Contracts

Well-known law firm sues prominent clients over alleged unpaid bill of nearly $6.4M

A well-known Chicago-based law firm filed suit last week against members of a prominent family and their corporate entities, contending that they racked up an unpaid legal bill of nearly $6.4 million in a real estate matter. Ungaretti & Harris says former Republican gubernatorial candidate Ronald Gidwitz and other members…

Jul 7, 2014 8:55 PM CDT

Federal panels are taking a harder look at nondisparagement clauses

Quicken Loans hired Lydia Garza in 2006 at its Scottsdale, Arizona, Web center. Like 1,700 other mortgage bankers for the Detroit-based lender, Garza signed an employment contract with broad confidentiality and nondisparagement provisions. She agreed to hold “in the strictest of confidence” any “nonpublic information relating to or regarding the…

Jul 1, 2014 8:59 AM CDT

2 men who say they discarded $1M winning Powerball ticket sue lottery commission

Two New York men say they purchased a Powerball ticket in New Jersey that matched five of six numbers in the March 23, 2013 lottery drawing. But they didn’t realize their good fortune—the ticket was worth $1 million—until the next day, after discarding it, the New York Daily News reports.…

Jun 26, 2014 10:00 PM CDT

Inmates angry over prison meals pose safety threat; state tells vendor to shape up or face sanctions

The state of Michigan contracted with a private vendor to provide meals for prison inmates with the expectation of saving millions of dollars every year. But issues over the type and amount of food provided by Aramark Correctional Services are now taking up officials’ time and even posing a threat…

Jun 24, 2014 9:20 PM CDT

Dentist sues for booking mistake that sent him to Grenada, not Granada

St. George’s, Grenada. Image: Shutterstock. Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. Image: Shutterstock. A dentist from Maryland alleges in a lawsuit that British Airways booked a flight for him to Grenada, the Caribbean island, rather than Granada, Spain. Edward Gamson says he made it absolutely clear to the booking agent that…

Jun 24, 2014 3:34 PM CDT

Former law student sues over D grade in contracts, seeks $100K for lost legal career

A former law student at the Massachusetts School of Law claims in a lawsuit that he received an unfair D grade in contracts. The suit by Martin Odemena says the D grade resulted in a suspension and made it impossible for him to transfer to another law school, the National…

Jun 24, 2014 1:44 PM CDT

Even hair stylists and camp counselors sign noncompete contracts, leading to increased litigation

Noncompete agreements are spreading beyond the high-tech and sales fields to professions such as hair stylists, camp counselors, yoga instructors and exterminators. As noncompete clauses proliferate, at least one lawyer has seen an increase in litigation to enforce the agreements, the New York Times reports. “Companies are spending money, hiring…

Jun 9, 2014 12:07 PM CDT

Extreme sports are more popular than ever, prompting questions about legal liability

Last year in West Virginia, 28-year-old Avishek Sengupta was running the Tough Mudder, a grueling 10-plus-mile race littered with merciless obstacles that take participants over blazing pits of fire, through dark trenches and into pools of water laced with electrical wires that deliver 10,000 volts. When Sengupta approached the obstacle…

Jun 1, 2014 10:30 AM CDT

Despite contractual obligations to clam up, some folks can’t can the chatter

These days, with such a plethora of media outlets, it’s much too easy to share unfiltered thoughts and opinions. An offhanded comment in an unguarded moment can scuttle a friendship—or a career—in short order. Share too much personal info and the “ick factor” kicks in. In other words, some of…

Jun 1, 2014 6:40 AM CDT

‘Brain surgeon’ lawyering in crises isn’t enough

One of us (Paul) had the opportunity last week to speak to Richard Susskind’s conference in Scotland on the future of law, enjoying one of the great expressions from Richard: “Most clients would rather have a guardrail at the top of the hill rather than an ambulance at the bottom.”…

May 22, 2014 1:40 PM CDT

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ author Harper Lee wants to reinstate lawsuit against hometown museum

Harper Lee, author of the iconic trial novel To Kill a Mockingbird, wants to reinstate a federal lawsuit she had earlier agreed to settle. Lee’s suit, against the Monroe County Heritage Museum in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama, alleged that the institution was profiting from using her name and the…

May 20, 2014 6:15 PM CDT

BP cries foul, says crafty lawyers and claimants collected $500M in comp unrelated to oil spill

In a written settlement agreement concerning the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill that began with a 2010 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, BP agreed to a compensation formula to reimburse businesses. But now BP is unhappy about language that is being interpreted not only by plaintiffs lawyers…

May 5, 2014 10:00 PM CDT

Consulting the NBA’s constitution | Big lawsuit over gift cards | Experience and lawyer discipline

Donald Sterling, the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, was suspended for life from the NBA on Tuesday over recorded racist remarks that were made public. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver stated that he would ask the NBA Board of Governors to force a sale of the Clippers. Tuesday was the…

May 2, 2014 1:30 PM CDT

Can this Foley & Lardner lawyer keep the Buffalo Bills from relocating?

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has hired Foley & Lardner to try and keep the Buffalo Bills from leaving the state. The Buffalo News reported on Wednesday that Cuomo has turned to Foley partner Irwin Raij of Manhattan. The paper states that the firm’s contract will run for three years…

May 1, 2014 6:40 PM CDT

Jurors to decide validity of right-to-sue waiver signed by Allstate agents who claim age bias

Thirteen years after filing their age bias case, 31 Allstate agents who signed a waiver giving up their right to sue are still waiting for a trial date. Before their bias claims can be heard, jurors will decide whether the agents were coerced into signing the agreement, a judge ruled…

May 1, 2014 10:55 AM CDT