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Legal Ethics
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October 10, 2024
Atty For McElroy Deutsch's Ex-CFO Wants Out Of Theft Case
An attorney representing McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP's former chief financial officer — who is behind bars on charges of stealing from the firm — has asked to be relieved as counsel in the firm's New Jersey suit against the former CFO because he has not paid his legal bills.
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October 10, 2024
Alaska Judge's Misconduct Prompts Bid To Pause Appeal
A former Alaska nurse practitioner convicted of illegally prescribing millions of opioids, wants a stay of her appeal while she seeks a new trial in wake of Judge Joshua Kindred's resignation after he was found to have had an inappropriate relationship with an attorney in the office prosecuting her case.
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October 10, 2024
Ex-Mayor Can't Reduce 6-Year Term In Fraud, Graft Case
A former Massachusetts mayor serving six years in prison for fraud and corruption has failed to raise a compelling argument to cut short the "already generous sentence" imposed, according to a Boston federal judge.
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October 10, 2024
Indicted Pa. Judge Suspended From Bench Over Alleged Fraud
The York County, Pennsylvania, Court of Common Pleas judge who was accused of 31 counts of fraud, witness tampering and obstruction of justice related to his allegedly misusing unemployment relief funds to pay his law firm's employees during the COVID-19 pandemic has been suspended from the bench.
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October 09, 2024
Combs Accuses DHS Of Leaking Grand Jury Info To Press
Government agents investigating charges of sex trafficking against Sean "Diddy" Combs have engaged in a scheme to undermine his right to a fair trial, the hip-hop mogul told a Manhattan federal judge late Wednesday, saying U.S. Department of Homeland Security personnel have been leaking grand jury information to journalists.
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October 09, 2024
Garth Brooks Accused Of Retaliating After Rape Lawsuit
A hair and makeup artist told a judge Wednesday that Garth Brooks publicly revealed her name out of spite and retaliation after she sued him for rape, urging the court to sanction the country star and his lawyers for this "appalling and malicious behavior."
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October 09, 2024
Marine In Afghan Baby Kidnapping Suit Won't Be Discharged
A U.S. Marine attorney accused of kidnapping an Afghan child has reportedly avoided getting booted from the military despite a Marine Corps panel on Tuesday finding he engaged in conduct unbecoming of an officer in his fight over the child.
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October 09, 2024
Blank Rome Attys Beat DQ Bid Over Witness Contact
A Philadelphia federal judge Wednesday refused to disqualify Blank Rome from representing three of its attorneys facing claims they brought a baseless lawsuit against another attorney in retaliation for switching from corporate defense to the plaintiffs bar.
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October 09, 2024
Justices Fear Harm To Atty Reputations In Death Penalty Case
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas expressed concern during oral arguments this month about the reputational harm two former Oklahoma prosecutors were facing in light of the state's claim that they withheld evidence and presented false testimony to secure the conviction of a prisoner on death row — allegations over which the justices seem likely to order further proceedings.
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October 09, 2024
DC Judge Sanctions DOD For Destroying Gitmo Tapes
A D.C. federal judge on Tuesday sanctioned the Pentagon for destroying dozens of video recordings of the torture of a Palestinian man imprisoned in Guantánamo Bay, barring the Pentagon from rebutting the man's testimony of what he endured.
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October 09, 2024
Atty, Claims Firm Barred From Soliciting Foreclosure Class
A Michigan law firm and a third-party claims firm agreed Wednesday not to solicit potential members to an action alleging Michigan counties kept profits from foreclosures of tax-delinquent properties, following a meeting with class attorneys who had urged a judge to bar them from attempting to poach class members.
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October 09, 2024
Another Supreme Court Term, Another Call For Ethics Reform
The new term for the U.S. Supreme Court began on Monday under a cloud of alleged ethics improprieties by several justices.
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October 09, 2024
Sanctioned NJ Firm Asks To Exit $374M Guo Ch. 11
Four attorneys for associates of convicted fraudster Miles Guo in his Chapter 11 bankruptcy — whose law firm was sanctioned in the proceedings — have urged Connecticut's bankruptcy court to let them leave the case, saying several corporate entities connected to Guo indicated their services are no longer needed.
