New York

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

Law Grad Spots Stylish Attire in Trash

When she moved to Chicago from New York after graduating from law school last year, Lauri Apple, who is still looking for the job of her dreams, knew of at least one good way to save money. If she needs something to wear, she takes a look in the local…

Aug 6, 2007 9:47 PM CDT

Conventional Salary Wisdom Wrong

Young female lawyers in New York City are making more money than their male peers. That’s the finding of a study of men’s and women’s wages in major cities, the New York Times reports. The analysis of U.S. census data found that New York City working women of all educational…

Aug 3, 2007 3:33 PM CDT

Hate Not Required for Hate Crime

A New York judge has upheld hate crime charges against three suspects accused of choosing their gay victim because they thought he would be an easy mark. The suspects are accused of robbing, beating and chasing the victim, Michael Sandy, who died after he ran into traffic and was struck…

Aug 3, 2007 1:45 PM CDT

Backup Saved Bar Exam Answers

A backup system preserved the essays of those who ran into software glitches when they tried to upload answers to the New York bar exam. Douglas M. Winneg, president of the company that made the exam software, told the New York Law Journal that he believes all the essays have…

Aug 3, 2007 12:00 PM CDT

New Bankruptcy Dept for Cravath

Signaling a sea change in the way that one of New York City’s most prestigious, upper-echelon law firms runs its practice, Richard Levin has now been working as a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore for a month. Levin not only represents a very rare exception to Cravath’s ordinary policy…

Aug 2, 2007 9:35 PM CDT

Prosecutor Looking into ‘Spitz’ Situation

A year ago, Eliot Spitzer was a well-known prosecutor, famous for his aggressive approach to his job as the attorney general of New York. Now the tables have been turned. Spitzer—who took office Jan. 1 as governor of New York after being elected in a landslide on a reform platform—is…

Aug 2, 2007 4:38 PM CDT