Mental Disorder, Work Disability and the Law

R.J. Bonnie and J. Monahan, eds., Mental Disorder, Work Disability, and the Law (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1997): 321 pp.     

Legal Capacity at a Crossroad: Mental Disability and Family Law

In this introductory essay to the Special Issue, I argue that both family law and disability rights law scholars should examine a key point of intersection across areas: legal capacity or the law's recognition of the rights and responsibilities of an individual. For example, parental termination proceedings center on parental fitness and functional capabilities. I contextualize the articles in the Special Issue by Leslie Francis and Robyn Powell on the role of reasonable accommodations for parents with disabilities in parental termination proceedings. In addition, I call upon legal scholars, family law courts, and practitioners to reimagine governing legal standards in family law according to principles of universal design to shift the baseline capabilities associated with parenting and parental fitness.     

脑外伤所致精神障碍伤残鉴定时机

目的研究脑外伤所致精神障碍伤残相对合理准确的最佳鉴定时机。方法对93例交通事故脑外伤所致精神障碍患者进行伤残鉴定及随访调查,在伤后不同时间段（3、6、9、12月）分别收集患者颅脑影像学、脑电图及详细病史资料,并对患者家属进行调查和对患者进行精神检查及智力量表（Wechsler Intellegence Scale for Adult,WAIS）、社会功能缺陷筛选量表（Social Disability Screening Schedule,SDSS）和日常生活能力量表（Activity of Daily Living Scale,ADL）测验,据此进行诊断及评残。结果ADL、SDSS对不同等级伤残及不同时间段区分良好,整体样本显示患者ADL、SDSS平均值9月与12月无差别。轻度伤残ADL、SDSS平均值6、9、12月无差别,中度伤残ADL、SDSS平均值9月与12月无差别,重度伤残ADL平均值6、9、12月无差别。结论脑外伤所致精神障碍伤残鉴定轻度伤残以伤后6个月评定为宜,中度伤残以伤后9个月评定为宜,重度伤残统计结论显示评残时机为伤后6个月,但综合分析认为重度伤残以伤后9个月评定为宜。     

Damages for Mental Distress and Bad Faith in Disability Claims

This article examines recent changes in the law in Canada in relation to the court’s willingness to acknowledge the significance of, and award compensation for, intangible loss arising from breach of contract. When a claim for benefits is wrongly refused in a disability contract, a primary goal of the contract, which is to provide peace of mind, is unrealized. Where this causes mental distress, Canadian courts are now willing to award compensation. Similarly, if an insurer conducts itself in such a manner as to attract a punitive damages award, a consideration in assessing the quantum of the award is the vulnerability of the insured. The evidentiary basis for these claims will often include expert psychological opinion. Various considerations for determining the existence, nature, and scope of the psychological issues relevant to a claim for damages for mental distress and/or punitive damages are covered in this article.     

Disentangling the Disability Quagmire in Psychological Injury and Law

This paper aims to critically analyze the evolution of six models of conceptualization, determination, and prediction of occupational disability relevant in the medico-legal context of psychological injury. The six models are the (a) biomedical, (b) forensic, (c) psychosocial, (d) ecological, (e) economic, and (f) biopsychosocial. We will discuss the key commonalities and differences among the models, including disciplinary tradition, research paradigm, recognition of person–environment interaction, key tenets, and implications for practice and research in psychological injury. The paper will highlight and discuss psychosocial issues, often underemphasized in forensic psychological practice, including: (a) balanced assessment of primary, secondary, and tertiary gains and losses, (b) self-perception, (c) disability identity, (d) beliefs and expectations, (e) coping, (f) adaptation and positive growth, (g) social stigma and social reactions to disability, including disability harassment, and (h) recognition of system-based environmental influences and demands. We will provide a special focus on the current state of the science and practice of prediction of disability, of particular interest to researchers and clinicians involved in clinical and occupational prognostication in psychological injuries. Finally, we will draw conclusions and recommendations for future research and best practices in the psychological injury area using a cross-diagnostic, dynamic, functionally based, and integrated biopsychosocial and forensic model of disability.     

Law and Aging: Special Persons, Special Treatment?

