Ethics

Leniency Pleas for Judge Who Jailed 46 Over Ringing Cell Phone

A state commission on judicial conduct has recommended removal from office for a New York municipal jurist who jailed 46 people in what it terms “two hours of inexplicable madness” over a ringing cell phone. But amicus briefs from legal, judicial and civic groups are piling up in the case,…

Feb 20, 2008 8:07 PM CST

City Attorney’s Top Assistant Says Bar Probe May Be Political

The top assistant to San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre said yesterday that a California bar investigation of his boss might be politically motivated. Don McGrath, Aguirre’s top assistant, said yesterday that “somebody’s pressuring” the bar’s lead investigator to move ahead with the probe, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. “I…

Feb 20, 2008 6:21 PM CST

Disbarred Lawyer Freed on Bond, Awaits Retrial in Murder of Partner

A disbarred lawyer has been freed on $100,000 bond as he awaits retrial in the murder of his law partner. Former Kansas City, Mo., lawyer Richard Buchli III had been convicted in the death of his partner, Richard Armitage, in 2002, but an appeals court reversed the conviction because prosecutors…

Feb 20, 2008 2:06 PM CST

Fla. Law Firm Criticized for Collection Efforts Against Accused Shoplifters

A Florida law firm helps retailers discourage shoplifting by sending civil recovery letters to those who are caught, prompting criticism and complaints to the Florida bar. The Florida firm, Palmer Reifler & Associates, is one of several law firms and collection agencies that send such letters. The missives often threaten…

Feb 20, 2008 1:21 PM CST

Ex- Covington & Burling Lawyer Disbarred for Stealing Antiques

A former staff lawyer at Covington & Burling has been disbarred after she pleaded guilty to stealing antiques in two separate cases. Faith Ruderfer, who is 51, said in a statement that she went “downhill” as she reached midlife, when she began suffering from an undiagnosed lack of impulse control…

Feb 20, 2008 11:41 AM CST

New Issues for Lawyer Who ‘Worked’ 1,286 Days in One Year

Updated: A New York lawyer who reportedly was simultaneously listed as a full-time employee of five Long Island school districts for which he worked as legal counsel is seeing some fallout over a newspaper article about the situation. Lawrence Reich, 67, has now been suspended and asked to resign by…

Feb 19, 2008 7:07 PM CST

Client v. Law Firm: Judge Denies Withdrawal Motion in Med-Mal Case

Arguing her position pro se, a woman has persuaded a Suffolk County, N.Y., judge not to allow a Manhattan law firm to bow of out her ongoing medical malpractice case. The firm, Mirman, Markovitz & Landau, had sought the court’s permission to withdraw, contending that “the attorney-client relationship is at…

Feb 19, 2008 4:22 PM CST

Vote to End Jury Deadlock May Cost Attorney His Law License

A San Francisco attorney is facing potential disbarment because while serving on a jury in 2004, he reportedly cast the deciding vote to end a deadlock simply so that he could return to his law practice. Earlier this month, a State Bar Court judge in California recommended that Francis Fahy…

Feb 19, 2008 4:02 PM CST

Ex-GC Argues Memo Shows Wilson Sonsini Backdating Knowledge

The former general counsel for KLA-Tencor Corp. argues that a memo she wrote to a name partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati shows the law firm either approved or did not object to backdated stock options grants. Lawyers for Lisa Berry say the memo shows she wasn’t aware of…

Feb 19, 2008 2:23 PM CST

Houston DA Resigns to Stop Probe, Cites Prescription Drug Impairment

Embattled Houston District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal has agreed to resign to stop an investigation into improper use of office computers. His resignation letter says his judgment was impaired by prescription drug use. “Although I have enjoyed excellent medical and pharmacological treatment, I have come to learn that the particular combination…

Feb 19, 2008 12:41 PM CST

Paul Hastings Seeks to Settle Suit Alleging Legal Work Aided ‘Ponzi Scheme’

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker is seeking to settle a lawsuit that contends the law firm should have been aware that the billboard company it was advising was selling investments that were nothing more than a Ponzi scheme. The suit contends the law firm helped the company, Mobile Billboards of…

Feb 19, 2008 12:06 PM CST

One Former Bill Lerach Law Firm Scarcely Misses a Step

In a recent discussion of leading plaintiffs firms filing class actions related to the subprime mortgage crisis, what Wall Street Journal Law Blog described as “San Diego-based plaintiffs powerhouse Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins” received prominent mention. Not mentioned at all in the post was the firm’s former name…

Feb 15, 2008 11:16 PM CST

Lawyer Who ‘Worked’ 1,286 Days in a Year: ‘Common Practice’

Updated: A lawyer who was reported as simultaneously working as a full-time employee for five different Long Island school districts in order to qualify for a government pension and other benefits says such arrangements were common practice. Lawrence W. Reich actually was in private practice and representing the five districts…

Feb 15, 2008 10:40 PM CST

Plea Deal: Miami City Attorney Resigns, Gets 1 Year Probation

Following criticism last year over his lavish spending of city money on municipal legal perks, Miami’s city attorney has agreed to resign and plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of making false official statements. Jorge Fernandez is to receive one year of probation under a plea deal that concludes a…

Feb 15, 2008 6:28 PM CST

Ga. Bar Probes Reports of Lawyer Solicitation Following Refinery Blast

The State Bar of Georgia is checking out complaints that lawyers personally solicited business from victims of last week’s explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery. The Associated Press reports that many residents who live near the refinery are “disgusted by the audacity of lawyers trying to round up clients.” Some…

Feb 15, 2008 2:57 PM CST