Tort Law

Legal Fee-Sharing Dispute re $400K Wasn’t Covered by Malpractice Insurance, Federal Court Rules

When attorney Adam Clermont left Freedman DeRosa & Rondeau to form his own firm, he took several plaintiff’s personal injury files with him. He and his former firm agreed to split the fees 50-50, but after Clermont got a $686,000 payout on one of them he didn’t ante up, writes…

Apr 11, 2011 4:55 PM CDT

Sext Discrimination? Ex-Staffer Claims Associate Sent Her Inappropriate Image

Updated: Sued by two former female employees for alleged gender-based employment discrimination and federal civil rights violations, a Dallas law firm is apparently arguing with at least one over whether an associate’s email to the woman did or did not link to a photo of a partner’s penis. Plaintiff Katherine…

Apr 11, 2011 3:36 PM CDT

UK Attorney Says Tabloid Hacked Up to 7,000 People’s Phone Messages; Big-Bucks Cases Expected

A tabloid newspaper in the United Kingdom could be exposed to as much as $70 million in potential damages claims after hacking into voicemail messages for as many as 7,000 people between 2004 and 2006, according to a plaintiff’s lawyer and other observers. Charlotte Harris, a partner at Mishcon de…

Apr 11, 2011 2:37 PM CDT

Widener Law Prof Whose Hypothetical Involved Dean’s Murder Now Sues Her in Real-Life Defamation Case

A tenured associate law professor at Widener University School of Law has sued the dean over statements she made during an earlier battle over a controversial classroom hypothetical. Lawrence Connell contends that dean Linda Ammons falsely characterized him as racist and sexist in administrative proceedings when she sought to oust…

Apr 8, 2011 5:25 PM CDT

Former Mich. Assistant AG Sued for Defamation by Student He Denounced as ‘Radical Homosexual’

A former assistant attorney general in Michigan is facing a defamation lawsuit that claims he “developed a bizarre personal obsession” with a student the lawyer denounced in blog posts as a “radical homosexual.” The suit was filed by Christopher Armstrong, former president of the University of Michigan student assembly, according…

Apr 7, 2011 3:17 PM CDT

Held in Contempt, But Still Victorious: ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Founder Wins Civil Trial

After a rocky start in a civil trial, Girls Gone Wild founder Joe Francis has won a lawsuit by four women who claimed their underage videos caused lasting psychological harm. After 12 hours of deliberations that ended at about 1 a.m. today, Florida jurors found for Francis, according to WJHG.com.…

Apr 7, 2011 11:37 AM CDT

Associate Claims in Suit He Was Forced Out of Canadian Firm for Complaint About Groping Partner

A former associate claims in a $1.3 million wrongful dismissal suit that he was forced out of a Canadian law firm after he alleged a drunken partner groped a law student during a late-night party at a Toronto bar. Adrian Jakibchuk alleges that partners at Mathews Dinsdale & Clark refused…

Apr 6, 2011 2:16 PM CDT

Lawyer Who Sued Over 109 Missing Square Feet Wins $150K Settlement

A New York lawyer has won a $150,000 settlement in his suit against a Brooklyn developer that claimed the living space in the condo he wanted to buy was 109 square feet smaller than advertised. Rishi Bhandari and his wife, Heather, gave up an additional $20,000 offered in the settlement…

Apr 6, 2011 1:35 PM CDT

Mom Sues School, Says Teacher Posted Her Daughter’s Photo on Facebook, Publicly Mocked Hairstyle

The mother of a 7-year-old elementary school student has sued the Chicago Public Schools and her daughter’s teacher for allegedly posting the child’s photo on a Facebook page and publicly mocking her hairstyle. Lucinda Williams is seeking damages in Cook County Circuit Court for the emotional distress she says her…

Apr 6, 2011 12:03 AM CDT

Former Howrey Staffer Files WARN Suit Over Law Firm’s Layoffs

In the first of a series of expected worker lawsuits against Howrey, former staffer Stephanie Langley has filed suit against the law firm contending that it failed to meet its obligation under the WARN Act to provide employees with 60 days of notice prior to its closing. Her complaint (PDF),…

Apr 5, 2011 10:03 PM CDT

Cleveland Browns Fan Sues NFL over Lockout; Experts Give Suit Little Chance

A Cleveland Browns fan has sued the National Football League, claiming that the lockout and lack of negotiations violated his contract to buy tickets through his personal seat license. The plaintiff is Ken Lanci, the owner of a printing business who ran unsuccessfully for Cuyahoga County chief executive, report the…

Apr 5, 2011 3:50 PM CDT

Suit Claims ‘Screaming Attacks’ by Nev. Bar Official Led to Grading Errors on 2010 Bar Exam

A lawsuit filed by three former employees of the State Bar of Nevada claims the group’s executive director “launched screaming attacks” on the bar’s admissions director that led to her resignation and mistakes in the grading of the February 2010 bar exam. According to the suit, the grading errors apparently…

Apr 5, 2011 11:58 AM CDT

Driver Crashes Into Law Office, Destroys Name Partner’s Desk

Ordinarily, attorney Michael Ready spends much of the time he is in the office at his desk. So he has to feel fortunate that the driver who crashed into the Ready Kiernan & McNally law offices in New Bedford, Mass., and destroyed his office did so yesterday morning, rather than…

Apr 4, 2011 9:04 PM CDT

Did News Anchors Have a Steamy Relationship, or Was One a ‘Sociopathic Narcissist’? Jury Will Decide

A defamation suit filed by a fired Philadelphia news anchor against her former network and co-anchor is focusing on whether the two had a steamy relationship, as he claims, or, as she claims, he is a “sociopathic narcissist.” In recent developments, ex-KYW star Alycia Lane, 38, denies deposition claims by…

Apr 4, 2011 7:20 PM CDT

Will GE Be Liable in Design of Japanese Nuclear Plants? Law Prof Questions Traditional Wisdom

The traditional wisdom is that General Electric won’t face liability for its design of the containment systems used at the 1970s-era nuclear reactors damaged in the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. GE may be protected by Japanese law that limits liability to the plant operator, which is obligated to carry…

Apr 4, 2011 10:30 AM CDT