Blog Updates
Content Is King
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, June 17, 2013
Articles, speeches, CLEs, attention-getting websites, microsites, blogs, advertising, public relations and electronic and social media are marketing tools commonly used to establish thought leadership.
Sponsor Spotlight
Most Viewed Articles
- Sources: Justice McCaffery Contacted FJD About Cases
- Pa. Justices Uphold Mandatory Judicial Retirement
- Senate Confirms Two Fed. Judges for Eastern District
- Corbett to Nominate Stevens to High Court
- O'Connor Suggests End to Judicial Elections in Pa.
Featured Products
Sponsor Spotlight
As Senior Judge, Sloviter to Maintain Busy Workload
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Judge Dolores K. Sloviter, the first woman to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, told President Obama in her official letter of resignation that she plans to maintain 80 percent of her current workload when she accepts status as a senior judge of the court later this month.
Bruce Castor Joins Rogers and Associates
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. is leaving Elliott Greenleaf, where he is a director and shareholder, to join Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based Rogers and Associates as a partner.
Watch Video Project of Philly Judges Recalling History
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, June 13, 2013
A documentary project portraying a dozen senior judges in Philadelphia is now available on The Legal?s website.
Traffic Court Legislation on Its Way to Governor
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
The Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved the enabling legislation that would eliminate the Philadelphia Traffic Court in the wake of the latest ticket-fixing scandal within that body.
Andrew Chirls Joins Fineman Krekstein
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, June 7, 2013
Andrew C. Chirls has left Philadelphia-based litigation boutique Haines & Associates to join Philadelphia-based general practice firm Fineman Krekstein & Harris.
Minority- and Women-Owned Firms in Pennsylvania
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Each year, we at The Legal publish PaLaw, our report on the legal profession, a magazine packed with surveys, charts, analysis and projections. One of the key parts of PaLaw is our listing of the minority- and women-owned law firms in Pennsylvania. Our goal is always to make the free listing as complete as possible from firms across the state, and to do that we need your help.
The Legal's Best Law Firm Corporate Practices
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, June 3, 2013
Nearly six months ago, The Legal asked law firms across the state to tell us what makes their corporate practices the best. Following a model we set last year when we conducted the Litigation Departments of the Year contest, based on Legal affiliate The American Lawyer’s own contest, we wanted to shift the focus this year to the Pennsylvania firms making an impact with their corporate work. It was the first time we had gone through the process with an eye on corporate practices and we weren’t sure just what to expect, but the submissions we received were numerous and impressive across the board.
Positioning Yourself and Your Firm as a Subject-Matter Expert
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
How much attorneys know and how good they are at what they do are key factors when clients choose whom they want to represent them. These same things are equally important when lawyers consider which colleagues they will refer business to.
Lawyers on the Fast Track Nomination Window Is Open
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Once a year, the Pennsylvania legal community comes together to celebrate the next generation of great attorneys ? The Legal Intelligencer's Lawyers on the Fast Track. But before they can be honored, they have to be nominated ? by YOU!
Red Flags in the Analysis of Balance Sheets - Inventory
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
In recent blogs, I have been discussing red flags in financial data. Red flags are circumstances unusual in nature or deviations from customary activity. In this blog, I want to focus on one specific balance sheet item: the current asset inventory. For manufacturing and merchandising firms, inventory can be a significant balance sheet item.
Aggrieved Parties and Their Right to Appeal
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The Rules of Civil Procedure are designed to facilitate litigation so it can be performed smoothly and predictably. Unfortunately, one simply cannot predict and write a rule for every possible contingency that could happen in the life of a case. There will always be circumstances that seem to fall into the cracks between the rules.
Crisis Management and Law Firms
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Every year, I attend the Legal Marketing Association International Conference, where more than 1,000 industry professionals converge to share thought leadership, best practices and war stories. One of the programs that I particularly enjoyed was ?The Power of Critical Thinking in Communications and Crisis Leadership.?
When Enough Is Enough and a Little Is Too Much
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
As a jury consultant in the region, I received a few calls from reporters asking for commentary about the Kermit Gosnell trial and the fact that, after days upon days of seeing and hearing horrible things, the jurors seemed not to react as strongly to the evidence as they did when the trial began and graphic evidence was first introduced. One reporter wanted to know whether that meant the jurors weren't being impacted by the evidence anymore and whether the graphic nature of the testimony was, in fact, beginning to backfire on the prosecution. My answer: "The evidence is likely still quite impactful, but it very well may become impactful in a way it was not intended to be."
