Tort Law

Suit Claims Lawyer Broke His Wrist in Deposition Fracas with Drinker Biddle Partner

A California lawyer claims in a lawsuit that his wrist was broken during a deposition fracas in Beverly Hills because of a “martial art move” by a partner at Drinker Biddle & Reath. Lawyer William Bloch filed suit against Drinker Biddle and partner Henry Shields in Santa Monica superior court,…

Jul 28, 2011 2:26 PM CDT

Law Firm Makes Lemonade After Supremes Nix AT&T Class Action, Now Pursues Individual Arbitrations

Updated: A U.S. Supreme Court ruling that initially seemed like a clear win for AT&T Inc., requiring consumers to arbitrate their claims individually rather than bring a class action over an alleged sales-tax overcharge on discounted cell phones, now appears perhaps to have been something of a Pyrrhic victory. A…

Jul 28, 2011 12:04 AM CDT

Cozen O’Connor Sues Landlord, Alleges Leaky Atrium, Eyesores, Odors and Elevator Entrapments

When Cozen O’Connor renewed its lease for five years at its Philadelphia headquarters last July, it expected to be occupying a Class A building. But the law firm says it has had to cope with a litany of aggravating problems ranging from a leaky atrium with buckets and trash cans…

Jul 27, 2011 8:12 PM CDT

Appeals Court Rejects Found-in-Trash Claim, Orders Davy Crockett Marriage Doc Returned to County

Calling a found-in-the-trash claim made on an Antiques Roadshow television episode a dog that won’t hunt, a Tennessee appellate panel has also agreed with a lower court that an unexecuted 1805 marriage license for Davy Crockett, the famed American frontiersman, soldier and politician, must be returned to the courthouse from…

Jul 27, 2011 7:44 PM CDT

Ally Financial Suit Says Employee Moonlighted as Foreclosure Defense Lawyer, Stole Confidential Info

One of the nation’s largest mortgage lenders and servicers has filed a federal lawsuit against a former employee. It contneds that Tanya Blackwell moonlighted as a foreclosure defense attorney in private practice while using her day job as a foreclosure specialist at Ally Financial’s GMAC unit to obtain confidential information…

Jul 27, 2011 6:18 PM CDT

Ex-Partner Sues Irell & Manella, Says She Was Forced to Leave for Complaining re Partner’s Conduct

An attorney who had been with Irell & Manella for 17 years and formerly headed its entertainment transactions group has filed a discrimination suit against the law firm. Among the allegations made by Juliette Youngblood in her Los Angeles Superior Court suit are that she was discriminated against for taking…

Jul 25, 2011 11:52 PM CDT

Couple Sues Duane Morris, Claims Estate Plan Partner Pointed Them Toward Investing with Madoff

A couple who say they came to Duane Morris for estate planning advice and wound up investing in a feeder fund for Bernard Madoff’s massive Ponzi scheme has sued the Philadelphia-based law firm for malpractice. Developer Daniel Keating III and his wife assert claims for breach of contract, professional liability…

Jul 25, 2011 11:31 PM CDT

Legal Secretary’s Discrimination Suit Against Jones Day Is Dismissed

A discrimination suit filed against Jones Day by a former secretary at the law firm’s office in Los Angeles has been dismissed. Above the Law provides links to the June 6, 2011, bench ruling (PDF) by Superior Court Judge Mary Ann Murphy dismissing five of the 13 counts pleaded by…

Jul 25, 2011 5:13 PM CDT

Thos. Jefferson Answers Grad’s Suit, Says Bar-Pass Stats Showed Some JDs Weren’t Working Lawyers

Answering a California lawsuit filed by an unhappy graduate who says she’s working as a document reviewer despite earning a law degree with honors, Thomas Jefferson School of Law says it did nothing wrong. The institution accurately reported its employment statistics, under applicable standards, to U.S. News & World Report…

Jul 22, 2011 6:06 PM CDT

Woman Sues Jet Blue, Says She Was Kicked Off Flight Until She Could Prove She Had Underwear On

A New York financial consultant has filed a state-court lawsuit against Jet Blue, contending that the discount carrier refused to fly her to Florida until she could prove she had underwear on. Escorted off a plane earlier this month, Malinda Knowles, 27, says she had to pull up her t-shirt…

Jul 22, 2011 4:44 PM CDT

Defense Seeks Reversal of $10.6M Death Award, Says Lawyer Didn’t Disclose ‘Stink Bomb’ Email

A $10.6 million award in what may be Virginia’s biggest wrongful death case is being challenged based on a prominent plaintiff lawyer’s claimed failure to disclose what the defense says he called a “stink bomb” email, among other information. On July 5, defense attorneys for Allied Concrete Co. and William…

Jul 22, 2011 12:23 PM CDT

Motion: Kasowitz Troops Posed as Sham Hedge Fund Execs to Contact Represented Man

A motion to disqualify Kasowitz Benson Torres & Friedman from continuing to represent the plaintiff insurer in a hard-fought lawsuit against multiple hedge funds contends that the law firm contacted a represented individual working for one of the defendants in the case. Multiple hedge fund defendants in the New Jersey…

Jul 21, 2011 8:00 PM CDT

Kim Kardashian Sues Old Navy, Says Store Used Lookalike Model in Ads

Reality television temptress Kim Kardashian filed a federal district court lawsuit against Old Navy and the clothing retailer’s parent company yesterday, contending that the store infringed on her right of publicity by using a lookalike model in its advertising. Filed yesterday in the Central District of California, the suit, which…

Jul 21, 2011 5:23 PM CDT

Federal Judge OKs $97.5K Verdict Won By Goodwin Procter in Pro Bono ‘Contempt of Cop’ Arrest Case

The chief federal criminal trial judge in Washington, D.C., yesterday rejected the city’s call for a new trial in a “contempt of cop” arrest case in which a jury awarded a woman $97,500. Represented by Goodwin Procter on a pro bono basis, Lindsay Huthnance contended she had been unconstitutionally arrested…

Jul 20, 2011 9:27 PM CDT

Attorney Facing 80 Felony Counts in Law Firm Embezzlement Case

A lawyer working as a paralegal at a small Fort Lauderdale law firm is facing over 80 felony counts in a case concerning her alleged embezzlement from Hermelee & Geffin and an attorney officed there. Charged yesterday in Miami-Dade Circuit Court with crimes including grand theft and forgery, 53-year-old Brenda…

Jul 20, 2011 4:48 PM CDT