A ‘disproportionate litigation offensive’ in lawyer’s remodeling dispute can justify lower fee, appeals court says

A lawyer who successfully sued his home remodeling contractor isn't entitled to full attorney fees requested because of a trial judge’s finding that he had overlitigated the matter, a California appeals court ruled Tuesday.

Mar 11, 2021 1:51 PM CST

Capacity limits on businesses can be a ‘direct physical loss’ covered by insurance, judge rules in bellwether cases

A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that pandemic-related business closings and capacity limits can qualify as a “direct physical loss” to property that is covered by "business interruption" policies.

Mar 4, 2021 9:54 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Judge blocks Biden’s deportation moratorium; Biden orders private prison phaseout

Federal judge blocks Biden’s deportation moratorium U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton of Texas has blocked President Joe Biden’s moratorium on many deportations. Tipton ruled Tuesday in a Texas lawsuit claiming that the 100-day moratorium violated a pact with the state by the Trump administration. Tipton said he was granting a…

Jan 26, 2021 4:38 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: AG official resigns after Capitol march robocall; 157 law deans condemn election lawyers

Official with AG group resigns after ‘stop the steal’ robocall Adam Piper, the executive director of the Republican Attorneys General Association, has resigned after the group’s fundraising arm urged supporters to march to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. “At 1:00 p.m., we will march to the Capitol building and…

Jan 13, 2021 4:40 PM CST

Legal departments cut outside spending, focus on managers and specialists, study shows

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed more legal departments to cut spending on outside counsel, according to a new report from global research and advisory firm Gartner Inc.

Dec 18, 2020 12:26 PM CST

Since the pandemic started, contract review software providers have raked in millions in funding

Dec 1, 2020 1:30 AM CST

2020 in review: Legal software for working remotely

2020 was my third year writing this legal technology column for the ABA Journal. When I put pen to paper—so to speak—to write my first column of the year back in January, I had no inkling of the upheaval and disruption that would soon befall our country and the world.

Nov 23, 2020 10:50 AM CST

Building for good: ABA construction lawyers give back to their communities

Building for Good was launched in October 2019 by members of the ABA Forum on Construction Law. Their mission is to offer construction lawyers more pro bono opportunities and relieve the financial burden on organizations that need construction law services.

Nov 23, 2020 8:50 AM CST

Firm sues for rent abatement; landlord decries law firms trying to ‘weasel out’ of commitments

Schulte Roth & Zabel has filed a $10 million lawsuit claiming that its Manhattan landlord failed to abide by lease provisions requiring rent abatement in an emergency.

Oct 29, 2020 12:14 PM CDT

BigLaw firm resolves pay bias claim over bonuses paid at predecessor firm

Locke Lord has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve allegations that a predecessor law firm discriminated against 22 female associates by paying them lower bonuses than their male colleagues.

Oct 6, 2020 10:54 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Barrett’s net worth, Trump’s quick decision revealed; Satanic Temple sues

Trump offered SCOTUS nomination to Barrett the same day he met with her President Donald Trump offered the U.S. Supreme Court nomination to Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Sept. 21, the same day that he met with her about the vacancy created by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg…

Sep 30, 2020 4:21 PM CDT

How contract review software can save your law firm time and money

This type of software is grounded in machine learning and natural language processing, and it assists lawyers in analyzing contracts for their clients more effectively and efficiently, saving tons of time and money, writes lawyer and author Nicole Black.

Sep 29, 2020 9:00 AM CDT

Fertility doctors used their sperm for pregnancies, contrary to patients’ wishes, 2 lawsuits allege

Two women learned from their children’s home DNA tests that fertility doctors fraudulently used their own sperm to impregnate them, according to lawsuits filed against the doctors Wednesday.

Sep 18, 2020 10:59 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 4th Circuit rules for transgender youth; tribe objects to execution

4th Circuit rules for transgender youth on bathroom policy The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Richmond, Virginia, has ruled for former high school student Gavin Grimm, a transgender youth who wanted to use a school restroom that matched his gender identity. The 4th Circuit said the Gloucester County,…

Aug 27, 2020 4:30 PM CDT

No takebacks? Settlement offer missing a zero can be withdrawn, appeals court says

A settlement offer for one-tenth of the intended amount can be rescinded after it was mistakenly sent to an insurer by a lawyer’s paralegal, a Florida appeals court has ruled.

Aug 20, 2020 11:26 AM CDT