Justices Reject Murderer Lambert's Appeal
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
The state Supreme Court has declined to weigh in on the second Post-Conviction Relief Act petition of Lisa Michelle Lambert, seeming to close the convicted murderer's decades-long series of appeals following her conviction.
City Still on Track to Hire Conflict Counsel
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, May 13, 2013
The city of Philadelphia still plans to enter into a contract with a legal services vendor to represent Philadelphians in criminal and family cases with which the Defender Association of Philadelphia has a conflict, according to Michael R. Resnick, director of public safety.
Attorney Disagrees Precedent Pre-empts Judicial Retirement Suit in Commonwealth Court
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, May 10, 2013
During Pennsylvania Supreme Court oral arguments in two lawsuits challenging mandatory judicial retirement, Justice J. Michael Eakin asked about another lawsuit currently pending in the Commonwealth Court and whether all three cases could be tossed because the high court, in Gondelman v. Commonwealth, has previously rejected a constitutional challenge to mandatory retirement.
Markell Signs Measure Expanding Gun Background Checks
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Governor Jack Markell today signed a bill that would require criminal background checks for all Delaware gun sales, including the transfer of sale of firearms between private parties.
State Senator John Rafferty Joins Lamb McErlane
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
State Senator John C. Rafferty Jr., R-Montgomery, has joined West Chester, Pa.-based Lamb McErlane as of counsel.
Orie Melvin's Resignation Official Today
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Suspended Justice Joan Orie Melvin's stint on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is over today.
Another Candidate Responds to 'Not Recommended' Rating
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The Legal reached one more Philadelphia judicial candidate after our print deadline passed for our story on the ratings arm of the Philadelphia Bar Association rating 13 judicial candidates as "not recommended."
Is Your Headshot Telling the Real Story?
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, April 29, 2013
?A picture is worth a thousand words.? We have all heard this over and again. The question I would ask is whether your headshot tells the story you want to tell.
Superior Court Declines to Reconsider PSU Insurance Venue Dispute
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, April 29, 2013
The state Superior Court has denied re-argument in the appeal of a venue decision it issued in litigation between Penn State and its insurer over the extent to which the university may claim coverage for claims made by accusers of Jerry Sandusky.
Watch a Documentary on Philadelphia Senior Judges
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, April 26, 2013
The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has completed a modern twist on the judicial portrait: a documentary with interviews with the seasoned jurists.
The Oldest Law Firms in Pennsylvania
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
In honor of The Legal's 170th anniversary, we will be publishing a special magazine later this year, covering both the history of the legal profession in Pennsylvania and our newspaper's history. With that in mind, we would like to provide an accurate representation of the oldest Pennsylvania-based law firms. If your firm has been around for more than 100 years, please email Ben Seal at bseal@alm.com to share with us the year it was founded.
Superior Court Offers Refresher Course on Appeals Procedures
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The recent Pennsylvania Superior Court matter of J.J. DeLuca v. Toll Naval Associates, 2012 Pa.Super. 222, involved a large construction contract, alleged breaches of that contract and allegations of fraud over the life of the relationship of the parties in this case. Although the underlying case is interesting, the focus of this article is what amounted to the primer the court gave in its opinion regarding appellate practice.
10 Law Firm Management and Marketing Tips from GCs
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, April 22, 2013
At this year's Legal Marketing Association International Conference, several GCs shared tips for winning and maintaining law firm relationships with big business. The panel of general counsel discussed best practices law firms need to implement to get their companies? legal business and foster long-term relations with in-house counsel.
Nelson Levine Hires Nationwide Senior Vice President
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, April 19, 2013
Blue Bell, Pa.-based insurance law firm Nelson Levine de Luca & Hamilton has added Thomas W. Dietrich, the former senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Nationwide Insurance Companies, to the insurance regulation practice in its Columbus, Ohio, office.
