Introduction to Key Law Cases
Influential law cases are an essential part of a history of law studies, as they typically concentrate on a few central legal questions that have either resolved a particular controversial point of law or set out a general principle that subsequent courts have interpreted in their decisions. Studying these cases in a rape casebook is a primer for understanding the development of an area of law, and helps students get a feel for the sometimes slow, sometimes rapid growth of the case law over centuries. Because of their frequently controversial subject matter, students also learn about how specific cases evolve with the peculiar social mores of their time , and oftentimes through the efforts of a public interest group even inequities in the law can be redressed.
In addition, studying landmark cases illuminates the various philosophical and political views that underlie American jurisprudence. Political movements such as Federalism, Progressivism, conservativism and liberalism manifest themselves in diverse opinions in appellate court cases, and the law student who can trace the evolution of these movements through the case law is strengthening his or her analytical skills in preparing for responding to the bar exam and other legal situations they will encounter in their careers.
Major Cases in Constitutional Law
Marbury v. Madison is a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that formed the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States under Article III of the Constitution of the United States. It created the principle of judicial review, the power of the Supreme Court to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional. This case involved a last minute appoint by President John Adams in order to gain control of the Judiciary Branch before Thomas Jefferson took office. While the Court dismissed the case, the Court did decide the underlying argument that the Supreme Court did not have the power to issue a writ of mandamus under the original jurisdiction provided in Article III of the Constitution.
Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954), was a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States. It declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. The case is actually a consolidation of four cases arising in the 1950s in which the plaintiffs, in each case black children of various ages, were denied admittance to "whites-only" public schools under the local laws of the state. The decision effectively overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, 163 U.S. 537 (1896), an 1896 Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.
Criminal Law Cases to be Aware of
In addition to theory, the most famous criminal law cases are also an integral part of any criminal law student’s education. Even if you don’t practice criminal law, it is important to have a basic understanding of the principles behind these cases.
Miranda v. Arizona (1966) – Establishes the right to remain silent and the right to counsel before questioning where the defendant is in custody.
Blackledge v. Perry (1974) – Holds that defendants have the right to appeal, and that additional charges cannot be brought against them for doing so.
Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) – Establishes the right to counsel for all, and not just capital, defendants.
Payne v. Tennessee (1991) – Gives states the right to consider victims’ impact statements.
Tison v. Arizona (1987) – Holds that family members of a murderer can receive the death penalty if they are proven to be a minimum involvement in the murder(s).
Cases Relating to Tort Law to Observe
To understand the evolution of tort law, modern legal students must also study landmark cases that expanded on concepts such as negligence and liability. The following section will provide insight into some of the most significant cases.
Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co.
In Palsgraf v. Long Island Railroad Co. (1928), a large package was dropped as it backed onto a train station platform. A man carrying the package was attempting to board the moving train. He was not able to catch the moving train, but a railroad attendant tried to help. Unfortunately, the man fell onto the tracks and the package fell onto a scale that was located on the platform. The impact from the package caused the scale to tip over and hit Ms. Helen Palsgraf in the nearby waiting area. She sued the railroad company for negligence. Ms. Palsgraf lost her lawsuit. The court did not hold the railroad company liable because her injuries were too far removed from the cause of damage. It was impossible to determine who was at fault because the accident was too far removed from those directly interacting. According to Legal Newsline.com, "Palsgraf became a landmark tort case in New York, applying the legal doctrine of foreseeability to determine a negligent act that was not "proximate," or near and direct, to an injury." It set a precedent for future negligence cases.
Steinweg & Sons v. Harmon
Steinweg & Sons v. Harmon is cited in our discussion above. The case concerns a teenager who agreed to burglarize his parents’ home for a cut of the profit. He ended up stabbing his father several times, killing him. The victim’s family sued the piano maker Steinweg & Sons for having a defectively designed piano that allowed the burglar to smuggle his knife concealed in the piano’s casing. The piano maker settled the case with the family. The father —though living dangerous—is a good legal example for an adult student studying law. He had the presence of mind to leave his will behind and make provisions for guardianship over his children. This is something every lawyer should work towards for their clients.
Desnick v. Origin Healthcare Solutions
While Desnick v. Origin Healthcare Solutions does not reference tort law directly, it does provide a clear example of the legal implications of providing medical services. When doctors try to defraud patients, they can be held liable for malpractice. In this case, the plaintiff’s plastic surgeon falsified the doctor’s credentials. Desnick sued the doctor after seeing another surgeon for a double mastectomy due to breast cancer. Since he was deceived by the previous doctor, Desnick was able to win his case. The decision is mostly concerned with the ethics and integrity of the medical profession and the legal liability of certified medical professionals.
