http://www.abajournal.com/news/ en Copyright 2013 2013-05-19T23:51:12-06:00 http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/suspended_lawyer_faces_criminal_case_accused_of_spanking_client/ Suspended from law practice last year for misconduct related to sexual activities, a Missouri lawyer is now facing a criminal case over new allegations. Eric Hutson, 52, allegedly met with a criminal defense client last year after his law license had been suspended, and spanked her several times during the… Criminal Justice, Legal Ethics, States, Missouri Wed, 01 May 2013 11:27:52 -0500 43990.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ex-ogletree_vp_said_to_be_working_at_littler_6_other_ogletree_partners/ Earlier this month, Reuters published an article announcing that a former vice president had resigned from Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart and planned to take a group of lawyers from the national labor and employment boutique to another law firm. Now it appears that Don Prophete is actually in… Careers, Labor & Employment, Law Firms, Large Firm, Partners, States, Missouri Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:49:02 -0500 43866.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ogletree_leader_says_he_quit_over_lawyer_issue_is_taking_group_and_10m_busi/ A now-former vice president of Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Steward has made an unusual announcement. Don Prophete, 45, says he has resigned from the South Carolina-based national labor and employment boutique over a dispute about its treatment of a lawyer he recruited. Although he apparently has no firm plans… Careers, Law Firms, Large Firm, Partners, States, Missouri, South Carolina Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:16:06 -0500 43578.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sheriff_sends_undercover_officer_to_courthouse_with_gun_she_makes_it_throug/ Saying that he was unable to arrange a meeting with a Wisconsin county executive to discuss court security in the wake of safety concerns raised by a high-profile courthouse shooting in Delaware last month, the Milwaukee County sheriff tried a different approach. Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. sent a female… Criminal Justice, Government Law, Judiciary, Court Security, Trials & Litigation, States, Missouri Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:38:40 -0600 43162.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/a_day_after_interim_law_dean_resigns_slu_names_longtime_faculty_member_as/ Saint Louis University on Tuesday announced the appointment of a new law school dean, after the sudden resignation Monday of a practicing lawyer who had been serving as interim dean. Michael Wolff, a longtime law professor at SLU who also formerly served as… Careers, Law Professors, Law Students, States, Missouri Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:50:23 -0600 43131.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/interim_slu_law_dean_says_he_resigned_because_of_his_big_mouth_and_politica/ Updated: The interim dean of Saint Louis University School of Law says he wasn’t cut out for the job. Tom Keefe Jr. announced his resignation from the post on Monday. “I’m a plain-spoken, ambulance chasing plaintiffs lawyer,” he told the St. Louis Business Journal, and… Law Professors, Law Schools, States, Missouri Tue, 05 Mar 2013 08:11:17 -0600 43113.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/girls_gone_wild_company_files_for_bankruptcy_to_deal_with_frivolous_and_bur/ A Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by the company that produces the racy Girls Gone Wild videos was apparently prompted by large judgments in several tort cases. However, GGW Brands LLC said in a written statement that its Wednesday filing in federal bankruptcy court in Los Angeles would not prevent the… Bankruptcy Law, Corporate Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, 8th Circuit Court, 9th Circuit Court, States, California, Missouri Fri, 01 Mar 2013 13:27:52 -0600 43065.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/bad_coffee_leads_to_embezzlement_case_against_law_firm_worker/ A really bad cup of coffee that burned the lips of a Wisconsin law firm worker resulted in a criminal case against a co-worker who is now accused not only of tainting the beverage with a foreign substance but embezzling from her employer. Kay Lee Gysbers was released on a… Criminal Justice, Law Firms, Paralegals, States, Missouri, New Jersey, Wisconsin Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:36:36 -0600 42728.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/longtime_lawyer_takes_plea_in_secret_service_money-launder_sting/ A prominent Missouri criminal defense lawyer has taken a plea in a federal money-laundering conspiracy case that arose from a Secret Service sting, effectively ending his legal career. Ronald E. Partee admitted in federal court in Kansas on Wednesday that he agreed to help hide the source of what he… Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime, 10th Circuit Court, States, Kansas, Missouri Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:02:46 -0600 42620.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/fan_didnt_assume_the_risk_of_injury_by_airborne_food_appeals_court_says/ A Kansas City Royals fan who suffered a detached retina after he was hit by a flying hot dog is getting a new chance to take his negligence case to a jury. Fan John Coomer was hit with a foil-wrapped hot dog flung by the Royals mascot Sluggerrr at a… Entertainment & Sports Law, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, States, Missouri Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:19:58 -0600 42423.