Make It Easier for Clients to Choose Their Lawyer
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Internet gives us free access to information. It's very democratic. There are no barriers to entry. This is a critical paradigm shift from the days when a seller or provider of services held the power because they had access to and were keepers of information that those who purchased from them didn't have and couldn't acquire. In today's world, clients and customers often know as much, if not more, than those with whom they transact.
Schnader Harrison Hires Former UPMC CLO
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis has hired Robert J. Cindrich as counsel in its Pittsburgh office. The former U.S. attorney, judge and chief legal officer of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is joining the firm from a health care consulting company he created in 2010. Along with his role at Schnader Harrison, Cindrich will maintain his duties as president of Cindrich Consulting.
The Legal's Arlen Specter Award Finalists
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
As part of The Legal's 170th anniversary, for which we will publish a special magazine later this year, we will be presenting the first Arlen Specter Award. The award was designed to honor his legacy and recognize an attorney or judge who in the past 10 years has done the most to impact the law, the legal profession or the cause of justice in Pennsylvania.
Hedging Investment in Innovation Through Patents and Trademarks
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Innovation is the basis for success in business today. Consumers and investors are attracted to companies that innovate.
The Legal's Lifetime Achievement Award Winners
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
With this year being The Legal Intelligencer's 170th anniversary, we wanted to do something special to commemorate the occasion and to honor the great history of the legal profession in Pennsylvania. So we decided to identify some of the most important members of the legal community by giving them Lifetime Achievement Awards. Our focus in selecting this group of noteworthy individuals was to represent the figures who have helped to shape the law in Pennsylvania, whether through their work on the bench, assisting those in need of legal services, building a firm or any other means. We had only a select few requirements: the attorney must have had a distinct impact on the legal profession in the state and must still be practicing the law.
Flaster/Greenberg Hires Pa. Real Estate Head
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, April 8, 2013
Cherry Hill, N.J.-based Flaster/Greenberg has hired Robert S. Davis as chair of its Pennsylvania real estate practice.
Setting the Right Foundation for Your Witness Testimony
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, April 8, 2013
While every witness preparation session I conduct is different depending on the needs, communicative issues and messages of a particular witness, there is one thing that I do with just about every witness. I ask the following question: "If I were a juror in your case, what are the three main things I need to learn from you and your testimony." The answers are often astonishing.
Trial Date Set in Traffic Court Ticket-Fixing Prosecution
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, April 4, 2013
The federal judge presiding over the criminal cases of the Philadelphia Traffic Court judges charged with fixing tickets has scheduled their trial for November 12.
Client Marketing for Attorneys
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
One of the best ways to grow a practice is through client marketing. When we visit our clients, there are five things we are looking for to leverage the relationship.
The Legal's General Counsel Breakfast
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, April 1, 2013
The Legal Intelligencer will host a General Counsel Breakfast on Tuesday, April 16, gathering the region's in-house leaders for an interactive panel discussion of the biggest challenges facing GCs in 2013. General counsel and chief legal officers are invited to the complimentary breakfast, which will be held from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel, 1 Logan Square, Philadelphia.
Drinker Biddle Draws From SEC to Bolster White-Collar Team
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, March 25, 2013
Drinker Biddle & Reath has continued the expansion of its white-collar defense team with the hire of another former SEC attorney. Mary P. Hansen, the former assistant director of the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement, has joined Drinker Biddle as a partner in the firm's commercial litigation practice in Philadelphia.
The First Step Toward Preventing Fraud
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, March 25, 2013
Many of my recent forensic and litigation engagements have arisen when business owners (including legal and other professional firms) suddenly learned that trusted individuals within their businesses had perpetrated a fraud upon the business. Most of these business owners had received regular monthly or quarterly financial statements for the business but had failed to read and understand them. Had they done so, they could have caught the fraud earlier or prevented it altogether.
USPS Listens to Deaf Employees' Claims
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, March 22, 2013
The matter of Hubbard v. Donahoe, Civil Case No. 03-1062, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, is a class action lawsuit that pits the United States Postal Service against its deaf and hard-of-hearing employees.
The Legal's Diverse Attorneys of the Year
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Every two years, The Legal Intelligencer recognizes outstanding minority attorneys from across Pennsylvania. We solicited nominations from our contacts around the legal profession and received dozens of responses, all highlighting the impressive work done over the past two years by attorneys from all corners of the legal profession. While all of them are certainly worthy of praise, the editorial staff has selected the following individuals in recognition of their outstanding professional achievements in the two years since we last gave out the honor.
