Top polarisation studies in H−tH^-t and WtWt production

The polarisation of top quarks produced in high energy processes can be a very sensitive probe of physics beyond the Standard Model. The kinematical distributions of the decay products of the top quark can provide clean information on the polarisation of the produced top and thus can probe new physics effects in the top quark sector. We study some of the recently proposed polarisation observables involving the decay products of the top quark in the context of $H^-t$ and $Wt$ production. We show that the effect of the top polarisation on the decay lepton azimuthal angle distribution, studied recently for these processes at leading order in QCD, is robust with respect to the inclusion of next-to-leading order and parton shower corrections. We also consider the leptonic polar angle, as well as recently proposed energy-related distributions of the top decay products. We construct asymmetry parameters from these observables, which can be used to distinguish the new physics signal from the $Wt$ background and discriminate between different values of $\tan\beta$ and $m_{H^-}$ in a general type II two-Higgs doublet model. Finally, we show that similar observables may be useful in separating a Standard Model $Wt$ signal from the much larger QCD induced top pair production background.Comment: 33 pages, 35 figures, references adde

Remittiturs (and Additurs) in The Federal Courts: An Evaluation with Suggested Alternatives

The use of remittitur and additur in American jurisprudence is based upon Justice Story\u27s very limits of the law in conjunction with the constraints of the seventh amendment. This author states that since additur is not presently being used as a procedural devise and remittitur is premised on the same principles, the current use of remittitur should be eliminated

Remittitur Practice in the Federal Courts

The first section of this Note examines and evaluates the mechanics of remittitur procedure in the federal courts. The second section focuses on the major unresolved issue of remittitur procedure: whether a plaintiff who elects to remit is entitled to appellate review of the remittitur order. The final section of the Note evaluate remitting-plaintiff appeal procedures and suggest some ways in which federal remittitur procedure might be made more efficient and more responsive to policy objectives

Tortious Interference With Expectancy of Inheritance or Gift--Suggestions for Resort to the Tort

This article examines the various factual circumstances in which a tort recovery for interference with the expectancy of inheritance or gift might be available, either as the only possible remedy for the disappointed expectant person or as an alternative to a remedy at equity or at probate, and determines, in regard to each circumstance, whether a cause of action in tort should be available. This tort has received recent attention, especially in light of the substantial awards, both compensatory and punitive, in a California Bankruptcy Court, 253 B.R. 550 (Bankr. C.D. Cal 2000), and, on appeal, in the U,S. District Court for the Central District of California, 275 B.R. 5 (C.D. Cal. 2002), in Marshall v. Marshall (In re Marshall), to Vickie Lynn Marshall (aka Anna Nicole Smith) in her action against her stepson on the ground of tortious interference with her expectancy of an inter vivos gift from her then recently-deceased husband, J. Howard Marshall, II. Beginning with a general introduction to the tort and to the primary issue vis-a-vis the tort, if and when the tort should be available to someone claiming that the tortious actions of another have deprived the claimant of an expected benefit by gift or by inheritance, the article then explores the various circumstances in which resort to the tort might be appropriate: tortious interference with an inter vivos gift; tortious interference with an at-death benefit such as being the beneficiary of a revocable inter vivos trust; tortious inducement of inter vivos transfers that diminish a testator\u27s probate estate, thereby reducing a testamentary beneficiary\u27s or heir\u27s testamentary benefit; tortious inducement to execute, not execute, revoke or not revoke a will, thereby interfering with the claimant\u27s testamentary expectancy

Preventing Identity Theft and Other Financial Abuses Perpetrated Against Vulnerable Members of Society: Keeping the Horse in the Barn Rather than Litigating over the Cause and/or Consequences of His Leaving

This article examines a troubling issue: the execution of important documents by individuals who are vulnerable, because of age, hospitalization, or other impairment, to financial abuse. Oftentimes, such individuals execute wills that are subsequently challenged on the grounds of lack of capacity or undue influence or execute writings which enable financial predators to prey on the individuals. Such predatory schemes often result in injury to the vulnerable individuals which might then be remediated by criminal or civil statute. The purpose of this article is to propose a procedure by which much suffering and litigation could be prevented. If such a vulnerable individual would be required to submit to an evaluative procedure--to determine capacity and freedom from duress--at a time before the writing was executed, and only be permitted to sign the document if his capacity and so forth were established, the writing would be less likely to be challenged at a time when the individual is no longer available to be examined. Moreover, such a writing could then be given a presumption of validity which would further reduce the likelihood of suit. Finally, such a procedure would reduce the possibility of the individual being bilked in a financial scam because of the public nature of the procedure

Not as cool as fighter pilots : an exploration of identity and learning for full-time quantity surveying students.

This study explores the relationship between identity and learning, in particular the concepts of ‘belonging’ and ‘becoming’ in respect of professional, vocational education. Adopting a case study approach, the study focuses on the quantity surveying discipline and the degree programme offered by my institution, and one specific cohort on same. As they progressed through their studies, an in-depth exploration of the formation of identity (ies) and the dispositions adopted towards learning was undertaken, involving two key milestones: at Level 1 (first year) when the participants had almost completed their studies, and again at Level 3 (third year) when the participants had returned from their period of professional placement. The conclusions of my study raise a number of issues for professional, vocational education in general, and more specifically, the provision of quantity surveying education within my institution. The outcomes of this investigation highlight three key areas for further attention: the tensions inherent in providing discipline-orientated programmes within a semesterised, modularised, more generic-focused system of delivery; issues surrounding the provision of professional placement opportunities including the emotional aspects of same; and the resultant impacts on dispositions and identity, ‘belonging’ and ‘becoming’

A Suggested Solution to the Problem of Intestate Succession in Nontraditional Family Arrangements: Taking the “Adoption” (and the Inequity) Out of the Doctrine of “Equitable Adoption”

Part I of this Article examines the doctrine of equitable adoption, focusing on its deficiencies in addressing some of the issues of the modern family. Part II considers the specific issue of intestate succession, the way that the equitable adoption doctrine falls short in providing a consistent rational result of heirship in the modern family, and the reasons for expanding inheritance rights to “family members” claiming an intestate share despite the fact that they were not born into or legally adopted into the family arrangement. Part III proposes answers to these difficult problems, suggesting a statutory provision defining “child,” for inheritance purposes, to include children raised in families that are not their families of birth, but avoiding denominating this relationship as one of “adoption”--carrying with it a suggestion of a legal sanction which these relationships lack