http://www.abajournal.com/news/ en Copyright 2013 2013-05-18T19:23:37-06:00 http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/suggestive_twerking_video_gets_33_high_school_students_banned_from_prom_gra/ A suggestive "twerking" video shot on on the grounds of a California high school, using its equipment, has gotten 33 students involved in the video banned from participating in prom, graduation and end-of-year sports events. The Scripps Ranch High School students affected by the ban included three star members of… Education Law, Trials & Litigation, States, California, Georgia Fri, 03 May 2013 10:30:03 -0500 44020.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/how_protected_should_communications_between_lawyers_and_a_firms_in-house_co/ Bar Associations, ABA, Business of Law, Law Practice Management, Corporate Law, In-house Counsel, Legal Ethics, Legal Theory, Trials & Litigation, States, Georgia, Ethics Wed, 01 May 2013 03:10:19 -0500 43795.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_prof_is_under_fire_for_creating_fake_identity/ An Emory law professor who was named one of America’s top 50 rabbis by Newsweek magazine is under fire after a news report said he used a fake identity to join a rival rabbinic group. The Jewish Channel reported that Rabbi Michael Broyde had used… Law Professors, Law Schools, Religious Law, States, Georgia Wed, 17 Apr 2013 06:10:27 -0500 43764.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/forced_out_of_small_firm_he_founded_after_leaving_biglaw_partner_72_gets_a_/ A well-known employment and civil rights litigator says he was forced out of the law firm he founded in 2003 after a nearly 23-year career at Paul Hastings. But Lawrence Ashe, 72, is now starting a new job, as senior counsel, at another firm, Parker, Hudson, Rainer… Careers, Labor & Employment, Law Firms, Large Firm, Midsize Firm, Partners, Solos/Small Firms, States, Georgia Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:12:07 -0500 43556.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/million-dollar-plus_bonds_in_cheating_scandal_lawyers_say_al_capone_paid_le/ Lawyers reacted with disbelief when grand jurors recommended bonds as high as $7.5 million for educators accused in the Atlanta schools cheating scandal. The lawyer for former schools superintendent Beverly Hall, J. Tom Morgan, spoke to reporters after negotiating with prosecutors to reduce his client’s $7.5 million bond, Criminal Justice, Education Law, States, Georgia Wed, 03 Apr 2013 09:07:48 -0500 43542.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/mildest_sanction_rejected_for_lawyer_who_disclosed_client_info_in_response_/ The Georgia Supreme Court has refused to approve a reprimand for a Georgia lawyer who admitted posting personal and confidential information about a client in response to the client’s negative online reviews. The court remanded the ethics case against lawyer Margrett Skinner because the factual record was undeveloped. “Among other… Internet Law, Legal Ethics, States, Georgia Mon, 01 Apr 2013 06:20:12 -0500 43490.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/top_court_nixes_lawyers_request_for_reprimand_dismisses_case_due_to_lack/ The Georgia Supreme Court has nixed a lawyer's voluntary request for discipline over an Internet posting that admittedly revealed confidential client information. In a Monday order (PDF), the court noted that other jurisdictions have disciplined attorneys for posting confidential information about clients on the Internet and didn't rule… Internet Law, Legal Ethics, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, States, Georgia Wed, 20 Mar 2013 11:11:57 -0500 43360.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/larry_flynts_lawyer_and_others_recall_78_shooting_near_courthouse/ No one, of course, would want to be shot by a man armed with a .44 magnum "elephant gun." But there were a few slight benefits that resulted when he and his client, Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, were attacked on their way back to the Gwinnett County, Ga., courthouse… Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Justice, Prosecutors, Judiciary, Court Security, Legal History, States, Georgia Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:21:53 -0600 43109.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/attorney_who_didnt_tell_police_about_employees_theft_from_client_is_disbarr/ A Georgia attorney has been disbarred following her conviction of misprision of a felony due to an employee's misuse of a guardianship client's funds. In a brief order (PDF) on Monday, the court noted that Zondra Taylor Hutto had not responded to the disciplinary case and found that… Business of Law, Law Practice Management, Criminal Justice, Sentencing/Post Conviction, White Collar Crime, Elder Law, Legal Ethics, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, 11th Circuit Court, States, Georgia Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:27:06 -0600 43099.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyer_is_criminally_charged_re_diamond_ring_lost_by_stranger_in_parking_lo/ A Georgia lawyer is facing a felony theft case after allegedly failing to return a valuable diamond ring that was lost Feb. 7 in a restaurant parking lot by a woman she apparently does not know. Alexia Dawn Davis, 31, was charged with theft of lost or mislaid property and… Criminal Justice, Public Defenders, Real Estate & Property Law, States, Georgia Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:54:05 -0600 43020.