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October 09, 2024
Locke Lord Slams 'Unsustainable' Take On Jurisdiction Issue
Locke Lord LLP urged a New Jersey appellate panel Wednesday to reverse a trial court's finding that it is subject to Garden State courts in a malpractice suit over an allegedly botched deal involving a North Dakota oil refinery project, arguing personal jurisdiction can't be obtained through personal service on a firm partner not involved in the litigation.
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October 09, 2024
Colo. Firm Seeks Bigger Cut Of Atty Fees From Competitor
A Colorado personal injury firm has told a state federal court it deserves a bigger cut of attorney fees than its successor firm in a $1.5 million tort settlement because the client's attorney, who left to work at another firm, did most of the work on the case while under her previous firm.
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October 09, 2024
Philly Developer Says Ex-Blank Rome Atty Falsified Records
The owner of a popular Philadelphia nightclub claims a now-disbarred ex-Blank Rome real estate attorney falsified court records, forged documents and failed to represent the club owner in several legal matters over a five-year period.
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October 09, 2024
Morgan & Morgan Wins Bid To Arbitrate Malpractice Claims
A Georgia federal judge on Wednesday granted Morgan & Morgan PA's bid to compel arbitration of a former client's legal malpractice claims, ruling that the state's justices have already rejected his argument that arbitration clauses between attorneys and clients should be unenforceable.
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October 09, 2024
Mich. Justices Open To Atty Fee Bid In Legal Malpractice Case
The Michigan Supreme Court appeared receptive Wednesday to arguments from a lab-grown orchid company that it should be allowed to recover attorney fees incurred in an employment lawsuit the company claimed resulted from legal malpractice.
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October 09, 2024
Girardi Seeks New Fraud Trial Over Memory Issues
Disbarred attorney Tom Girardi has called on a California federal court to overturn his conviction for misappropriating $15 million in client settlement funds, arguing he was not competent to stand trial due to memory problems that left him unable to remember witnesses or even his own attorneys.
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October 09, 2024
Disbarred Atty Admits To Defrauding Investors, DOJ Says
A disbarred attorney has pled guilty in connection with a financial services scheme that defrauded investors out of more than $1 million, New Jersey's U.S. attorney announced Wednesday.
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October 09, 2024
Disbarred Calif. Atty To Pay $14M Over Crypto Ponzi Scheme
A disbarred California attorney has been ordered by a Nevada federal judge to pay nearly $14 million in restitution for his role in promoting a $9.5 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme.
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October 09, 2024
9th Circ. Rejects Judicial Ethics Complaint Over Case Delays
The Ninth Circuit has tossed an attorney's ethics complaint against a federal district judge accused of failing to promptly rule on a motion to dismiss as part of an alleged pattern of slow rulings by the court.
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October 09, 2024
NJ Law Firm Gets Partial Win In Dispute With Ex-Employees
The arbitration pacts that two former employees at a New Jersey law firm filed cover their discrimination claims, a New Jersey state court judge ruled, handing the Bergen County-based personal injury firm a partial win in the workers' wage and bias suit.
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October 09, 2024
US Trustee Objects To Milbank Representing Edgio In Ch. 11
Milbank LLP should be removed as counsel for digital content delivery platform Edgio Inc. in its Chapter 11, the U.S. Trustee's Office told a Delaware federal judge, arguing the firm is conflicted because of its ongoing work representing Edgio directors and officers in various securities suits.
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October 09, 2024
Feds Seek 16 Months For Ex-BigLaw Partner's Tax Dodging
Prosecutors told a Wisconsin federal judge that a former Husch Blackwell LLP and Dykema Gossett PLLC partner who pled guilty to tax evasion should be sentenced to 16 months in prison, saying he lied to IRS revenue officers to keep them at bay while spending lavishly on private planes, jewelry and golf club memberships.
Expert Analysis
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Series
The Pop Culture Docket: Judge D'Emic On Moby Grape
The 1968 Moby Grape song "Murder in My Heart for the Judge" tells the tale of a fictional defendant treated with scorn by the judge, illustrating how much the legal system has evolved in the past 50 years, largely due to problem-solving courts and the principles of procedural justice, says Kings County Supreme Court Administrative Judge Matthew D'Emic.
