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Legal Ethics
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February 14, 2025
NJ Appeals Court Confirms Officials' Votes Were Conflicted
A New Jersey state appeals court on Friday ruled a trial court was right to find local officials were in conflict when they voted to terminate an attorney because the trio had defamed him during their campaigns.
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February 14, 2025
Pa. Injury Firm Botched Burger King Suit Service, Suit Says
A Pennsylvania woman has sued the law firm previously representing her in a slip-and-fall case against a local Burger King for legal malpractice after the state Supreme Court held that her former attorneys' attempts to have the complaint served were insufficient.
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February 14, 2025
Fla. Criminal Defense Atty Accused Of Bribing DEA Agent
New York federal prosecutors have charged a Florida criminal defense attorney with a scheme to bribe a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent in exchange for nonpublic law enforcement information, which the lawyer used to recruit and represent clients, in an indictment unsealed on Friday.
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February 14, 2025
Diddy, Jay-Z Rape Lawsuit Dropped Amid Legal Ethics Battle
An anonymous woman dropped her New York federal court lawsuit accusing Sean "Diddy" Combs and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter of raping a teenager together, claims that launched a bitter ethics feud between personal injury attorney Tony Buzbee and Jay-Z's lawyers at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP.
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February 14, 2025
House Dems Amplify ABA Decision On High Court Ethics
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee's courts panel urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to adopt a binding and enforceable code of ethics after the American Bar Association's policy-making body advocated for such.
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February 14, 2025
Feds Hit With Brady Claims As Implant Kickback Trial Looms
Two defendants nearing trial on medical device kickback claims say Boston federal prosecutors are begrudgingly sharing mountains of exculpatory materials they should have provided years ago.
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February 14, 2025
Buchalter, Parker Milliken Get Stay In $19M Theft Suit
A California judge on Friday granted a stay to Buchalter PC and Parker Milliken Clark O'Hara & Samuelian APC while the law firms appeal a decision denying their bid to arbitrate a lawsuit accusing them of conspiring to help their client bilk nearly $20 million from some trusts in a Ponzi scheme.
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February 14, 2025
Tulsa County 'On Notice' In Jurisdiction Dispute, Suit Says
The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is asking a federal district court to block Tulsa County, Oklahoma, its sheriff and a district attorney from asserting criminal jurisdiction on its reservation, arguing they continue to defy a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that held that they lack such authority.
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February 14, 2025
House Judiciary Courts Chair Previews 'Rogue' Judges Bill
The chair of the House Judiciary Committee's courts panel is working on legislation to prevent "rogue rulings" by federal judges, which he plans to introduce on Tuesday, following adverse rulings for the Trump administration and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
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February 14, 2025
Adams Case Careens Toward 'Messy' Hearing, Experts Say
The Manhattan federal judge overseeing the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams is unlikely to rubber stamp a request from the U.S. Department of Justice to toss the case and may instead hold a hearing on the matter, which could get "messy" and "embarrassing," experts say.
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February 14, 2025
Adams Case Fiasco 'Unparalleled' In Modern US History
The mass resignation of federal prosecutors refusing to obey a Trump administration directive to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams is "unprecedented," "crazy" and "very troubling," according to law professors and former prosecutors.
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February 14, 2025
Off The Bench: Trans EO, Cards Arbitration, NASCAR Revs Up
In this week's Off The Bench, litigation begins over President Donald Trump's executive order banning transgender individuals from competing in women's sports, a former Arizona Cardinals executive's defamation suit against the team is shuffled to arbitration, and NASCAR asks an appeals panel to reverse wins handed to two teams in their antitrust suit.
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February 14, 2025
BakerHostetler Can't Keep Ga. Malpractice Suit In Fed. Court
BakerHostetler lost its bid Friday to keep a former client's suit alleging the firm botched its legal representation of its patent applications for a smart wardrobe system in federal court, with a Georgia federal judge rejecting the firm's argument that the claims involve patent law.
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February 14, 2025
Pashman Stein Gets Arbitration Award Against Atty Confirmed
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden PC on Friday won confirmation for an $88,000 award against an intellectual property attorney and former client it sued over unpaid legal fees in New Jersey state court.
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February 14, 2025
Fla. Atty Disbarred After 'Serious Pattern Of Neglect'
The Florida Supreme Court has permanently yanked the law license of former Sunshine State attorney Danialle Riggins for demonstrating a "serious pattern of neglect" with clients and other misconduct, including yelling at a judge during court.
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February 14, 2025
Rewarding Ex-Atty For Killing Wife Is Unjust, Ga. Court Told
The administrator of the estate of the wife of a former BigLaw attorney urged a Georgia state court to block the husband's bid to designate the settlement proceeds of a wrongful death suit, arguing that it "does not seem just to reward" him after he "did, in fact, shoot and kill his wife."
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February 14, 2025
Texas Justices End Election Ethics Suit Against AG Paxton
Texas justices on Friday granted the state Commission for Lawyer Discipline's motion to drop the commission's ethics complaint against Attorney General Ken Paxton, citing its decision last month in a "nearly identical" suit against Paxton's first assistant.
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February 14, 2025
DOJ Files Motion To Drop Adams Case After Prosecutors Exit
The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, following a flood of resignations by government lawyers who defied a top DOJ official's orders to drop the charges for political reasons.
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February 14, 2025
Ex-JPMorgan Atty Pleads Guilty To NYC Housing Fraud
A one-time Bronx, New York, prosecutor and former JPMorgan Chase & Co. assistant general counsel pled guilty along with two relatives to a scheme to fraudulently obtain affordable housing units and benefits, state investigators announced Friday.
