Personal Injury Attorney | Decorating For Halloween
Personal Injury Attorney | Preparing Your Own Home for Halloween
Some people go for Halloween decorations in a big way, and others don’t. Most homes, though, will participate in giving out candy and enjoying the little faces at the door.…
Personal Injury Attorney | Keep Your Kids Safe on Halloween
Personal Injury Attorney | Safety For Kids on Halloween
Sometimes Halloween can present us with dangerous situations. As a personal injury attorney, Clekis wants you and your kids to be safe. Share these personal injury attorney tips with your…
Accident Lawyer | Choosing A Costume
Accident Lawyer | How to Select the Best Costume for Halloween
Your costume this Halloween season should be exciting! Sometimes the most exciting costumes can be the most dangerous. As an accident lawyer, Clekis wants you to be safe…
LeClairRyan Hires 16 Lawyers From Nixon Peabody
At least 16 lawyers are joining LeClairRyan from Nixon Peabody. The moves represent the latest defections from Nixon, which has suffered a series of partner losses in recent months.
5th Circuit: Motion to Compel Arbitration Doesn't Unfreeze Assets
Assets belonging to some former employees of the Stanford Group Co. will remain in the deep freeze. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the former employees could not use a motion to compel arbitration to defeat a U.S. District Court's pre...
Boies Schiller Partner Caryl Boies Dies at 48
Caryl Boies, a litigation partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner and
daughter of firm founder David Boies, passed away on Dec. 26 at 48. She
was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2008.
Thomas Goldstein to Leave Akin Gump
Thomas Goldstein, co-chair of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld's appellate practice and the primary author of SCOTUSblog, will leave Akin to rejoin Howe & Russell as a name partner.
DNA Test Results Clear Texas Man Who Spent 30 Years in Prison
Prosecutors have declared a Texas man innocent of a rape and robbery that put him in prison for 30 years, more than any other DNA exoneree in Texas. The state has freed 41 such inmates since 2001.
Former Madoff Secretary Seeks Reduced Bail
Jailed Ponzi scheme king Bernard Madoff's ex-secretary has asked to be released on bail, saying the government has seized control of her finances and eliminated any means to flee before trial.
California high court rules no warrant needed to search cell phone text messages
[JURIST] The Supreme Court of California [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] Monday that law enforcement officers can legally search text messages on a suspect's cell phone without a warrant incident to a lawful custodial arrest. The court held 5-2...
Ninth Circuit seeks guidance on same-sex marriage appeal from California high court
[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] on Tuesday asked [order, PDF] the Supreme Court of California [official website] to weigh in on whether supporters of Proposition 8 [text, PDF; JURIST news archive], California's...
Milwaukee Catholic diocese to file for bankruptcy citing clergy abuse lawsuits
[JURIST] Archbishop Jerome Listecki announced Tuesday that the Archodiocese of Milwaukee [official website] will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection [press release] as a result of financial strain from lawsuits over the clergy sex abuse scandals ...
Federal appeals court finds California memorial cross unconstitutional
[JURIST] A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] unanimously Tuesday that California's Mount Soledad cross, a 43-foot cross erected as a Korean War veterans' memorial, is unconstitutional under the First Amendment [text]. Justice M. Margaret McKeown declared, "[t]he use of such a distinctively Christian symbol to honor all veterans sends a strong message of endorsement and exclusion. It suggests that the government is so connected to a particular religion...
Federal judge blocks government's Microsoft e-mail contract in Google challenge
[JURIST] A judge for the US Court of Federal Claims [official website] has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the US Department of Interior (DOI) [official website] from accepting a bid from Microsoft [corporate website] to overhaul its e-mail ...
Toyota Wins Ruling Against Former In-House Attorney Dimitrios Biller
Toyota's long-running battle with former in-house lawyer Dimitrios Biller appears to be over — and the automaker won a complete victory.• • • •
Court Finds Gucci Communication With Unlicensed Lawyer Privileged
Southern District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin held that the fashion company was entitled to assume its communications with employee Jonathan Moss were privileged as it discussed with him the alleged trademark infringement by Guess? Inc. and other companies.
Obama Suffers First Defeat on Judge Picks
Second Circuit nominee Robert Chatigny has become the first of President Barack Obama's judicial picks to fail to win confirmation, although others may be filibustered.
Judge to Oracle Directors: You Don't Get to Decide Where You Can Be Sued
Corporate directors don't have the power to control the venue for derivative suits against them, according to a federal court decision in a shareholder suit against Oracle's directors.
Expert: Prosecution of Michael Jackson's doctor will be difficult
Prosecutors provided the first glimpse of their criminal case on Tuesday against Dr. Conrad Murray, who faces charges that his actions in June 2009 contributed to the death of pop star Michael Jackson. Ellyn Garofalo, who represented the doctor acquitt...
MGA pleads to retain counsel — or at least for a delay of Bratz doll retrial
The manufacturer of the Bratz doll, facing the "horns of a difficult dilemma," has petitioned a federal appeals court to reinstate its lead counsel, whose firm was disqualified about three weeks before going to trial against Mattel Inc.
Forte Receiver Sues Chesco Lawyer And His Former Firms for $10 Million
A West Chester, Pa., lawyer and two of his former firms have been hit with a $10 million legal malpractice suit by the court-appointed receiver who is overseeing the recoupment of funds for victims of the $78 million Ponzi scheme run by Joseph Forte.
D.C. Man Fights for Release in GPS Surveillance Case
A man at the center of a national dispute over warrantless GPS surveillance is demanding his release from custody since a court voided his life sentence in a drug trafficking case.
Democrats Consider Ways to Advance Judicial Nominees
The long-standing delays in confirming judges are helping to animate proposals to change how the Senate does business. Senators are expected to weigh the proposals over the next few weeks.
Judge Dismisses Conspiracy Suit Against Allied Security Trust and 4 Telecoms
A federal judge has dismissed a lawyer-turned-entrepreneur's suit alleging Allied Security Trust and four telecom giants were engaged in a conspiracy to drive down the cost of tech patents.
Reed Smith Ends Merger Talks With Dallas Firm
Reed Smith and Dallas-based Thompson & Knight have called off their merger discussions that were first announced in October 2010.
Law Firm Mergers Surge in Last Quarter of 2010; Dickinson Wright Expands in Canada
A report by law firm consultancy Altman Weil finds that, although there were fewer law firm mergers last year than in prior years, the pace of such unions increased at the end of 2010.
9th Circuit: MGA headed to trial, ready or not
A federal appeals court has denied MGA Entertainment Inc.'s request to reinstate its lead counsel and delay trial against Mattel Inc. after a federal judge disqualified the firm last month.
Former Greenberg Traurig Associate Sentenced for Stealing $500,000
Michael Shaw, a former associate at Greenberg Traurig, was sentenced Wednesday to a year and three months in prison for stealing more than $500,000 from his former employer.
