Ethics

Howrey Conflict Alleged

A company that owns several patents is seeking to disqualify Howrey from representing a defendant it sued for infringement. San Francisco company Friskit Inc. says in a May 25 motion that it met with lawyers from Howrey’s East Palo Alto, Calif., office in January to discuss hiring the firm to…

Jun 5, 2007 1:32 PM CDT

Expressing Their Interest

Rise in rates swells IOLTA, and legal services gain

Jun 5, 2007 8:36 AM CDT

What You Can Do—or Not

Bar against communicating with adverse parties doesn’t apply to inside counsel

Jun 5, 2007 8:12 AM CDT

Disbarred—but Not Barred from Work

In some states, disciplined lawyers can still work as paralegals or clerks

Jun 5, 2007 7:57 AM CDT

DUI Prosecutor’s Drunk Driving Death a Hard Lesson for Profession

The recent drunk driving death of a renowned Chicago area prosecutor is a hard lesson for the legal profession – and a number of those who could learn from it haven’t necessarily done so. Too often, those in charge of enforcing the law against others don’t apply it to themselves.…

Jun 4, 2007 11:15 PM CDT

Penn. Attorney Disbarred in Delaware

A Pennsylvania attorney has been disbarred in Delaware, even though she was never admitted to practice there and maintains a law office in Pennsylvania. That’s because Valerie J. Glover, who lives in Delaware, “did everything short of appearing in Delaware courts, and engaged Delaware attorneys as co-counsel only if she…

Jun 4, 2007 8:44 PM CDT

Fen-Phen Plaintiffs Seek Curlin Victory

Plaintiffs who claim their lawyers defrauded them out of money due in a pharmaceutical settlement are betting that a horse will help them recover some of the money. Lawyers William J. Gallion and Shirley A. Cunningham Jr. paid $57,000 to buy a one-fifth interest in Curlin, the horse that won…

Jun 4, 2007 2:43 PM CDT

Best Buy Lawyer Says He Altered Documents

An outside attorney defending Best Buy in a consumer class action has admitted he altered discovery documents in the case, prompting his law firm to file a withdrawal motion. Timothy Block reported his actions to the Minnesota Board of Professional Responsibility and is on medical leave for stress and depression,…

Jun 4, 2007 1:42 PM CDT

PD on the Defense for ‘Sham’ Marriage

A former chief public defender in St. Louis was indicted today on charges he arranged a “sham marriage” so that his boyfriend could stay in the United States. Prosecutors announced the indictment, which was reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The former PD, Eric Affholter, 40, and his live-in boyfriend…

Jun 2, 2007 1:27 AM CDT

Law Prof: AG Testimony an Ethics Issue?

Just as a number of commentators were saying that U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales seemed to be recovering from the controversy over his management of the Justice Department, a new issue has arisen. Based on the testimony last week of his former senior counsel, Monica Goodling, before the Senate Judiciary…

May 31, 2007 5:38 PM CDT

Lawyer in Deep Fryer Over ‘Happy Meal’ Quip

A lawyer who said a bankruptcy judge was “a few french fries short of a Happy Meal” is being ordered to defend his right to practice in her federal court. William P. Smith, a partner with McDermott Will & Emery based in Chicago, made the statement before Judge Laurel Myerson…

May 31, 2007 1:32 PM CDT

Undisclosed Court Papers Trouble Critics

The federal clerk’s office for the Southern District of Florida did not post key documents to its Web site in a case involving Miami attorney Louis Robles. First Amendment advocates are troubled by the omission, which apparently violated rules of the U.S. Judicial Conference, according to the Daily Business Review.…

May 30, 2007 2:05 PM CDT

World’s First Publicly Owned Law Firm is Growing

A little more than a week after reportedly becoming the world’s first publicly owned law firm, Australia’s Slater & Gordon is already adding to its attorney roster. The growth move by the Melbourne-based personal injury firm, which is bringing into its fold a Brisbane boutique specializing in military compensation, follows…

May 30, 2007 12:08 PM CDT

Ex-Judge Jailed in Child-Support Case

A former Brooklyn judge has been jailed for failing to pay nearly $270,000 in child support. Reynold Mason, who was ousted from the bench for taking funds from a client’s escrow account, was led out of the Manhattan courtroom on Thursday in handcuffs, according to the Associated Press. He had…

May 29, 2007 5:36 PM CDT

Pakistan Crisis: Lawyers Strike; Court Aide Shot

A worsening crisis in Pakistan over the country’s judicial independence reportedly included a nationwide strike by the legal community and general strikes that shut down major cities on Monday. Following violence over the weekend that each side blamed on the other, 2,500 lawyers rallied in Lahore against the government of…

May 14, 2007 4:19 PM CDT