International Courts/Tribunals

Was Same Gun Used to Kill Judge, Human Rights Attorney & Journalist?

The same handgun that was used to kill a Russian judge outside his Moscow home this week also was the weapon used to murder a human rights attorney and a journalist last year, a lawyer contends. The latest slaying reportedly could be a contract hit related to Moscow City Court…

Apr 14, 2010 5:11 PM CDT

While Winning $1.25B in Bet-the-Farm Case, Lead Trial Lawyers Also Were Divorcing Each Other

As one of the top trial lawyers in California, partner Linda Smith of O’Melveny & Myers was an obvious choice to work on a major antitrust case against Intel Corp. on behalf of Advanced Micro Devices Inc. And so was her husband, O’Melveny partner and litigation star Chuck Diamond. The…

Apr 13, 2010 8:54 PM CDT

Russian Judge Shot to Death at Home in Possible Contract Hit Over His Work

A Russian judge was shot to death today on the stairwell of his Moscow apartment in what authorities are saying was a killing apparently linked to his work on the bench. Moscow City Court Judge Eduard Chuvashov, 47, had just last week finished imposing 10- to 20-year sentences on the…

Apr 12, 2010 4:54 PM CDT

International Arbitration Loses Its Grip

Are U.S. lawyers to blame?

Apr 1, 2010 9:30 AM CDT

I Just E-Mailed a Friend, US Lawyer Charged in Dubai Corporate Info Case Tells ABA Journal

A U.S. lawyer criminally charged in Dubai with leaking information about his corporate employer says he simply e-mailed a friend from work a couple of times about what was going on in his life, including a job search. But there is no way that anyone reading the e-mail he sent…

Apr 1, 2010 12:31 AM CDT

US Lawyer Charged in Dubai, Accused of Revealing Employer’s Corporate Info

Updated: An American lawyer has been criminally charged in Dubai for allegedly revealing inside information about his corporate employer, a property investment company owned by the country’s ruler. The attorney, who is identified only as “JC,” 37, is accused of revealing financial and market information about Meraas Holdings in order…

Mar 31, 2010 6:26 PM CDT

Newzbin Is Liable for Downloading, Court Rules

A United Kingdom court has ruled that Newzbin is liable for material downloaded by users onto its website in violation of copyright law, finding that editors assisted them in flouting the law and routinely did not follow purported Newzbin rules about what could be posted on the site. The website,…

Mar 29, 2010 5:27 PM CDT

Much-Watched Case of Heiress Worth $80M Could Change Law in World ‘Divorce Capital’

Considered the divorce capital of the world, London poses pitfalls for wealthy spouses who thought their assets were protected in divorce by prenuptial agreements. Courts in the United Kingdom will void provisions in these agreements if they are unfair or the less-wealthy spouse wasn’t properly represented by legal counsel. And…

Mar 26, 2010 12:00 AM CDT

Closing Attorney Gets Time in $2.4M Case, But Lawyer in $669K ‘Hedonistic’ Theft Avoids Prison

A former Georgia closing attorney and title agent who concealed the fact that prior encumbrances weren’t paid off before mortgages were issued in 17 transactions has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. Trent Edward Wright, 38, must also serve three years of probation after he is released and…

Mar 15, 2010 6:11 PM CDT

Ex-Clients Sue Carlsmith for $25M, Claim Firm Sold Out Minority Owners in Hotel Deal

One of Hawaii’s oldest and best-known law firms has been sued for malpractice by former clients seeking $25 million in compensatory and punitive damages. While representing both majority and minority shareholders concerning the 2004 sale of a hotel in Saipan, the Honolulu-based Carlsmith Ball firm negotiated a deal that benefited…

Mar 6, 2010 12:05 AM CST

Lower Legal Fees in Defamation Suits Could Dull Luster of UK Libel Mecca

A plan to cut hefty “success” fees paid by losing parties to libel lawyers in Britain could help level the playing field by reducing what the Justice Secretary terms “disproportionate” legal bills. Under the proposal, which is set to take effect in April, fees could be cut as much as…

Mar 3, 2010 11:51 PM CST

Apple’s Legal Strategy in HTC Suit Examined

A lawsuit filed by Apple on Tuesday against mobile handset maker HTC created an Internet sensation, prompting widespread speculation on what would happen if Apple prevails and wins an injunction against further production of Google Android phones, including the Nexus One. “Given the enormity of HTC and the rapidly growing…

Mar 3, 2010 12:16 PM CST

Walking Dog from Car Costs British Man His Driver’s License

Tom Hanks did it in Turner and Hooch. But, as with other movie stunts, walking a dog from the driver’s seat can be more dangerous than it seems when tried at home. A 23-year-old man who did it on a rainy day, on a country lane in the United Kingdom,…

Mar 2, 2010 8:14 PM CST

‘Harry Potter’ Author Accused of Plagiarism in ‘Billion-Dollar Case’

The estate of the deceased author of a children’s book has accused the author of the stunningly successful “Harry Potter” books of plagiarizing concepts and themes from Adrian Jacobs’ The Adventures of Willy the Wizard: No 1 Livid Land, which was published in 1987. J.K. Rowling, who became the world’s…

Feb 19, 2010 1:04 AM CST

Swiss to Take Vote on Whether Animals Must Have Lawyers in Court

On the cutting edge of animal-rights law, voters in Switzerland are poised to consider a ballot measure that would require each of the country’s cantons (in effect, states) to appoint an attorney to represent the interests of pets and farm creatures in court. The country already is known for its…

Feb 18, 2010 9:29 PM CST