It was the craziest of coincidences.  At the very same time that I was writing this issue’s interview with Judge Jed Rakoff, and emailing with him back and forth on some follow-ups to our phone conversation, the Southern District of New York judge issued an opinion in Olin Corp. v. Lamorak Ins. Co.

Olin involves coverage for environmental contamination.  The case has been around for a long-time.  A reallly long time.  The docket number indicates that it was filed in 1984.  “16 Candles” came out that year.  Member’s Only jackets were cool. 

That Olin is Methuselah-like was certainly not lost on Judge Rakoff, a point His Honor makes humorously clear in the opening paragraph of his opinion: