5th Circuit: Law firm sued for libel over website seeking clients isn’t protected by SLAPP statute

Agreeing with a trial court that statements made by a Texas law firm on a website seeking legal clients are commercial speech, a federal appeals court has ruled that the firm and two partners must defend a defamation claim made by a national dental firm that was an intended litigation…

Mar 18, 2014 5:55 PM CDT

TV’s Judge Judy files first lawsuit, says law firm used her name and photo in ads without her OK

Famed television judge Judith Scheindlin says she has never filed a lawsuit before. But “Judge Judy” said she felt she had no choice but to do so when a Connecticut law firm used her name and photo on television and Internet advertising despite her long-standing decision not to endorse products…

Mar 12, 2014 9:34 PM CDT

Man sues moistened-wipes makers over plumbing bills; defendant stands by product’s ‘flushability’

A New York dentist apparently missed news reports that so-called flushable wipes are responsible for massive “fatberg” formations in a number of municipal sewer systems. However, Dr. Joseph Kurtz is now seeking redress in federal court in Brooklyn, contending that manufacturers’ false claims that moistened wipes can be safely flushed…

Mar 4, 2014 7:35 PM CST

Firm challenges Florida Bar over website ad limits

Mar 1, 2014 9:49 AM CST

Lawyer censured for buying keywords for other lawyers and law firms

A North Carolina lawyer has been censured for an Internet ad campaign in which he allegedly bought keywords for the names of other lawyers, law firms and judicial officials. David Turlington III of Boone continued to buy the keywords even after a 2012 North Carolina ethics opinion deemed the practice…

Feb 27, 2014 11:45 AM CST

Michael Jordan congratulatory ad was commercial speech, 7th Circuit rules

Michael Jordan. landmarkmedia / Shutterstock.com A grocery chain’s ad congratulating former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan on his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame is commercial speech subject to reduced First Amendment protection, a federal appeals court has ruled. The decision by the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of…

Feb 21, 2014 1:24 PM CST

Insurer had duty to defend ‘Heavy Hitter’ law firm in deceptive advertising case, federal judge says

A malpractice exclusion in a law firm’s director’s and officer’s liability insurance policy did not excuse the carrier from providing a defense in a lawsuit against the firm over its alleged deceptive advertising, a federal judge has ruled. Finding that the exclusion, as interpreted by the insurer, would largely eliminate…

Feb 18, 2014 6:45 PM CST

Estate of James Dean sues Twitter and fan over @JamesDean account

Iconic actor James Dean, best-known for his leading role in Rebel Without a Cause, has been dead for decades. So there’s scant likelihood that those following the Twitter account @JamesDean think they’re dealing with the real silver screen legend. However, the actor’s estate has sued the anonymous owner of the…

Feb 11, 2014 4:50 PM CST

Georgia Bar president critical of local lawyer’s ‘over the top’ Super Bowl ad

While some, including Advertising Week, loved the Superbowl ad Jamie Casino ran locally, telling his story with pyrotechnics, tales of a dead brother and even a Bible quote, the State Bar of Georgia president felt differently. In a letter published by the Daily Report, Charles Ruffin wrote that “most members”…

Feb 10, 2014 9:15 PM CST

SCOTUS to decide if Pom Wonderful may challenge competitor’s label under federal law

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider Pom Wonderful’s right to challenge the labeling of a Coca-Cola juice product under federal trademark law. Pom claimed Coca-Cola’s pomegranate blueberry juice consisted mainly of apple and grape juice, report Reuters and the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.). At issue is whether…

Jan 13, 2014 3:20 PM CST

Law firm sues Florida Bar over rules restricting what legal websites and blog posts can say

A law firm has sued the Florida Bar and several of its officials, claiming that its legal ethics rules restricting law firm website content and what can be said in blog posts by attorneys are unconstitutional. Filed Wednesday in federal court in Tallahassee by Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley…

Dec 13, 2013 9:00 PM CST

Infomercial king Kevin Trudeau guilty of contempt for violating FTC consent decree

A federal jury in Chicago has reached a verdict almost immediately after a trial concluded Tuesday in a criminal contempt case against a diet book author and television infomercial king. Kevin Trudeau, 50, is guilty of violating a decade-old consent decree with the Federal Trade Commission over his marketing of…

Nov 12, 2013 9:29 PM CST

Virginia Supreme Court holds that advertising rules may be applied to a lawyer’s blog

Nov 1, 2013 7:30 AM CDT

NYC agrees to ban tobacco sales to those under 21

A planned New York City ban on supersize sugary drinks was nixed by the judicial branch. However, the city council on Wednesday passed what was described as life-saving legislation to ban sales of tobacco products to those under 21. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has said he will sign the bill,…

Oct 31, 2013 8:15 PM CDT

Referral site that connects clients with lawyers instantly, online or by phone, raises $690K

Lawdingo, a new lawyer referral service offering a “get a call now” feature that puts potential clients in touch with subscribers instantly, recently received $690,000 in angel investor funding. That brings total funding from investors up to $850,000, TechCrunch.com reports. In March, LawDingo founder Nikhil Nirmel announced that his company…

Oct 30, 2013 7:15 PM CDT