Cases to Recognize in Contract Law
For a law student studying contract law in the United Kingdom, there has been numerous cases that have aided them in understanding how contracts are formed and how they can be breached. One significant case which every student should understand is Carlill v. Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. In this case Mrs. Carlill was offered a reward of £100 to purchase a smoke ball and keep taking it if she were to catch influenza, which she did. However, the company claimed that the money had been kept aside to show that they were an honourable and responsible business and that there was no real offer of a unilateral contract. This case is interesting as in today’s world it is almost commonplace to buy goods online after seeing an advertisement on television. Another important case in contract law is Entores Ltd v Miles Far East Corporation. In this case Miles sent an offer to Entores (a company in England) via telex while Miles was in Holland . However, when Entores accepted the offer the message was not received by Miles until later on. The result was that the telex from Miles was an offer while the telex from Entores was merely an invitation to treat. (So this case is a good case in understanding the difference between an invitation to treat and an offer.) Law students also study the case of Balfour v Balfour. A husband was having difficulty at work while his wife was left by herself at home due to their relocation. Mr Balfour sent his wife £30 a month as to keep her comfortable as he would not want her to go out and get a life away from him. This offer was fine to start with and consented as Balfour would pay his wife 30 a month. However, when they got a divorce the husband refused to pay. His reasoning was that the promise did not have ‘legally binding force’ and the wife could not succeed. With these three cases alone, students will hopefully have an idea how contract law works and how important it is in every day life.
Prominent Civil Rights Cases Today
Modern civil rights cases have similar significance in the current legal landscape. Obergefell v. Hodges is a prominent example, involving the issue of same-sex marriage and its recognition at both state and federal levels. The case centers on petitions from couples who were denied marriage licenses in their home states, and it ultimately led to the Supreme Court’s decision that the right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples under the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Obergefell decision is just one of many modern civil rights cases that are pivotal in the ongoing development of civil rights law. Other high-profile cases include United States v. Windsor, which spoke to the federal government’s treatment of same-sex couples in relation to the Defense of Marriage Act, and Shelby County v. Holder, which addressed voting rights and voting suppression in low-income and minority communities.
Modern civil rights cases often inspire the most heated debate and discussion both inside and outside of the courtroom. They raise questions that have both legal and societal implications, such as fundamental rights, equality, and discrimination. By studying these cases, law students gain insight into how the legal system is evolving in response to societal demands for equality and justice.
The Most Important Cases in Intellectual Property Law
In the realm of intellectual property law cases, a few have had a paramount influence on the world of business. To begin with, the case of Apple Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., 37 F. Supp. 3d 1002 (N.D. Cal. 2014), was pivotal in the ongoing battle between these two tech giants. At its core, the case was about protecting inventions that companies work so hard to create. The jury found that Samsung had infringed upon three of Apple’s design patents—on the iPhone 4 design, the rectangular front face and the gridded screen design. Among this jury verdict was a hefty $539 million. In the case between Samsung and Apple, Apple won a significant chunk of that $539 million settlement. Apple reported that this lawsuit awarded them $399 million, and it sought more.
The ramifications of this case have been felt throughout the business world. Some observers suggested that the jury award could completely alter how we think about applying design patents to individual products. At the very least, we know what happened a short time later: The Federal Circuit upheld much of the District Court’s decisions, barring some exceptions not relevant here.
Of the above design patents that Apple successfully asserted against Samsung, the last of those patents, number ‘889, which claims the iPhone grid design, was proven by Apple to encompass every smartphone and tablet that had a grid of color display icons. What do you think will happen? Well, the Federal Circuit took a long time deciding the case and came up with a novel solution: They invalidated the ‘889 patent because it is "just a black square with a grid of 16 white square icons evenly distributed in four rows." It gets better. The Federal Circuit went on to imply that a black square with a grid of gray squares is not eligible for patent protection. "Apple’s licensing model is similar to license-fests like Copyleft. If true, patent law could be jeopardized," says Kevin Amolsch of Actual IP, a blog on intellectual property.
That leads us to the question of whether the future of patent protection is in jeopardy.
Conclusion on the Importance of Law Cases
Law school is often viewed as an insular world, filled with black letter law and legal jargon. Yet throughout the three years, students engage with landmark cases that share and build upon a common judicial philosophy, allowing the pieces of the puzzle to be put together in the big picture of the law. In this way, studying the cases that have shaped the course of our legal system (and the justices who have argued them) is invaluable for law students.
Understanding these important cases is not merely an academic exercise; it lays the groundwork for some of the most important work that lawyers undertake. Law relies heavily on precedent, which makes understanding the crucial developments in the law and how they relate to each other particularly important. It forms the basis of nearly all legal theory and practice, allowing students to understand how the law has evolved and how it will continue to do so. In addition , understanding the original arguments can clarify or amplify their meaning when seen from later perspectives.
Understanding our judicial history also helps to forecast the future. By examining how past rulings build upon and within legal precedent, they can help inform how future decisions may be made. While Supreme Court justices take an oath to uphold the Constitution, politics will influence their decisions, making it valuable for future lawyers and through them, the public to make predictions on the outcome of future proceedings, particularly during contentious times.
Therefore, the study of landmark cases is necessary for becoming an effective and informed lawyer. Each of these cases has helped to create precedents and standards that law students and practitioners will call upon throughout their career. Engaging with legal history is as essential to law school as the coursework itself, and each case adds to the depth of understanding necessary to become an effective lawyer.
