis describes some of the key features. Email comments and suggestions for the site to uscode@mail.house.gov .

Speaking of therapy dogs , a golden retriever named Rosie is in the news after comforting a 15-year-old girl as she gave testimony in her father's trial for raping her. The lawyers for the father are now planning to appeal the use of Rosie. From The New York Times: The new role for dogs as testimony enablers can, however, raise thorny legal questions. Defense lawyers argue that the dogs may unfairly sway jurors with their cuteness and the natural empathy they attract, whether a witness is telling the truth or not, and some prosecutors insist that the courtroom dogs can be a crucial comfort to those enduring the ordeal of testifying, especially children. Hat tip: The Volokh Conspiracy Another courtroom dog (News on 6 (Oklahoma)) The Courtroom Dog Controversy: Unfair Cuteness? (Animal Planet)

Bloomberg Businessweek presents an interesting graphic about the cost of one litigant's recent win at the U.S. Supreme Court. Partial spoiler: it was over $1 million. hat tip: Legal Research Plus