Legal Book » lawyers

New Strategy in Foreclosure Battles Attacks Validity of Affidavits

Master — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 05:21:32 +0000

When it comes to fighting foreclosures, homeowners and their lawyers may have found a new strategy to score courtroom victories.

Judge in Clemens Case Tells Parties to Keep Their Mouths Shut

Master — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 05:44:19 +0000

After a grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted Roger Clemens last week with lying to Congress about taking steroids, the decorated former pitcher swiftly took to Twitter to refute the allegations. Clemens denied taking steroids. He denied lying to Congress

Reminding Clients of Fiduciary Duty, Court Upholds Dismissal of Malpractice Suit Against Sills Cummis

Master — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:22:14 +0000

Warning clients of their own duty to read critical documents, a New Jersey appeals court held Wednesday that a malpractice suit over Sills, Cummis & Gross’ drafting of a bank merger agreement was time-barred and meritless. The panel found that the plaintiffs, four directors of the former West Jersey Community Bank, were experienced in the world of banking and failed to follow their lawyers’ advice to look over the agreement.

Judge Approves Nearly $500,000 for Counsel Who Won Title VII Suit

Master — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 05:00:46 +0000

While it’s not unusual for prevailing plaintiffs attorneys to collect reasonable fees in a Title VII case, it is unusual for a judge to approve nearly all the fees requested, employment lawyers say. But that’s what happened when U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle of Dallas approved nearly all of the half-million dollars in attorney fees requested by four lawyers who represented a plaintiff in a successful employment discrimination and retaliation suit against University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

With California’s Gay Marriage Ban Overturned, the Spin Can Begin

admin — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:22:34 +0000

Before flying to Los Angeles for a news conference, the name plaintiffs and legal team behind the defeat of California’s gay marriage ban gathered in San Francisco to revel in Chief Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling. “With this decision carefully analyzing evidence, we are well on our way to an ultimate victory,” said conservative stalwart Theodore Olson, who formed an unlikely duo with David Boies.

Convicted Politician’s Attorneys Urge Federal Appeals Court to Bounce Big Brief

Master — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:45:18 +0000

If appellate briefs are wars of words, it would seem the lawyers for an imprisoned former state senator are asking for some arms control. Prosecutors recently filed a 281-page opening brief in an appeal challenging a 55-month sentence — but defense lawyers are urging the 3rd Circuit to reject the brief, arguing it is simply too long, and saying “if briefing were to continue at this pace ..

New Loan Repayment Program Aims to Woo Pa. Lawyers to Public Service

Master — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:05:38 +0000

The Pennsylvania Bar Foundation and the Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Board have launched a new statewide school loan repayment program designed to ease the financial burden on recent law school graduates to make public service a more attractive and viable career option.

Tips to Help Lawyers Steer Clear of Client Grievances

Master — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:05:37 +0000

Anthony Nuzzo has spent much of his 42 years of practice helping other lawyers get out of ethics and malpractice jams. The managing partner of Nuzzo & Roberts practices before Connecticut’s Statewide Grievance Committee and defends professional liability claims in court and in mediation.

Aiding and Abetting Charges in $22M Ponzi Scheme Reinstated Against Law Firm

Master — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 05:05:22 +0000

A New York appeals court has reinstated aiding and abetting charges against a New Jersey law firm in a suit by investors over its alleged role in a $22 million Ponzi scheme. A lower court in 2008 granted Lum, Drasco & Positan’s motion to dismiss the charges by investors who claimed the lawyers knew about the undisclosed criminal histories of the scheme’s perpetrators prior to its unraveling. But the appeals court judge reversed, saying the investors had adequately alleged the lawyers had actual knowledge of the fraud.

DOJ Fights to Keep Information Secret in ‘Torture Memo’ Report

admin — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 05:11:54 +0000

Responding to a lawsuit over a Justice Department report on the lawyers who wrote the so-called torture memos, the government said last week that blacked-out passages in the report should remain confidential in the interest of national security and the privacy of government lawyers. In January, the American Civil Liberties Union sued the DOJ to obtain a copy of the report, which cleared Justice Department attorneys John Yoo and Jay Bybee of any ethical wrongdoing.

Survey Shows Employee Morale Reviving at Some Large U.K. Firms

Master — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:30:57 +0000

DLA Piper, Clifford Chance and Eversheds are among the large law firms staging a revival in a survey that grades law firms on the satisfaction of their lawyers.

Blaming Lawyers No ‘Stay Out of Jail’ Card for Former CEO

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:30:32 +0000

In a bid to keep ex-Brocade CEO Gregory Reyes out of prison, his attorneys tried to paint him as a victim of lawyers who should have done a better job advising him in the stock option backdating mess. But federal Judge Charles Breyer wasn’t buying it. He sentenced Reyes to 18 months in prison Thursday, and imposed a $15 million fine.

