New York

General counsel for Al Jazeera America seems to lack a law license, New York Times says

The general counsel for media company Al Jazeera America has been suspended and a BigLaw firm has been brought in to conduct an investigation of a claim by the New York Times that he is not licensed to practice law. David Harleston, an executive with Al Jazeera who also serves…

Nov 9, 2015 4:15 PM CST

Coal company will change disclosures on business risks of climate change to end state AG’s probe

The nation’s largest publicly traded coal company, Peabody Energy Corp., has agreed to change its shareholder disclosures to reflect the business risks associated with climate change and the regulatory response. The agreement, in the form of an assurance of discontinuance (PDF), ends an investigation by New York Attorney General Eric…

Nov 9, 2015 7:44 AM CST

Law firm criticizes a Nissan ad which featured a race with school bus, urges people to sign petition

Update: A New York personal injury law firm is seeking to take a leading role in a public campaign over a Nissan Altima ad that they are calling irresponsible. “In this commercial, Nissan is promoting unsafe driving habits,” says Brindisi Murad Brindisi & Pearlman in a Thursday blog post. The…

Nov 6, 2015 3:50 PM CST

Quid pro quo? Doctor testifies about ‘relationship’ with lawmaker who got millions in referral fees

Was it a quid quo pro? A physician testifying this week in the trial of a former New York legislative leader accused of misusing his office to get millions in law firm referral fees didn’t expressly say so. But Dr. Robert Taub did tell the jury that he hoped by…

Nov 6, 2015 9:45 AM CST

Exxon Mobil disclosures about climate-change risks are probed by New York AG

Exxon Mobil is being investigated by the New York attorney general’s office to determine whether the company lied to consumers about climate change risks or lied to investors about how those risks could affect its oil business. News of the probe was reported Thursday by the New York Times, which…

Nov 5, 2015 3:50 PM CST

Ex-prosecutor who choked woman at bar while costumed as Clark Kent gets community service

A former Manhattan prosecutor has been sentenced to 10 days of community service and alcohol counseling concerning a 2014 incident in which he choked a woman at a Halloween party being held at a New York City bar, while costumed as Clark Kent. Eli Cherkasky, 35, was convicted of assault,…

Nov 5, 2015 2:05 PM CST

Juror is fined $1K for posting on Facebook and causing mistrial

Add another name to the growing list of jurors sanctioned for social media use during trial, in violation of the court rules. “Dying from boredom” while serving as a juror in a New York City robbery case in September, Kimberly Ellis couldn’t resist posting on her emotional state and details…

Nov 4, 2015 4:30 PM CST

Trial begins for former NY Assembly leader accused of misusing office to earn legal fees

Was Sheldon Silver “on the take,” as a prosecutor contended? Or a champion of the little guy who interwove his role as a New York legislative leader and a private attorney in an entirely legal manner? Those were the competing stories presented to a jury in Manhattan on Tuesday as…

Nov 3, 2015 3:00 PM CST

Fast-growing firm plans New York expansion, will plant flag in another state next year

A fast-growing New York law firm is adding to its Binghamton office next month, plans to open in New York City next year and is looking to plant its flag in another state as well. “Our firm has gone national. We have offices across New York state, offices in California…

Oct 29, 2015 4:45 PM CDT

Proposed law would ban federal prosecutors from reading emails between prison inmates and attorneys

Federal officials in Brooklyn, New York, say it isn’t practical to segregate inmate emails to their legal counsel from ordinary email. So the feds have solved the confidentiality problem by saying there isn’t any: Prosecutors have the right to review the electronic communications, although in-person attorney-client conversations and hard-copy letters…

Oct 29, 2015 4:25 PM CDT

New York bar pass rates at their lowest point in at least 11 years

Bar pass rates in New York state have fallen to their lowest point in at least 11 years, new figures show. Only 70 percent of first-time test takers passed the July administration of the state bar exam, according to figures (PDF) released Tuesday by the New York State Board of…

Oct 27, 2015 2:35 PM CDT

For the second time this year, judge dismisses charges against defense attorney

For the second time this year, a judge has dismissed charges against New York lawyer George Galgano. According to a Monday story in the Journal News, Westchester County Court Judge David Zuckerman dismissed an indictment filed by the Putnam County District Attorney against Galgano, a criminal defense attorney. Galgano had…

Oct 27, 2015 1:15 PM CDT

Appeals court OKs suit against school district over a student who knocked down others on field trip

A divided New York appellate court has OK’d a lawsuit filed against a school district by the parents of two girls knocked to the ground by an 11-year-old boy during a field trip to the Bronx Zoo. At issue is whether those in charge properly supervised the children during the…

Oct 26, 2015 3:45 PM CDT

Effectiveness of drug court is questioned after shooting death of police officer

A man accused of killing a New York City police officer this week was on the streets through provisions of a drug court, despite a lengthy rap sheet and probation violations, the Associated Press reports. The incident has become the center of renewed debate over the effectiveness of such courts.…

Oct 23, 2015 4:50 PM CDT

Billionaire donors nix $20M gift after judge rules that college can’t be renamed

Wall Street billionaire Sanford Weill and his wife have withdrawn a $20 million gift to a struggling New York college after a judge ruled that it could not be renamed. Under the terms of J. Phelps Smith’s bequest of $2.5 million to found Paul Smith’s College in 1937, it had…

Oct 22, 2015 3:40 PM CDT