Litigation Management

Tales of double-crossing, big egos and cattle brands swirl around Gerry Spence lawsuits

Over the years, many attorneys shelled out thousands of dollars to spend three weeks in a converted Wyoming cattle ranch described as “spartan,” with no cellphone service, so they could listen and learn from the self-proclaimed “greatest trial lawyer in history.” From all over the country, lawyers came to the Trial Lawyers College to learn from Gerry Spence, the famed litigator who claims to have never lost a criminal case.

Jan 21, 2021 3:02 PM CST

What it’s like to argue before the Supreme Court during COVID-19

Jeffrey L. Fisher has argued more than 40 U.S. Supreme Court cases, and he relies heavily on the justices’ body language during arguments. But that wasn’t possible for his last three, which were conducted by phone because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dec 28, 2020 9:00 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Ex-Jones Day lawyers drop class action claims; ‘Grim Reaper’ lawyer fights sanctions bid

Ex-Jones Day associates drop class action claims in bias lawsuit Former female associates suing Jones Day for alleged bias have agreed to drop their class action claims of systemic pay discrimination and disparate impact. The six plaintiffs decided to drop class action claims after they reviewed nationwide compensation and evaluation…

Dec 15, 2020 4:30 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Judiciary committee will get new top Dem; top Pennsylvania court rejects 5 election suits

Feinstein steps down as top Democrat on Senate Judiciary Committee U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California is stepping down as the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee after criticism from progressives who said she is too gentle with Republicans. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois is seeking the lead Democratic…

Nov 24, 2020 4:34 PM CST

2020 in review: Legal software for working remotely

2020 was my third year writing this legal technology column for the ABA Journal. When I put pen to paper—so to speak—to write my first column of the year back in January, I had no inkling of the upheaval and disruption that would soon befall our country and the world.

Nov 23, 2020 10:50 AM CST

BigLaw firm’s acquisition will produce largest information and discovery law practice in US

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough is joining with the Redgrave law firm to produce the nation’s largest and most comprehensive information and discovery law practice, the law firms announced Tuesday.

Nov 17, 2020 1:16 PM CST

Having a hard time connecting with your witness? Try these tips

You're a plaintiffs attorney with a promising tort case, but getting the narrative evidence you need from a particular witness is like squeezing blood from a stone. How can you get through to them and help ensure that your client gets the damages needed for long-term care? The real problem might be that your communication styles are fundamentally different, says author and trial consultant Katherine James.

Nov 11, 2020 9:03 AM CST

Knowing when to tell your client no and other ethical dilemmas

One of the most important ethical obligations a lawyer has is knowing when to tell their client no. But how do you know when that moment has come, and how do you deal with it?

Oct 21, 2020 10:47 AM CDT

Lawyer deaths and series of tornadoes don’t excuse late filing, federal judge rules

The unexpected deaths of two lawyers and a series of tornadoes don’t excuse the late filing of an expert report on damages, a federal judge in Dallas has ruled.

Jun 23, 2020 11:19 AM CDT

The new world of litigating workplace disputes with social media

Social media has undoubtedly changed the way we communicate, receive news and stay connected in our personal lives. But social media is a headache, once we consider legal and compliance best practices when such interactions in the workplace go awry.

Jun 17, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

How to avoid 10 common ethics pitfalls

We asked legal ethics experts for a primer on the most pressing and pernicious ethics traps out there for the modern lawyer, along with best practices to avoid problems on the front end.

Jun 1, 2020 12:10 AM CDT

Suing a cruise line? There are a boatload of challenges unique to the industry

Bringing a case against an ocean cruise line is challenging. Plaintiffs lawyers say these cases are highly specific and highly specialized, governed by myriad legal standards and subject to investigative challenges. It’s an area so unique that it’s easy for a novice lawyer to make an honest mistake that can permanently sink an otherwise meritorious case.

Jun 1, 2020 12:00 AM CDT

Judge suggests lawyer who opposed extension may want to brush up on karma concepts

A federal magistrate judge in Miami is letting squabbling litigants know that their issues are less important than the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mar 27, 2020 12:15 PM CDT

Appeals court rejects comptroller’s attempt to label bikini-latex clubs as ‘sexually oriented businesses’

Bikini-latex clubs in Texas were handed a win Thursday, after a Houston court rejected an appeal arguing that latex-clad entertainers are considered nude under the law.

Jan 10, 2020 3:22 PM CST

Pro se litigants in pop culture show why representing yourself can be a dangerous decision

The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has a weekly mailing list that sends out the court’s published and unpublished cases. They arrive in quick succession every Thursday morning. It’s a bit of a task to review them all, but I try to categorize the cases for future research. The unpublished…

Nov 25, 2019 10:45 AM CST