Miriam K. Aronson (ed.) and Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Understanding Alzheimer's Disease . Charles Scribner's Sons: New York (1988).
Robert N. Brown with Legal Counsel for the Elderly, The Rights of Older Persons (Second Edition). Southern Illinois University Press: Carbondale, IL(1989).
John J. Regan with Legal Counsel for the Elderly, Your Legal Rights in Later Life . American Association of Retired Persons and Scott, Foresman and Company: Washington, D.C. and Glenview, IL (1989).
Ira S. Schneider & Ezra Huber, Financial Planning for Long-Term Care . Human Sciences Press: New York (1989).
James E. Thornton & Earl R. Winkler (eds.), Ethics and Aging: The Right to Live, The Right to Die . University of British Columbia Press: Vancouver, B.C., Canada (1988).
Mark H. Waymack & George A. Taler, Medical Ethics and The Elderly . Pluribus Press: Chicago (1988).     

商法视野中商铺转让费问题探讨

全国范围内关于商铺转让费纠纷的处理同案不同判现象较为明显,其主要原因是法律对商铺转让费的性质未有明确界定.商人通过租赁他人的商铺从事商事经营活动,在商铺的所有权人和使用人之间形成了不动产的商事租赁法律关系,由此而生之商事租赁权及商誉价值等属于商事营业资产之无形财产.商铺转让费属于对转让人的一种综合性补偿费,其中应当包含的因素有:转让人对于该商铺的商誉提升的补偿,转让人对于预期经营利益放弃的补偿,转让人对于商事营业场所租赁权让渡的补偿.承租人主张商铺转让费具有合法性基础,但需受主体、数额、租赁期限等限制.     

With the One Coin for Fee: A.E. Houseman's Law

Any abstract would ruin the poetic economy ofthis text. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

交通事故中脑外伤所致精神障碍与精神伤残相关因素分析

目的分析交通事故致颅脑损伤后精神伤残等级评定的相关因素。方法收集157例交通事故致颅脑损伤后精神伤残的鉴定案例,根据鉴定结论分为轻度组、中度组和重度组。对3组的一般人口学资料、临床病史资料、鉴定资料进行比较,并以上述资料为自变量,以组别为应变量,进行logistic回归分析。结果3组一般人口学资料的差异均无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,而昏迷时间、颅内出血区域大小、工作能力、家庭职能、社交功能、生活自理能力、智商的差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。颅内出血灶、家庭职能、社交功能、生活自理进入logistic回归方程。结论颅脑损伤的严重程度对后遗精神伤残有一定影响,鉴定时伤者的家庭职能、社交功能和生活自理是决定伤残等级的主要因素。     

老年人交通事故精神伤残鉴定的临床特征分析

目的探讨老年人交通事故受伤后精神伤残鉴定临床特征。方法对109例老年人发生交通事故受伤后精神伤残司法鉴定资料进行回顾性分析,并与非老年组进行对照研究。结果老年人多为被动性损伤、受伤后颅内血肿发生率高、致残的原因88．07％是智能及精神障碍所致,损伤程度及伤残等级以中、重度多见。结论最佳评残时机为脑外伤一年后为宜,应结合老年人的心理、生理特点,提高交通安全防范意识。     

英美诽谤法的特殊抗辩事由研究

英美诽谤法为实现保护言论自由和尊重个人名誉的平衡,设计了诸多精细的特殊抗辩事由,包括以真实性作为完全抗辩的依据;涉及公共利益的、基于事实的、真诚的公允评论;法律授予特殊场合的特权抗辩(绝对特权和受约制特权)及制定法规定的严格责任抗辩事由.这些抗辩事由使英美法诽谤法实现了法益平衡的目的.     

"特别法"与"一般法"之关系及适用问题探讨

一般法(一般规定)是指在时间、空间、对象以及立法事项上作出的一般性规定的法律规范,特别法(特别规定)则是适用于特定时间、特定空间、特定主体(或对象)、特定事项(或行为)的法律规范。“特别法优于一般法”规则不仅适用于同位法之间而且也适用于不同位阶的法律规范之间,但其适用条件则有不同的要求。