Judge tosses convictions in Anna Nicole Smith's death
A judge on Thursday threw out the conviction of Howard K. Stern, the former attorney and boyfriend of Anna Nicole Smith, on charges relating to the prescription drugs that killed the celebrity.
Allen Stanford's Fraud Trial Delayed due to Competency Issues
A judge has delayed the trial of accused Ponzi schemer R. Allen Stanford, following psychiatrists' testimony that he is not mentally competent due to a brain injury resulting from a jail fight.
Plaintiff Wins Bid to Bar Hard Drive From Discovery
A state judge has ruled that the maker and distributor of surgical equipment cannot copy the hard drive of a Long Island man's personal computer to determine if the man and his now-deceased wife reviewed the company's website prior to the use of their ...
Judge blocks discovery into aspiring lawyers' mental health
A federal judge has blocked the Indiana State Board of Law Examiners from digging further into the mental health of class-action plaintiffs who are suing over certain questions on the state's bar admission application.
Posthumously Conceived Children May Get Survivor Benefits
In a case that illustrates how technology advances more quickly than the law, a federal appeals court has ruled that children born as a result of in vitro fertilization long after their father has died cannot be denied Social Security survivor benefits...
Judge Orders New Trial in Wake of Cisco Counsel's Allegedly Anti-Semitic Remarks
A Texas federal court judge has granted Commil USA's motion for a new trial in a patent infringement suit, citing allegedly anti-Semitic comments made by defense counsel for Cisco Systems.
Ex-media executive accuses Proskauer of conflict, fiduciary breach
A former media executive has filed a lawsuit against Proskauer Rose, claiming the law firm mishandled arbitration matters and had a conflict of interest while representing him.
Perfect storm hits legal aid
Law firms may be benefiting from the slow economic recovery, but legal aid groups face the most dire circumstances in decades. The problem is a perfect storm of IOLTA funding declines, cuts in state and local funding, uncertain federal support and a ti...
Jenner & Block Hires New Corporate Head in N.Y.
In its first lateral hire of the new year, Jenner & Block has brought on a new head for its New York corporate practice, Wesley Fredericks from Goodwin Procter. Fredericks said he was persuaded to make the move based on Jenner's recent track record han...
Reed Smith Ends Merger Discussions With Dallas Firm
Reed Smith and Dallas-based Thompson & Knight have called off their merger discussions that were first announced in October 2010.
US transfers Guantanamo detainee to Algeria a year after habeas order
[JURIST] The US Department of Defense (DOD) [official website] announced [press release] Thursday that Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] detainee Farhi Saeed Bin Mohammed was transfered to his native Algeria pursuant to a court order [judgment, PDF]...
Illinois House votes to abolish death penalty, still must pass lame-duck senate
[JURIST] The Illinois House [official website] passed a bill abolishing the death penalty [JURIST news archive] Thursday, but the bill must still be passed by the Senate with the General Assembly facing a lame-duck session. The amended bill (SB3539) [a...
Federal judge orders Stanford trial delayed
[JURIST] A federal judge on Friday indefinitely postponed the trial of Allen Stanford [BBC profile; JURIST news archive], citing chemical dependency that has left Stanford incompetent to stand trial at present. Judge David Hittner of the US District Co...
Appellate Lawyer of the Week: Jonathan Hacker
Jon Hacker is a well-known figure at the high court, and he's now getting his first chance to argue a case before justices in the so-called "Zicam case."
45 after 45 – Heidi Levine Video
The American Lawyer selected DLA Piper partner Heidi Levine as one of its top 45 women lawyers under 45. Assistant editor Claire Zillman sat down with Levine to discuss the factors that helped launch her successful career in mass torts.
Anne Kershaw: Judges' Guide to Cost-Effective E-Discovery
Anne Kershaw, president of the nonprofit eDiscovery Institute, discusses the institute's new guidebook designed to help judges understand the technology and the cost-reduction processes used in e-discovery.
Lawyers for homeowners hail Mass. high court ruling invalidating foreclosure sales
In a closely watched case concerning faulty foreclosure paperwork, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has issued a ruling in favor of homeowners. The court upheld a state land court's ruling invalidating two foreclosure sales because the plaintif...
December's Overall Job Gains Can't Help Legal Sector
The U.S. economy's employment picture brightened last month, but the legal industry suffered its third straight month of job losses, according to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Long-running sentencing battle hits the high court — again
The Supreme Court has ruled that driving under the influence is not a "violent felony" for purposes of the federal Armed Career Criminal Act, and neither is failure to report to prison or simple battery. But what about using a vehicle to flee from poli...
What Toyota's Arbitration Award Said About Biller, the Documents, and the Accusations — and What It Didn't
Toyota's epic fight with former in-house lawyer Dimitrios Biller is over — but what does the closely watched arbitration ruling mean for in-house counsel?• • • •
Workplace Class Actions Rose in 2010, With More of the Same Predicted for 2011
The seventh annual edition of Seyfarth Shaw's Workplace Class Action Litigation Report reveals an overall boost in employment-related class action litigation over the past year.
Judge sides with Lennar in libel case against gadfly minister
Miami-based home-builder Lennar has prevailed against a corporate gadfly who "intentionally" concealed information and presented false testimony as a defendant in a libel and extortion suit. Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Gill Freeman said Barry Minkow, the ...
Fight Brewing Over Deceased Cozen Partner's Benefits
Cozen O'Connor has asked a Pennsylvania federal court to determine whether the wife or parents of one of its female attorneys who died in September should be the beneficiaries of a profit-sharing plan from which the attorney was owed benefits.
Woman may sue ex-husband's lawyer separately
The Minnesota Supreme Court has allowed a woman who sued her ex-husband for fraud in their divorce action to move forward in a separate fraud case with virtually identical claims against his attorney.
Posner Tweaks 'Twombly' in 7th Circuit Refusal to Dismiss Text Message Class Action
In a case alleging a conspiracy among wireless carriers to fix prices for text messages, a ruling by 7th Circuit Judge Richard Posner seems to lower the bar for antitrust complaints.
Charges Against Wife Dropped After Expert Report Says Husband Wasn't Poisoned
An unrelenting public defender and a key expert witness have convinced a prosecutor to drop attempted murder charges against a woman accused of trying to poison her husband with arsenic.
Judge Greenlights Cell Phone App Copyright Claims
In a court battle over the rights to a cell phone app that converts a phone into a virtual glass of milk, a federal judge in Harrisburg has ruled that the creator of the iMilk app may pursue claims against Hershey Co. for copyright infringement, trade ...
Former lobbyist sentenced for campaign finance abuses
[JURIST] A federal judge in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia [official website] on Friday sentenced Paul Magliocchetti, founder of the now-defunct political lobbying firm PMA Group, to 27 months imprisonment [press release] fo...
Amended citizenship requirement bill introduced in US House
[JURIST] US Rep. Steve King (R-IA) [official website] on Wednesday introduced legislation [HR 104 materials] designed to restrict the automatic grant of citizenship to children born on US soil. The bill, designated the "Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011," seeks to deter illegal immigration [JURIST news archive] by amending the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) [text] to limit citizenship only to those children with at least one parent that is a citizen, legal resident or an alien member of the US...
Arizona's Chief Federal Judge Among Shooting Victims
The death Saturday of U.S. District Judge John M. Roll, at the hands of a gunman apparently intent on assassinating Arizona U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, stunned those who mourned the loss of a devoted, talented and gentle man.
Obama signs law barring transfer of Guantanamo detainees to US for trial
[JURIST] President Barack Obama on Friday signed a bill barring the transfer of Guantanamo detainees [press release] to the US for trial. The Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act of 2011 [HR 6523] authorizes funding for defense interests abro...
Arizona federal judge killed in shooting, congresswoman in critical condition
[JURIST] Chief Judge John M. Roll of the US District Court for the District of Arizona [official website] was shot and killed when a gunman opened fire [press release] at a public constituent event held outside of a shopping center in Tucson on Saturda...
Massachusetts high court rules against banks in crucial foreclosure case
[JURIST] The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court [official website] issued a decision [text, PDF] on Friday ruling against banks in two foreclosure cases that could have important implications on similar cases both inside and outside of the state. In the consolidated decision Justice Ralph Gants [official profile] ruled that neither US Bank National Association nor Wells Fargo, which were not the original mortgagees, failed to prove they were the holders of the mortgages at the time of foreclosure. "As a result,...
Rights coalition seeks to block additional provisions of Arizona immigration law
[JURIST] A coalition of six rights groups filed a petition [ACLU materials] in the US District Court of Arizona [official website] on Friday seeking to block to additional elements of the Arizona's recently passed immigration reform bill SB 1070 [text;...
Judge killed in Arizona shooting was ardent advocate for his court
Chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona John Roll was killed by a gunman in Tucson on Jan. 8. The 63-year-old judge attended the event to speak with U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords about the volume of federal cases in Arizona, a...
Dewey's New (Unspecified) Vacation Policy
Dewey & LeBoeuf has a new policy that provides unspecified, possibly increased, paid vacation time. But The Careerist blogger Vivia Chen wonders if the new system amounts to a salary cut for some associates.
Supreme Court remands tribal sovereign immunity suit
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] on Monday remanded [order, PDF] the case of Madison County v. Oneida Indian Nation [docket; cert. petition, PDF] to the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, ordering the lower...
Charges filed in shooting death of Arizona federal judge
[JURIST] Federal charges [criminal complaint, PDF] were formally filed on Sunday against Jared Loughner, the man is accused of shooting to death [JURIST report] Chief Judge John Roll of the US District Court for the District of Arizona [official websit...
Supreme Court grants certiorari in seven cases
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] on Friday granted certiorari [order list, PDF] in seven cases. In Erica P. John Fund, Inc. v. Halliburton Co. [docket; cert. petition, PDF], the court will determine whether investor...
Supreme Court hears arguments on disclosure of adverse drug reactions, water rights
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] heard oral arguments [day call, PDF; merit briefs] Monday in Matrixx v. Siracusano [oral arguments transcript, PDF; JURIST report] on a pharmaceutical company's obligation under 10(b...
UN SG renews support for Lebanon tribunal
[JURIST] UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official website] on Sunday renewed his support for the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) [official website], which is investigating the 2005 murders of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri [...
Drug company's argument may not pass smell test with justices
One sign that Jon Hacker was in hot water before the Supreme Court came early on Monday, when Justice Antonin Scalia called his client's cold medication "zircon," a faux diamond, instead of Zicam.
Survey: Law Firm Partners Generally Satisfied With What They Earn
Major, Lindsey & Africa's new partner compensation satisfaction survey
provides information about partner pay ranges and criteria -- and
whether partners are happy with what they earn.
Insanity Defense Could Be Difficult for Ariz. Shooting Suspect
Jared Loughner's lawyers may have a tough time mounting an insanity defense, since John Hinckley's successful insanity claim after shooting President Reagan led Congress to raise the bar.
9th Circuit Arguments in Facebook Settlement Challenge to Be Videotaped
Cameras will be rolling today as ConnectU founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss try to convince the 9th Circuit to allow them to wriggle out of their reported $65 million settlement with Facebook.
Lawyers: Flat fees pose ethics issues
A flat-fee plan has benefits for the client, but lawyers -- like Thomas Harper, who quit his firm rather than work on a flat-fee basis for State Farm -- say it could create an ethics conflict.
'U.S. News' considering giving third tier law schools a number
Numerical rankings could be coming to the law schools that categorizes as third tier — meaning those 42 schools would be subject to the same up-and-down fluctuations watched so closely among the top 100.
Judge Approves $500 Million Agreement Between Madoff Trustee and Swiss Bank
A judge has approved a $500 million deal that Madoff trustee Irving Picard says is the largest feeder fund bank settlement and the first major international bank settlement for Madoff victims.
Dismissing Harry Potter Infringement Suit, Judge Pans the Challenger's Book
If you're going to take on Harry Potter in court, be ready for a tough
battle. A challenger suing Potter publisher Scholastic for copyright
infringement has suffered a humiliating defeat.
Father-Son Fight Erupts at Furth Firm
Frederick Furth's stepson is suing for more than $2 million in legal fees he says he's entitled to under an agreement reached after he left his father's now-closed firm.
Slander Suit Pits Houston Lawyers Against Each Other
Houston lawyer Craig Washington has filed a slander suit against solo Seth Kretzer Jr. (pictured), alleging Kretzer said Washington would not provide "effective and competent legal representation" to a client. Kretzer denies the allegations, which he d...
Suit by Disgruntled Bank Shareholder Tests Limit of Business Judgment Rule
The state Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether the business judgment rule, which presumes directors are acting in a corporation?s best interests, protects a decision to reward themselves with a generous stock plan without fully explaining it ...
DeLay receives three-year sentence for money laundering and conspiracy
[JURIST] A judge for the 331st Criminal District Court [official website] of Texas sentenced former US House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) [JURIST news archive] to three years in prison and ten years of probation Monday following DeLay's November co...
HRW urges greater efforts to close Guantanamo
[JURIST] Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] on Monday urged [press release] President Barack Obama make greater efforts to close Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] despite congressional opposition. In the press release, issued on the eve of ...
Supreme Court limits Chapter 13 bankruptcy deductions in first Kagan opinion
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] on Tuesday ruled [opinion, PDF] 8-1 in Ransom v. FIA Card Services, N.A. [SCOTUSblog backgrounder] that debtors who apply for Chapter 13 bankruptcy cannot use a car payment as a deduction from their repa...
US trial begins for Anti-Castro militant
[JURIST] The trial [court materials] of anti-Castro Cuban militant Luis Posada Carriles [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] began Monday on charges of lying to federal immigration officials that could carry a sentence of up to 60 years in prison. He is ...
New York high court dismisses case against bond insurer
[JURIST] The New York Court of Appeals [official website] on Tuesday dismissed [opinion] a lawsuit against bond insurance company MBIA [corporate website] alleging breach of contract brought by several of the world's largest financial institutions. The...
Supreme Court denies tax exemption for medical residents
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] on Tuesday ruled [opinion, PDF] 8-0 in Mayo Foundation for Medical Research v. United States [SCOTUSblog backgrounder] that medical residents are not classified as students for the purpose of federal tax...
Rights group asks court to resume consideration of 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' appeal
[JURIST] The Log Cabin Republicans [advocacy website] on Monday urged the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals [official website] to resume proceedings in their lawsuit against the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy [10 USC 654 text; JURIST news archive]. The advocacy group filed a response [text, PDF] to a motion to delay that was recently filed by the Obama Administration [JURIST report] in US v. Log Cabin Republicans [case materials]. In its response, the group argues that...
SEC Reaches $119 Million Settlement With Charles Schwab
Signaling its continued focus on how major industry players communicate with investors, the SEC has announced a $119 million settlement with Charles Schwab for misleading investors.
Judges Not Likely to Undo Facebook-ConnectU Settlement
The Winklevoss twins get little sympathy, and will probably get even less relief.
Justice Kagan Announces Her Debut Opinion
Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan announced her first opinion Tuesday, ruling in a bankruptcy case in which she was joined by all her colleagues except for dissenting Justice Antonin Scalia.
SEC to Probe Claims That Khuzami Caved to Citigroup Pressure in $75 Million Settlement
In an unsigned fax, a tipster with apparent inside knowledge of the SEC's settlement negotiations with Citigroup has raised allegations against the agency's enforcement director.
Prius headlights class action certified following settlement
A federal judge on Monday certified a class of potentially 320,000 owners and lessees of Prius hybrids who have reached a settlement with Toyota over claims that their LED headlights are defective because they intermittently shut off.
A.G. Edwards Brokerage Settlement: $9 Million for Class, $21 Million for Lawyers?
Australia's Law Firms Evacuate as Mass Floods Hit Brisbane
Australia's leading law firms are bracing themselves for damage and disruption as the mass floods that have swept across Queensland spread toward Brisbane.
National Commission on BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill releases final report
[JURIST] The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill[official website] released its full final report [text] on Tuesday, tracing the deeper root causes of the spill and recommending steps to avoid future incidents. The report highligh...
Snow Snags Work at Atlanta Law Firms
Snow and ice closed down some of Atlanta's biggest firms on Monday and Tuesday, including King & Spalding. Alston & Bird and Troutman had skeleton crews stay in hotels and run their offices.
Judge Finds WaMu Bankruptcy Settlement With JPMorgan and FDIC Reasonable
A federal bankruptcy court judge has vindicated Washington Mutual's $7 billion global settlement with JPMorgan Chase and the FDIC, but denied confirmation of WaMu's reorganization plan.
Mortgage Lenders Push To Avert Suspension of Foreclosure Cases
Mortgage lenders allegedly engaged in widespread "robo-signing" of residential mortgage foreclosure documents are scrambling to comply with a court order to demonstrate their procedures are sound and comply with the law.
Town may post "unruly gathering" stickers on private homes, rules 1st Circuit
A Rhode Island beach town can post bright orange stickers on houses where an "unruly gathering" occurred, according to a recent U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit ruling that rejected the appellants' claims of stigmatization.
Supreme Court hears arguments on personal jurisdiction over foreign companies
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] heard oral arguments [day call, PDF; merit briefs] Tuesday in J. McIntyre Machinery v. Nicastro [oral arguments transcript, PDF; JURIST report] on the ability of a state, under the F...
Arizona passes emergency law prohibiting funeral protests
[JURIST] Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed [press release, PDF] emergency legislation [SB1101 materials; text] Tuesday making it a crime to picket or protest a funeral. The move comes after Reverend Fred Phelps's Westboro Baptist Church [WARNING: read...
Supreme Court stays Texas execution
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] voted Tuesday to stay the execution [JURIST news archive] of convicted murderer Cleve Foster [Texas Department of Criminal Justice profile; case materials] until it decides whether to grant his petition ...
Federal judge rejects Algerian Guantanamo detainee's habeas petition
[JURIST] A federal judge in the US District Court for the District of Columbia [official website] on Tuesday denied [opinion, PDF] the habeas corpus petition of Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] detainee Abdul Razak Ali. The judge rejected Razak Ali...
Federal judge rules Washington primary election system constitutional
[JURIST] A federal judge on Tuesday ruled [opinion, PDF] that Washington state's "top-two" primary election system is constitutional. Judge John Coughenour of the US District Court for the Western District of Washington [official website] held that voters were not confused [Seattle Times report] by the current version of Washington state's ballot, which allows candidates to list which political party they prefer even if that party does not back the candidate. The top two vote-getters in a primary then advance to...
Illinois Senate votes to abolish death penalty
[JURIST] The Illinois Senate [official website], sitting in a lame-duck session, on Tuesday passed a bill abolishing the state's death penalty [JURIST news archive]. The amended bill (SB3539) [amendment, text], approved [JURIST report] by the House las...
Employee protection board orders reinstatement of US Park Police chief
[JURIST] The Merit System Protection Board (MSPB) [official website] on Wednesday ordered [opinion, PDF] the US Department of the Interior (DOI) [official website] to reinstate Teresa Chambers as U.S. Park Police chief after determining her termination...
Supreme Court hears oral argument in 4th Amendment, career criminal cases
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] on Wednesday heard oral argument in two criminal cases, one involving law enforcement creating exigent circumstances for entering a home without a warrant, and the other interpreting a provision of the A...
San Diego Federal Judge Tapped for Loughner Case
Larry Burns has experience with the federal death penalty as both a judge and prosecutor.
Arrest in California in death threats against congressman
A California man has been charged with making death threats against U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) because of his stance on tax legislation pending before Congress.
Federal Judge Adds Probation to $296 Million Guidant Plea Deal
A judge has added three years' probation to a plea agreement calling for Boston Scientific Corp.'s Guidant unit to pay $296 million for failing to properly disclose changes made to heart devices.
Dismissal of Subprime Action Extends Reach of High Court's 'Morrison' Ruling
A judge's ruling dismissing a class action against the Royal Bank of Scotland extends for the first time the Supreme Court's ruling to claims under the Securities Act of 1933.
Informal Poll Shows Frustration Over Pay Continues for Judiciary
The formation of a commission to recommend judicial salaries, an initiative lauded by state court administrators, has not quelled the frustration of state judges who continue to demand an immediate raise and retroactive salary hikes, according to an on...
Federal Circuit Knocks Out $650,000 Fee Award to Google Counsel
Reversing a ruling that an infringement case against Google was objectively baseless, the Federal Circuit set a new standard for finding a patent case exceptional in awarding attorney fees.
Arbitrator failed to disclose relationship with Kellogg, Brown & Root
An arbitrator's prior relationship with one of the parties in an employment dispute has prompted a Texas appeals court to throw out an award involving a former Halliburton Co. subsidiary.
Court denies Texas request for stay of new EPA rules
[JURIST] The state of Texas on Wednesday failed for the third time in two months at its attempts to block new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) [official website] regulations governing greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for...
Judge Nixes Debt-Collection Settlement That Afforded Class 'Phantom Benefit'
A federal judge's rejection of a class-action settlement shows why it can be a bad idea to have too large a class, at least when suing under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Law professor who gave away the evidence loses appeal
A law professor has lost an appeal in his lawsuit against Geico General Insurance Co. because he gave away a key piece of evidence — his car — before it could be examined in the case.
Fed. Judge Finds 'Intentional' Bad Faith on Insurer's Part
Finding that a bad faith claim against an insurer was so strong that it need not be tried, a federal judge in the Western District of Pennsylvania has granted summary judgment to the plaintiff on both her bad faith and breach of contract claims.
PricewaterhouseCoopers study finds jury trials from 1995 to 2009 yielded higher patent damages awards
In the wake of a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit curbing high patent damages awards, a new PricewaterhouseCoopers study reports that elevated damages spur U.S. patent litigants to seek jury trials.
Part-Time Lawyers Becoming More Common, NALP Says
Part-time schedules at law firms are growing in popularity as a way of improving recruitment and retention, but attorneys working reduced hours -- predominantly women -- remain a small fraction of the total population, says a new National Association f...
Associated Press, artist settle copyright infringement claims over Obama 'Hope' image
[JURIST] The Associated Press (AP) [official website] and artist Shepard Fairey on Wednesday reached a settlement agreement [AP press release] on their opposing copyright infringement claims stemming from Fairey's unauthorized use of an AP photo of incumbent US President Barack Obama [official website]. Fairey's iconic red, white and blue artistic rendering of the AP photo was used on campaign materials during the 2008 presidential election that were captioned with the word "HOPE." According to the agreement, "[n]either side surrenders its...
Offshore drilling company files suit to end delay in issuance of drilling permits
[JURIST] Officials from the Ensco Offshore Company [official website] appeared in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana [official website] on Wednesday in connection with a lawsuit [text, PDF] the company filed last year against t...
Mogul Conrad Black returns to court for status hearing
[JURIST] Media magnate Conrad Black [CBC profile; JURIST news archive] returned to the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois [official website] Thursday for a status hearing before judge Amy St. Eve [official biography]. St. Eve will ...
New York judge allows release of NYC teacher performance data
[JURIST] A New York State Supreme Court [official website] judge on Monday ruled [opinion, PDF] that the New York City Department of Education [official website] may release performance data on 12,000 city teachers. The order permits the Department of ...
Federal judge appointed to hear Arizona shooting case
[JURIST] A California federal judge was appointed Thursday to hear the trial of Arizona shooting [NYT backgrounder] suspect Jared Loughner. Judge Alex Kozinski [official biography] of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] ap...
Number of free countries and electoral democracies dropped in 2010: Freedom House report
[JURIST] The number of free countries and electoral democracies dropped and the overall freedom in the Middle East and North Africa suffered for the fifth year, according to a report [text, PDF] released Thursday by the US-based rights group Freedom House [advocacy website]. The group's annual assessment, Freedom in the World 2011 [materials], reports that 25 countries showed significant declines in 2010, while 11 countries showed increases, amounting to what Freedom House calls an "authoritarian challenge to democracy." According to...
Bankruptcy judge approves $7.2 billion settlement with Madoff client
[JURIST] A US bankruptcy judge approved a historic settlement on Thursday with the estate of Jeffry Picower, a friend and investor of fraudulent financier Bernard Madoff [JURIST news archive]. As part of the approved settlement, Picower's widow, Barbar...
Judge OKs $7.2 Billion Deal Against Madoff Beneficiary
A historic $7.2 billion deal was approved Thursday to settle a lawsuit brought against the estate of Jeffrey Picower, one of the wealthiest clients of disgraced financier Bernard Madoff.
No 'smoking gun' in UnitedHealth-PacifiCare merger
A federal appeals court has ruled that UnitedHealth Group Inc. and PacifiCare Health Systems Inc. did not violate federal antitrust laws by offering Medicare reimbursement rates to pharmacy operators that were lower than the competition.
Microsoft Gets Green Light for Suit Asserting Novel Expansion of Cybersquatter Liability
Microsoft has scored a victory in the war on so-called cybersquatters, with a federal judge's approval to proceed with what he called "a novel cause of action for contributory cybersquatting."
ABA panel considering making the LSAT optional
The Law School Admissions Test is a rite of passage for aspiring lawyers, but could go from mandatory to voluntary under proposed changes to the American Bar Association's law school accreditation standards.
Former Fox Rothschild Partner Disbarred for Fabricating Billings
The New Jersey Supreme Court has disbarred Kenneth Denti, a former partner at Fox Rothschild and Pennsylvania firm Margolis Edelstein, for falsifying billing records at both firms.
D.C. Appeals Court: Attorney May Have Stolen Funds, but Doesn't Deserve Disbarment
The D.C. Court of Appeals has determined for the first time since 1990 that an attorney's intentional misappropriation of client funds did not require disbarment.
South Florida bankers charged in $10 million scheme
Seven South Florida bankers were among 15 people charged with participating in a $10 million scheme to defraud banks through bogus commercial loans and lines of credits.
Superior Court Mulls Dow Employee's Subpoena in Brain Cancer Case
In the wake of Dow Chemical Co.'s acquisition of Rohm & Haas, the state Superior Court is considering whether a plaintiff alleging her husband's brain cancer was caused by a chemical made by Rohm & Haas Co. can subpoena a Dow corporate designee to test...
Malpractice suit against Dickinson Wright can proceed in federal court, Federal Circuit rules
A $33 million malpractice case against Dickinson Wright of Detroit can move forward in federal court, according to a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Not All Vaccine Design Defect Claims Pre-empted
Less than a week after another scathing scientific report dismissing the theory that vaccines and autism are linked made international headlines, an en banc state Superior Court panel remanded the products liability case of an 11-year-old autistic boy,...
Fla. Judges Apologize for 'Taj Mahal Courthouse'
During a tense legislative session Wednesday, two judges made qualified apologies for their roles in the building of an opulent $48 million courthouse that critics called a "Taj Mahal."
Leading U.K. Law Firms Consider Retirement Policy Shake-Up
Some top U.K. law firms may be set to overhaul retirement policies for partners and employees. Discussions have accelerated in the midst of a closely watched case involving a law firm partner and upcoming legislation that will abolish the default retir...
Kansas AG requests to join health care lawsuit
[JURIST] Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt [official website] sent a letter [text] on Wednesday to Florida Attorney General Pamela Bondi [official website] requesting that Florida add Kansas as an additional party plaintiff to its lawsuit [complain...
DOJ files brief defending constitutionality of Defense of Marriage Act
[JURIST] The US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] on Thursday filed a brief [text, PDF] with the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit defending the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) [text; JURIST new...
Federal judge dismisses request to end delay in issuance of drilling permits
[JURIST] A federal judge for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana [official website] on Thursday dismissed a request by the Ensco Offshore Company [official website] to end an alleged delay in the issuance of drilling permits. US...
Tunisia president declares state of emergency, leaves office
[JURIST] Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali [official website] declared a state of emergency Friday amid nationwide protests, banning public gatherings and allowing police to fire on anyone refusing to obey orders. The declaration came a day af...
Obama eases Cuba travel restrictions
[JURIST] US President Barack Obama [official profile] on Friday ordered the Departments of State, Treasury, and Homeland Security [official websites] to take steps to ease restrictions on travel and remittances [press release] to Cuba. The new regulati...
Hellerstein Vexed on Remedy for CIA Tape Destruction
The destruction of videotapes in 2005 showing abusive treatment of high-level al-Qaida detainees by CIA agents flouted an order by Southern District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein to preserve the tapes. Five years later, the judge is still looking for a re...
Gibson Dunn Report: Sanctions Falling in E-Discovery Disputes
A review by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher of 323 decisions shows that courts last year leveled sanctions in 55 percent of cases where they were sought, compared to 70 percent in 2009.
3rd Circuit: Letters to Debtor's Lawyer May Be Actionable
Ruling on an issue that has splintered the circuits, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that lawyer-to-lawyer communications may be actionable under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act if the information conveyed is false.
Foster Care Case Tests High Court's Attorney Fee Bonus Ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court's new standard for awarding attorney fees to civil rights plaintiffs will get one of its first tests in the Atlanta case that was the basis for the high court ruling.
Circuit Finds 'Crude' Filmmaker Lacked Independence
Independence is the key factor in determining whether journalists can invoke a qualified evidentiary privilege for the information they have gathered. That point was emphasized yesterday as the Second Circuit explained why it upheld a judge's order tha...
Credit Rating Agencies Win Dismissal in Goldman Mortgage Securities Class Action
Yet another judge has ruled that investors cannot pursue Securities Act claims against credit rating agencies for their role in a Goldman Sachs offering of mortgage-backed pass-through certificates.
Genetically Modified Rice Cases Continue to Plague Bayer
In the first federal case set for trial since four bellwether trials, Bayer has agreed to an $873,000 settlement with Mississippi farmers over alleged contamination from genetically modified rice.
Two firms seek up to $6.5M for work on settlement yielding shareholders no monetary benefit
A pair of plaintiffs' law firms plan to ask the Delaware Court of Chancery for as much as $6.5 million in fees for legal work related to shareholder lawsuit settlements with Alberto Culver Co. that didn't increase the shareholders' take in a pending me...
Security issues raised after standoff with gunman
Clerk of Courts Howard Forman said a standoff with a gunman inside the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale should be a warning to county leaders that security improvements are desperately needed.
Judge Acted Beyond Scope of Authority in Death Penalty Case
Judge Kevin Fine (pictured) of the 177th District Court in Houston overstepped his authority when holding a pretrial hearing to determine whether a provision of the Texas death penalty statute is unconstitutional. So said the Texas Court of Criminal Ap...
Facebook Moves to Dismiss Class Actions Over User Information
Arguing that the plaintiffs lack standing and that their complaints do
not allege actual injury, Facebook has moved to dismiss two class
actions that claim the company violated users' privacy.
Former Louisiana governor released from prison
[JURIST] Former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards [official profile] was released from a federal prison Thursday after being allowed to finish the remainder of his sentence in home detention. Edwards has been in prison since 2002 when he was sentenced t...
Impeached former federal judge surrenders law license
[JURIST] The Supreme Court of Louisiana [official website] on Friday granted [text, PDF] the request of a Louisiana federal judge who sought to permanently resign from practicing law. Ex-federal judge Thomas Porteous [JURIST news archive] voluntarily s...
Military commission recommends allowing women to serve in direct military combat
[JURIST] A US Military panel has recommended [report, PDF] in its latest report released Friday that women should be allowed to serve on the front lines of combat. The Military Leadership Diversity Commission (MLDC) [official website], comprised of ret...
Federal judge tells CIA to investigate destruction of interrogation tapes
[JURIST] A federal judge on Friday told the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) [official website] that it must investigate the destruction of interrogation tapes [AP report] related to 9/11 [JURIST news archive] and prevent similar incidents from hap...
Supreme Court declines to rule on DC same-sex marriage, Guantanamo habeas cases
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] declined Tuesday to rule on a DC same-sex marriage referendum and a Guantanamo detainee appeal but granted certiorari [order list, PDF] in a consolidated case involving Medicaid reim...
Rwanda police issue international arrest warrant for ex-officials
[JURIST] The Rwanda National Police Force [official website] issued an international arrest warrant [press release] Monday for four former Rwandan government officials now living in the US and South Africa. The four include former army chief of staff G...
Adversaries' opening statements in Bratz trial present MGA as a thief, Mattel as a bully
About a decade ago, Barbie began losing market share in the high-value fashion doll industry after a small-time competitor, MGA Entertainment Inc., stole trade secrets and the designer at Mattel Inc. who had come up with the idea for the wildly popular...
Howrey Vice Chairman Leaves for Dewey & LeBoeuf
Marking the latest departure from Howrey, Henry Bunsow, until recently
the firm's vice chairman and managing partner of its Northern California
offices, is moving to Dewey & LeBoeuf.
Former Fried Frank Name Partner Sargent Shriver Dies
R. Sargent Shriver, the exuberant public servant and Kennedy in-law who directed the Peace Corps, served as ambassador to France and ran for national office, died Tuesday at age 95.
Tobacco Companies, Defense Lawyers Gearing Up for St. Louis Megatrial Over Hospitals' Health Care Cost Claims
Lawyer for Texas Exonerees Faces Misconduct Suit
The State Bar of Texas has sued attorney Kevin Glasheen, who collected millions of dollars from wrongly convicted ex-inmates, saying the fees he charged were illegal and unconscionable.
Dealmaker Confidence High as M&A Starts Off New Year With a Bang
In a new burst of confidence, the first 10 days of 2011 saw $83 billion in deals hit the books. Among the biggest: a $13.7 billion merger that creates the largest utility in the U.S.
