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Legal Ethics
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November 25, 2024
Attys Fight Discovery Sanctions In Bob Dylan Abuse Suit
An attorney for two solo practitioners sanctioned for not turning over discovery material in a now-abandoned sexual assault suit against Bob Dylan told Second Circuit judges Monday that "lawyers are not their clients," arguing that the pair never personally disregarded a court order or instructed their client to do so.
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November 25, 2024
Hawley Troxell Wants Ex-Paralegal's Suit Trimmed
Hawley Troxell Ennis & Hawley LLP asked an Idaho federal judge to dismiss a former paralegal's claims that it retaliated against her for lodging bias complaints and stiffed her on wages.
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November 25, 2024
Jack Smith Asks To Dismiss Trump Cases
Special Counsel Jack Smith on Monday moved to drop the federal prosecutions of President-elect Donald Trump in D.C. and Florida, citing longstanding Justice Department policy barring the prosecution of a sitting president while insisting that the government "stands fully behind" the merits of the charges.
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November 25, 2024
Solar Co. Ex-CEO Attys Say DQ Request 'Untethered To Facts'
Lawyers representing the former CEO of a now-defunct solar energy company against fraud and racketeering claims have told a Michigan federal judge that their previous in-house work for the company is not grounds to disqualify them from the suit, calling the plaintiffs' attempt to have them removed "untethered to facts" and improperly delayed.
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November 25, 2024
Justices Pass On Ex-Atty's Puerto Rico Bribery Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to review the bribery convictions of a former attorney who solicited and accepted payments from an environmental contractor to influence three Puerto Rican mayors and helped the contractor secure government contracts worth millions of dollars.
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November 22, 2024
Malaysia Looks To Shore Up Counterattack Over $14.9B Award
Units of Malaysia's national energy company have kicked off new litigation in Delaware and New York, seeking additional information as they look to fight back against a massive $14.9 billion arbitral award issued in a territorial dispute stemming from a 19th-century land deal.
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November 22, 2024
Defamation Suit Against Ga. Election Chief Tossed
A Georgia federal judge on Friday tossed a defamation suit in which a Texas attorney sued Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger on allegations he suggested she presented "doctored" evidence to state senators in the aftermath of the 2020 election, finding the statements were "substantially true or are hyperbole."
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November 22, 2024
Social Media MDL Judge Threatens States With Contempt
A California federal judge presiding over multidistrict litigation concerning social media platforms' allegedly addictive designs told counsel Friday that she's considering holding California and South Carolina state agencies in contempt for refusing to comply with discovery orders, telling counsel, "I can guarantee I will not let this stand."
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November 22, 2024
Navajo Co. Dismisses Case Alleging Paralegal Took Docs
A natural resources company owned by the Navajo Nation has dismissed a lawsuit against a paralegal it accused of failing to turn in her computer for removal of its privileged documents, after the paralegal said she had already arranged to surrender her device before the lawsuit was even filed.
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November 22, 2024
Texas Justices Say Paxton Can Duck Whistleblower Suit Depo
The Texas Supreme Court said Friday that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton doesn't have to sit for a deposition in the long-running employment retaliation suit brought by his former top deputies, partially agreeing with his contention there are no longer any factual disputes in the case.
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November 22, 2024
Pot Dispensary Aims To Escape Lowenstein Sandler's Fee Suit
A New Jersey cannabis dispensary has moved to dismiss a suit from Lowenstein Sandler LLP seeking nearly $800,000 in unpaid fees, telling a state court that the firm did not give the proper notice before suing over the fee dispute.
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November 22, 2024
Fed. Circ. Won't Rethink Toppling Tire Verdict
The Federal Circuit has declined to rethink a ruling last month that upended what was once a multimillion-dollar jury verdict in a decadelong tire design dispute, rejecting the argument that the judges "overlooked and misapprehended Illinois law" on the matter of "litigation privilege."
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November 22, 2024
Marketer Asks Judge To Rethink OK'ing Text Solicitation Ban
Pennsylvania's statewide ban on the use of text messages to solicit potential legal clients would cause irreparable harm to a company that specializes in digital marketing technology by preventing it from raising revenue while fighting the rule, according to a recent motion filed in Pittsburgh federal court.
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November 22, 2024
Shipman & Goodwin Atty Dodges DQ In Waste Permit Case
A Connecticut Superior Court judge has refused to disqualify Shipman & Goodwin LLP attorney Joseph P. Williams from a lawsuit that started as a dispute over a $3 million transfer station performance bond, finding he is not a necessary witness to the remaining issues in the case.
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November 22, 2024
Judge 'Concerned' With 'Lack Of Progress' In Walmart OT Suit
A Georgia federal judge warned that he was "concerned by the lack of progress on the limited discovery" he reopened last month at the request of a Walmart warehouse manager suing the company for unpaid overtime hours.
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November 22, 2024
Trump Sentencing Halted To Weigh President-Elect's Immunity
The New York state judge who oversaw Donald Trump's hush money trial officially canceled his Nov. 26 sentencing date Friday to weigh the impact of his new status as president-elect, pushing briefing into December.
