Ethics

TV’s Judge Alex Defends Testimony Based on Real-Life Judging

The Florida Supreme Court criticized television’s “Judge Alex” in an opinion released yesterday, saying he should not have testified for a Miami man who survived torture and kidnapping. But the judge, Alex Ferrer, told the Miami Herald the court was unaware his 1999 testimony was compelled by a subpoena. “They…

Feb 15, 2008 2:31 PM CST

McDermott Ordered to Pay Attorney Fees for ‘Abuse of Advocacy’

A federal judge in Colorado has ordered McDermott Will & Emery and one of its clients to pay the legal fees of an opponent in a patent infringement case because of “abuse of advocacy.” U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch chastised two McDermott lawyers, Terrence McMahon and Vera Elson, in his…

Feb 15, 2008 12:57 PM CST

Grand Jurors Sue for OK to Talk About Texas Supreme Court Justice’s Case

In a highly unusual move, six members of a 12-person grand jury that indicted a Texas Supreme Court justice are suing the county prosecutor and the state for permission to talk about the evidence they considered in the controversial case. Ordinarily, grand jury proceedings are secret. But the grand jurors…

Feb 14, 2008 7:07 PM CST

Duane Morris Wins $1.6M Malpractice Suit

Duane Morris has won a $1.6 million malpractice suit that accused it of failing to provide security in a settlement agreement negotiated for a former client. Philadelphia jurors ruled yesterday that the law firm did not breach any duty to ex-client Joseph Adlerstein, the Legal Intelligencer reports. Adlerstein collected only…

Feb 14, 2008 11:37 AM CST

After 20 Years of Unauthorized Practice, Prosecutor Gets Bar Probation

For 20 years, Gemma Graham didn’t comply with Minnesota’s continuing legal education requirements, yet continued to work as a county prosecutor even though her law license was on restricted status. Now, under a plea agreement, she has admitted that her conduct violated professional conduct rules, and the state supreme court…

Feb 13, 2008 8:11 PM CST

Las Vegas Family Court Judge Accused of Sexual Misconduct

A Las Vegas judge who hears adoption and domestic violence cases has been charged in an ethics complaint with sexually harassing an employee he first sexually abused when she was about 14 years old. The complaint against Nicholas Del Vecchio also alleges he used racial slurs, made sexually suggestive comments…

Feb 13, 2008 3:52 PM CST

Judge Denies Motion Citing Torture Policy Involvement as Reason for Recusal

A federal appeals judge has denied a motion that seeks his recusal in an excessive-force case on the ground that he cannot be fair because of his involvement in developing torture policy for the Bush administration. The motion contends that Judge Jay Bybee of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit…

Feb 13, 2008 3:14 PM CST

Lawyers Differ on Blame in $1.6M Duane Morris Malpractice Case

Lawyers for Duane Morris and a former client differed in closing arguments yesterday on who should be blamed for his inability to collect money promised in a settlement agreement. A lawyer for ex-client Joseph Adlerstein, who received only $200,000 under the $1.8 million settlement agreement, argued the law firm should…

Feb 13, 2008 1:40 PM CST

Suit Claims Title Insurers Paid Kickbacks; Trade Group Cites Lawyer, Broker Pressure

A lawsuit filed against four title insurance companies claims they colluded and paid illegal kickbacks to agents and brokers without disclosing the improper costs in state rate requests. But a spokesman for the industry says the scrutiny should instead be on brokers and lawyers who pressure the insurers for kickbacks.…

Feb 12, 2008 1:06 PM CST

Covington Represents Roger Clemens and MLB, to the Latter’s Annoyance

Covington & Burling agreed to represent pitcher Roger Clemens in the congressional inquiry into steroid use by sports figures even though the law firm also has Major League Baseball as a client. An American Lawyer article quotes an anonymous source who said the law firm did not get advance approval…

Feb 12, 2008 12:34 PM CST

‘Scrivener’ Closing Attorney Ruined By $19M Real Estate Fraud

Atlanta attorney R. Joseph Costanzo Jr. was a little fish in sea of bigtime mortgage fraud, according to his defense lawyer. But after two years of closing fraudulent real estate deals in the Atlanta area as part of a $19 million “flipping” scheme that reportedly involved at least 21 people,…

Feb 12, 2008 1:34 AM CST

Lerach Gets 2 Years in Claimed Milberg Weiss Kickbacks Case

A once-mighty partner at the nation’s biggest and best-known plaintiffs securities firm was given a two-year federal prison sentence today for his role in an alleged law firm scheme to pay $11.3 million in kickbacks to lead plaintiffs in securities class actions. In addition to the prison term, William Lerach,…

Feb 11, 2008 9:44 PM CST

ABA OKs Conditional Admission to Bar for Would-Be Lawyers with Addiction, Mental Problems

The ABA has adopted a model rule that would grant conditional admission to the practice of law to applicants who have experienced chemical dependency or mental health conditions that otherwise would have rendered the applicants unfit to practice law. The rule would grant conditional admission to such applicants who demonstrate…

Feb 11, 2008 8:03 PM CST

ABA Calls For Tighter Prosecution Ethics Rules

The ABA’s 555-member policy-making House of Delegates has called on states to amend their legal ethics rules to require prosecutors to disclose evidence creating a reasonable likelihood that a defendant did not commit the crime for which he or she was convicted, and to take steps to remedy such convictions.…

Feb 11, 2008 6:07 PM CST

Fla. Appeals Judge Faces New Charges Over Critique of Fellow Jurist in Opinion

Asked to explain why he had criticized a fellow appellate court jurist in a written opinion, Judge Michael E. Allen reportedly told the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission that he had no personal animosity against Judge Charles J. Kahn Jr. But the commission apparently didn’t believe Allen, and has now filed…

Feb 11, 2008 4:10 PM CST