Supreme Court hears arguments on state secrets, personal jurisdiction, preclusion
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] heard oral arguments [day call, PDF; merit briefs] Tuesday in the consolidated cases of General Dynamics Corp. v. United States [oral arguments transcript, PDF; JURIST report] and Th...
Firm Alleges Former Employee Stole More Than $100,000
A Dallas law firm has filed a civil suit against a former employee, seeking payment of more than $100,000 she allegedly stole from its coffers. Dallas' Owens, Clary & Aiken filed a petition in the 95th District Court, alleging that a former employee, R...
Avvo Downgrades Ratings and Some Lawyers Cry Foul
Changes in ratings by the online lawyer directory Avvo that took effect at the start of the year have rankled some attorneys whose numbers fell.
White & Case, Covington Hire U.K. Bribery Act Experts
White & Case and Covington & Burling have hired senior officials from the U.K. government's Serious Fraud Office as firms continue to bolster their white-collar practices ahead of the introduction of a controversial new Bribery Act this April.
Federal court dismisses ACLU request for Guantanamo transcripts
[JURIST] A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] Tuesday that the US government does not have to release non-redacted transcripts relating to the interrogation of certain "high value" detainees at Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive]. The court held that the Department of Defense (DOD) and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) [official websites] did not improperly deny a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) [text] request by the American Civil...
US appeals court upholds University of Texas affirmative action policy
[JURIST] The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit [official website] unanimously ruled [opinion, PDF] Tuesday to uphold the affirmative action [JURIST news archive] policy of considering race in student admissions at the University of Texas at Aus...
Supreme Court rules NASA background checks are constitutional
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] on Wednesday unanimously overturned [opinion, PDF] a lower court's ruling [JURIST report] in NASA v. Nelson [Cornell LII backgrounder; JURIST report] and upheld the background checks...
Supreme Court rules on application of AEDPA, effective assistance of counsel
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] on Wednesday ruled [opinion, PDF] in Harrington v. Richter [Cornell LII backgrounder; JURIST report] that the section of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) [28...
Supreme Court hears arguments on Freedom of Information Act
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] heard oral arguments [day call, PDF; merit briefs] Wednesday in FCC v. AT&T [oral arguments transcript, PDF; JURIST report] on whether exemption 7(C) [DOJ backgrounder] of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) [5 USC 552] applies to corporations. Under exemption 7(C), an agency can withhold information pursuant to an FOIA request if that information can reasonably be believed to be a violation of the individual's privacy. The issue of...
DOJ appeals health insurance mandate ruling
[JURIST] The US Department of Justice (DOJ) [official website] on Tuesday appealed a ruling that found the minimum coverage provision of the recently enacted health care reform law [HR 3590 text; JURIST news archive] unconstitutional. The government fi...
Justices seem dubious of corporate personhood in AT&T case
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared to agree on Wednesday that corporations don't have the same privacy rights as people, at least under the Freedom of Information Act.
Galleon Defendant Chiesi Pleads Guilty to Fraud Counts
Another domino in the Galleon Group insider trading case fell Wednesday as Danielle Chiesi, a former hedge fund consultant, pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud.
Judge in Avandia Litigation Opens Door to Plaintiffs' Experts
Litigation over a diabetes drug that allegedly causes heart problems has reached significant milestones with the federal multidistrict litigation judge ruling that the plaintiffs' experts pass scientific rigor and with more than 1,000 cases in Philadel...
Broward Judge Dale Cohen admits in judicial misconduct trial he made mistake
A Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission hearing panel opened its trial into alleged misconduct by Broward Circuit Judge Dale Cohen. Cohen is accused of abusing his office by holding an evidentiary hearing on a motion to recuse him from a criminal ...
Federal judge bars law grad from using 'J.D.' after his name
A federal judge in Ohio has prohibited a Columbia Law School graduate from using the initials "J.D." after his name.
Judge Finds Equity Allows Foreclosure To Proceed Though Mortgage Note Lost
A Bergen County chancery judge says a foreclosure action can go forward even though the original lender lost the mortgage note and thus never passed it along when it assigned the mortgage to the bank now trying to enforce the debt.
West Publishing Moves to Overturn $5 Million Libel Verdict
Lawyers for West Publishing are asking a federal judge to overturn a verdict of more than $5.1 million in a defamation suit brought by two law professors who claimed their reputations were damaged when West falsely identified them as the authors of a p...
Alimony Judge Was Too Facile in Denying Pit Trader's Claim of Job Obsolescence
A former commodities trader seeking a reduction in alimony payments may have been shortchanged on his assertion that technology rendered his job obsolete, a N.J. appeals court rules.
U.K. Reform Looms for Success Fees in Wake of Naomi Campbell Case
The U.K. government looks set to reform "no win, no fee" deals in civil litigation following a European ruling that the arrangements risk breaching human rights legislation. A court found that a success fee used by model Naomi Campbell's lawyer breache...
Rights groups urge Lithuania to reopen CIA secret prison investigation
[JURIST] Human rights groups are calling for Lithuania to reopen its investigation into whether the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) [official website] had a secret prison in the country. Statements from Amnesty International (AI) and Reprieve [press releases] say that Friday's decision to stop the investigation [Baltic Times report] was premature. AI says that it has a "dossier of information relevant to the investigation" it was planning to send to investigators this week, and will now do so along with...
Federal judge allows state employees to sue for same-sex spouse benefits
[JURIST] A judge for the US District Court for the Northern District of California [official website] ruled Tuesday that California state employees can sue for discrimination over the exclusion of their same-sex spouses from long-term health care progr...
Accused Arizona gunman indicted
[JURIST] Jared Lee Loughner [JURIST news archive; case materials] was indicted [text, PDF; press release] Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Tuscon, Arizona. He is charged with attempting to assassinate a member of Congress [18 USC 351(c)] and two c...
Obama administration may resume military commission trials: NYT
[JURIST] The Obama administration may increase its use of controversial military commissions [DOD materials; JURIST news archive] for Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] detainees, according to a New York Times report [text] Wednesday. Per the report,...
Key defendant in Galleon insider trading trial pleads guilty
[JURIST] A key defendant in the Galleon Group insider trading case pleaded guilty [press release] Wednesday to three counts of conspiracy to commit securities fraud before judge Richard Holwell of the US District Court for the Southern District of New ...
Case of Imprisoned British Exec Ian Norris Carries Major Privilege Implications
Many executives are hoping a federal appeals court takes a hard look at a case in which federal prosecutors used Morgan Crucible's outside counsel to testify against and convict the company's CEO, Ian Norris.
Howrey Antitrust Co-Head Leaving Firm
Trevor Soames, co-chair of Howrey's worldwide antitrust practice, has announced plans to leave the firm. Also, the firm confirmed Thursday it will shutter its Salt Lake City office on Feb. 15.
