ABA Journal

Trials & Litigation

20152 ABA Journal Trials & Litigation articles.

Taking Sides

AI tools can help litigators pick jurors who might be on their side

A jury is considered the gold standard of U.S. law and a symbol of justice designed to protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty in a fair, impartial trial. And now, artificial intelligence tools are available to help attorneys identify prospective jurors favorable to their cases. But do jury trials remain golden if one side uses AI to select the perfect jury to win?

How a yearslong toxic tort case ended in record $363M verdict

This is how we exposed three decades of misdeeds and obtained a $363 million verdict—the largest in Illinois history on behalf of a single plaintiff.

How I made a career in mass torts

The law appealed to me for many reasons, the primary one being that one person, regardless of socioeconomic status, can take action and stand against a company or governmental actor that had wronged them and realize some modicum of justice—unlike many other legal systems found around the world.

BigLaw firm seeks COVID-19-era rent abatement in $30M suit

Crowell & Moring has filed a lawsuit contending that it is entitled to a rent abatement and interest totaling $30 million because of a “force majeure event” that interfered with its use of the property.

Lawyer banned from Madison Square Garden isn’t entitled to injunction, New York appeals court rules

A lawyer banned from Madison Square Garden after suing the venue isn’t entitled to an injunction forcing Madison Square Garden to admit him and his colleagues to events, according to a New York appeals court.

Retired Florida judge died after eating tainted Jif peanut butter, suit claims

A retired Florida judge died in July 2022 after eating peanut butter that was contaminated with salmonella, according to allegations in a lawsuit seeking damages from the maker of Jif and the grocery store that sold it.

In ‘Actual Malice,’ law prof explains why NYT v. Sullivan mattered in 1964 and is under attack today

The 1964 decision in New York Times v. Sullivan protected the civil rights movement, established the "actual malice" standard, and is the basis for modern American libel law. But in recent years, criticism of the case has grown among conservatives—with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas calling it "policy-driven decisions masquerading as constitutional law" and suggesting that the decision should be reconsidered.

Murder conviction of Adnan Syed of ‘Serial’ podcast fame is reinstated because of notice issue

Adnan Syed's February 2000 conviction for the murder of his ex-girlfriend has been reinstated because the victim's brother got insufficient notice of a hearing last year in which a judge vacated the conviction.

Internet Archive’s scanning and lending of books violates copyrights, federal judge rules

A federal judge in Manhattan, New York City, has granted summary judgment to four publishers that sued the nonprofit Internet Archive for scanning copyrighted books and lending them out in digital form.

Does woman who checks websites for disability compliance have standing to sue? Supreme Court will decide

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether a woman who tests hotel websites for compliance with the Americans With Disabilities act has standing to sue if she has no plans to stay at a targeted hotel.

Florida plastic surgeon accused of killing lawyer who disappeared after going to restroom

A Florida plastic surgeon who filed a lawsuit over alleged medical billing errors by his former employer has been charged with murdering a lawyer representing the defendants.

Ethics lawyer who was fired over tweets about Islam can pursue damages, 6th Circuit says

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Tennessee legal ethics lawyer who was fired for tweeting about Islam can seek damages against his former supervisor.

Associate uploaded over 7,900 documents to external Dropbox before quitting, Littler alleges

Updated: Littler Mendelson is accusing a “disgruntled” associate of uploading more than 7,900 documents to an external Dropbox in February.

Lawyer’s suit over disclosure of ABA Journal subscription tossed by federal judge

A federal judge in Detroit has tossed a Michigan lawyer’s lawsuit contending that the American Bar Association disclosed his membership, and therefore his ABA Journal subscription, to list brokers and others in violation of state law.

Read more ...