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/3_lawyers_facing_theft_and_rico_case_re_pi_work_they_did_for_glock_get_repr/ Three lawyers facing criminal charges over $3 million in private investigation work they did for gun maker Glock Inc. got a reprieve Monday from the Georgia Supreme Court. Suggesting the 4-year statute of limitations had run on theft and attempted theft charges against Jerry Chapman, former federal prosecutor Jim Harper… Appellate Practice, Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime, In-house Counsel, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, States, Georgia Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:10:22 -0600 42917.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/dismissal_of_murder_and_kidnapping_charges_for_speedy_trial_violations/ The Georgia Supreme Court has upheld a trial judge’s decision to dismiss kidnapping, sexual assault and murder charges in the death of a 12-year-old girl because prosecutors violated the accused's right to a speedy trial. The unanimous supreme court today expressed its distaste for doing so, but detailed how badly the… Criminal Justice, Death Penalty, Prosecutors, Criminal Procedure, Trials & Litigation, States, Georgia Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:00:52 -0600 42686.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_firm_loses_erisa_case_must_repay_1m_in_worker_retirement_assets/ A federal judge in Georgia has ordered a Savannah-based law firm to repay all of the $1 million in assets improperly transferred from worker retirement and pension plans. A ruling last week also held that the Eichholz Law Firm and its former managing partner, Benjamin Eichholz, breached their fiduciary responsibilities… Benefits/ERISA, Business of Law, Labor & Employment, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, 11th Circuit Court, States, Georgia Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:40:30 -0600 42503.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/now-disbarred_lawyer_takes_plea_in_fraud_case_feds_say_he_took_2.5m_from_wo/ A longtime Georgia lawyer accused of stealing millions in settlement money from his worker's compensation clients over a four-year period has taken a plea. Miles Lamar Gammage, 59, pleaded guilty in federal court in Rome on Tuesday to one count of mail fraud, reports the Daily Report.… Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime, Insurance Law, Legal Ethics, 11th Circuit Court, States, Georgia Thu, 10 Jan 2013 10:56:27 -0600 42286.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/title_insurer_seeks_to_freeze_law_firms_trust_account_after_murder_of_its_o/ The intrigue surrounding a Georgia law firm took another turn this week when a title insurer sought to freeze a firm trust account for real estate transactions. The Macon law firm, Pinkston & Associates, was first in the news three months ago when its office manager was murdered at her… Criminal Justice, Law Firms, States, Georgia Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:24:55 -0600 42273.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ga._judge_takes_theft_plea_and_resigns_8_state_jurists_left_office_this_yea/ For the eighth time this year, a Georgia judge who had been the subject of a misconduct investigation has left the bench. This time, it was Shirley Wise, a probate judge in Camden County, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. She resigned after pleading guilty to two theft counts… Criminal Justice, Sentencing/Post Conviction, Judiciary, Legal Ethics, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, States, Georgia Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:06:27 -0600 42013.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/smith_gambrell_acquires_19-lawyer_new_york_boutique/ Atlanta-based Smith Gambrell & Russell has acquired Hartman & Craven, a 19-lawyer general practice boutique in New York. The merger, which took place on Oct. 1, doubled the size of Smith Gambrell’s New York office, according to the Daily Report and a press release.… Business of Law, Law Practice Management, Law Firms, Mergers & Acquisitions, States, Georgia, New York Thu, 29 Nov 2012 08:45:43 -0600 41791.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ga._lawyer_ordered_to_pay_10k_legal_bill_in_contentious_municipal_case/ In the latest chapter in a contentious litigation saga over a commercial building dispute, a Georgia lawyer has been ordered to pay $10,000 in legal fees for the city of Marietta. Richard Capriola is the seventh attorney to represent Waleed Jaraysi in the hard-fought battle over a partially completed multi-story… Government Law, Legal Ethics, Real Estate & Property Law, Trials & Litigation, Attorney Fees, Verdicts & Settlements, 11th Circuit Court, States, Georgia Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:19 -0600 41738.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyers_5th_hole-in-one_wins_a_50k_cadillac_his_wife_who_plans_to_drive_it_/ A golfer since he was 14 years old, Atlanta area attorney George Lawson says he has been fortunate enough to hit multiple hole-in-one shots in his lifetime. But the fifth, a "totally unexpected" 185-yard drive over water, hitting into the wind, during an Oct. 19 golf tournament co-sponsored by the… Careers, Work/Life Balance, States, Georgia Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:09:05 -0600 41519.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/legal_secretary_accused_of_embezzling_830k_from_retired_partner_gets_3_year/ Assigned by an unidentified Atlanta law firm to help a retired partner pay personal bills, a Georgia legal secretary took the opportunity to use his funds to cover $830,000 of her own expenses, authorities say. After pleading guilty earlier this year to one count of mail fraud, Francine Fonger, 50,… Criminal Justice, Sentencing/Post Conviction, 11th Circuit Court, States, Georgia Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:25:25 -0500 41343.abajournal.com