A best practice model for e-consumer protection

This article outlines a set of criteria for assessing the value of e-consumer protection schemes. It is intended that it be used as a tool, for policy-makers, industry associations, corporations and consumer organisations in all jurisdictions, seeking to assess the appropriateness of their consumer protection regulation. It can be used to devise new, or improve existing, policies, and it can also be used to compare the usefulness of e-consumer protection in different jurisdictions. It commences with a brief review of existing frameworks for the protection of e-consumers, which demonstrates the need for a model that uncompromisingly presents the needs of consumers. An overview of the model is provided, followed by a presentation of the model's key features. A further section identifies the several ways in which the model can be applied in order to improve the usefulness of e-consumer protection. An earlier version of the model was published in checklist form (Clarke R. ‘A Major Impediment to B2C Success is … the Concept 'B2C' Invited Keynote, Proc. ICEC'06, Fredericton NB, Canada, 14–16 August 2006, at http://www.rogerclarke.com/EC/ICEC06.html#TNT). The present article revises and expands that checklist, and presents the rationale underlying each item in it.     

论电子商务法律纠纷中冲突规范连结点的新发展

互联网的非中心化、虚拟性、无界性以及其法律主体的复杂性给电子商务法律纠纷中连结点的确定和选择带来了前所未有的挑战,传统连结点将继续适用但其含义呈多样化趋势,对主观性连结点的限制逐渐减少,连结点弹性化倾向将更加明显。网址、网页等新的连结因素对于网络案件连结点的确定将起越来越重要的作用,且在不同范围内逐渐演化为可接受的新连结点。＂一致性＂和＂本土化＂的有机结合应是网络环境下新连结点构建的价值取向。     

医疗意外损害赔偿中的国家责任

现代科技发展使大量新的技术和产品在医疗诊治中广泛运用,各种潜在的危险因素致使医疗意外损害发生的机率大幅上升,在不可归结于医师和患者等方面的原因而造成对患者合法权益损害的情况下,同样要得到相应利益的补偿才合乎社会的公平和正义。故社会必须建立一种能合理而迅速地分配责任风险、消化损害的国家补偿机制,以实现对被害人的权益保障。     

WTO《补贴与反补贴措施协定》附件一（K）款一项的解释与适用——以巴西飞机补贴案为依据

WTO《补贴与反补贴措施协定》附件一（K）款一项是一个颇为复杂和重要的条款,涉及的内容很多,如该款的一般性解释和举证责任问题,“支付的出口商或其他金融机构为获得信贷所产生的全部或部分费用”、“保证在出口信贷方面能获得实质性的优势”、“在出口信贷方面”等措辞的解释与适用问题。在加拿大诉巴西飞机出口资助计划案中,专家组及上诉机构的报告对于澄清上述问题起了重要的作用。     

Post-Soviet Society and Russia’s Macroeconomic Statistics

This article investigates the causes of the distorted macroeconomic statistics in the Russian Federation. It introduces alternative methods for the estimation of gross domestic product (GDP) growth, and the growth and amount of fixed capital stock, and estimates them by drawing on alternative data. Our estimates for the period of 1992–2015 differ substantially from those reported by the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). According to our estimates, GDP declined by 10.2 percent, which is in sharp contrast with the official estimate reporting growth of 13.4 percent. The same is found with regard to labor productivity, for which we find a decline of 30.1 percent instead of a growth of 9.2 percent. Accordingly, the full book value of fixed capital stock shrunk by 29.2 percent instead of the officially reported 50.9 percent growth. The drop in the residual value of fixed capital is estimated at 52.6 percent. The ratio of replacement to book value of fixed capital fluctuated between 4:1 in the middle of the period and 7:1 toward the end of the period. Additionally, we estimate the amount of investment in human and physical capital necessary for producing 3 percent annual GDP growth. Financing such investment would require a decline in personal consumption by about a factor of 2, with a greater part of it falling on the better off population strata. Finally, we make suggestions regarding income redistribution.     