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ethics_trial_looms_for_suspended_judge_who_had_clerks_handle_her_call_while/ The Missouri Supreme Court is to hear arguments Thursday morning concerning a St. Louis judge who drew harsh criticism for reportedly having her clerks handle her call and deal with at least 350 cases while she vacationed in China. The Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline has recommended that Associate… Judiciary, Legal Ethics, Trials & Litigation, States, Missouri Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:39:13 -0600 42179.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/trial_lawyer_does_double_duty_as_slu_law_dean_while_winning_25m_in_settleme/ Some might find working either as a law school dean or a busy plaintiffs' lawyer a more than full-time job. Tom Keefe Jr. is doing both. Temporarily at the helm of the law school at St. Louis University after his predecessor resigned suddenly in the midst of a dispute with… Careers, Law Firms, Partners, Solos/Small Firms, Law Professors, Law Schools, Tort Law, States, Missouri Wed, 12 Dec 2012 16:09:23 -0600 42020.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/does_law_schools_appointment_of_kirkland_leader_as_dean_signal_new_focus_on/ The managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office of Kirkland & Ellis is on the verge of a significant career change, one that may also signal a growing new emphasis on legal jobs at the nation's law schools. Daniel F. Attridge will take the helm as… Careers, Law Professors, Law Schools, States, District of Columbia, Missouri, New York Wed, 28 Nov 2012 18:15:08 -0600 41786.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/after_goodwill_worker_finds_14k_in_box_of_xmas_ornaments_competing_claims_w/ A Missouri judge had to decide between competing claims for a cash stash found in a box of Christmas decorations donated to a Goodwill store in St. Louis County. But although at least 15 people vied for the $14,505 turned in by the honest thrift store worker who found the… Real Estate & Property Law, Trials & Litigation, States, Missouri Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:30:28 -0600 41715.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyer_charged_with_using_power_of_attorney_to_murder_her_dad_loses/ Temporarily removed in September as personal representative of her well-to-do father's estate, after she was charged with his murder in an unusual case based on an allegedly forged power of attorney for health care, a Missouri lawyer has now been permanently eliminated as his executor. Susan Elizabeth "Liz" Van Note,… Criminal Justice, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, Trusts & Estates, States, Missouri Fri, 16 Nov 2012 13:51:33 -0600 41671.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/prominent_lawyer_disbarred_re_claimed_800k_in_client_loans_says_hes_no/ A prominent Missouri lawyer who once served as president of the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association has been disbarred by consent. James C. Wirken, 68, was accused of taking out loans from clients without adequately advising them of the fairness of the transactions, urging them to get independent legal counsel… Business of Law, Law Firms, Partners, Solos/Small Firms, Legal Ethics, States, Missouri Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:19:51 -0600 41514.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawyer_sues_ex-firm_and_law_partner_for_alleged_claims_about_unsolved_murde/ A lawyer who claims a former law partner falsely alleged he was responsible for an unsolved murder has filed a suit for defamation and tortious interference. Mark Bates filed the suit on Oct. 25 in St. Louis County Circuit Court, report the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and… Law Firms, Partners, Tort Law, States, Missouri Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:45:09 -0500 41406.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/mo._lawyer_faces_federal_mail-fraud_case_accused_of/ A longtime Missouri lawyer has been federally indicted on mail fraud charges for allegedly misappropriating insurance money that should have gone to his clients. Stephen B. Evans, 45, had his law license suspended earlier this year, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He is accused in a… Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime, Legal Ethics, States, Missouri Fri, 19 Oct 2012 11:05:44 -0500 41211.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/visually_impaired_lawyer_takes_fraud_plea_in_disability_income_case/ A visually impaired attorney who reportedly failed to report his law practice income to the Social Security Administration in 2010 as he collected disability payments from the agency has taken a plea in a criminal fraud case. Robert Brauker, 37, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court in St. Louis… Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime, Disability Law, 8th Circuit Court, States, Missouri Tue, 09 Oct 2012 16:22:13 -0500 41061.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/mo._lawyer_faces_felony-murder_case_over_allegedly_forged_power_of_attorney/ As more details have been reported about a first-degree murder case against a Missouri lawyer accused of killing her father, it has become clear that Susan Elizabeth "Liz" Van Note is facing a highly unusual prosecution. Her father, along with his longtime female companion, were shot to death at his… Criminal Justice, Legal Theory, Trusts & Estates, States, Missouri Tue, 02 Oct 2012 09:37:36 -0500 40962.abajournal.com