Securities class actions inched up in 2010; those targeting M&As surged
2010 was a relatively slow year for federal securities class action filings, according to the latest research from the Securities Class Action Clearinghouse — a partnership between Stanford Law School and Cornerstone Research.
Cadwalader Adds Energy Team From McDermott; McDermott to Close San Diego Office
Judge strikes DuPont defense, citing 'unconscionable' fraud
A Miami-Dade judge struck DuPont's defenses Wednesday as a sanction for discovery violations in a Benlate crop damage case and will hold a trial only on damages in June.
Boston firm sues Merrill Lynch over nondisclosure of fee cap
Boston law firm Davis, Malm & D'Agostine is suing Merrill Lynch in Massachusetts state court, alleging that Merrill's predecessor company failed to tell the firm that it had agreed to a redevelopment agency's $50,000 legal fee cap for a bond issue.
The Am Law 100: Mayer Brown Sees Slight Drop in Revenue in 2010
Mayer Brown had a largely flat fiscal year in 2010, according to figures reported by the firm. Gross revenue dropped 1 percent, to $1.107 billion, after plummeting almost 14 percent in 2009.
Big Shots Running Scared as Swiss Banker Found Guilty Over WikiLeaks Data
As a Swiss banker's found guilty over WikiLeaks data, big shots are running scared in an era where 'bank secrecy is essentially dying, if not dead.' Companies and their in-house lawyers are forced to consider disclosures ... before it's | • ...
Verizon files lawsuit challenging FCC 'net neutrality' regulations
[JURIST] Verizon [corporate website] on Thursday filed a lawsuit [press release] in the US District Court for the District of Columbia Circuit [official website] challenging new net neutrality [JURIST news archive] rules that will allow the government to regulate Internet traffic. The company is challenging the regulations, which would prevent Internet providers from selectively blocking web access, saying they "go beyond any authority provided by Congress." The new net neutrality rules were approved last month [JURIST report] by the Federal...
Federal judge denies request to overturn ex-Guantanamo detainee's conviction
[JURIST] A judge for the US District Court for the Southern District of New York [official website] on Friday denied a request [opinion, PDF] to throw out the conviction of former Guantanamo Bay [JURIST news archive] detainee Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani [GlobalSecurity profile; JURIST news archive]. In his ruling, Judge Lewis Kaplan stated that the evidence presented at trial was sufficient to allow the jury to find Ghailani a "knowing and willing participation" in the 1998 bombing [PBS backgrounder] of two...
UK court approves extradition of terror suspect to US
[JURIST] A British court on Friday approved the extradition of alleged al Qaeda [JURIST news archive] operative Abid Naseer to the US, where he will stand trial on several charges of terrorism [DOJ press release], including providing material support t...
45 Under 45: Making a Deal – Jennifer Hobbs of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
Hobbs, a Simpson Thacher partner, talks about the current state of the debt market for private equity acquirers and the outlook for 2011.
Mass. lawyer gets 12 years for running mortgage fraud ring
An attorney from Brookline, Mass. whose license was suspended in 2003, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for running a mortgage fraud ring.
Will Obama's Judicial Nominees Need New Hearings?
Leaders on the Senate Judiciary Committee are in discussions about whether to hold second confirmation hearings for some of President Barack Obama's judicial nominees, aides say.
Mandate for Growth
The health care law creates new challenges for insurers — and even more work for their already-slammed in-house counsel. Here's an inside peek at how they're getting ready to tackle it.
No New Trial Despite Lawyer's Closing Argument Gibe
Calling a defense medical malpractice expert a '"$400,000 lounge singer"' during closing arguments does not require a new trial, the state Superior Court ruled last month.
Detroit Judge Finds Novo Nordisk Diabetes Drug Patent Is Invalid and Unenforceable, Questions Conduct of In-House Patent Lawyer
Toyota argues shareholder claims are fatally 'flawed'
Toyota Motor Corp. moved on Thursday to dismiss a consolidated lawsuit alleging that its shareholders suffered massive losses following a string of recent recalls associated with floor mats and accelerator pedals.
The death knell for capital punishment?
Death penalty opponents are allowing themselves to contemplate that a major Midwestern state, not known as light on crime, is about to take a dramatic stand against the death penalty.
When Are Employees' Online Postings Fair Game?
Jenner & Block's Carla Rozycki and Emma Sullivan examine some recent court decisions and NLRB actions illustrating the legal risks that employers face when conducting online searches on employees.
For-profit schools file suit seeking to overturn new regulations
[JURIST] The Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities (APSCU) [official website] on Friday filed suit [complaint, PDF] against the US Department of Education (DOE) [official website] in federal court seeking to overturn three regulations...
JURIST seeking new Executive Director
JURIST, the 501(c)(3) legal news and research non-profit headquartered at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, invites candidates to apply for the position of JURIST Executive Director. The Executive Director is responsible for managing JURIST's...
California judge approves landmark settlement in teacher layoff case
[JURIST] Los Angeles County Superior Court [official website] Judge William F. Highberger approved a settlement on Friday effectively limiting the use of seniority in layoffs in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) [official website]. The cl...
Supreme Court to examine inmates' Miranda rights
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] granted certiorari [order list, PDF] in two cases Monday and summarily reversed a Ninth Circuit decision in a California parole case. In Howes v. Fields [docket; cert. petition, PDF]...
Supreme Court rules for credit card company on notice issue
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] unanimously Monday in Chase Bank v. McCoy [Cornell LII backgrounder; JURIST report] that Chase was not required to provide a cardholder with a change-in-terms notice before raising the interest rate on his credit card. The case required the court to determine whether an interest rate increase constituted a "change in terms" under Regulation Z, 12 CFR 226.9(c) [text], which requires that a creditor provide a cardholder with a change-in-terms...
Supreme Court rules third party may sue employer for retaliation
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] unanimously Monday in Thompson v. North American Stainless [Cornell LII backgrounder; JURIST report] that a third party can sue his employer for retalation. Eric Thompson was fired f...
Accused Arizona gunman pleads not guilty to attempted murder
[JURIST] Accused Arizona gunman Jared Lee Loughner [JURIST news archive] pleaded not guilty on Monday to three federal charges in the US District Court for the District of Arizona [official website]. Loughner is charged with attempting to assassinate a...
Supreme Court rules against summary judgment appeal after full trial
[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website] ruled [opinion, PDF] unanimously Monday in Ortiz v. Jordan [Cornell LII backgrounder; JURIST report] that a party may not appeal an order denying summary judgment after a full trial on the merits. Petiti...
Personal Injury Lawyer | Trick Or Treat With The Right People
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Personal Injury Attorney | Be Street Savvy on Halloween
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Accident Attorney Charleston | Surprising Halloween Statistics
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Personal Injury Attorney Charleston | Halloween Safety
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What Makes An Effective Charleston Personal Injury Lawyer?
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Charleston Accident Attorney | After An Accident
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Workers Compensation Attorney | Construction Safety
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