New York

Violent Femmes Bassist Blisters Over Royalties

The ’80s American folk-punk band known widely for its song “Blister in the Sun” is now embroiled in litigation. Violent Femmes bassist Brian Ritchie has filed a federal suit in New York against the band’s lead singer Gordon Gano, accusing him of failing to pay a fair share of royalties,…

Aug 16, 2007 4:28 PM CDT

NY Subpoenas Study-Abroad Agencies

The New York Attorney General’s office is investigating whether study-abroad agencies pay cash or other incentives to universities. Lawyer Benjamin Lawsky told the New York Times that the office has issued five subpoenas to study-abroad providers, the first of several to come. The probe follows disclosures that some study-abroad agencies…

Aug 16, 2007 1:38 PM CDT

NY Gun Suit Survives

A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the city of New York that claims 15 out-of-state gun sellers engage in retail practices that lead to illegal gun use. U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein of Brooklyn rejected defendants’ argument that the court did not have personal jurisdiction…

Aug 16, 2007 11:35 AM CDT

Gov’t Atty to Put ‘White Hat’ on Targets

A soon-to-be-former New York government regulator plans to switch sides and serve as a consultant helping those targeted by such probes to don a “white hat” and work cooperatively with the federal, state and/or local agency involved. David M. Grandeau, a lawyer known as an aggressive state lobbying regulator, will…

Aug 15, 2007 10:28 PM CDT

Charities Could Contest Astor Will

Public institutions that stood to inherit more money from earlier versions of Brooke Astor’s will are most likely to object to changes made in the final years of her life. The New York Public Library and the Metropolitan Museum Art are among the charities that will receive smaller donations from…

Aug 15, 2007 1:17 PM CDT

Pleadings: How Judges Really Behave

Crossed arms, files slammed on desks, and language that a court reporter hesitates to enter into the record. This isn’t recommended judicial demeanor, obviously, but such behavior is alleged among the claims and counterclaims being made in a finger-pointing fest that involves several New York City jurists—and even led to…

Aug 14, 2007 10:28 PM CDT

Spitzer Probe Spotlights NY Ethics Group

The ongoing investigation of New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s office concerning a reported effort by his aides to discredit the Senate majority leader has put an unaccustomed spotlight on what until now was a low-profile government group–the State Ethics Commission. On the verge of a major reorganization, the commission is…

Aug 13, 2007 8:53 PM CDT

Get Rich, Get a Divorce

Rising real estate prices in New York have had spurred on-the-fence spouses to make the trip to divorce court. That’s the conclusion of a New York Times article that cited the research of economist Gary Becker, who found that couples experiencing an unexpected and large rise in net worth are…

Aug 13, 2007 4:51 PM CDT

Trying Times for Civil Liberties Lawyer

Life as a civil liberties lawyer isn’t easy for Christopher Dunn, who focuses on First Amendment issues as associate legal director for the New York Civil Liberties Union. He says the government has been trampling free speech and assembly rights through policies such as secret surveillance and mass detentions of…

Aug 10, 2007 3:56 PM CDT

Judge Decries Interpreter Shortage

A New York state judge is trying to shine a light on what he calls a “disturbing lack” of courtroom sign-language interpreters for the deaf. Judge Charles Markey of Queens said employment opportunities are exploding for sign language interpreters, and courts paying $250 a day are not matching rates in…

Aug 10, 2007 3:35 PM CDT

Firm Loses Fee Appeal

A New York judge has ordered a law firm to return legal fees for an appeal and collateral litigation because the original fee agreement never specified additional payment beyond a one-third contingency. Katz & Associates had taken a fee of about $870,000 out of a $1.7 million judgment for its…

Aug 8, 2007 11:51 AM CDT

Tobacco Rulings Conflict

A New York judge has allowed a lawsuit seeking damages for defects in the design of cigarettes, setting up a conflict that may be destined to reach the state state’s highest court. Judge Charles Ramos refused to dismiss a case filed against Philip Morris and other tobacco companies, the New…

Aug 8, 2007 10:45 AM CDT

5 Nixon Attys Defect to Edwards in NYC

Adding more oomph to the New York City attorney roster of Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, five lawyers have jumped ship from Nixon Peabody to join the firm. The two joining as partners, Alphonso E. Tindall, Jr., and Todd J. Peterson, will work with existing Edwards partners in New York…

Aug 7, 2007 8:01 PM CDT

New Evidence in Spitzer Aides Probe

When New York’s attorney general recently concluded that aides to the state’s new reform-platform governor broke no laws in pursuing what some news reports have characterized as a “choppergate” political dirty tricks campaign, he may not have had all the relevant evidence. Aides to Gov. Eliot Spitzer had separate BlackBerries…

Aug 7, 2007 4:45 PM CDT

Bloomberg Not a Juror

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg showed up for jury duty yesterday and answered voir dire questions for an asbestos case. He wasn’t selected. Judge Helen Freedman said Bloomberg would be treated like any other juror, the New York Post reports. When asked if he would take over deliberations if chosen,…

Aug 7, 2007 2:54 PM CDT