New York

Ouster recommended for town justice accused of making ‘salacious jokes,’ identifying himself as judge in gas-station dispute

A town justice in New York should be removed from office partly for inappropriate comments to another judge and his court clerks, according to the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Jan 18, 2024 9:38 AM CST

Checkmate: BigLaw associate seeks chess master status

Opposing counsel may want to watch out for Rochelle Ballantyne, a first-year litigation associate at Sidley Austin and a longtime chess champ with a fierce competitive spirit.

Jan 17, 2024 8:19 AM CST

Paralegals’ suit claims First Amendment right to offer legal advice on court forms

Two paralegals and the North Carolina Justice for All Project say in a federal lawsuit they have a First Amendment right to give some kinds of legal advice.

Jan 9, 2024 2:21 PM CST

Former BigLaw partner gets suspension over side law practice

A former Crowell & Moring partner has been suspended in New York for running a side law practice in violation of his partnership agreement and for underreporting the side income to tax authorities.

Jan 9, 2024 8:59 AM CST

Civil fraud trial seeking independent monitor for NRA begins after CEO’s resignation, official’s $100K settlement

The civil fraud trial against the National Rifle Association and senior management was scheduled to begin in New York City on Monday, just days after NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation and another official reached a $100,000 settlement.

Jan 8, 2024 3:32 PM CST

Does Tide mislead consumers with ‘64 loads’ claim? Judge thinks not

A federal judge in New York criticized consumer lawyer Spencer Sheehan as she tossed his proposed class action lawsuit claiming that Tide misleads consumers with labels promising to wash “64 loads.”

Jan 4, 2024 12:54 PM CST

BigLaw firm’s motion was copied ‘nearly verbatim,’ boutique firm alleges in copyright lawsuit

Updated: A boutique law firm alleges that Winston & Strawn infringed its copyright by filing a motion to dismiss that has a “striking resemblance” to the boutique firm’s motion.

Jan 2, 2024 12:15 PM CST

Fake citations in legal brief were generated by Google Bard AI program, says ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen

Former lawyer Michael Cohen has informed a federal judge that the nonexistent cases cited in a legal brief were generated by Google Bard, an artificial intelligence program.

Jan 2, 2024 10:08 AM CST

Giuliani owes more than $152M, including $148M verdict, bankruptcy filing says

Lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who once represented former President Donald Trump, owes more than $152 million, and that doesn’t include the potential damages that he faces in pending lawsuits, according to his Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing Thursday.

Dec 22, 2023 8:51 AM CST

Response to fake-citations query implicates attorney-client privilege, Michael Cohen’s lawyer says

A federal judge who threatened to impose sanctions against former lawyer Michael Cohen’s attorney for apparently citing fake cases has agreed that the lawyer can file his response under seal—at least for now.

Dec 19, 2023 3:05 PM CST

Federal judge’s remarks were ‘hardly apolitical,’ GOP lawmaker says in ethics complaint

A Republican lawmaker has filed an ethics complaint alleging that U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell of Washington, D.C., suggested that reelecting former President Donald Trump "will lead to fascism in America” during a speech last month.

Dec 18, 2023 12:21 PM CST

Judge’s apparent dissolution of some Trump companies in civil fraud trial may not stick, experts say

A New York judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial is expected to issue a decision as early as next month on any additional punishment following closing arguments in the case.

Dec 18, 2023 8:34 AM CST

New York appeals court refuses to act in Trump’s challenge to gag orders in civil fraud trial

A New York appeals court has rejected former President Donald Trump’s bid to overturn gag orders and fines for violations imposed in his civil fraud trial.

Dec 15, 2023 12:02 PM CST

Trump raised immunity defense too late in defamation case over sexual assault denial, 2nd Circuit says

Former President Donald Trump waived a presidential immunity defense when he failed to raise the issue in an answer to a lawsuit filed by a woman alleging that his sexual assault denials defamed her, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday.

Dec 15, 2023 8:50 AM CST

Lawyer posted nude photos on public docket to humiliate and pressure opponent, federal judge concludes

A New York lawyer has been sanctioned for posting nude photos of his litigation opponent on the public docket. A senior judge in the Southern District of New York ordered the lawyer to pay a $1,000 sanction.

Dec 14, 2023 11:29 AM CST