States

Sex Offender Neighbor Violates Lease

A New York judge has ruled an upstate couple can terminate their lease without penalty because a sex offender moved in next door. Watertown City Court Judge James C. Harberson Jr. said the couple was entitled to break the lease, citing a New York law that bars conditions that are…

Aug 21, 2007 3:29 PM CDT

SEC Sues Sentinel

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed civil fraud charges yesterday against Sentinel Management Group, alleging the short-term investment management company misled clients about the reasons it was freezing a $1.5 billion fund. The actions followed Sentinel’s bankruptcy filing on Friday, reports the New York Times’ DealBook blog. Sentinel told clients…

Aug 21, 2007 2:55 PM CDT

Setbacks in Lead Paint Suits

Lead paint litigation looked promising when a Rhode Island jury last year found paint companies liable for creating a public nuisance. Since then, a series of rulings shielding paint manufacturers have changed that outlook, the National Law Journal reports. The Rhode Island action, brought by the state’s attorney general, was…

Aug 21, 2007 1:07 PM CDT

Suit Targets Lawyer in Trust Dispute

An animal shelter has accused a Pittsburgh lawyer of improperly diverting money from a widow’s estate to three of his favored charities. The no-kill Pittsburgh shelter, Animal Friends, claims Gregory Harbaugh obtained power of attorney from widow Rita Conrady as her health was failing and then changed her trust to…

Aug 21, 2007 12:38 PM CDT

Lawyers Subpoenaed in KPMG Case

Two lawyers from Hogan & Hartson have been subpoenaed to provide information about their representation of a client who is suing KPMG for selling him improper tax shelters. KPMG sought the subpoenas last month for information from lawyers Prentiss Feagles, co-director of Hogan & Hartson’s tax practice, and Paul Rogers,…

Aug 21, 2007 11:27 AM CDT

Immigration Worries for Florida Students

As a star student and popular football player, Juan Gomez got a lot of attention over his recent arrest as an illegal immigrant shortly after his high school graduation. But many other Miami students—exactly how many, no one knows—are facing the same problem, too. More than 20 percent of the…

Aug 20, 2007 9:49 PM CDT

Molester’s Appeal Backfires

A convicted child molester who spent years appealing for release unwittingly extended his Louisiana prison stay—for life. Sherman Burton has been in state prison since 1999, appealing his 20-year sentence. But while he was set to be released in 2019, his appeal caught the attention of New Orleans court authorities…

Aug 20, 2007 9:09 PM CDT

More Career Choices for Women Lawyers

Women lawyers are moving into a broader range of practice areas as traditional expectations about appropriate legal career choices for female attorneys are erased. It is now commonplace to see women in intellectual property, health care, and financial and investment services practices, reports Crain’s Detroit Business, noting that some 44…

Aug 20, 2007 7:56 PM CDT

Vick Agrees to Plea Deal, Prison ‘Likely’

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick reportedly will accept a plea deal in a week that is “likely” to put him to prison. Sentencing, however, is not expected to take place for months. According to one of his attorneys, Lawrence Woodward, the football superstar agreed to plead guilty to one charge…

Aug 20, 2007 6:55 PM CDT

Firms Represent Bridge Victims Pro Bono

High-profile firms in Minnesota are pooling together, offering to represent victims of the Aug. 1 Minneapolis interstate bridge collapse for free. According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Big Tobacco veteran Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi is among a “who’s who” list of plaintiffs firms signed up to represent victims pro bono.…

Aug 20, 2007 6:45 PM CDT

In AR, You’re Never Too Young to Marry

Arkansas lawmakers passed a law this year that inadvertently allows residents of any age—including toddlers—to marry so long as their parents agree. The mistake may prompt the governor to call a special legislative session to fix the language, the Associated Press reports. At issue is legislation meant to set 18…

Aug 20, 2007 5:21 PM CDT

Judge Appoints PD, Has Him Arrested

Updated: Criminal law blogs are abuzz over the contempt case of Brian Jones, an assistant public defender in Portage County, Ohio. Seems that Jones was appointed Wednesday by Portage County Municipal Court Judge John Plough to represent Jordan Scott, 20, on a charge of misdemeanor assault. The trial was then…

Aug 20, 2007 3:38 PM CDT

Editorial Hits ‘Kentucky Trial Derby’

A Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) editorial takes aim at Kentucky for its lax oversight of three tort lawyers accused of overpaying themselves as much as $62 million in a diet drug settlement. The case has become “a black eye for Kentucky’s legal establishment,” the newspaper says. It takes issue…

Aug 20, 2007 2:02 PM CDT

Malpractice Deal Revealed

Details of a confidential agreement to settle a legal malpractice case have been revealed in a lawsuit over disputed attorney fees in the case. Dallas securities attorney Phillip W. Offill Jr. and his former law firm settled the malpractice case against them last spring for $4.8 million, according to a…

Aug 20, 2007 12:54 PM CDT

Bye-Bye, Billables

One Atlanta law firm has decided to chuck billable hour requirements for first-year associates. New hires at Ford & Harrison, a 190-lawyer labor and employment firm, will devote much of their time to learning. They will observe depositions, attend hearings, and watch litigation strategy meetings, the National Law Journal reports.…

Aug 20, 2007 11:11 AM CDT