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November 21, 2024
Stanford AI Prof Accused Of Filing AI-Generated Expert Brief
A Stanford University professor who studies artificial intelligence and disinformation "ironically" likely used AI to prepare an expert opinion lodged in support of the Minnesota attorney general in a suit challenging a state law on deepfakes, according to the plaintiffs, who said the opinion "cites a study that does not exist."
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November 21, 2024
Key Informant Who Recorded Madigan Takes The Stand
A former Chicago alderman who prosecutors have deemed one of their "most significant cooperators in the last several decades" took the stand Thursday afternoon and began what is expected to be multiple days of testimony in the racketeering trial of ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, whom he secretly recorded while working with the government.
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November 21, 2024
Texas AG Pushes For Preservation Of Jack Smith, DOJ Docs
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton urged a federal court Thursday to enter an order requiring the U.S. Department of Justice to preserve records connected to special counsel Jack Smith, accusing the agency of remaining "evasive" of Paxton's bid for records related to President-elect Donald Trump's hush money case.
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November 21, 2024
Tax Firm Must Disclose Case Info In Malpractice Suit
A tax firm being sued for malpractice and unfair trade practices by former clients can't hide behind a state bar association rule to avoid producing discovery documents it claims are privileged, a Wisconsin federal court ruled Thursday.
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November 21, 2024
Ye's Cos. Sanctioned For Blowing Off Discovery In Bias Suit
A Los Angeles judge sanctioned two of Ye's companies Thursday after they "simply ignored" discovery requests in a former employee's lawsuit alleging widespread racism, antisemitism and homophobia on the part of the rapper formerly known as Kanye West.
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November 21, 2024
Pa. Enviro Hearing Board Can Sanction Atty, Court Affirms
Pennsylvania's Environmental Hearing Board was within its power to issue its first-ever sanctions against an attorney for trying to delay an appeal with false claims that the state Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency were looking to talk to Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. over her case, a state appellate court ruled Thursday.
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November 21, 2024
Dentons Atty Owed No Duty In $54M Currency Deal, Jury Says
A Florida state court jury found Thursday that a former Dentons US LLP attorney didn't intentionally make a false statement or commit malpractice in a failed $54 million dollars-to-bolivares currency swap in which a Venezuelan lawyer lost millions of dollars.
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November 21, 2024
Experts Cool On 'Chill' Defense In NJ RICO Case
Former prosecutors and academics are doubtful two of New Jersey's most politically connected attorneys can convince a judge that the racketeering case against them will have a chilling effect on lawyering, given that prosecutors only have to show they knew the end game of the notorious Democratic power broker they're accused of helping.
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November 21, 2024
Suit Against Mortgage Co. Axed Despite Atty's Bad Faith Claim
A Texas state court judge has dismissed for good an attorney's lawsuit against the mortgage company she formerly worked for in-house, despite a dispute over whether the matter should have ended with or without prejudice.
Expert Analysis
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Mitigating Defamation Liability Risks Of AI-Generated Content
Until Congress and the courts provide clear guidance about defamation liability stemming from generative artificial intelligence tools, companies should begin building controls to prevent the creation of defamatory content, says Michael Gerrity at Accenture.
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Series
Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer
Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.
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When Investigating An Adversary, Be Wary Of Forged Records
Warnings against the use of investigators who tout their ability to find an adversary’s private documents generally emphasize the risk of illegal activity and attorney discipline, but a string of recent cases shows an additional danger — investigators might be fabricating records altogether, says Brian Asher at Asher Research.
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3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less
Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.
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Opinion
Why States Should Adopt ABA's 'Duty To Inquire'
State bars should codify the American Bar Association's proposed rule on a lawyer's duty to scrutinize each representation as it provides guardrails for lawyers, supports self-regulation of the profession, and helps avert money laundering and other crimes, says Deborah Winokur at Cozen O'Connor.
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The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule
Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.
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Trump Faces Uphill Battle If He Tries To Target Prosecutors
On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump promised to go after the state and federal prosecutors who had investigated and prosecuted him, but few criminal statutes would be applicable — to say nothing of the evidence required to substantiate any charges against prosecutors, says William Johnston at Bird Marella.
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Series
Being A Navy Reservist Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Serving this country in uniform has not only been one of the greatest honors of my life, but it has also provided me with opportunities to broaden my legal acumen and interpersonal skills in ways that have indelibly contributed to my civilian practice, says Phillip Smith at Weinberg Wheeler.
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So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?
Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.
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Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.
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Series
Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers
In addition to being fun, ultimate Frisbee has improved our legal careers by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, teamwork, perseverance, enthusiasm and vulnerability, say Arunabha Bhoumik and Adam Bernstein at Regeneron.
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E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Metadata
Several recent rulings reflect the competing considerations that arise when parties dispute the form of production for electronically stored information, underscoring that counsel must carefully consider how to produce and request reasonably usable data, say attorneys at Sidley.
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Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being
As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.
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Empathy In Mediation Offers A Soft Landing For Disputes
Experiencing a crash-landing on a recent flight underscored to me how much difference empathy makes in times of crisis or stress, including during mediation, says Eydith Kaufman at Alternative Resolution Centers.
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Series
Being An Artist Makes Me A Better Lawyer
My work as an artist has highlighted how using creativity and precision together — qualities that are equally essential in both art and law — not only improves outcomes, but also leads to more innovative and thoughtful work, says Sarah La Pearl at Segal McCambridge.