http://www.abajournal.com/news/ en Copyright 2013 2013-05-19T02:50:24-06:00 http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/8th_circuit_nominee_wins_quick_approval_did_grassley_connection_help/ Jane Kelly won confirmation to the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, just 83 days after her nomination. Kelly was approved faster than any other of President Obama’s circuit nominees, The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times reports.… Judiciary, 8th Circuit Court Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:30:26 -0500 43924.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/booted_from_big_enviro_case_covington_appeal_blames_ex-client_for_not_prote/ A Minnesota judge last year agreed with 3M Co. that its longtime counsel, Covington & Burling, could not continue to represent the state in a big environmental lawsuit against the corporation. But even if a legal ethics rule would otherwise have prohibited the representation, Covington should be allowed to continue… Appellate Practice, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Law Firms, Large Firm, Legal Ethics, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, 8th Circuit Court, States, Minnesota Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:36:50 -0500 43619.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/2010_indictment_unsealed_so_fbi_can_publicize_manhunt_for_disbarred_attorne/ Disbarred Iowa attorney Dennis Bjorklund can be fast on his feet when avoiding the long arm of the law, once reportedly outrunning a process server, although he did lose a shoe along the way. But now the former DUI defense attorney–who may still be selling books on the subject online–is… Criminal Justice, Legal Ethics, 8th Circuit Court, States, Iowa Mon, 28 Jan 2013 10:35:16 -0600 42563.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/federal_court_ruling_sought_can_a_companion_cat_fill_the_paws_of_a_companio/ Diane Orenstein has been approved for Social Security disability benefits, and her doctor, psychologist and social worker say the 55-year-old brain-damaged woman would benefit from having a trained companion dog as a service animal. But the board in charge of the Minneapolis condominium association in which she has been a… Animal Law, Civil Rights, Disability Law, Real Estate & Property Law, Trials & Litigation, 8th Circuit Court, States, Minnesota Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:27:37 -0500 40731.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/8th_circuit_oks_222k_damages_award_in_historic_riaa_file-sharing_case_again/ After three jury trials, it appears that the legal saga of the first individual to fight a Recording Industry Association of America demand for payment for illegal downloading of copyrighted music still hasn't come to an end. In a procedurally complex decision Tuesday, a federal appeals… Appellate Practice, Constitutional Law, Consumer Law, Entertainment & Sports Law, Intellectual Property Law, Copyright Law, Internet Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, 8th Circuit Court, States, Minnesota Tue, 11 Sep 2012 15:52:28 -0500 40670.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/customers_targeted_by_workers_at_big-name_banks_in_multi-million_dollar_id_/ Employees of some of the nation's biggest banks have reportedly been stealing customers' identities in multimillion dollar fraud schemes. A federal judge in Minneapolis on Monday sentenced two claimed leaders of a $50 million bank fraud conspiracy to well over 20 years in prison, the Associated Press… Banking Law, Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime, 2nd Circuit Court, 8th Circuit Court, States, Minnesota, New York Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:02:08 -0500 40252.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/medical_photos_may_be_posted_online_with_patient_names_says_lawyer_for_8_ex/ Ten women who reportedly agreed to let a St. Louis plastic surgeon put before-and-after photos of their augmented breasts on the Internet are now suing in federal court there, contending that Dr. Michele Koo violated their privacy by linking their names to the photos, which otherwise would not have been… Consumer Law, Corporate Law, Internet Law, Privacy Law, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, 8th Circuit Court, States, Missouri Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:57:19 -0500 40218.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/top_federal_prosecutor_in_south_dakota_takes_over_review_of_56_tribal_reser/ Stepping into the middle of a long-simmering tension between the Oglala Lakota Nation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that has ignited strong feelings for decades, the top federal prosecutor in South Dakota is reviewing 56 homicides on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson has taken over… Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Justice, Prosecutors, 8th Circuit Court, States, South Dakota Tue, 07 Aug 2012 05:14:59 -0500 40059.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/appeals_court_revives_suit_over_elvis_memorabilia/ A federal appeals court has ruled that the heirs to a longtime friend of Elvis Presley can proceed with a lawsuit over a clump of the King's hair and other memorabilia they claim were stolen and sold at auction. At stake is $250,000 in proceeds from the sale of a… Appellate Practice, Celebrities, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Trusts & Estates, 8th Circuit Court Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:39:58 -0500 39991.