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February 13, 2025
After Winning $18M, ASUSTek Foe Asks For New Patent Trial
A patent litigation company that obtained a nearly $18 million award from a federal jury in Waco, Texas, against Taiwanese computer manufacturer ASUSTeK says it wants to try winning some more money at a new trial, though the company admitted it "recognizes the extraordinary nature of the relief it is requesting."
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February 13, 2025
PQA Loses Bid To Fight VLSI's Extortion Claims In Fed. Court
Patent Quality Assurance LLC must return to state court to face a suit claiming it had extortionary intent when challenging VLSI Technology's chip patent, a Virginia federal judge held Thursday.
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February 13, 2025
Lawsuit Trimmed Over Holland & Knight Atty's File Access
A Pennsylvania federal judge on Thursday trimmed most of a lawsuit that one Philadelphia law firm had filed against another over an attorney's alleged unauthorized access to confidential files as part of his divorce.
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February 13, 2025
Madigan Verdict Caps Stunning Fall For Powerful Chicago Pol
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan's conviction Wednesday on bribery and wire fraud charges marked a stunning fall from grace for a man who was the longest-serving legislative leader in the country and who wielded considerable influence in the state and the city of Chicago for decades.
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February 13, 2025
Trump Ally Seeks To Limit Judges' Sway Over White House
A conservative legal group run by an ally of President Donald Trump is working on legislation to restrain judges that it deems politicized, in the wake of rulings against the Trump administration's actions.
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February 13, 2025
SoCal Judge Admonished For 'Demeaning' Female Lawyers
A Southern California judge was publicly reprimanded by the state's judicial discipline agency Thursday for a yearslong "pattern of discourteous, undignified and impatient behavior" toward female attorneys, including the use of profanities and inappropriate gestures meant to convey the act of pumping breast milk.
Expert Analysis
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How Duty Of Candor Figures In USPTO AI Ethics Guidance
The duty of candor and good faith is an important part of the artificial intelligence ethics guidance issued last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and serious consequences can visit patent and trademark applicants who violate that duty, not just their attorneys and agents, says Michael Cicero at Taylor English.
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Series
Whitewater Kayaking Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Whether it's seeing clients and their issues from a new perspective, or staying nimble in a moment of intense challenge, the lessons learned from whitewater kayaking transcend the rapids of a river and prepare attorneys for the courtroom and beyond, says Matthew Kent at Alston & Bird.
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This Earth Day, Consider How Your Firm Can Go Greener
As Earth Day approaches, law firms and attorneys should consider adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint — from minimizing single-use plastics to purchasing carbon offsets for air travel — which ultimately can also reduce costs for clients, say M’Lynn Phillips and Lisa Walters at IMS Legal Strategies.
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Weisselberg's Perjury At Trial Spotlights Atty Ethics Issues
Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg’s recent guilty plea for perjury in the New York attorney general's civil fraud trial should serve as a reminder to attorneys of their ethical duties when they know a client has lied or plans to lie in court, and the potential penalties for not fulfilling those obligations, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.
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Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease
This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.
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Why Incorporating By Reference Is Rarely Good Practice
The Federal Circuit’s recent ruling in Promptu Systems v. Comcast serves as a reminder that while incorporating by reference may seem efficient, it is generally prohibited by courts and can lead to sanctions when used to bypass a word count limit, says Cullen Seltzer at Sands Anderson.
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Series
Playing Hockey Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Nearly a lifetime of playing hockey taught me the importance of avoiding burnout in all aspects of life, and the game ultimately ended up providing me with the balance I needed to maintain success in my legal career, says John Riccione at Taft.
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For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill
A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.
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Trump's NY Civil Fraud Trial Spotlights Long-Criticized Law
A New York court’s recent decision holding former President Donald Trump liable for fraud brought old criticisms of the state law used against him back into the limelight — including its strikingly broad scope and its major departures from the traditional elements of common law fraud, say Mark Kelley and Lois Ahn at MoloLamken.
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Opinion
Requiring Leave To File Amicus Briefs Is A Bad Idea
A proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that would require parties to get court permission before filing federal amicus briefs would eliminate the long-standing practice of consent filing and thereby make the process less open and democratic, says Lawrence Ebner at the Atlantic Legal Foundation and DRI Center.
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4 Ways To Motivate Junior Attorneys To Bring Their Best
As Gen Z and younger millennial attorneys increasingly express dissatisfaction with their work and head for the exits, the lawyers who manage them must understand and attend to their needs and priorities to boost engagement and increase retention, says Stacey Schwartz at Katten.
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Series
Serving As A Sheriff's Deputy Made Me A Better Lawyer
Skills developed during my work as a reserve deputy — where there was a need to always be prepared, decisive and articulate — transferred to my practice as an intellectual property litigator, and my experience taught me that clients often appreciate and relate to the desire to participate in extracurricular activities, says Michael Friedland at Friedland Cianfrani.
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Former Minn. Chief Justice Instructs On Writing Better Briefs
Former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, now at Greenberg Traurig, offers strategies on writing more effective appellate briefs from her time on the bench.
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Stay Interviews Are Key To Retaining Legal Talent
Even as the economy shifts and layoffs continue, law firms still want to retain their top attorneys, and so-called stay interviews — informal conversations with employees to identify potential issues before they lead to turnover — can be a crucial tool for improving retention and morale, say Tina Cohen Nicol and Kate Reder Sheikh at Major Lindsey.
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The Fed. Circ. In February: A Reminder On Procedure Rule 28
Because the Federal Circuit does not often issue a sua sponte precedential order emphasizing an important rule of practice, it is useful to look at how the court applied the restrictions of appellate procedure Rule 28 in Promptu v. Comcast last month, and in cases that preceded it, say Jeremiah Helm and Sean Murray at Knobbe Martens.