What Does It Mean to Have a Fair Trial?
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
In my career as a jury consultant, I have been confronted repeatedly with the concept of what it means to have a fair trial. The criminal child-molestation trial of Jerry Sandusky was quite a headline-maker for 2012 and I received calls from several newspapers and news stations alike to provide commentary from a jury perspective. Each reporter was concerned with the jurors' connections to Penn State University, for whom Sandusky was the former assistant football coach. Each reporter asked about the implications of jurors' Penn State connections and, considering those connections, whether it was possible Sandusky could have a fair trial. It all got me thinking about what it means to have a "fair" trial as a general concept.
Duquesne Law on Its Way to New Legal Clinic Location
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
A new $500,000 grant coupled with other funding sources could mean a new home for Duquesne University School of Law's clinical programs as early as the start of the next academic year, the school said Tuesday.
Judicial 'Merit Selection' Gets Renewed Push by Four Ex-Governors
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, March 18, 2013
A bill that would give Pennsylvania voters the opportunity to decide whether to amend the state constitutional process for electing appellate court judges has a better chance of advancing than it has in the past, former Governor Ed Rendell said Monday.
The Time Value of Money: Considerations in Present-Value Discounting
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, March 18, 2013
In economic analysis, the concept of "time value of money" is considered a fundamental axiom: a self-evident truth that needs no further proof or explanation. It is the simple fact that in all but the most unusual circumstances, a dollar received today is worth more than a dollar received in the future. To some, this statement may be so obvious that it hardly merits further discussion, but our professional experience indicates wide disagreement among financial experts at times, leading to substantially different loss computations based on discount rate assumptions alone. As forensic accountants, we handle a large number of economic damage claims that are subject to present value calculations, and this post will present a basic overview of the term as well as some considerations in its application to litigation matters. (For the purposes of this article, we do not discuss discount rates that are used in business valuations and lost profit calculations, which are different.)
U.S. Attorney Supports Re-entry Over Retribution
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, March 18, 2013
Law enforcement can't arrest its way out of crime, U.S. Attorney Zane D. Memeger of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said, even though he has spent his 22-year career investigating crimes, prosecuting cases and sending convicted criminals to prison.
Mayor Marks Half-Century Anniversary of Gideon With Defender Association
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, March 15, 2013
Funding for the legal representation of the poor is not funded at an "adequate level anywhere" in the United States, Ellen Greenlee, chief defender with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, said in an interview today.
AG Announces Charges Against Eight Involved in Turnpike Contract Scheme
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, March 11, 2013
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane has announced charges against a former state Senate leader, the former commissioner of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and six others in what Kane called a "pay to play" scheme where vendors were given turnpike work in exchange for political contributions.
Pa. Inspector General Resigns for University GC Post
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, March 11, 2013
Pennsylvania Inspector General Kenya Mann Faulkner has resigned from her cabinet post in advance of taking a position as general counsel of the University of Cincinnati, Governor Tom Corbett?s office announced today.
Image Is Everything: What Your Law Firm Website Says About You
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, March 11, 2013
When someone lands on your law firm website, what do they find? Are they greeted with outdated imagery, old technologies and broken links? Do they find years-old news items as the most recent headlines? When they search on a mobile device, does the site even work or are they greeted with outdated Flash, which is incompatible with Apple devices? And when they visit your attorney bio pages, do they find one full page of names and single-paragraph descriptions with no professional headshots? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, I can just about guarantee that your lost opportunity costs are through the roof.
Common Mistakes in Valuing a Business
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
In the past, I have written about business valuation matters such as types of engagements and reports, assessment of risk, the management interview and where business valuation meets forensic accounting. However, when discussing this topic, I would be remiss not to share the common mistakes that are often made during this process.
Join Us at the PaLaw Managing Partners Breakfast
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The Legal Intelligencer and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cordially invite you to our complimentary PaLaw Managing Partners Breakfast. This event is a gathering of the region's law firm leaders for a networking and information session filled with useful business intelligence.
