Afternoon Briefs: Top state court rejects election appeal; judge allows lawyer’s bias suit against bank
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Wisconsin turns down direct appeal in election lawsuit
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Trump campaign could not challenge election results in that court without first taking the case to a trial judge. The suit seeks to invalidate more than 200,000 votes. (Bloomberg Law, the New York Times)
Judge allows Black lawyer’s bias suit against bank
U.S. District Judge Tom Barber of the Middle District of Florida has refused to toss a lawsuit by a Black lawyer who alleges that a Wells Fargo branch manager called him the N-word when he was trying to open a new business account. Barber allowed the suit by Benndrick Charles Watson but rejected a section titled “Banking While Black at Wells Fargo.” Barber also rejected Wells Fargo’s assertion that Watson’s amended complaint was “obvious gamesmanship” because it characterized an isolated incident as racial bias by the corporation. (Law360)
Lawyer withdraws from Rittenhouse case
California lawyer John Pierce of Pierce Bainbridge has withdrawn from the criminal case against Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois teen accused of fatally shooting two people during protests in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Pierce tweeted his withdrawal after prosecutors told the court that he is apparently in debt, and his fundraising “provides ample opportunity for self-dealing and fraud.” Pierce said he would instead represent Rittenhouse in all civil matters, including potential defamation suits. Donations are being made to the #FightBack Foundation, which raised bail for the teen and is supporting election litigation. Pierce has said he stepped down from the foundation’s board to avoid any conflicts. (The Chicago Tribune, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
2 law firms make pay restoration retroactive
Two more law firms are retroactively restoring pay that had been cut during the COVID-19 pandemic. Loeb & Loeb will retroactively restore pay that had been cut between April 15 and Sept. 30. Previously, the firm had restored pay retroactive to Oct. 1. Squire Patton Boggs will retroactively restore pay that was cut from May through September. (Law.com, Above the Law)
