Contracts

Ruling in ABA suit, SCOTUS denies US bid to vacate deadline for foreign-aid payments; Alito is ‘stunned’

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to vacate a judge’s Feb. 26 deadline for the United States to make foreign-aid payments for work already completed in connection with grants and contracts.

Mar 5, 2025 10:33 AM CST

Averting immediate showdown, chief justice pauses judge’s deadline for US to restore foreign-aid funds

The U.S. government doesn’t have to comply with a federal judge’s Wednesday night deadline to restore foreign-aid funds after Chief Justice John Roberts issued an administrative stay in the matter.

Feb 27, 2025 10:36 AM CST

This attorney made partner after creating a lucrative practice area focused on construction law

David Fine didn’t intend to become a construction law attorney. But when presented with the opportunity, the Massachusetts-based attorney ran with it.

Feb 25, 2025 8:46 AM CST

Lights, Camera, Contracts: The harsh legal reality of reality television

The main legal need surrounding reality show participants concerns their employment status—or lack thereof. Reality show participants are treated as independent contractors, which technically lets networks and productions evade many of the labor laws that protect employees.

Feb 10, 2025 8:59 AM CST

Storage company contends it has no obligation to sort through client files allegedly left by defunct law firm

A records management company is asking a court to declare that it has no obligation to clients of a defunct Pittsburgh law firm that allegedly left more than 7,500 boxes in its warehouse that likely contain numerous client files.

Feb 6, 2025 9:36 AM CST

How agentic AI services are revolutionizing contract management and compliance

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Shashank Pande and Rachita Maker, the co-founders of Ekamm8, a new forward-thinking legal innovation and consulting company.

Jan 27, 2025 10:40 AM CST

Penn Law is quicker to discipline whites than minorities, controversial prof alleges in lawsuit

The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School is facing a lawsuit alleging that the school violated First Amendment principles and anti-discrimination laws when it disciplined a professor for her controversial remarks.

Jan 21, 2025 12:29 PM CST

San Francisco courtroom clerks reach agreement over staffing, training issues

Last week, clerks for the San Francisco Superior Court agreed to a one-year contract, effecting ending the possibility for more strikes.

Jan 15, 2025 10:37 AM CST

ACLU among groups calling on arbitrators to stop enforcing ‘stay or pay’ contracts

More than a dozen civil rights groups are urging the American Arbitration Association to stop the enforcement of “stay or pay” contracts.

Jan 14, 2025 9:14 AM CST

Litigating the Tower of Pisa fiasco

I have always been interested in mistakes, also known as errors, blunders or, in my best legalese, boo-boos. I am especially interested in historical iconic mistakes. I just read that the city of Bologna, Italy, has two towers, “le due torri,” both closed to visitors because they also are now…

Dec 19, 2024 9:04 AM CST

Muslim lawyer can’t sue over revoked BigLaw job offer based on this theory, federal judge rules

A federal judge in Chicago has tossed a promissory estoppel claim in a Muslim lawyer’s lawsuit against Foley & Lardner for revoking her associate job offer after learning of her comments about Israel and Gaza.

Dec 4, 2024 12:23 PM CST

Kalpana Kotagal’s inclusion riders promote equality in the entertainment industry

Nearly seven years ago, Frances McDormand ended her acceptance speech at the Oscars with, “I have two words to leave with you tonight, ladies and gentlemen: inclusion rider.” Kalpana Kotagal, a civil rights and employment attorney and a creator of the inclusion rider, had no idea McDormand would mention it. “I had gone to sleep,” says Kotagal. “I had no idea any of that had happened and woke up the next morning to just, like, chaos.”

Dec 1, 2024 12:40 AM CST

Michelle Rozovics’ love of learning and teaching takes her around the world

ABA member Michelle Rozovics—the managing attorney of Rozovics Law Firm in McHenry, Illinois, a small city northwest of Chicago—says curiosity led her to the legal profession. It inspired her to pursue international and business law and to work with clients, law students and judges around the world.

Nov 27, 2024 8:48 AM CST

BigLaw firm and ex-partner who sued for age bias agree on dismissal

A former Fox Rothschild equity partner who claimed that he was demoted to a position with lower pay and required to work under a series of one-year contracts has ended his age-bias lawsuit against the law firm.

Nov 26, 2024 2:09 PM CST

Following pay changes with Idaho public defender’s office, agency saw more than 1,000 withdrawals

Updated: Recent Idaho public defender pay rate changes led to many counsel heading for the exits, and the Idaho State Bar issued a formal ethics opinion due to concerns. It recognizes financial hardships can cause conflicts in legal representation but notes that counsel cannot leave a case without the court’s approval.

Nov 13, 2024 9:07 AM CST