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/3m_co._sues_covington_for_betrayal_says_firm_switched_sides_to_work_for_min/ Facing a big-bucks environmental lawsuit by the Minnesota attorney general, 3M Company is firing back with a federal court complaint against its longtime former counsel. Covington & Burling has betrayed the company by suddenly ending its representation and switching sides in 2010 to help the AG sue 3M, the tech… Contracts, Corporate Law, Environmental Law, Government Law, Legal Ethics, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, 8th Circuit Court, States, Minnesota Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:34:20 -0500 39970.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/it_isnt_necesarily_big_brother_but_somebody_is_watching_virtually_all_the/ Think your posts on Facebook are private? Think again. It's only a computer scanning them, under ordinary circumstances, but certain content could flag a post for human review if criminal conduct is suspected, according to Reuters and Slate. Tempted to say you're hard at work when… Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Corporate Law, Criminal Justice, Executive Branch, Government Law, Internet Law, Trials & Litigation, U.S. Supreme Court, 8th Circuit Court, States, Missouri Tue, 17 Jul 2012 16:59:48 -0500 39749.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/8th_circuit_tosses_19_contempt_citations_for_defendant_who_refused_to_stand/ A federal appeals court has ordered a judge to consider the religious rights of a defendant who claimed her Muslim religion prevented her from standing at the opening and close of court sessions. The St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis of… Constitutional Law, First Amendment, Criminal Justice, Religious Law, Terrorism, Trials & Litigation, 8th Circuit Court Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:19:40 -0500 39081.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/law_firm_to_pay_13.5m_fees_clawback_to_convicted_clients_bankruptcy_estate/ A well-known Minnesota law firm has agreed to pay a $13.5 million legal fees clawback to the bankruptcy estate of a longtime client convicted of operating a $3.65 billion Ponzi scheme. Bankruptcy trustee Doug Kelley acknowledged there was no evidence that Fredrikson & Byron knew anything was wrong concerning former… Bankruptcy Law, Business of Law, Law Firms, Midsize Firm, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, Verdicts & Settlements, 8th Circuit Court, States, Minnesota Thu, 31 May 2012 13:01:09 -0500 39036.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/federal_judge_mulls_prosecutor_sanctions_due_to_dea_agents_concealment/ A federal judge in Iowa is pondering possible sanctions on prosecutors in a narcotics case after learning that a Drug Enforcement Administration agent didn't reveal in investigative reports that GPS monitoring was being used on vehicles related to then-suspect Angel Amaya. U.S. District Judge Mark Bennett said DEA policy required… Criminal Justice, Prosecutors, Legal Ethics, Trials & Litigation, Evidence, 8th Circuit Court, States, Iowa Wed, 18 Apr 2012 12:25:51 -0500 38374.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/ex-partner_is_federally_indicted_re_claimed_laundering_via_law_firm_of_clie/ Updated: A former Herzog Crebs partner who served on the St. Louis-based law firm's management committee has been federally indicted in St. Louis along with a former governor of Missouri on accusations of helping a corporate client of the law firm launder a total of $8,000 in… Business of Law, Law Practice Management, Criminal Justice, White Collar Crime, Election Law, Government Law, Law Firms, Partners, Solos/Small Firms, 8th Circuit Court, States, Missouri Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:53:33 -0500 38280.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/eeoc_class_action_backfires_as_8th_circuit_sympathizes_with_defendant/ A federal appeals court ruling has made it more difficult for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to pursue large discrimination cases in the Midwest. The ruling by the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals criticized the agency for waiting until discovery to investigate sexual harassment claims on behalf… Civil Procedure, Labor & Employment, 8th Circuit Court Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:30:37 -0500 38153.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/federal_judge_socks_minn._lawyer_with_50k_sanction_cites_frivolous_filings_/ A Minneapolis lawyer has been socked by a federal judge with a $50,000 sanction, for what the jurist describes as an illegitimate business model based on repeated frivolous filings, delay and forum-shopping. William Butler's conduct required a substantial sanction, wrote U.S. District Court Judge Patrick Schiltz, because "he has not… Judiciary, Law Firms, Partners, Solos/Small Firms, Legal Ethics, Real Estate & Property Law, Trials & Litigation, Attorney Fees, Verdicts & Settlements, 8th Circuit Court, States, Minnesota Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:57:21 -0500 38157.abajournal.com http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/lawsuits_by_ex-u_of_iowa_official_and_gc_seek_damages_for_firings_over_hand/ A former longtime dean of students at the University of Iowa is seeking to join a former general counsel in litigation against the university and a private law firm, among other defendants, over the manner in which the two men handled a 2008 student sexual assault investigation. Last month, a… Education Law, Government Law, In-house Counsel, Labor & Employment, Tort Law, Trials & Litigation, 8th Circuit Court, States, Iowa Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:30:15 -0600 37372.abajournal.com