Ted Folkman
@tfolkman.bsky.social
New empty-nester. Lawyer in Boston. Private international law and business litigation. Publisher of Letters Blogatory (since 2011!)
Reposted by Ted Folkman
There are well-meaning companies out there giving American lawyers bad advice about international discovery at scale.
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/08/01/o...
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/08/01/o...
Oh, vendors | Letters Blogatory
I had an interesting and unusual experience this week. I help a lot of lawyers take depositions without compulsion abroad. But it’s not that common for me to have to take a deposition abroad in a stat...
lettersblogatory.com
August 1, 2025 at 1:48 PM
There are well-meaning companies out there giving American lawyers bad advice about international discovery at scale.
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/08/01/o...
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/08/01/o...
Elephant habeas: a new case from the Nonhuman Rights Project, doomed, one hopes, to failure. lettersblogatory.com/2025/07/23/e...
#animalrights
#animalrights
Elephant Habeas: NhRP files a new case in California | Letters Blogatory
The Nonhuman Rights Project has filed a new habeas corpus case supposedly on behalf of two elephants, this time in California. The most important thing, I think, is that the new filing shows that thes...
lettersblogatory.com
July 24, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Elephant habeas: a new case from the Nonhuman Rights Project, doomed, one hopes, to failure. lettersblogatory.com/2025/07/23/e...
#animalrights
#animalrights
Amid all our other emergencies, there is an antisemitism emergency in America.
#antisemitism
lettersblogatory.com/2025/06/07/t...
#antisemitism
lettersblogatory.com/2025/06/07/t...
The antisemitism emergency | Letters Blogatory
The violent antisemitism now epidemic in America is a real emergency. I give one Jewish person's view, and a suggestion for self-reflection.
lettersblogatory.com
June 8, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Amid all our other emergencies, there is an antisemitism emergency in America.
#antisemitism
lettersblogatory.com/2025/06/07/t...
#antisemitism
lettersblogatory.com/2025/06/07/t...
A look at William Dodge’s interesting post on serving US counsel.
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/04/21/b...
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/04/21/b...
Bill Dodge on Serving US Counsel | Letters Blogatory
A look at an EDNY case on serving a Chinese defendant by serving the defendant's US lawyer. Is that okay under the Hague Service Convention?
lettersblogatory.com
April 21, 2025 at 11:35 AM
A look at William Dodge’s interesting post on serving US counsel.
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/04/21/b...
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/04/21/b...
Case of the Day: Tesla v. Balan. The Ninth Circuit has a fun procedural decision about subject-matter jurisdiction and domestic arbitration.
#fedilaw #arbitration
lettersblogatory.com/2025/04/16/c...
#fedilaw #arbitration
lettersblogatory.com/2025/04/16/c...
Case of the Day: Tesla v. Balan | Letters Blogatory
In Tesla v. Balan, the Ninth Circuit held that courts lack jurisdiction to confirm 'zero-dollar' arbitral awards under FAA Chapter 1.
lettersblogatory.com
April 16, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Case of the Day: Tesla v. Balan. The Ninth Circuit has a fun procedural decision about subject-matter jurisdiction and domestic arbitration.
#fedilaw #arbitration
lettersblogatory.com/2025/04/16/c...
#fedilaw #arbitration
lettersblogatory.com/2025/04/16/c...
Case of the day: Application of Vestolit GmbH. A reminder about the importance of candor in ex parte 1782 applications.
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/16/c...
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/16/c...
Case of the Day: Application of Vestolit GmbH | Letters Blogatory
The case of the day is Application of Vestolit GmbH (D. Del. 2025). Vestolit GmbH and Celanese Europe B.V. were defendants in a Dutch antitrust lawsuit brought by Shell Chemicals Europe, B.V. They bro...
lettersblogatory.com
March 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Case of the day: Application of Vestolit GmbH. A reminder about the importance of candor in ex parte 1782 applications.
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/16/c...
#lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/16/c...
It irks me to have to say it, but the government should release Mahmoud Khalil.
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/13/t...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/13/t...
The government should release Mahmoud Khalil | Letters Blogatory
The government should release Mahmoud Khalil. There, I said it. Don’t misunderstand me. I think he’s a terrible person with terrible views. I think that the government should not admit aliens with his...
lettersblogatory.com
March 16, 2025 at 1:31 PM
It irks me to have to say it, but the government should release Mahmoud Khalil.
