Recent Updates

  • Cop Says He Was Fired For Reporting Police Dog Attack

    Cop Says He Was Fired For Reporting Police Dog Attack

    Legal Blog Updates 09/03/2008

    The City of Hernando, Miss., illegally fired a police officer for testifying truthfully about another officer's use of unreasonable force - letting a police dog attack and bite a citizen who already was in custody - Steven English claims in Federal C...

  • Bipolar Lawyer Who Stole: Suspended, Not Disbarred

    Bipolar Lawyer Who Stole: Suspended, Not Disbarred

    Legal Blog Updates 07/16/2008

    An attorney will not be disbarred for misappropriating client's funds during a manic bipolar episode that lasted for 4 years, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision. Mark Belz was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1975 and had been on me...

  • Judge Blasts Curbing Frequent ADA Filer

    Judge Blasts Curbing Frequent ADA Filer

    Legal Blog Updates 04/10/2008

    The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has again upheld a “vexatious litigant” order against a frequent filer of disability discrimination lawsuits -– but over the strenuous objections of nine dissenting judges.Chief Judge Alex Kozinski was particular...

  • Op-ed: Standing Up for Rule of Law in Pakistan

    Op-ed: Standing Up for Rule of Law in Pakistan

    Legal Blog Updates 04/08/2008

    We have witnessed with admiration and empathy the heroism of lawyers and judges in Pakistan as they squarely faced beatings and stood up to soldiers and police to defend the rule of law.  Thedissolution of the Supreme Court, the silencing of a f...

  • Improper Handling of Client Trust Accounts

    Improper Handling of Client Trust Accounts

    Legal Blog Updates 04/07/2008

    Managing money is always tricky, especially when it belongs to someone elseThat's why, in 2006 alone, more than 20 lawyers found themselves before the State of Michigan Attorney Discipline Board after having grievances filed against them for mismanag...

  • Lawyer to be Suspended Over Conduct

    Lawyer to be Suspended Over Conduct

    Legal Blog Updates 04/03/2008

    The former head of the Wayne County, MI  Prosecutor Office's drug unit will be suspended with pay Friday and now faces an investigation that could lead to criminal charges for her actions in a 2005 cocaine case.Prosecutor Kym Worthy, in a prepar...

  • DOJ Presses Bribery Case

    DOJ Presses Bribery Case

    Legal Blog Updates 04/02/2008

    A US Department of Justice spokesman said Monday that the department would continue to press its bribery case against Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) despite the US Supreme Court's refusal to review an appeals court ruling that held the FBI's conduct d...

  • New Hampshire Adopts Rule for Clients Who Email

    New Hampshire Adopts Rule for Clients Who Email

    Legal Blog Updates 03/28/2008

    New Hampshire adopted a rule that clearly protects persons who, in good faith, e-mail confidential information to a lawyer from having the lawyer use the information against the prospective client.  The comments to New Hampshshire Rule 1.18 prov...

  • Detroit Mayor Faces Felony Charges

    Detroit Mayor Faces Felony Charges

    Legal Blog Updates 03/24/2008

    DETROIT, Michigan -- Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and an ex-aide were charged Monday with perjury and obstruction of justice after prosecutors said sexually explicit text messages between the two contradicted their sworn court testimony.Detroit May...

  • Assembly begins pushing legislative ethics reforms

    Assembly begins pushing legislative ethics reforms

    Legal Blog Updates 03/06/2008

    Lawmakers would be barred from accepting more than one taxpayer-paid health insurance plan and from taking campaign donations from their aides under measures pushed forward Thursday by Assembly legislators. The measures released by the Assembly State...

  • Web Page Disclaimers in New Hampshire

    Web Page Disclaimers in New Hampshire

    Legal Blog Updates 02/29/2008

    Effective January 1, 2008, New Hampshireadopted a rule that clearly protects persons who, in good faith, e-mailconfidential information to a lawyer from having the lawyer use theinformation against the prospective client.  The comments to NewHam...

  • Qualcomm v. Broadcom Confidentiality Hurts

    Qualcomm v. Broadcom Confidentiality Hurts

    Legal Blog Updates 02/26/2008

    A blockbuster decision was issued in the notorious “take no prisoners,” “bet the company,” Qualcomm v. Broadcom, Case No. 05cv1958-B, in San Diego. In a heart-wrenching decision, the lawyers are being prevented from disclosing what really occurred, b...