New York

Judge Scolds Lawyer Litigant for ‘Vitriolic and Venomous Allegations’

A New York family court judge has refused to modify a visitation agreement and scolded the feuding parents, one of whom is a lawyer. Judge Conrad Singer of Nassau County said the parents had appeared before three different judges in three years to air their disputes, the New York Law…

Oct 24, 2007 11:14 AM CDT

Respect for Precedent Swings Dissenter to Majority in NY Capital Case

A justice who dissented when New York’s highest court struck down the state’s death penalty law in 2004 said in a 4-3 opinion (PDF) today that the precedent required him to switch sides. The court ruled in the case of a man on death row for killing five Wendy’s employees,…

Oct 23, 2007 6:48 PM CDT

Lawyers Embrace ‘Paid Volunteerism’ Trend

Retired Cravath partner Frederick A. O. Schwarz Jr. may have been at the leading edge of a trend when he went to work for the Brennan Center for Justice five years ago. More seniors are retiring and taking less stressful or more rewarding jobs for nonprofits that pay a salary,…

Oct 23, 2007 4:05 PM CDT

Indicted Partner Acquitted in 1991 Ponzi Case

The Baker & McKenzie partner who was indicted Friday for allegedly taking a $1.7 million kickback in short-selling scheme was acquitted of participating in another investment conspiracy in a 1991 case, the New York Law Journal reports. In the present case, Martin Weisberg is accused of taking the kickback from…

Oct 23, 2007 11:26 AM CDT

Old Issues, New Policy for FBI

A controversial decision by the FBI to require supervisory personnel to rotate every five years comes in conjunction with an eye-popping series of recent cases alleging years-ago misconduct. Currently, a retired FBI supervisor is on trial in Brooklyn for allegedly helping a prized Mafia informant murder four people, as the…

Oct 22, 2007 7:21 PM CDT

Two Cases Challenge Clampdown on Terrorism Talk

The First Amendment is being cited in two cases challenging the government’s attempt to bar controversial Muslim views from being voiced here. “The question before the judges considering the two cases is thus a difficult one,” Adam Liptak writes in his Sidebar column for the New York Times. “What role…

Oct 22, 2007 6:02 PM CDT

Ex Jenkens Partner Named in Fraud Case

A New York partner of Baker & McKenzie has been indicted in a federal securities fraud case involving alleged corporate kickbacks, along with executives and two individual investors. Attorney Martin Weisberg and the five other defendants “face a variety of charges, including conspiracy, securities fraud and money laundering,” reports the…

Oct 19, 2007 9:34 PM CDT

Pedestrian Appeals Disorderly Conduct Case

It isn’t just Sen. Larry Craig who’s changed his mind about pleading guilty to a disorderly conduct charge. The case of Brooklyn man who spent a night in jail after apparently being charged with disorderly conduct simply because he was standing on a public sidewalk in Manhattan may soon help…

Oct 18, 2007 11:31 PM CDT

Lawyer’s Fame-Claim: Model Client

A 23-year-old model who filed suit yesterday against her 54-year-old billionaire ex-boyfriend, over “bizarre and unnatural sex acts” allegedly performed at his 51,000-square-foot New York City mansion when she was 16, is in capable legal hands. “Literally!” exclaims New York magazine in a gossipy rundown on Maximilia Cordero’s legal representation…

Oct 18, 2007 6:47 PM CDT

KPMG Trial Delayed Over Lawyer Ruling

A federal judge has disqualified a defense lawyer and delayed the trial of four defendants accused of helping KPMG promote illegal tax shelters. Judge Lewis Kaplan of New York disqualified Steven Bauer of Latham & Watkins following accusations of a secret defense pact, the Wall Street Journal reports (sub. req.).…

Oct 18, 2007 6:33 PM CDT

Judge Restricts Evidence in 9/11 Trial

People who received calls from passengers aboard a flight that crashed into the Pentagon on Sept. 11 will not be allowed to testify in a suit by one of the victims. Judge Alvin Hellerstein of New York ruled evidence that is too speculative or sensational should be excluded from next…

Oct 18, 2007 3:29 PM CDT

Partners of WTC Law Firm Feud Over 9/11 Insurance Proceeds

Updated: A dispute among law firm partners over the division of compensation for the Sept. 11 attacks may proceed to trial as a result of a judge’s ruling. Insurance defense firm Ohrenstein & Brown received about $10 million in insurance money after its offices in the World Trade Center were…

Oct 18, 2007 12:15 PM CDT

Democrats Have Lucrative Links to Milberg

Four Democratic presidential candidates have accepted campaign contributions from lawyers connected to Milberg Weiss since the securities class action firm was indicted on charges of paying kickbacks to lead plaintiffs. John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joseph Biden are among 26 Democrats who have accepted $150,000 in Milberg-related contributions,…

Oct 18, 2007 11:02 AM CDT

Milberg Struggles After Strategic Missteps

Milberg Weiss made several strategic missteps after a split with its California office that are threatening the now-indicted law firm, lawyers familiar with the situation told the Recorder. The New York-based Milberg was not as aggressive in courting pension fund clients, needed after reform legislation passed in 1995 made securities…

Oct 18, 2007 10:34 AM CDT

Firm Can Arbitrate After Partner Litigation

A New York law firm can still enforce an arbitration clause in its partnership agreement, even after it litigates other issues on an emergency basis, a state appellate court has decided. Overruling a lower court ruling that said contract partner Linda Stark could have her day in court concerning breach…

Oct 17, 2007 4:46 PM CDT