New York

Judge Axes $77M Suit Filed Against Kasowitz by Ex-Associate with ‘Superior Legal Mind’

Ruling from the bench yesterday, a New York judge dismissed a $77 million lawsuit filed against Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman by a former first-year associate who said he was unfairly fired by the firm in 2011. Because Gregory Berry signed a valid release after reaching a $27,000 severance agreement…

Jan 11, 2012 11:21 PM CST

Former BigLaw Partner Gets 2 Years in ‘Greek Tragedy’ Tax Evasion Case

John J. O’Brien told a federal judge in Manhattan today that he never expected to get away with failing to pay $2.5 million in tax on $10.8 million in income he earned as a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell. “I never believed for one minute that I was going to…

Jan 11, 2012 7:23 PM CST

In Unusual Public Testimony, NY Probate Judge Defends His Handling of Attorney Overbilling Issue

In rare public testimony yesterday in a Manhattan courtroom, a New York probate judge facing a legal ethics case defended his own conduct concerning an attorney who is accused of stealing money from intestate estates by overbilling. Bronx Surrogate Lee Holzman is accused of failing to report to the proper…

Jan 11, 2012 6:49 PM CST

RV Operated by Nonprofit Offers Mobile Legal Advice, Remote Court Access

A 40-foot RV is bringing justice to low-income individuals in New York. The van is New York’s first legal services office on wheels, according to a press release (PDF). Lawyers from the New York Legal Assistance Group will be visiting at least seven sites each week in the RV to…

Jan 11, 2012 11:30 AM CST

Judge Voids Law Firm Contract Provisions That Discourage Clients from Following Exiting Attorney

A New York judge has voided portions of a law firm employment contract that discourage clients from following an attorney to another legal shop. Agreeing with former Cellino & Barnes attorney Paul B. Becker that a provision forbidding a departing lawyer from informing clients of his impending exit is unenforceable,…

Jan 10, 2012 8:17 PM CST

Davis Polk to Expand London Office Practice with Freshfields Partner, Perhaps Others

Following the lead of several other well-known Wall Street law firms, Davis Polk & Wardwell announced that it is expanding its English law practice at the firm’s office in London. Capital markets specialist Simon Witty of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer will join the London office in April, but it isn’t known…

Jan 9, 2012 10:24 PM CST

2nd Circuit Axes Refco Lawyer’s Conviction in $2.4B Fraud Case, Says Judge Erred re Juror Note

Convicted by a federal jury in New York in 2009 and sentenced to seven years in a $2.4 billion corporate securities fraud case, a former Mayer Brown partner today won a vacation of his conviction. Because Joseph Collins was denied his constitutional right to be present at every stage of…

Jan 9, 2012 8:21 PM CST

Bipolar Lawyer Accused of Trying to Bill Clients for Porn Loses Bias Appeal

A New York Appeals court has ruled for a law firm accused of discriminating against a lawyer who tried to bill clients for porn movies and escort services. James Hazen had been awarded $600,000 for lost pay and mental anguish caused when his firm fired him, according to Thomson Reuters…

Jan 6, 2012 1:34 PM CST

Alleged Cheater Loses Suit Challenging ‘Copy Analysis’ of Her Bar Exam

A would-be lawyer has lost an appeal challenging a decision to toss her 2009 bar exam results for alleged cheating. Rose Dewitt had claimed she was denied due process when the New York State Board of Law Examiners nullified the results based on a “copy analysis” by a professor who…

Jan 3, 2012 4:40 PM CST

NY Official Points Finger at Lawyer for Heiress, Calls $90M in Unpaid Gift Tax ‘Tip of the Iceberg’

An accountant has stepped down from administering the $400 million estate of heiress Huguette Clark and a lawyer is expected to face questions in a Manhattan Surrogate’s Court hearing tomorrow, after the New York public administrator accused the two of failing to pay $90 million she owed in federal gift…

Dec 22, 2011 6:42 PM CST

Law Prof Urges Not Guilty Vote in Pot Cases, Supports Man Arrested for Nullification Advocacy

George Washington University law professor Paul Butler has been urging jurors to vote not guilty in nonviolent drug cases since 1995. “If you are ever on a jury in a marijuana case, I recommend that you vote ‘not guilty’—even if you think the defendant actually smoked pot, or sold it…

Dec 21, 2011 6:42 PM CST

NY Immigration Judges: 14% of Legal Representation Is ‘Grossly Inadequate’

Immigrants appearing in New York immigration courts are getting inadequate representation nearly half the time, according to a new report that surveyed the judges hearing the cases. Judges rated 33 percent of the legal representation as less than adequate and an additional 14 percent as “grossly inadequate,” according to the…

Dec 19, 2011 2:57 PM CST

SEC Appeals Judge’s Rejection of Citigroup Deal, Cites Investor Interest in Immediate Benefit

The Securities and Exchange Commission is appealing a federal judge’s rejection of a $285 million settlement with Citigroup. Robert Khuzami, who heads the SEC’s enforcement division, announced the appeal on Thursday, report the National Law Journal and the Wall Street Journal Law Blog. In a statement, Khuzami said the rejection…

Dec 16, 2011 4:06 PM CST

Judge Kills Foreclosure Over Law Firm’s Late Verifications, Speculates re ‘Conflicted Robosigner’

A New York judge has dismissed a mortgage foreclosure case, with prejudice, because of a well-known law firm’s delay in submitting to the court verifications that it took reasonable steps to check the accuracy of documents filed on the lender’s behalf. The verifications, which have been routinely required in foreclosure…

Dec 13, 2011 6:49 PM CST

Longtime NY Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Felony After Providing Cellphone to Jailed Client

A longtime criminal defense lawyer in Rochester, N.Y., has pleaded guilty to a felony prison contraband charge after admittedly bringing a cellphone and charger into the Monroe County Jail earlier this year and giving them to a client. Rudolph LePore, who was 83 when he was charged earlier this year,…

Dec 13, 2011 11:41 AM CST