Regulating Big Pharma: Lawsuits and Reforms - Professor Liz McCuskey by Saint Louis University School of Law

The alcohol industry is one of the most highly regulated industries in the United States. With the advent of the large conglomerates and the explosion of the micro-breweries and craft distilleries, the industry is ever changing. In this episode we are joined by Professor Gary Rutledge. Gary joined SLU LAW after serving as Vice President and Zone General Counsel in the North American Zone for Anheuser-Busch InBev. He currently teaches a course at SLU LAW on alcohol regulation.

It is hard to get through the day without hearing about or discussing immigration in the United States. The landscape is challenging and the law under the new administration is evolving, especially as the Supreme Court weighs in. In this episode we are joined by Professor Richard Middleton. Professor Middleton is a practicing immigration law attorney and an adjunct professor at SLU LAW teaching immigration law.

As the current administration grapples with what to do with heath care in the United States, the future of 15 million people with disabilities, including children and seniors, hangs in the balance. In this episode we are joined by Elizabeth Pendo, the Joseph J. Simeone Professor of Law in the SLU LAW Center for Health Law Studies. Professor Pendo is an expert on disability law and disability discrimination.

The Second Amendment was a point of contention on the campaign trail and continues to be a hot topic in today's legislature. Recently, Missouri lawmakers expanded gun rights in the state, including conceal and carry laws. In this episode we are joined by Anders Walker, the Lillie Myers Professor of Law. Professor Walker is a criminal law and constitutional law expert.

From contract negotiations to trademark protection, wage disputes and stadium deals, the practice of sports law spans across disciplines and interests. Each aspect has wide ranging implications, especially here in St. Louis as we navigate the prospects of a new stadium and a new sport. In this episode, we are joined by two distinguished alums and adjunct professors Nick Brockmeyer and Garrett Broshuis who co-teach a course in sports law.

Prescription drug abuse is a prevalent problem across the country. What started as a health care issue has slowly become a problem facing our criminal justice system. As our society grapples with the issues, many are left behind with little to no help. In this episode we are joined by Professor Liz Chiarello. Professor Chiarello is a sociologist with SLU’s department of sociology and anthropology. She holds a secondary appointment at the School of Law with the Center for Health Law Studies.

The gig economy - a term you may have heard a time or two in the past few years - is defined as an environment in which temporary positions are common and organizations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements. The gig economy has become popular through companies like Uber and Lyft, but as these companies grow so do the issues with labor law regulations. In this episode we are joined by Professor Miriam Cherry. Professor Cherry is currently the director of the Wefel Center for Employment Law and is an expert in the gig economy.

Every year petitions for clemency collect on the Governor's desk. Recently the case of Timothy Prosser has gained attention. The Riverfront Times chronicled the story of this Missouri man who was sentenced to life in prison for non violent crime. In this episode we are joined by John Ammann, McDonnell Professor of Justice in American Society, supervisor in SLU's Civil Advocacy clinic and one of the founders of the Community Coalition for Clemency. Every year Professor Ammann and his students petition the Governor for clemency on behalf of their clients.

This year the healthcare industry has been abuzz with the news that Aetna will move to merge with Humana and Anthem with Cigna. The U.S. Department of Justice does not agree and is taking the companies to court over consumer rights. In this episode we are joined by Tim Greaney, co-director of the Center for Health Law Studies and Chester A. Myers Professor of Law. Professor Greaney began his career in the DOJ's antitrust division and has testified numerous times before Congress, most recently before the House Judiciary Subcommittee.