California Western School of Law

Baer, Miriam H.

The Role of the Corporate Attorney within the Takeover Context: Loyalties to Whom?

Flamm, Richard E.

Vapnek, Paul W.

English

Conflicts of Interest and Disqualification in Intellectual Property Litigation

International Law Journal, California Western

CALIFORNIA WESTERN
INTERNATIONAL LAW JOURNAL
VOLUME 27 FALL 1996 NUMBER 1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLES
Resisting the West: The Clinton Administration's Promotion
of Abortion at the 1994 Cairo Conference and the Strength
of the Islamic Response
Sarah A. Rumage .......................... . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Naked Lunch for Lawyers: William S. Burroughs on Capital
Punishment, Pornography, the Drug Trade, and the Predatory.
Nature of Human Interaction'
Robert Batey ....................................... 101
COMMENT
An Impetus of Human Wreckage?: The 1996 Amended
Landmine Protocol
Alicia Petrarca ...................................... 205
Due to the explicit language of The Naked Lunch, some readers may find this commentary
scatologicall'y offensive-the Editor.
1
International Law Journal: Table of Contents
Published by CWSL Scholarly Commons, 1996
E. James Jeffries, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Andrea L. Johnson, B.A., J.D., Associate Professor, Director of Center for
Telecommunications Law
Knut S. Johnson, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Hon. Arthur W. Jones, B.S., LL.B., Lecturer in Law
Marc P. Kaplan, B.S., C.P.A., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Robert J. Kaplan, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Janeen Kerper, B.A., J.D., Professor of Law
Daniel G., Lamborn, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Christopher Larsen, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Thomas Lundmark, A.B., J.D., Dr.Jr., Lecturer in Law
Lawrence D. Lee, B.A., J.D., LL.M., Professor of Law
F. Philip Manns, Jr., B.S., J.D., Associate Professor
Heidi S. Maretz, B.A., J.D., Legal Writing Professor
Phyllis Castle Marion, B.A., M.A., J.D., Professor and Director of Law Library
Irwin D. Miller, B.B.A., J.D., Associate Professor
John M. Morris, B.A., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Kimberli A. Morris, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Linda H. Morton, A.B., J.D., Professor of Law, Associate Director of Clinical Program
John E. Noyes, B.A., J.D., Professor of Law, Director of International Legal Studies
Program
Michael D. O'Keefe, B.A., J.D., Professor of Law
Laura M. Padilla, B.A., J.D., Associate Professor
Gregg F. Relyea, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Hon. Bernard E. Revak, B.A., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Stephen R. Robinson, B.A., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Katharine Rosenberry, B.S., M.Ed., J.D., Professor of Law
Gloria L. Sandrino, B.A., J.D., Associate Professor
Marc S. Schechter, B.A., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Jeffrey B. Schneider, A.B., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Dennis L. Sharp, B.A., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Jane L. Siegal, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Jacquelyn H. Slotkin, B.A., Ph.D., J.D., Co-Director of Legal Skills Program
Glenn C. Smith, B.A., J.D., LL.M., Professor of Law
James A. Spencer, B.B.A., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Jan Stiglitz, B.A., J.D., LL.M., Professor of Law
Konrad L. Trope, B.A., J.D., Lecturer in Law
Winkfield F. Twyman, Jr., B.A., J.D., Associate Professor
Francisco X. Valdes, B.A., J.D., Professor of Law
Lilia S. Velasquez, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Theodore M. Weather, J.D., Lecturer in Law
Janet M. Weinstein, B.A., J.D., Professor of Law, Director of Clinical Program
Mark I. Weinstein, B.A., J.D., Associate Professor
Sheryl L.S. Wolf, A.B., J.D. LL.M., Distinguished Visiting Professor
Daniel B. Yeager, B.A., J.D., LL.M., Associate Professor
Jolie L. Cartier, B.S., Director of Facilities Management
Lenore L. Fraga, B.B.A., C.P.A., Chief Financial Officer
Mary E. Garcia, B.A., M.L.S., Associate Director of Law Library
Crystal L. Hengel, Executive Director of Bookmart
Lisa C. Kellogg, B.A., J.D., Executive Director of Career Services
Karen Miller, B.S. ADA Administrator
Mary Lou Mitchell, B.A., Executive Director of Computer Services
Sandra E. Murray, Director of Faculty Support Services
Kyle C. Poston, Executive Director of Financial Aid
G. Diane Shragg, Registrar
Kerri Van Duyne, Director of Development & Alumni Relations
2
California Western International La  Journal, Vol. 27, No. 1 [1996], Art. 1
https://scholarlycommons.law.cwsl.edu/cwilj/vol27/iss1/1


Lee, Lawrence D.