New Head of Trial Lawyers Group Plans Charm Offensive

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:15:25 +0000

The incoming president of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association plans to redouble the group’s efforts to convince New Yorkers that attorneys representing injured plaintiffs ultimately make life safer for everyone. Nicholas Timko, who becomes group president on July 1, said trial lawyers face enemies who would “vilify us at every turn” and that he wants to fight back in the public relations arena against corporate and government interests who contend that plaintiffs attorneys are only in the law for jury awards.

Plaintiffs Lawyers Gather to Strategize Oil Spill Suits

Master — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 06:15:18 +0000

Plaintiffs lawyers are converging on New Orleans today for another Gulf Coast oil spill gathering to discuss everything from the parallels with the Exxon Valdez disaster to the best trial techniques to nail an oil giant. No doubt the lawyers will also consider Tuesday’s decision by U.S.

Despite Troubled Times, a New Round of Fresh IPOs Takes Shape

Master — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:57:52 +0000

While investors might be steering clear of some initial public offerings set to hit roiling global markets this week, the lawyers pushing the paper behind those listings are staying busy despite price pressures and a skeptical stock market.

Milberg Argues Its Use of Subsequently Discredited Witnesses Was in Good Faith

Master — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 06:53:57 +0000

Milberg and its co-counsel sought to reassure a federal judge on Friday that it did not violate court rules by including statements by two confidential witnesses in complaints against Sony Corp. that did not hold up in subsequent depositions

Dwyer & Collora’s Relationships Help Its Diverse Practices Flourish

Master — Fri, 28 May 2010 08:16:41 +0000

Leveraging relationships with other lawyers, usually when they send cases to Dwyer & Collora due to conflicts, has helped the historically white-collar litigation boutique add several strong civil practices. “It’s hard when you’re a boutique with two messages.

Judge Wants to Know ‘Who’s on First’ on Allen Stanford’s Legal Team

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:39:18 +0000

U.S.

No Conflicts Found in Congoleum Paying $2 Million Fee to Asbestos Plaintiffs Lawyers

admin — Wed, 12 May 2010 06:43:19 +0000

Two lawyers for asbestos victims can keep the $2 million that Congoleum paid them to help resolve tens of thousands of claims against the company shortly before it filed for bankruptcy, thanks to a New Jersey federal judge’s ruling. The bankruptcy case, which has been pending since Dec. 31, 2003, has been through at least 12 failed reorganization attempts and was filed with a prepackaged reorganization plan

Troutman Elects New Managing Partner, Delegates Some Roles Held by Chairman

Master — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:06:07 +0000

As part of its succession planning, Troutman Sanders has announced leadership changes that include electing a new firmwide managing partner, Stephen E. Lewis, effective Jan 1.

Toyota to Pay Record Fine; Temporary Lead Counsel Appointed

admin — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 07:34:11 +0000

While denying it violated safety regulations, Toyota agreed Monday to pay a record $16.4 million fine that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration imposed this month after finding Toyota waited four months to report acceleration defects. The payment could bolster claims that Toyota committed fraud and racketeering and aid plaintiffs attorneys in obtaining discovery. A federal judge overseeing nearly 200 lawsuits filed against Toyota has appointed four lawyers as temporary lead counsel for all the cases.

2nd Circuit Panel Weighs Whether Lawyers, Others Can Challenge Wiretaps

admin — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:37:00 +0000

The ability of lawyers, reporters and human rights activists to challenge the government’s overseas wiretapping law depends on persuading a federal appeals court they have been sufficiently injured to have standing. The 2nd Circuit on Friday questioned Jameel Jaffer of the ACLU on whether lawyers and others who communicate with people overseas on sensitive matters have well-founded fears that their conversations are being recorded under recent amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

N.Y. Lawyers Charged in $10 Million Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Master — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 05:41:37 +0000

Three New York City attorneys were charged Tuesday with participating in a $10 million mortgage fraud scheme.

Chadbourne’s Recruiting No Relief for Associates Whose Job Offers Were Rescinded

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:27:58 +0000

Chadbourne & Parke last month rescinded job offers to 11 of 28 associates whose start dates were pushed back — “not something we took lightly at all,” said the firm’s head of recruiting. Despite the cuts, the firm plans in August to return to law school campuses to recruit, a prospect some of the deferred associates now out of a job call unfair.

Privilege Trumps Company E-Mail Surveillance

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 08:27:57 +0000

Ruling unanimously in Stengart v. Loving Care Agency Inc., the New Jersey Supreme Court on Tuesday gave workers an assurance of privacy in using workplace computers to communicate with their lawyers, ruling a company’s e-mail monitoring policy yields to the attorney-client privilege.