Verdicts & Settlements

Sonnenschein Partner in Pay Dispute Can Seek Rescission of Firm Contract, Appeals Court Says

A onetime equity partner of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal who agreed to a “special partner” nonequity employment agreement in 2000 is back in the litigation ballgame. Donald Horwitz can seek rescission of that contract and a retroactive restoration of his rights—and pay—as an equity partner after an alleged breach by…

Apr 1, 2010 9:28 PM CDT

Judge Nixes Texas AG’s Effort to Intervene in Same-Sex Divorce Case

A Texas judge has nixed the state attorney general’s petition to intervene in a same-sex divorce case, finding that another case already on appeal is positioned to address the legal issues raised by Attorney General Greg Abbott. Plus, delaying the divorce already granted to Angelique Naylor, 39, and Sabina Daly,…

Apr 1, 2010 5:46 PM CDT

SEC Considers Releasing ‘a More Fulsome Record’ in Settlements

The Securities and Exchange Commission is considering publicizing more detailed findings of its investigations when it settles suits with individuals and corporations. SEC settlements are often only a few pages in length, but SEC enforcement director Robert Khuzami says that could change, the Washington Post reports. “We’re taking a look…

Apr 1, 2010 12:10 PM CDT

Irell Partner Loses Trial for First Time in 17 Years

A partner at Irell & Manella who once co-headed the prosecution of Enron’s top executives has lost his first trial. It was a long time coming. John Hueston had not had a trial loss in 17 years, the Los Angeles Daily Journal (sub. req.) reports. “I guess now I’m a…

Apr 1, 2010 11:00 AM CDT

Unsettling Advocate

His center battles awards that benefit lawyers but not clients

Apr 1, 2010 6:40 AM CDT

NSA Illegally Wiretapped 2 Lawyers for Islamic Charity, Judge Rules

Federal authorities violated the law by wiretapping two United States lawyers for an Islamic charity without obtaining a warrant, a federal judge in San Francisco has just ruled. The government will almost certainly appeal the much-awaited ruling by Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker of the Northern District of California…

Mar 31, 2010 7:54 PM CDT

Novell Win in Unix Suit Is Victory for Open Source Advocates

A federal jury in Utah has found that Novell Inc. owns the copyright to the Unix operating system, ending a longtime legal battle with the SCO Group Inc. The Novell victory creates problems for SCO in a related lawsuit against IBM that claims SCO owned Unix code that was improperly…

Mar 31, 2010 4:23 PM CDT

Service Animals Now Welcome at Office of Lawyer Sued for Banning Dog

A Colorado lawyer will pay $50,000 and his law firm will post a “Service Animals Welcome” sign to settle a Justice Department complaint that he refused to allow a brain-damaged woman to bring her service dog to a deposition at his offices. Attorney Patric LeHouillier of Colorado Springs will also…

Mar 31, 2010 12:08 PM CDT

Son of Former NYC Mayor Giuliani Loses Suit Over Duke U Golf Team Dismissal

A lawsuit filed by the son of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani over his elimination from the Duke University golf team has been dismissed by a federal judge in North Carolina. Andrew Giuliani failed to establish that there was an enforceable contract between himself and Duke, held U.S.…

Mar 30, 2010 10:14 PM CDT

Boy, Now 12, Will Be Tried as Adult in Murder of Dad’s Pregnant Girlfriend

An 11-year-old boy who police say shot and killed his father’s eight-months-pregnant girlfriend in the family home early last year will be tried as an adult in the homicides of the Pennsylvania woman and her unborn baby. Jordan Brown, now 12, has been charged with criminal homicide and homicide of…

Mar 29, 2010 9:14 PM CDT

PI Attorney Gets 21 Months for Mishandling Law Firm Retirement Accounts

A Georgia personal injury attorney initially accused of embezzling nearly $1 million from his law firm’s pension and retirement accounts was sentenced today to 21 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one charge of obstruction in the 77-count indictment he originally faced. Benjamin Eichholz, 59, also was ordered…

Mar 29, 2010 8:44 PM CDT

Ex-Judge Spends Night in Jail in Reckless-Driving Case

A former Michigan judge who was removed from the bench in a June 2008 state supreme court opinion (PDF) spent a night in jail over the weekend after a reckless driving arrest before being freed on $5,000 bond. After initially being arrested Saturday on suspicion of drunken driving, Beverly Nettles-Nickerson…

Mar 29, 2010 8:12 PM CDT

Newzbin Is Liable for Downloading, Court Rules

A United Kingdom court has ruled that Newzbin is liable for material downloaded by users onto its website in violation of copyright law, finding that editors assisted them in flouting the law and routinely did not follow purported Newzbin rules about what could be posted on the site. The website,…

Mar 29, 2010 5:27 PM CDT

Lawyer Claims Panic Attack Led Her to Accept $350K Settlement from Clifford Chance

A former Clifford Chance associate seeking to reopen a $350,000 bias settlement with the law firm claims a panic attack and pressure from her lawyer led her to accept the deal. Caroline Memnon made the allegations in court papers filed under seal, but the Am Law Daily has copies of…

Mar 26, 2010 3:14 PM CDT

Much-Watched Case of Heiress Worth $80M Could Change Law in World ‘Divorce Capital’

Considered the divorce capital of the world, London poses pitfalls for wealthy spouses who thought their assets were protected in divorce by prenuptial agreements. Courts in the United Kingdom will void provisions in these agreements if they are unfair or the less-wealthy spouse wasn’t properly represented by legal counsel. And…

Mar 26, 2010 12:00 AM CDT