The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in a pair of key civil cases on November 2.  One involves a claim to recover "excessive" fees under the Investment Company Act of 1940, Jones v. Harris Assocs., No. 08-586; and the other concerns states' ability to bar class actions asserting state law claims in federal court, Shady Grove Orthopedic Assoc. v. Allstate Ins. Co., No. 08-1008.  The cases strike Blawgletter as leading indicators of how far the Court will go this Term in cutting back civil claims.  We'll listen with interest on Monday.