Making the Effort to Network the Right Way
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, February 25, 2013
Networking is not something that is accomplished at an event; it?s a process. Many attorneys tell us that they?ve tried to network and it hasn?t worked for them. When we ask what they?ve done, they usually tell us that they went to a few events, got nothing out of them and then stopped going. This is not how the process works. It can take years to build up your network to a level that translates into new business. There are no shortcuts to building relationships. Like most things that are worth doing, the process of networking takes time, effort and dedication.
AG Settles Vioxx Claims With Merck for $8.25 Mil.
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, February 22, 2013
Pennsylvania has settled with pharmaceutical company Merck for $8.25 million over the company?s failure to warn the state of the harmful health effects of prescription painkiller Vioxx.
A Reminder to File Post-Trial Motions
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, February 22, 2013
The matter of DeLage Landen Financial Services v. Rovner Allen, 85 Bucks Co. L. Rep. 983 (2012), reminds practitioners to be vigilant in protecting their clients' appeal rights at the conclusion of trials.
Actual Value Initiative: Bad Move, Philadelphia
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, February 21, 2013
On the 2000 block of Chestnut Street sits the Philadelphia Housing Authority building ? 2012-2014 Chestnut St. to be exact. An old, faded notice is affixed conspicuously to the façade, which is also graced with rotting window frames and broken windows. The city?s Office of Property Assessment records show that the building is owned by the Philadelphia Housing Authority. The symbolism is stark.
Duane Morris to Work With Singapore Government on Biz Ops
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Duane Morris has continued to grow its presence in Singapore through its joint law venture in the country, Duane Morris & Selvam. Now that venture will partner with Singapore?s Economic Development Board to link the law firm?s clients in the United States and Latin America with business opportunities in Singapore, Duane Morris said Thursday. The agreement was signed today and is expected to last through 2015.
NCAA Sues Corbett, Row Officers Over Penn State Fine Legislation
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
The NCAA has filed a federal lawsuit against Governor Tom Corbett and the treasurer and auditor general of Pennsylvania over legislation aiming to keep the NCAA's $60 million fine against Penn State, related to the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse scandal, in the state of Pennsylvania.
Montco Republicans Endorse Prosecutor and Ex-DA for Judge
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, February 15, 2013
The Montgomery County Republican Committee endorsed two women attorneys with a prosecutorial background earlier this month to be the party?s standard-bearers for the two open Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas judgeships.
The Judiciary Is Afloat in Stormy Seas, Circuit Judge Tells Law Students
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The judiciary is often referred to as the "third branch" of the federal government. But U.S. Court of Appeals Judge D. Brooks Smith of the Third Circuit, in a speech to Penn Law students this week, retold a joke told by one newly elected member of the House that would have given the federal courts a demotion.
Bar Association Won't Rate Traffic Court Judges
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
While municipal government watchdog group Committee of Seventy suggested that the Philadelphia Bar Association "take responsibility for interviewing and rating all 2013 Traffic Court candidates" in the wake of nine judges being charged with crimes related to alleged ticket-fixing, the association's chancellor said the professional group does not have the jurisdiction to rate Traffic Court judges because they are not required to be lawyers.
Why Haven't I Gotten on the Online Jury Research Bandwagon?
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
It?s all the rage. It is pretty darn cool and it is much less expensive than the old, archaic way of doing things. Online mock trials. The technology now even has avatars that look like jurors sitting around a discussion table talking about your case. Really, how cool is that? There are myriad new and interesting ways to get juror feedback about your case and you don?t even have to leave the comforts of your office. Sorry to say, I am not yet convinced.
K&L Gates Welcomes Back White House Aide to Pittsburgh Office
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
David H. Ehrenwerth has rejoined K&L Gates after two-and-a-half years as an official in the Obama administration. President Obama had appointed Ehrenwerth as the regional administrator of the General Services Administration and, most recently, as associate commissioner of the U.S. Public Buildings Service.
McQueary Says There's No Need to Respond Substantively to Penn State's P.O.s
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, February 1, 2013
Mike McQueary, who is suing Penn State for its handling of his allegations against convicted serial child molester Jerry Sandusky, has declined to comment substantively on the university?s preliminary objections to his lawsuit.