Extraction of alternative fuels from fire debris samples*

Alternative fuels, specifically biodiesel, biodiesel blends, and E85 fuel, have been gaining a market share over the past few years. With the emergence of these fuels, fire debris analysts should be able to recognize their characteristics since these fuels may be encountered in casework. In this study, pure biodiesel (B100) and a 20% blend of pure biodiesel with petroleum diesel (B20) are examined as liquids and are extracted from debris samples using both passive headspace concentration and solvent extraction. Typical fire debris instrumental conditions are used to analyze these samples. Components of B100 and B20 may be observed in debris samples extracted using the passive headspace concentration method, but the chromatographic patterns are different from the pure liquid samples. When solvent extraction is used as a secondary extraction method on debris samples, the resulting patterns are consistent with the pure liquids of B100 and B20. E85 fuel, a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, can be extracted using a typical fire debris extraction technique but requires slight modifications to typical fire debris instrumental conditions. E85 is shown at various stages of evaporation to demonstrate the resiliency of the ethanol. Additionally, samples of E85 were placed on carpet, burned and extinguished to demonstrate the effects of the suppression medium on the retention of ethanol.     

THE CALM AFTER THE STORM: USING MEDIATION TO RESOLVE PARENTING DISPUTES IN THE WAKE OF NATURAL DISASTERS

Hurricane Katrina not only tore apart communities along the Gulf Coast, it displaced hundreds of thousands of families throughout the country. Included in the massive numbers of displaced families were children from divorced, separated, or unmarried parents. As a result, many children have since relocated far away from one of their parents without court permission, causing an influx of parenting disputes among the unmarried parents. Litigation concerning parenting disputes that follow natural disasters is not only expensive, but is emotionally taxing on both parents and children and floods the already drained court system. This Note discusses alternative ways in which parenting disputes can be resolved following natural disasters. It explains how children are affected by relocating away from one of their parents and how those effects are comounded by natural disasters. Further, it explains how alternative dispute resolution methods help alleviate the effects of parenting disputes, specifically relocation disputes, on children. Finally, this Note proposes that all parents should be mandated to mediate any parenting disputes following natural disasters.     

外伤后诊疗失误医疗纠纷分析

通过对5例外伤后医疗纠纷案件的回顾性分析,探讨了此类医疗纠纷的特点和医疗失误的成因。通过外伤和医疗失误在患者死亡后果中责任程度分析,提出了“死因竞合”和“参与度”的判定原则。并且认为,在涉讼的此类医疗纠纷案件的技术鉴定中,如将对死者进行全面尸体解剖和病理学检验以明确患者死亡的原因作为必要的前置程序．则对于此类案件的科学鉴定具有非常重要的意义。     

论CEPA的性质、效力及其争议解决模式

自由贸易区是一种仅在区内成员之间实行自由贸易 ,而对成员与非成员之间的贸易无任何约束的松散型的区域经济组织。在“一国两制”框架内制定的CEPA ,其性质为一个主权国家内统辖不同单独关税领土的政府之间达成的自由贸易协议 ,但仍然具有国际法上的效力。由于中国内地与港澳特区同为WTO成员 ,CEPA的制定与实施因而应受到WTO规则的制约。有关CEPA的实施和解释的争议应在联合指导委员会的框架内通过双边协商机制解决的模式选择是从中国国情出发并且在权衡各种争议解决机制利弊的基础上作出的 ,如果另设其他机制 ,则与中国的最大利益相悖。     

FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCING AND CHILD PROTECTION MEDIATION: ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR PRIORITIZING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT IN CHILD WELFARE CASES

Family group conferencing (FGC) and child protection mediation maximize family engagement in child welfare cases by prioritizing families' roles in discussions and decisions. This article examines how FGC helps professionals to focus on family and community strengths, encourages family engagement, and provides targeted case plans for families and timely, permanent placements for children. It explores how courts and agencies use these interventions to empower families to contribute to resolutions in ways that are not possible in traditional litigation processes. These complementary processes help children and families by providing forums where families are allowed to make informed choices and take an active role in creating plans for their future.