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The Basics Of Law Firm Cyber Liability Insurance Applications
Cyber liability insurance has become a common consideration for law firms as cyber threats have escalated, but these insurance forms can be quite complicated given the nature of the industry and associated risks, so simply filling out the form won't necessarily result in an ideal policy for your firm, says Kevin Haight at WAMS.
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Series
Performing Music Makes Me A Better Lawyer
The discipline of performing live music has directly and positively influenced my effectiveness as a litigator — serving as a reminder that practice, intuition and team building are all important elements of a successful law practice, says Jeff Wakolbinger at Bryan Cave.
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Breaking Down High Court's New Code Of Conduct
The U.S. Supreme Court recently adopted its first-ever code of conduct, and counsel will need to work closely with clients in navigating its provisions, from gift-giving to recusal bids, say Phillip Gordon and Mateo Forero at Holtzman Vogel.
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Opinion
Legal Profession Gender Parity Requires Equal Parental Leave
To truly foster equity in the legal profession and to promote attorney retention, workplaces need to better support all parents, regardless of gender — starting by offering equal and robust parental leave to both birthing and non-birthing parents, says Ali Spindler at Irwin Fritchie.
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Series
Writing Thriller Novels Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Authoring several thriller novels has enriched my work by providing a fresh perspective on my privacy practice, expanding my knowledge, and keeping me alert to the next wave of issues in an increasingly complex space — a reminder to all lawyers that extracurricular activities can help sharpen professional instincts, says Reece Hirsch at Morgan Lewis.
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What Lawyers Must Know About Calif. State Bar's AI Guidance
Initial recommendations from the State Bar of California regarding use of generative artificial intelligence by lawyers have the potential to become a useful set of guidelines in the industry, covering confidentiality, supervision and training, communications, discrimination and more, say attorneys at Debevoise.
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Industry Must Elevate Native American Women Attys' Stories
The American Bar Association's recent research study into Native American women attorneys' experiences in the legal industry reveals the glacial pace of progress, and should inform efforts to amplify Native voices in the field, says Mary Smith, president of the ABA.
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Understanding Discovery Obligations In Era Of Generative AI
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
Attorneys and businesses must adapt to the unique discovery challenges presented by generative artificial intelligence, such as chatbot content and prompts, while upholding the principles of fairness, transparency and compliance with legal obligations in federal civil litigation, say attorneys at King & Spalding.
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Asserting 'Presence-Of-Counsel' Defense In Securities Trials
As illustrated by the fraud trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, defense attorneys in securities trials might consider arguing that counsel had some involvement in the conduct at issue — if the more formal advice-of-counsel defense is unavailable and circumstances allow for a privilege waiver, say Joseph Dever and Matthew Elkin at Cozen O'Connor.
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Key Takeaways From DOJ's Recent FARA Advisory Opinions
The U.S. Department of Justice recently published several redacted advisory opinions on the Foreign Agents Registration Act, clarifying its current thinking on when a person or entity is required to register as a foreign agent under the statute, and when they may qualify for an exemption, says Tessa Capeloto at Wiley Rein.
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The Case For Post-Bar Clerk Training Programs At Law Firms
In today's competitive legal hiring market, an intentionally designed training program for law school graduates awaiting bar admission can be an effective way of creating a pipeline of qualified candidates, says Brent Daub at Gilson Daub.
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Attorneys Have An Ethical Duty To Protect The Judiciary
The tenor of public disagreement and debate has become increasingly hostile against judges, and though the legislative branch is trying to ameliorate this safety gap, lawyers have a moral imperative and professional requirement to stand with judges in defusing attacks against them and their rulings, says Deborah Winokur at Cozen O'Connor.
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AI Can Help Lawyers Overcome The Programming Barrier
Legal professionals without programming expertise can use generative artificial intelligence to harness the power of automation and other technology solutions to streamline their work, without the steep learning curve traditionally associated with coding, says George Zalepa at Greenberg Traurig.
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Preparing Law Students For A New, AI-Assisted Legal World
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the legal landscape, law schools must integrate technology and curricula that address AI’s innate challenges — from ethics to data security — to help students stay ahead of the curve, say Daniel Garrie at Law & Forensics, Ryan Abbott at JAMS and Karen Silverman at Cantellus Group.