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/13/t...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/13/t...
This makes me happy. I am trying to learn French, which is not so easy in your fifties. The hardest thing is gender, because it has no rhyme or reason. It is hard for the French too! Here is Pres. Macron being a good sport with a comedian and going one for three.
www.instagram.com/reel/DAv09BX...
www.instagram.com/reel/DAv09BX...
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March 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This makes me happy. I am trying to learn French, which is not so easy in your fifties. The hardest thing is gender, because it has no rhyme or reason. It is hard for the French too! Here is Pres. Macron being a good sport with a comedian and going one for three.
www.instagram.com/reel/DAv09BX...
www.instagram.com/reel/DAv09BX...
Reposted by Ted Folkman
The masculine high iq master race takeover of the US government does not, to me, seem to evince the various benefits and virtues they claimed would come from governance by such people. Perplexing.
March 7, 2025 at 8:16 AM
The masculine high iq master race takeover of the US government does not, to me, seem to evince the various benefits and virtues they claimed would come from governance by such people. Perplexing.
Thoughts on the “robot ump” (with the “robot arbitrator” as subtext):
#lawfedi #baseball #ai
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/02/t...
#lawfedi #baseball #ai
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/02/t...
The robot umpire | Letters Blogatory
Fans of American football are pretty much used to the instant replay by now. Suppose a receiver catches the ball in the end zone and is immediately hit. He bobbles the ball a bit before hitting the tu...
lettersblogatory.com
March 3, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Thoughts on the “robot ump” (with the “robot arbitrator” as subtext):
#lawfedi #baseball #ai
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/02/t...
#lawfedi #baseball #ai
lettersblogatory.com/2025/03/02/t...
Reposted by Ted Folkman
To me, a Nazi salute means, "I want to murder your family." There can be no irony about it: It puts deep anger and hatred in my heart to see it done and I will never forgive anyone who justifies or minimizes it.
February 23, 2025 at 6:14 PM
To me, a Nazi salute means, "I want to murder your family." There can be no irony about it: It puts deep anger and hatred in my heart to see it done and I will never forgive anyone who justifies or minimizes it.
Reposted by Ted Folkman
That Hamas did not think "not kidnapping infants and holding them in dungeons" was in its power tells you a lot about what they think power is for.
February 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
That Hamas did not think "not kidnapping infants and holding them in dungeons" was in its power tells you a lot about what they think power is for.
The Massachusetts Commission on Combating Antisemitism shines a light on the awful leadership of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. #mapoli #antisemitism lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/16/a...
A little sunshine at the Mass. Commission on Combating Antisemitism | Letters Blogatory
Max Page, the president of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Association, was the star witness at the fourth meeting of the Massachusetts Commission on Combating Antisemitism, held last week. He was testify...
lettersblogatory.com
February 16, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The Massachusetts Commission on Combating Antisemitism shines a light on the awful leadership of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. #mapoli #antisemitism lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/16/a...
Some recent AI announcements are a yellow alert for arbitration, and we need to start thinking through issues about how an “AI decisionmaker” would be treated under the FAA or the New York Connvention . #arbitration #ai #lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/12/y...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/12/y...
Yellow alert for arbitration | Letters Blogatory
I wrote a post the other day about Arbitrus.ai, an AI “arbitrator” described in a recent paper. I wasn’t sure whether the paper was an elaborate prank meant as a send-up of AI hypesters and folks with...
lettersblogatory.com
February 13, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Some recent AI announcements are a yellow alert for arbitration, and we need to start thinking through issues about how an “AI decisionmaker” would be treated under the FAA or the New York Connvention . #arbitration #ai #lawfedi
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/12/y...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/12/y...
Case of the Day: Gartenberg v. Cooper Union.
I’ll never apologize for focusing on the troubles facing this “smallest of peoples,” who really do need the support of people of good will from across the political divide.
#lawfedi #antisemitism
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/10/c...
I’ll never apologize for focusing on the troubles facing this “smallest of peoples,” who really do need the support of people of good will from across the political divide.
#lawfedi #antisemitism
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/10/c...
