October, 2017 | Clekis Law Firm

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.…

Charleston Personal Injury Attorney, Personal Injury, Personal Injury Attorney, personal injury lawyer

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…

Charleston Personal Injury Attorney, Personal Injury, Personal Injury Attorney, personal injury lawyer

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…

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45 under 45 – Vicki Maroulis

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 ...

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Judge Dismisses Subprime Securities Class Action Against Barclays and Underwriters

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.

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Nvidia, Intel Turn to Cooley, Simpson Thacher in $1.5B Licensing Agreement

Judges' Suit Seeks $780 Million in Back Pay, Pension Benefits

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.

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Fraudulent Conveyance Lawsuit Is Rejected in MBIA Restructuring

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Judge Blasts 'Temerity' of Bid to Foreclose on Unexecuted Debt

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.

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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.