Lawyr.Org

Calif. Bar Proposes New Rule Cracking Down on Resignations

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:38 +0000

A disciplinary committee of the State Bar of California is proposing a new rule that would require attorneys to face perjury charges if, in voluntarily resigning, they fail to state any criminal charges or convictions against them. The proposal comes after an attorney in La Mesa, Calif., was alleged to have failed to report a guilty plea in his submission to voluntarily resign from the State Bar. The attorney pleaded guilty in February to possessing child pornography and resigned from the Bar in May.

General

DOJ Seeks Lawyers for Guantanamo Cases

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:35 +0000

At the time of the Supreme Court's landmark decision in three weeks ago, the Justice Department had four lawyers devoted to handling about 250 Guantanamo Bay habeas cases. But now that the high court has cleared the way for detainees to challenge their captivity in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Justice is trying to fatten its team to 50 lawyers -- half of whom would be assigned to clean up or augment the government's evidence.

Ohio Supreme Court Disbars County Judge

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:32 +0000

In a move rare in Ohio and across the country, the Ohio Supreme Court on Thursday disbarred a county judge accused of money laundering and other ethics violations. With the court's action, Highland County Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey Hoskins becomes the first sitting judge in modern judicial history in Ohio to be removed from the bench. Hoskins' misconduct "caused incalculable harm to the public perception of the judiciary and attorneys," a unanimous Supreme Court concluded.

Plaintiffs Score With E-Mail Evidence in Multidistrict Price-Fixing Case

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:30 +0000

What began as a class certification hearing on one of five national, high-tech price-fixing cases pending in San Francisco became a big score for plaintiffs after the judge asked what evidence they had of a conspiracy, then read aloud an e-mail by competing executives that suggests how to keep prices high, and noted, "That's not good for the defense." The suit combines at least 51 antitrust actions against Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices/ATI Technologies over the pricing of graphics processing units.

3rd Circuit Asks Pa. High Court to Clarify Accountant Liability

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:27 +0000

In a case that could broadly impact liability of accounting firms in corporate cases, the 3rd Circuit has asked the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to answer questions regarding the doctrine of in pari delicto. At issue is whether the creditors' committee in the massive Allegheny Health, Education and Research Foundation hospital bankruptcy can bring claims against PricewaterhouseCoopers. The 3rd Circuit's order suggests that it might be leaning in favor of allowing claims against PwC to be revived.

Lawyers Face New Trial Over Fen-Phen Settlement

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:24 +0000

Two lawyers accused of defrauding their clients in a diet-drug settlement of $65 million were sent back to jail Thursday after a jury deadlocked and a federal judge declared a mistrial. The jury had considered the case against suspended lawyers William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr. for eight days, and twice in two days sent out notes indicating it was stumped. A third defendant, Melbourne Mills Jr., was acquitted earlier. All faced a single charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

And Now, Some Good News About the Legal Job Market

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:22 +0000

Is it possible that the legal job market is finally getting better? That's the suggestion from Thursday's unemployment report from the Labor Department. After suffering three months of job losses, the legal industry saw employment nudge up slightly with an addition of 300 people, a 0.3 percent increase. It's not a huge climb, to be sure, but for associates and legal staffers worried about their jobs, the news could provide some relief.

ITV’s Legal Chief Broadcasts Change

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:19 +0000

ITV's new legal chief Andrew Garard has already hit the ground running, ushering in internal changes, beginning an adviser review and facing a baptism of fire thanks to the broadcaster's Ofcom investigation. Garard's role as a hands-on counsel, involved in the business of the broadcaster, is indicative of a new breed of legal chiefs aiming to take a broader role within their employer rather than a narrowly defined legal brief.

A Revolution in Online Legal Content

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:16 +0000

As summer associates struggle to answer obscure research questions over the next couple of months, they may find an answer to their late-night prayers in JD Supra, a free online service that provides access to legal documents including memoranda, briefs and unpublished court decisions.

‘McNulty Memo’ Triggers an Ultimatum

Law.com - Newswire — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:56:13 +0000

The battle over the Justice Department's policy on waiver of attorney-client privilege in corporate probes seems to be heating up. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy has issued an ultimatum to the Justice Department to change its policy, threatening to resort to "legislative options." A week ago, Sen. Arlen Specter reintroduced his bill to change the policy, and a coalition of business, civil rights and defense groups is pushing for legislation, which it says is the only practical option.