New York

3 Lawyers Among 10 Charged in Alleged $10M Mortgage Fraud

Three lawyers are among 10 individuals federally charged with conspiracy, bank fraud and wire fraud in an alleged $10 million New York City mortgage loan scam involving straw buyers and fraudulent documents. Akin Ayorinde, a Brooklyn lawyer, and attorneys Anthony Onua and Umana Oton are accused of working with real…

Apr 6, 2010 10:24 PM CDT

Judge Orders Artist and His Lawyers to Disclose Deleted Files and the Persons Responsible

A federal judge has ordered artist Shepard Fairey and his new lawyers in a copyright suit to disclose records that were destroyed, when it happened, and the persons responsible. U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered the disclosure on Monday in a copyright dispute over Fairey’s right to use an Associated…

Apr 6, 2010 2:03 PM CDT

As Feds Cast Wary Eye on Unpaid Interns, Positions Proliferate, Some Aimed at Law Grads

A recent New York Times article about the proliferation of unpaid internships appears to be eliciting a reaction of resigned acceptance rather than a backlash against employers who expect law students and even law graduates to work for free. As the article explains, standards (PDF) developed by the U.S. Department…

Apr 6, 2010 12:43 AM CDT

PI Lawyer Pleads in $2.2M Client Theft, Will Get Between 3 and 9 Years

A New York personal injury lawyer has pleaded guilty in a $2.2 million client theft case and is expected to get between three and nine years. In addition to pleading guilty to grand larceny and scheming to defraud concerning the theft of client escrow and settlement funds, Marc Bernstein, 55,…

Apr 5, 2010 9:18 PM CDT

2nd Cir. OKs eBay Use of Tiffany’s Trademark, But Revives False Advertising Claim

The New York City-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with eBay today in a trademark infringement and dilution case brought by Tiffany & Co., finding that a lower court had correctly permitted eBay to list for sale on its website used items from the renowned retailer. However, its…

Apr 1, 2010 11:28 PM CDT

Who Let the Dogs In?

Non-visually impaired kids are bringing their aide dogs to class

Apr 1, 2010 7:30 AM CDT

Stocks Lower After Judge’s ‘Pigs Fly’ Ruling Striking Down Gene Patents

Many biotech stocks fell after a federal judge’s ruling Monday striking down patents for genes linked to breast and ovarian cancer, even as some observers said the long-term impact could boost genetic research. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Sweet of New York was such a surprise that the…

Mar 31, 2010 2:12 PM CDT

Ex-Arnold & Porter Partner Gets Probation in Tax-Shelter Case, Wanted to Be ‘Big Shot’

A federal judge in Manhattan this week sentenced a former Arnold & Porter partner to three years of probation in a tax shelter case, citing the personal and professional damage he has already suffered and his extensive cooperation as reasons for not sending him to prison. Peter Cinquegrani, 50, who…

Mar 30, 2010 9:42 PM CDT

Trailblazing Lawyer, 91, Feels Pain of Her Pro Bono Foreclosure Clients

At the age of 91, New York’s former solicitor general is going back to her legal roots to volunteer on behalf of clients facing foreclosure. Shirley Adelson Siegel was the only woman in her class at Yale Law School, and she still stands out, the New York Times reports. “At…

Mar 30, 2010 12:40 PM CDT

Lawyer Who Jumped to His Death Probed in Alleged $11M Ponzi Scheme

A Long Island lawyer who killed himself by jumping off the roof of his office building last week is now under investigation in an alleged $11 million Ponzi scheme. Nassau County prosecutors are investigating 39 complaints about the lawyer, 70-year-old Jay Korn, who practiced law in Hempstead, N.Y., according to…

Mar 30, 2010 11:35 AM CDT

NYC Council Has Answer for Proof-of-Service Questions: GPS Confirmation

The New York City Council passed a bill Thursday intended to make sure that defendants actually receive notice of pending lawsuits. The bill requires process servers to record the date, time and location of service with a Global Positioning System, the New York Times reports. Licensing and bonding are also…

Mar 26, 2010 11:35 AM CDT

Law Student Who Sued School re Grade Needs to Study Up on Contract Law, Appeals Court Says

A law student who sued his school over a C in his legal writing course not only got a fair evaluation in that subject but needs to do some more studying on the law of contracts, too, according to an appeals court ruling today. Timothy Keefe, who represented himself pro…

Mar 25, 2010 10:26 PM CDT

Suit Claims Patent Denied Because of Plagiarism by Ropes & Gray Partner

A lawsuit filed by a top genetics research laboratory claims one of its patent applications was denied because a partner at Ropes & Gray lifted language from a patent obtained by a rival scientist. The February lawsuit by the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory targets the work of former partner Matthew…

Mar 25, 2010 1:51 PM CDT

Complex Wall Street Salary Situation Adds Up to Extra Work for Divorce Counsel

It’s either the best of times or the worst of times for financial executives to get divorced right now, depending on your perspective. Restrictions on pay for many Wall Street financial executives, since the global economic crisis and government bailout that have taken place during the past 18 months or…

Mar 24, 2010 7:34 PM CDT

Tax Attorney Likely to Lose Law License After Guilty Plea in Strip Club Case

A 53-year-old tax attorney has pleaded guilty to a felony concerning the unlicensed New York City strip club he allegedly operated in Manhattan. Although Louis Posner will serve no jail time, the Associated Press says he will be sentenced to 60 days of community service. His guilty plea to promoting…

Mar 24, 2010 7:07 PM CDT