New Jersey Bona Fide Office Rule Change Closes Doors
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, February 1, 2013
Prior to today, New Jersey required attorneys to maintain a fixed physical office location in its state as a condition of practicing law there. That all changed on January 17 when the state Supreme Court amended NJ Rule 1:21-1 (Bona Fide Office). As a result, the rule will have some lawyers closing their proverbial doors.
The Effect of Retiring on Workers' Compensation Benefits
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, February 1, 2013
The matter of Krushauskas v. Workers? Compensation Appeal Board, 56 A.3d 64 (Pa.Cmwlth. 2012), involved a claimant who suffered a work-related injury while working as a stock picker for General Motors. Claimant Thomas Krushauskas filed a penalty petition against GM alleging it unilaterally suspended his benefits without any additional agreement or order. Simultaneously, Krushauskas voluntarily entered GM?s attrition plan and accepted early retirement. The court noted that no one was forced into the attrition plan and, in fact, Krushauskas had 45 days to revoke the decision to enter it. Krushauskas argued that he did not intend to retire and was simply taking advantage of the plan offered.
Public Interest Lawyers Question FJD's Debt Collection
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, January 31, 2013
For the past three years, the First Judicial District has stepped up its effort to collect on forfeited bails and other outstanding debts with the "view," as Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge John W. Herron put it in 2012, "that it's necessary to do so in order to underscore the ramifications of failing to appear for court hearings."
Red Flags in the Analysis of Balance Sheets
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
A financial statement is a record of the financial activities of a business. Attorneys often find themselves in situations that require them to be able to ask questions about, discuss and explain financial statements.
Ex-Teacher's Lawyer Makes Closing Argument in Church Sex-Abuse Trial
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, January 24, 2013
A priest who denied committing a sex crime when testifying after being called by prosecutors had a lot to lose by giving that testimony, adding credence to the defense theory that the alleged victim made up that he was sexually attacked by two priests and a Catholic school teacher in a year's span, a defense attorney argued in court today.
Voter ID Gets Date for Commonwealth Court Replay
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Last summer's closely watched challenge to Pennsylvania's voter ID law is scheduled for a second round this coming summer.
Mandamus Route to Discovery Blocked in 'Kids-for-Cash' Civil Case
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, January 18, 2013
The detention centers in the "kids-for-cash" scandal were denied their mandamus petition by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit today.
NCAA Agrees Not to Dole Out Any Penn State Fine Money for Now
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, January 17, 2013
The NCAA has agreed to not dole out any of the $12 million Penn State has paid to it as part of the unprecedented sanctions the organization levied against the school for its handling of sex-abuse allegations against Jerry Sandusky, the school?s former assistant football coach and a convicted serial child molester.
The Legal's Top 10 Lateral Hires of 2012
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, January 14, 2013
Each year, we at The Legal take a look back at all the lateral moves in Pennsylvania in an effort to determine the 10 most important lateral hires of the previous year. Complete profiles of the top laterals and details about each move will be included in our "Top Lateral Hires of 2012" supplement, scheduled to be published in The Legal on Tuesday, February 19.
City Extends Deadline on RFP for New Conflict Counsel Model
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, January 14, 2013
The city of Philadelphia has extended the deadline for ?creative and innovative? proposals for representation in cases in which the Defender Association of Philadelphia has a conflict. The deadline has been extended to February 22 from January 18.
Understanding Juror Emotion: The Power of Mad
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Sympathy is a central part of any injury case, but from what I have seen in jury research and in trial, the true damage accelerator for defendants is anger.
Flaster/Greenberg Acquires Two-Lawyer Insurance Boutique
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Cherry Hill, N.J.-based Flaster/Greenberg has brought aboard two-lawyer firm Fried & Epstein, an insurance coverage litigation boutique that represents policyholders.
The Fraud Manager's Two-Minute Drill
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
We often counsel people about the best methods to prevent fraud or misappropriation, but more often we are consulted after the event. As Warren Buffett once said, "It's only when the tide goes out that you learn who's been swimming naked." After you have been defrauded is the wrong time to ask about things that could have been done to prevent it.
New Commonwealth Court Rules for Insurance Rehabilitations and Liquidations
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
This summer, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania adopted Rules 3771 through 3784 (Chapter 367) of the Pennsylvania Rules of Appellate Procedure, effective July 30, 2012. Some of the rules reflect changes to summary and formal proceedings in insurance rehabilitations and liquidations, while others merely memorialize current practice.