California Western Law Review 
Volume 33 
Number 1 Symposium Issue, Intellectual 
Property and the FDA 
Article 2 
1996 
A Tribute to Robert G. Meiners 
Lawrence D. Lee 
California Western School of Law 
Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.cwsl.edu/cwlr 
Recommended Citation 
Lee, Lawrence D. (1996) "A Tribute to Robert G. Meiners," California Western Law Review: Vol. 33 : No. 1 , 
Article 2. 
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.cwsl.edu/cwlr/vol33/iss1/2 
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by CWSL Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for 
inclusion in California Western Law Review by an authorized editor of CWSL Scholarly Commons. For more 
information, please contact alm@cwsl.edu. 
A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT G. MEINERS
Lawrence D. Lee*
My sixth-grade teacher once required each member of the class to write
his or her own epitaph. She suggested that in so doing we might focus on
what was truly important to us, and perhaps in so doing we would direct our
lives toward accomplishing that. I knew Bob Meiners for a third of a
century; he was my friend; and he had that focus. He dedicated his life to
being who he was. He cherished his home and his family, and he valued his
privacy. He respected his friends, and he enjoyed and took pride in his
work. He was a conscientious scholar.
A graduate of Muhlenberg College, he earned his juris doctor at the
Dickenson Law School in Pennsylvania where he was Editor-in-Chief of the
Law Review. He continued his legal studies at Harvard earning an LL.M.
He later received the prestigious appointment as a Sterling Fellow at Yale.
With his credentials his alternatives were many and varied, but he
wanted to teach. He wanted to impart his knowledge and values to others.
He launched his teaching career as an assistant professor at the Santa Clara
Law School in 1957. In 1960 he became an associate professor at the Law
School of the University of Pittsburgh. He came to California Western in
1964 where he remained until his untimely death on November 16, 1996.
Professor Bob Meiners loved teaching and he loved the subjects he
taught-Contracts, Labor Law, and Arbitration. He firmly believed,
however, that a good teacher needs more than an academic knowledge of the
subject matter. He put this belief into practice by serving as an arbitrator
during his free time. Word of his skill, his integrity and his insight soon
spread, and he became nationally known and much sought after by parties
seeking fair resolution of their disputes. But the fame and lure of high
income did not cause Bob Meiners to lose his focus on what was truly
important to him-teaching law. The law school always came first. He
believed that disciplined scholarship was of utmost importance in the training
of a good lawyer. He therefore served for several years as faculty advisor
to the Law Review. He commanded respect not only from his colleagues,
but from the administration and staff as well. He will be sorely missed.
Most of all he will be missed by the students of the future who will not even
know how much they are missing.
* Professor, California Western School of Law.
1
Lee: A Tribute to Robert G. Meiners
Published by CWSL Scholarly Commons, 1996
Robert G. Meiners
1928-1996
The Law Review is pleased to dedicate this issue to Professor Robert G.
Meiners, the first faculty advisor to the Law Review. Professor Meiners was
the Law Review advisor from 1965 to 1976.
2
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https://scholarlycommons.law.cwsl.edu/cwlr/vol33/iss1/2
Jan Stiglitz"
I first met Bob in 1979 when I interviewed for a teaching position at
California Western School of Law. Since both he and I shared an interest
in labor law, I was most anxious to meet him. I don't think he originally
shared my enthusiasm since the first question he asked was whether I was
planning on ever teaching the basic labor law course. Once I assured him
that I wasn't interested in wresting his favorite course away from him, he
was most cordial.
After I got my feet wet in the classroom and felt able to think about
becoming a labor arbitrator, I sought Bob's advice. Mindful of his earlier
reaction to my interest in labor law, I felt some trepidation. But Bob was
extremely generous with his time and advice. He willingly shared all of his
forms and checklists and talked extensively about the process of deciding
cases and writing awards. And, thanks to Bob, when I got my first case I
actually knew who had the burden of proof.
Bob spread the Cal Western name far and wide. Whenever I've attended
a labor law symposium or dealt with labor attorneys and someone has learned
that I taught at California Western, they always asked: "How is Bob Meiners
doing?" Sadly, my answer will now have to change.
Katherine Rosenbeny*
We will all remember Robert Meiners differently. I will remember him
as my intelligent, funny and compassionate friend, Bob.
It was obvious to me the first time I spoke with Bob that he was
extremely bright. I also knew that he had a reputation for being one of the
best professors at the school. I subsequently discovered that he had master's
degree from Harvard, was a Sterling Fellow at Yale, wrote approximately
10 law review articles and 5 journal articles and contributed to a book on
contract law. He was also the first advisor to the Law Review.
While I appreciated his intellect, I thoroughly enjoyed his humor. I
remember an episode during my first year of teaching in 1978. As a brand
new teacher, I was at the very bottom of the hierarchy. He was the most
senior faculty member. He had a reputation for being a chauvinist and of
course I could not let that pass without comment. I was too inexperienced
to know the most junior faculty member should not comment on the most
senior member being a chauvinist. Fortunately, Bob did not know that rule
