Afternoon Briefs: Trump agrees he makes AG Barr's job difficult; fired BigLaw lawyer denies harassment
President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.
Trump agrees he makes Barr’s job difficult but keeps tweeting
President Donald Trump acknowledged Tuesday that his tweets make U.S. Attorney General William Barr’s job more difficult, even as he continued to share opinions on how the Department of Justice should do its job. On Twitter on Wednesday, Trump shared the views of conservatives who said Barr should “clean house” and target those involved in the probe of Russian election influence. The tweets followed Barr’s assertion last week that Trump’s tweets “make it impossible for me to do my job and to assure the courts and the prosecutors in the department that we’re doing our work with integrity.” Barr reportedly told people close to Trump that he is considering resigning over the tweets, according to a Washington Post report. A DOJ spokesman responded in a tweet that the attorney general has no plans to resign. (The Washington Post here and here, USA Today, Fox News)
Ex-BigLaw lawyer says relationship with plaintiff was consensual
A fired lawyer at Fox Rothschild says he had a consensual relationship with a former administrative assistant who sued him and the law firm for alleged sexual harassment. Former Fox Rothschild counsel Ian Siminoff made the assertion in a motion to dismiss. The law firm also filed a dismissal motion. Among their arguments: The plaintiff, Stephanie Jones, filed some of her claims too late; her claims are unsupported by law; and New York is the wrong venue for the case. (Law360)
Chicago-Kent building will be named after BARBRI founder
The building that houses the Chicago-Kent College of Law is being named in honor of Richard J. Conviser, the founder of a bar review course now known as BARBRI and a long-time professor at the school. An unveiling ceremony for the Conviser Law Center will happen April 22, according to a news release. Conviser, who teaches business law, started the bar review Institute when he was a Baker & McKenzie associate. Over the years, Conviser has given more than $12 million to the law school. (Chicago-Kent press release)
Class claims dropped in ‘mommy track’ suit against Morrison & Foerster
Two lawyers who alleged that Morrison & Foerster discriminates against lawyer moms have dropped their class action claims. Morrison & Foerster chairman Larren Nashelsky told the American Lawyer that the dropped claims are “a clear indication that there’s no supporting fact pattern of any of the systemic issues of gender discrimination that they’ve alleged.” But a lawyer for the plaintiffs said their position on the facts hasn’t changed. Rather, they are “pursuing their individual claims based on strategic considerations,” said the lawyer, Sanford Heisler partner Andrew Melzer, in a statement to the American Lawyer. The law firm also alleged that the plaintiffs failed to meet expectations, and there was no discrimination. Five other women who alleged “mommy track” discrimination have settled their claims against the law firm. (The American Lawyer)
