California Supreme Court Considers Major Employment Case
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The late Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray, will very likely do hard time for involuntary manslaughter in the death of his superstar patient. We ask other doctors about the temptations — and pitfalls -- of treating celebrities. Also, after eight years, the State Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that could finally determine whether employers have to make sure their workers get the rest- and work breaks they're entitled to. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, the Super Committee, the deficit and the Pentagon.
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Making News
Doctors and Celebrity Patients ()
Dr. Conrad Murray has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson. Murray was paid $150,000 a month by the superstar, and claimed that Jackson so urgently wanted an injection of what he called "milk" that he did it himself. The jury found it was Murray who performed the injection and then left the room while Jackson expired. "Milk" was Propofol, a powerful anesthetic to be used only in surgery. Murray will be sentenced later this month by Judge Michael Pastor, who jailed the doctor without bail on the grounds that "the public should be protected." We get two views on the temptations and pitfalls of treating celebrity patients.
Guests:
- Victoria McEvoy: Massachusetts General West Medical Group
- David Sack: Promises Treatment Centers
Links:
Main Topic
California Supreme Court Considers Major Employment Case ()
Employers and employees are closely watching a case heard today by the State Supreme Court. It's a class action suit by thousands of waiters, waitresses, bartenders, cooks and others against the Brinker Restaurant Corporation, whose outlets include Chili's, Magianno's Little Italy and Romano's Macaroni Grill. It boils down to this: when an employer promises rest and meal-breaks for its employees, does the employer have to make sure the workers actually take them?
Guests:
- Patrick Kitchin: Kitchin Legal
- Jot Condie: California Restaurant Association
- Catherine Fisk: UC Irvine Law School
Main Topic
The Super Committee, the Deficit and the Pentagon ()
The so-called Super Committee has just over two weeks to complete a monumental reduction of America's deficit over the next 10 years. Will it achieve the "Grand Bargain" that eluded the President and House Speaker John Boehner? If it fails, what happens to Pentagon spending?
Guests:
- Jared Bernstein: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, @econjared
- Stephen Moore: Wall Street Journal
- Max Boot: Council on Foreign Relations, @MaxBoot
- Gordon Adams: American University, @Gadams1941
Links:
- CBPP on how the potential across-the-board cuts in the debt limit deal would occur
- Moore's look inside the Super Committee (WSJ)
- Moore's 'Government: America's #1 Growth Industry'
- CFR on defense spending and the deficit debate
- Adams' 'Buying National Security: How America Plans and Pays for Its Global Role and Security at Home'
Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.
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