Litigation-Business
Miller & Chevalier Elects Two New Members
NEWS
Miller & Chevalier Chartered announced that the firm elected two new members: Michael J. Satin and Addy R. Schmitt, both of whom practice in the areas of white collar defense and complex civil litigation.
Litigation, Arbitration Lawyer William Joins Hogan Lovells
NEWS
William (Bill) Regan has joined Hogan Lovells’ New York office as partner in the Litigation and Arbitration practice group.
Wyly Billion-Dollar Bankruptcy Trial Concludes
NEWS
The bankruptcy judge hearing the case is expected to take several weeks to rule in the complex bankruptcy trial in which the IRS accused the wealthy Texans of tax evasion and fraud and is seeking $2.2 billion in back taxes, fees and penalties.
Florida Lawyer Permanently Disbarred for Role in DUI Setup
NEWS
Stephen Diaco, one of three lawyers accused of setting up a rival’s DUI arrest, was permanently disbarred Thursday by the Florida Supreme Court, reports The Tampa Tribune.
Jury Orders Wal-Mart to Pay Pharmacist $31.22 Million in Bias Case
NEWS
A federal jury in New Hampshire ordered Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to pay $31.22 million to a pharmacist who claimed she was fired because of her gender and in retaliation for complaining about safety conditions.
E-Discovery Practices from Both Sides of the Bench
White Paper
Survey results cover such topics as the effectiveness of new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP), general e-discovery competency in the legal market, and the effects of emerging technology trends on litigation practices.
Judge Sanctions Prominent Dallas Lawyer for Misconduct
NEWS
Brewer and his law firm conducted a push poll with questions and statements “designed to influence or alter the opinion or attitude of the person being polled,” the judge ruled.
Oregon Man Files Suit Against Fantasy Sports Sites
NEWS
A class-action suit has been filed in federal court in Portland against two daily fantasy sports sites, FanDuel and DraftKings, alleging both businesses are operating illegal online sports betting, reports The Oregonian.
Trial Lawyer Robin Harrison Joins Houston-Based Hicks Thomas
NEWS
Trial lawyer Robin L. Harrison has joined the Houston-based commercial litigation firm Hicks Thomas LLP as a partner.
Supreme Court Holds Unaccepted Offers for Full Relief Do Not Moot Class Actions
Analysis
A defendant cannot moot a putative class action by merely offering full relief to the named plaintiff on his or her individual claims.
GM Ignition Switch Trial Ends Abruptly Amid Claims of Fraud
NEWS
A trial that was supposed to help settle hundreds of lawsuits stemming from General Motors’ faulty ignition switches abruptly ended Friday, a day after the judge raised questions about the plaintiff’s truthfulness.
AZA Names Nine New Hires
NEWS
Houston-based Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing has added nine attorneys.
Choose Words Carefully in Dispute-Related Contract Clauses
Article
A couple of words here or there in a contract can make a huge difference, particularly when those words relate to what happens if there is a breach or some other dispute between the parties, writes Shep Davidson.
Supreme Court Says Class Action Lawsuits Can Survive Compensation Offers
NEWS
Justices ruled that offers of full compensation to the lead plaintiff in such a case do not automatically end the legal challenge.
Termination Clause in Contingent Fee Contract Is Invalid
NEWS
A Pennsylvania court has ruled that a fired contingent fee attorney can’t enforce a provision in his fee agreement requiring a client to pay the lawyer 20 percent of his eventual recovery if the client changes counsel.
Insurance Partially Covers Merck’s $830 Million Vioxx Settlement
NEWS
The company’s cash payment for the settlement and fees will be about $680 million after reimbursement from insurance policies, Merck said.
Tips for Avoiding Pitfalls in Technology Contracts
Article
The recent problems experienced by Finish Line should be instructive to all users and providers of technology products and services, according to a report posted by FisherBroyles LLP.
Remedies for the Rogue Arbitrator
White Paper
Most arbitrations run smoothly, the paper says, but “arbitrators should be ready for the exceptional case, which can be occasioned by another arbitrator or counsel.
Contractual Choice of Governing Law and Statutes of Limitations
Article
The law you choose to govern your contract may not be the law that governs the applicable statute of limitations for claims arising under or related to that contract, writes Glenn West of Weil, Gotshal & Manges.
Lex Machina Details 2015 End-of-Year IP Trends
White Paper
Lex Machina has published an article highlighting IP trends and data from 2015, covering litigation on patents, trademarks and copyrights.
