Motion Claims 35,000 Documents Withheld

A pending motion for sanctions claims chip maker Qualcomm failed to turn over more than 35,000 discovery documents in a patent infringement case. Qualcomm had sued rival semiconductor maker Broadcom for infringing two Qualcomm patents for video compression, but lost at trial four months ago. In court papers filed late…

Jun 7, 2007 12:35 PM CDT

NY Lawyer Lived Happily Ever After (Sort Of), After Acid Attack on Girlfriend

Once a New York trial lawyer, Burton Pugach today is an improbable white-mink-clad movie star. Convicted in an infamous case of putting out a contract to have his girlfriend blinded with lye, after she left him for another man, the 80-year-old has made headlines ever since as the bizarre case…

Jun 7, 2007 12:37 AM CDT

Potential Libby Pardon is Talk of Town

A day after former top vice presidential aide I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison and a $250,000 fine for his role in obstructing a federal investigation into how a CIA agent’s identity was leaked, one topic is being discussed all over Washington, D.C.. That is…

Jun 7, 2007 12:18 AM CDT

Lawyer Jailed for Extorting Wife’s Lovers

Sentenced this week to five years in prison for extorting money from men who had affairs with his wife, a Texas attorney was unrepentent. “It is incredible to me after I sought protection from the law that … I face sentencing without having committed a crime,” Ted H. Roberts, 50,…

Jun 6, 2007 12:25 AM CDT

N.J. Judge Apologizes in Ethics Probe

A New Jersey Supreme Court justice has apologized for interceding with Camden County courts in a case against a youth accused of bullying his son, saying his actions created the appearance of impropriety. In a letter to the court’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, Roberto Rivera-Soto said he was “profoundly…

Jun 5, 2007 7:30 PM CDT

Rookie Judge Reportedly Investigated

A rookie Las Vegas judge who is fighting the chief judge’s effort to remove her is reportedly under investigation by a judicial conduct commission.

Judge Elizabeth Halverson has been accused of acting abusively toward her staff and behaving improperly on the bench, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

An affidavit from her former judicial executive assistant said Halverson made her staff have ice waiting on the bench for her and would scream if they let it melt, according to KVBC-TV in Las Vegas.

Jun 5, 2007 3:59 PM CDT

Howrey Conflict Alleged

A company that owns several patents is seeking to disqualify Howrey from representing a defendant it sued for infringement. San Francisco company Friskit Inc. says in a May 25 motion that it met with lawyers from Howrey’s East Palo Alto, Calif., office in January to discuss hiring the firm to…

Jun 5, 2007 1:32 PM CDT

Expressing Their Interest

Rise in rates swells IOLTA, and legal services gain

Jun 5, 2007 8:36 AM CDT

What You Can Do—or Not

Bar against communicating with adverse parties doesn’t apply to inside counsel

Jun 5, 2007 8:12 AM CDT

Disbarred—but Not Barred from Work

In some states, disciplined lawyers can still work as paralegals or clerks

Jun 5, 2007 7:57 AM CDT

DUI Prosecutor’s Drunk Driving Death a Hard Lesson for Profession

The recent drunk driving death of a renowned Chicago area prosecutor is a hard lesson for the legal profession – and a number of those who could learn from it haven’t necessarily done so. Too often, those in charge of enforcing the law against others don’t apply it to themselves.…

Jun 4, 2007 11:15 PM CDT

Penn. Attorney Disbarred in Delaware

A Pennsylvania attorney has been disbarred in Delaware, even though she was never admitted to practice there and maintains a law office in Pennsylvania. That’s because Valerie J. Glover, who lives in Delaware, “did everything short of appearing in Delaware courts, and engaged Delaware attorneys as co-counsel only if she…

Jun 4, 2007 8:44 PM CDT

Fen-Phen Plaintiffs Seek Curlin Victory

Plaintiffs who claim their lawyers defrauded them out of money due in a pharmaceutical settlement are betting that a horse will help them recover some of the money. Lawyers William J. Gallion and Shirley A. Cunningham Jr. paid $57,000 to buy a one-fifth interest in Curlin, the horse that won…

Jun 4, 2007 2:43 PM CDT

Best Buy Lawyer Says He Altered Documents

An outside attorney defending Best Buy in a consumer class action has admitted he altered discovery documents in the case, prompting his law firm to file a withdrawal motion. Timothy Block reported his actions to the Minnesota Board of Professional Responsibility and is on medical leave for stress and depression,…

Jun 4, 2007 1:42 PM CDT

PD on the Defense for ‘Sham’ Marriage

A former chief public defender in St. Louis was indicted today on charges he arranged a “sham marriage” so that his boyfriend could stay in the United States. Prosecutors announced the indictment, which was reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The former PD, Eric Affholter, 40, and his live-in boyfriend…

Jun 2, 2007 1:27 AM CDT