Judge OKs punitives in high-profile discrimination case; jury could award Ellen Pao as much as $160M

As closing arguments loom in a high-profile Silicon Valley employment discrimination case brought by a former BigLaw associate, a judge’s ruling has increased the pressure on the defendant. Ellen Pao, who testified that she had wanted $10 million to settle with Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers before trial and is…

Mar 23, 2015 1:05 PM CDT

Lewis Brisbois raids Kutak Rock to open in Wichita; 8 of 9 lawyers join the Los Angeles firm

Los Angeles-based Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith has raided Kutak Rock to open a new office in Wichita, Kansas. Only one of the firm’s nine attorneys there is remaining with Omaha-based 500-attorney Kutak, and he will be moving to a new office, reports the Wichita Eagle. The eight others joined…

Mar 16, 2015 3:55 PM CDT

Are Lyft and Uber drivers employees? Juries will decide

Operators of the popular Lyft and Uber ride-sharing smartphone applications say drivers who use their own private vehicles to transport passengers who find them via the apps are independent contractors. But federal judges in two separate San Francisco class actions against the companies aren’t so sure, reports the Los Angeles…

Mar 16, 2015 9:07 AM CDT

Lawyer not liable in slaying of PI killed while trying to serve divorce papers, top state court says

A Virginia lawyer had no special duty to warn a private investigator he retained to serve divorce papers. Hence, the attorney is not liable in the Pi’s slaying, even though the attorney knew the target of the divorce was armed and had been told the target was “behaving strangely,” the…

Mar 10, 2015 4:00 PM CDT

Ellen Pao testifies to wanting $10M to settle Kleiner Perkins discrimination case

Did being left off emails, forced to listen to colleagues chat about porn and the Playboy Mansion during business travel and being left out of a dinner held in her own building for Vice President Al Gore help form a significant barrier to an ex-BigLaw associate’s career at a storied…

Mar 10, 2015 3:00 PM CDT

Which 5 law firms made Fortune’s list of best places to work?

Five law firms earned spots on Fortune magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. The same law firms made the list last year, along with a sixth, Bingham McCutchen, which “recently went bust,” Above the Law points out. Among the others, Cooley gained the most in the…

Mar 9, 2015 5:45 AM CDT

National labor firm raids Littler and Ogletree, opens new offices in Denver and New York

Atlanta-based Constangy Brooks & Smith has raided two well-known labor and employment firms and some BigLaw competitors, gaining 12 attorneys, two new offices and an additional name partner in the process. Don Prophete, who practices in Kansas City, will be the new name on the marquee for the nearly 160-attorney…

Mar 5, 2015 1:50 PM CST

Former prosecutor claims she was paid less than new hires due to gender bias

A former assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, claims in a lawsuit that she was fired after complaining she was paid less than some new hires with less experience. Christina Corda says she began to complain to her supervisor in March 2014 about the low salary paid to her…

Mar 5, 2015 10:33 AM CST

Gender bias is an issue in worker’s comp awards, some say; legislation proposed

A system of apportioning responsibility for employee workplace injuries, which took effect in California about a decade ago, is being applied in a way that demonstrates gender bias, some observers say. For example, a female police officer who has a double mastectomy for breast cancer linked to hazardous materials related…

Mar 4, 2015 9:50 AM CST

Former partner with Asperger’s alleges bonus bias, solicitation of prostitutes by colleague

A former law firm partner with Asperger’s syndrome alleges in a lawsuit that his firm, Patterson & Sheridan, failed to curb discriminatory actions by one partner while overlooking the conduct of another who solicited prostitutes while at the office. The plaintiff, John Carey, worked at the Palo Alto, California, office…

Mar 2, 2015 6:15 AM CST

Lawyer’s claustrophobia ADA suit survives motion to dismiss

A Philadelphia lawyer who claimed her law firm failed to accommodate her claustrophobia may proceed with her lawsuit, a federal judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Berle Schiller refused to dismiss the disability suit against the law firm Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin, the Legal Intelligencer (sub. req.) reports.…

Mar 2, 2015 5:45 AM CST

Why lead guitarist of Blind Melon left music for labor and employment law

As the guitarist for alternative rock band Blind Melon, Rogers Stevens spent years headlining venues and festivals around the world, recording albums and living his childhood dream.

Mar 1, 2015 6:19 AM CST

ABA Health Law Section task force is helping breast cancer patients

Mar 1, 2015 2:00 AM CST

Federal judge: NFL commissioner and arbitrator erred in suspending ex-Vikings player Adrian Peterson

Agreeing with the NFL Players Union that a new personal conduct policy for the football league did not apply retroactively, a federal judge on Thursday said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and an arbitrator erred by indefinitely suspending Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson last year over his misdemeanor child-abuse conviction.…

Feb 26, 2015 1:40 PM CST

Did local defense attorney’s criticism spark governor’s unusual firing of top prosecutor?

A longtime prosecutor says she was fired Sunday by Alaska’s governor in a move that news reports suggest may be unprecedented. No specifc reason was given by newly elected Gov. Bill Walker, who himself is an attorney with expertise in oil and gas matters, for forcing Bethel District Attorney June…

Feb 25, 2015 12:25 PM CST