either.
** Professor, California Western School of Law.
*** Professor, California Western School of Law.
3
Lee: A Tribute to Robert G. Meiners
Published by CWSL Scholarly Commons, 1996
1978 was the period of the Equal Rights Amendment. I bought an ERA
tee-shirt for Bob and wrote on the back of it, "We love you Bobby." I put
it in his mailbox at school. Soon, I received the following note from him.
"Dear Sister, keep the faith. I will meet you in the street for the next rally.
And by the way, be sure and send me a note from wherever it is you will be
teaching next year." We had a special bond after that.
I also remember sitting through numerous faculty meetings where his
side comments would make me burst out laughing at the most inappropriate
times. Remembering some of his comments and their delivery still make me
smile.
Not only was he funny and bright, he was also compassionate and
sentimental. He had a exterior of being gruff. But gruff Bob supported me
when my son was very ill. I knew I could get a hug whenever I need it.
This same gruff Bob cried through Penn Lerblance's memorial service.
Gruff Bob also loved flowers and fed birds every night from his porch.
His sentimentality was brought home to me when I helped clean out his
office. He still had a plaque I had made for him 17 years ago. The plaque
said, "When God created Man, she was just kidding." The fact that he kept
the plaque for all these years touched me.
I will miss Bob's intellect, his wit, his compassion, and even his
stubbornness. My memories of him will always bring a warm smile to my
face. He was a good guy.
Kylee D. Odette**.
The California Western Law Review began in 1965, just seven years
after the law school held its first classes. The publication of the first Law
Review was overseen by Professor Robert G. Meiners, its first faculty
advisor. He had only been at the school for one year when he was asked to
fill that role. Professor Meiners oversaw the first twelve volumes of the
Review. When the Review was established, there were only twelve members
on the faculty. Professor Meiners was the only one of the those faculty
members to remain teaching until this year.
Professor Meiners taught Contracts, Labor Law and Arbitration. I will
best remember him as my Contracts Professor. A self-proclaimed "sneaky,
devious", professor, he enjoyed the first class period scaring us by using
words like "consideration," "offer" and "acceptance." The last two did not
appear too confusing, but that consideration concept was slippery. He kept
referring to parties trading services for peppercorns. I never thought I would
actually understand consideration. However, not only did I understand this
**** Executive Editor, California Western Law Review.
4
California Western Law Review, Vol. 33 [1996], No. 1, Art. 2
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concept, but Contracts shortly became my favorite class, mostly because of
Professor Meiners and the way he taught.
Professor Meiners liked to have fun in his class. Instead of merely
calling on students at random, he would utilize the roll sheet to pick his
"victims." As the roll sheet was being passed around for the students to
sign, Professor Meiners would lecture. When he was ready for a "victim,"
he would make a hissing noise, warning the students that the "rattlesnake"
was about to strike. The students would attempt to sign their names as
quickly as possible and pass the roll sheet along so as to avoid being the
"victim." Not surprisingly, this created quite a frenzy. The student who
held the roll sheet when Professor Meiners yelled, "and the rattlesnake
strikes," would have to answer his questions. This entire ordeal made the
class tense, but at the same time it was fun (at least for the "non-victims").
Through his stories and analogies, we learned contracts and a good time
along the way. Whenever a case could have been decided the opposite way,
he would always end the discussion with, "Well you pays your money, and
you takes your chances." I am extremely grateful to Professor Meiners for
bringing levity to a difficult subject and to a difficult time in law school. I
am only sorry that future students will not be able to experience contracts
through those wonderfully "sneaky, devious" eyes.
Law Review is honored to dedicate this volume of the Review in
Professor Meiners' memory.
5
Lee: A Tribute to Robert G. Meiners
Published by CWSL Scholarly Commons, 1996
6California Western Law Review, Vol. 33 [1996], No. 1, Art. 2
https://scholarlycommons.law.cwsl.edu/cwlr/vol33/iss1/2


A Tribute to Robert G. Meiners

Bloom,, Floyd, M.D.

Science and Technology Policy: A Scientist\u27s View

Ashworth,, John, Ph.D.

Development of the European Biotechnology Industry

authors, Various

Appendices

Sabin, Lori N.

Doe v. Poritz: A Constitutional Yield to an Angry Society

This article presents empirical data on externship programs in hopes of creating a nationwide clearinghouse for those engaging in and evaluating such programs.  The authors analyze the implications of their data, both to better understand and support the pedagogical value of externship programs, as well as to evaluate the effect of the more recent ABA regulations imposed on these programs

California Western School of Law

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The Role of the Corporate Attorney within the Takeover Context: Loyalties to Whom?

Conflicts of Interest and Disqualification in Intellectual Property Litigation

Table of Contents

A Tribute to Robert G. Meiners

Science and Technology Policy: A Scientist\u27s View

Development of the European Biotechnology Industry

Appendices

Doe v. Poritz: A Constitutional Yield to an Angry Society

Field Placement Programs: Practices, Problems and Possibilities

Foreword--Biotechnology Business Strategy: A Lawyer\u27s Perspective

2,052

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