Case of the Day: Gartenberg v. Cooper Union | Letters Blogatory
The case of the day is Gartenberg v. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (S.D.N.Y. 2025). The Cooper Union is a small private college in New York City. The complaint, filed by several ...
lettersblogatory.com
February 11, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Case of the Day: Gartenberg v. Cooper Union.
I’ll never apologize for focusing on the troubles facing this “smallest of peoples,” who really do need the support of people of good will from across the political divide.
#lawfedi #antisemitism
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/10/c...
I’ll never apologize for focusing on the troubles facing this “smallest of peoples,” who really do need the support of people of good will from across the political divide.
#lawfedi #antisemitism
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/10/c...
Reposted by Ted Folkman
A quick reaction to arbitus.AI, a misguided proposal for an AI arbitrator. #lawfedi #arbitration
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/02/a...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/02/a...
Against whatever this is | Letters Blogatory
A critique of Arbitrus.ai, a proposal to have an AI decisionmaker decide private law arbitrations, including in consumer cases.
lettersblogatory.com
February 2, 2025 at 3:49 PM
A quick reaction to arbitus.AI, a misguided proposal for an AI arbitrator. #lawfedi #arbitration
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/02/a...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/02/02/a...
Case of the Day: In re Genial Institucional. In a 1782 case, how meaningful is the "tag service" rule?
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/23/c...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/23/c...
Case of the day: In re Genial Institucional | Letters Blogatory
The case of the day is In re Genial Institucional Corretora de Cambio (S.D.N.Y. 2025). Genial sued BP Securities and others in Brazil, seeking a declaration that it was in a de facto partnership with ...
lettersblogatory.com
January 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Case of the Day: In re Genial Institucional. In a 1782 case, how meaningful is the "tag service" rule?
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/23/c...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/23/c...
I draw some connections between the latest "elephant habeas" case and the President's executive order trying to avoid the clear language of the Fourteenth Amendment on jus soli. The connection? Absurdity. The difference? The incentives lawyers and judges face.
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/22/e...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/22/e...
Elephant habeas and birthright citizenship | Letters Blogatory
The Colorado Supreme Court has unanimously rejected an appeal by the Nonhuman Rights Project seeking to reverse a lower court’s decision holding that people could not seek writs of habeas corpus on be...
lettersblogatory.com
January 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
I draw some connections between the latest "elephant habeas" case and the President's executive order trying to avoid the clear language of the Fourteenth Amendment on jus soli. The connection? Absurdity. The difference? The incentives lawyers and judges face.
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/22/e...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/22/e...
Some good news yesterday: the first three hostages came home. Thank God! At Letters Blogatory, I reflect on the news and ask what comes next for Israel and the Palestinians.
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/20/t...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/20/t...
The first hostages come home | Letters Blogatory
The first three hostages have been released from Gaza. Here are some thoughts on the path forward for Israel and the Palestinians.
lettersblogatory.com
January 20, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Some good news yesterday: the first three hostages came home. Thank God! At Letters Blogatory, I reflect on the news and ask what comes next for Israel and the Palestinians.
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/20/t...
lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/20/t...
Reposted by Ted Folkman
Massachusetts: we swear to support the US and Commonwealth Constitutions, to "do no falsehood," to "delay no man for lucre or malice" and to conduct ourselves with "good fidelity"
malegislature.gov/Laws/General...
malegislature.gov/Laws/General...
General Law - Part III, Title I, Chapter 221, Section 38
malegislature.gov
January 17, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Massachusetts: we swear to support the US and Commonwealth Constitutions, to "do no falsehood," to "delay no man for lucre or malice" and to conduct ourselves with "good fidelity"
malegislature.gov/Laws/General...
malegislature.gov/Laws/General...
From the Lago Agrio desk: Amnesty publishes a “post-truth” piece on Steven Donziger, who is seeking a pardon in the last days of the Biden Administration. lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/16/d...
Donziger and Post-Truth Politics | Letters Blogatory
Letters Blogatory looks at Amnesty's recent article on Steven Donziger's quest for a pardon at the end of the Biden Administration.
lettersblogatory.com
January 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
From the Lago Agrio desk: Amnesty publishes a “post-truth” piece on Steven Donziger, who is seeking a pardon in the last days of the Biden Administration. lettersblogatory.com/2025/01/16/d...