New York

‘It’s time to pay the piper’: Ex-lawyer found guilty of criminal contempt in long-running Chevron battle

Disbarred human rights lawyer Steven Donziger was found guilty of criminal contempt Monday for refusing to comply with court orders in a long-running battle with the Chevron Corp. over pollution in Ecuador.

Jul 26, 2021 11:41 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: 7 federal death penalty requests withdrawn; ex-lawyer sentenced for advice on supplements

DOJ withdraws death penalty requests The U.S. Department of Justice has withdrawn requests for the death penalty in seven cases, reversing the stance taken by the department during the Trump administration. The DOJ is still seeking the death penalty in appeals of two other cases—that of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar…

Jul 23, 2021 2:32 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: $26B opioid settlement proposed; lawyer resigns after he’s accused of nude cleaning proposal

Proposed $26B opioid settlement announced A group of state attorneys general have announced a proposed $26 billion settlement between states and four companies that make and distribute opioids. Johnson & Johnson is among the companies that would be released from liability as result of the settlement, which requires it to…

Jul 21, 2021 4:25 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Husch Blackwell merges with boutique firm; man sentenced for threat to Flynn judge

Husch Blackwell will merge with boutique firm Husch Blackwell has announced a merger with a health law boutique that represents hospitals and health care systems in the Boston area. The merger with Summit Health Law Partners gives Husch Blackwell offices in Boston and Providence, Rhode Island—its first offices in the…

Jul 20, 2021 3:39 PM CDT

Ethics opinion gives NY attorneys green light to advise on, partake in cannabis

The New York State Bar Association has announced in an ethics opinion that lawyers may provide legal services to clients in compliance with the state’s new recreational marijuana law.

Jul 12, 2021 12:50 PM CDT

Lawyers’ group helps ease path to citizenship for low-income New Yorkers with interest-free loans

This year, Ana Mclean paid the naturalization application filing fee of $640 and the additional $85 for biometric services using a loan from the Citizenship Loan Program. The initiative offers interest-free loans to permanent residents who live in one of New York City’s five boroughs, Westchester or Long Island.

Jul 12, 2021 9:00 AM CDT

Stormy Daniels’ former lawyer gets prison sentence for trying to extort Nike

The lawyer who once represented adult film actress Stormy Daniels will have to serve prison time for trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike. U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe called lawyer Michael Avenatti’s misconduct “outrageous.”

Jul 9, 2021 9:10 AM CDT

Regional chief judge steps down from administrative role because of Halloween party photo

A regional chief judge in New York has stepped down from his administrative role because of a photo of himself at a Halloween party in 1988.

Jul 7, 2021 3:12 PM CDT

Appeals court slams judge’s ‘utterly racist’ theory on Black defendant’s frontal lobes

A New York appeals court has reduced a burglary sentence because of “shocking” and “utterly racist” comments by a sentencing judge who said the disruptive Black defendant’s frontal lobes were likely “retarded in growth.”

Jul 6, 2021 12:13 PM CDT

State supreme court asked to consider new licensure paths for lawyers

The Oregon State Bar Board of Bar Examiners has adopted a task force report suggesting supervised practice or law school experiential-learning programs as bar exam alternatives for attorney licensure.

Jul 1, 2021 12:52 PM CDT

Trump Organization says CFO is ‘pawn’ for politics in criminal prosecution; indictment alleges tax fraud

Updated: The Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, have been charged with a 15-year scheme to defraud tax authorities by awarding off-the-books compensation to corporate officials.

Jul 1, 2021 9:24 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Justice Thomas questions federal pot law; Jones Day pay case dropped

Justice Thomas questions government’s ‘half-in, half-out’ pot stance U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said Monday the federal government may no longer have the authority to intrude on the states’ powers to legalize marijuana. Thomas commented in a statement regarding cert denial in a tax case involving a pot business.…

Jun 29, 2021 4:34 PM CDT

Lawyer deemed ‘copyright troll’ must file sanctions opinion in all his cases, 2nd Circuit agrees

A federal appeals court has upheld a judge’s nationwide order requiring a copyright lawyer to notify his clients and the courts handling his cases of the sanctions decision against him.

Jun 29, 2021 1:56 PM CDT

New York court suspends Giuliani’s law license, cites false claims about election’s legitimacy

Rudy Giuliani’s law license was suspended in New York on Thursday for “demonstrably false and misleading statements” to bolster a narrative that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.

Jun 24, 2021 12:50 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: SCOTUS overturns another agency structure; corporate diversity suit allowed

Supreme Court rules FHFA structure is unconstitutional The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the structure of the Federal Housing Finance Agency is unconstitutional because its director can only be removed by a U.S. president for cause. The decision will allow President Joe Biden to replace the Trump appointee leading…

Jun 23, 2021 4:21 PM CDT