Changes Recommended to Philadelphia Criminal Justice System
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, January 7, 2013
An advisory committee to the Joint State Government Commission released its final report with several recommendations for reform in the Philadelphia criminal justice system this afternoon, including that the state government should appropriate additional resources to Philadelphia to curb the intimidation of victims of crime and the intimidation of witnesses to crime.
Lincoln Financial Hires Morgan Lewis Partner to Head Business Law Unit
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, January 7, 2013
Lincoln Financial Group has hired a new head of business law and compliance in its Radnor, Pa.-based law department. Former Morgan, Lewis & Bockius partner James DelBello has joined Lincoln Financial and will serve as senior vice president and head of business law and compliance.
Be a Digital Attorney and Take the Competitive Advantage
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, January 7, 2013
Lawyers are living in an age of change. The Western world is in the throes of a digital revolution and clients are in revolt. Clients want more for less, they want more flexible fee arrangements and they demand commercially aware legal advisers.
Four Judges Re-nominated for the Federal Bench in Pennsylvania
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Four nominees for seats on the federal bench in Pennsylvania are among the 33 people that President Obama has re-nominated for seats across the country during the 113th Congress, which was sworn in today.
Identifying Activities for Business Development
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Most attorneys don?t have a plan for business development. In fact, in addition to billable hours, lawyers frequently get stuck responding to dozens of emails, returning calls and putting out fires. Inevitably, business development activity falls to the bottom of the "to-do" list and days or even weeks go by without any prospecting activity at all. One of the challenges for many attorneys is identifying what time and activities are necessary to meet their objectives for business development. Here is a great way to help your firm develop an activity plan.
Retired Philadelphia Judge Gene Cohen Joins Cohen Seglias
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Retired Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Gene D. Cohen has joined Philadelphia-based Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman as a partner in its commercial litigation group.
Third Circuit Nominee to Wait For New Congress
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Patty Shwartz, who was nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in October 2011, won't receive a confirmation vote in the 112th Congress.
Is It A-Okay Withdrawing From a 401(k) for UC?
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, December 21, 2012
A question was recently posed to me asking whether a withdrawal from a 401(k) would cause one's unemployment compensation benefits to be denied, be diminished or even cease if already in payment. The answer to this inquiry is not totally clear.
Two Philly Firms Sued Over Former Partner's Alleged Fraud
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, December 20, 2012
The law firms of Blank Rome and Cozen O'Connor are under fire from real estate investors who say that a former partner who worked at both firms cheated them out of millions of dollars on a phony development project, according to media reports. The investors filed a suit in the Southern District of New York this week, according to a report from Reuters.
Offit Kurman Expands Real Estate Practice
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Jim Ettelson has joined the Philadelphia office of Baltimore-based Offit Kurman, where he will head up the firm's real estate practice.
Business Valuation: The Management Interview
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
At the appropriate stage in the business valuation process, an interview of company management is necessary, and required by business valuation standards. The interview should be scheduled at the point when the valuation analyst has received and analyzed sufficient company data to render the interview most meaningful, and should be conducted on the company premises.
Damages: Recap from TLI Litigation Summit, Part V
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, December 17, 2012
The damages portion of The Legal Intelligencer's first Litigation Summit in September was presented by Frank D. Tinari, the principal economist of the Tinari Economics Group, along with Kristin Kucsma from the same organization, Jane A. North, a partner with Deasey, Mahoney, Valentini & North, and Lawrence R. Cohan, a shareholder with Anapol Schwartz.
Understanding Juror Emotion: When Sympathy Can Backfire
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, December 13, 2012
In my experience with injury cases, I have seen an all-too-common error of plaintiffs counsel in jury trials. The error is an over-emphasis on sympathy in an effort to accelerate damages. I remember one such example of a horrible case involving the death of a child. For the first two days of trial, plaintiffs counsel put family member after family member on the stand, talking about the horrendous accident at issue in the case and its impact on the child?s family. By the end of those two days, everyone in the courtroom, especially the jurors, were emotionally drained. The problem for the plaintiff was that no one yet understood why this was the defendant?s fault. Sympathy for the plaintiff was high. The verdict was for the defense.
It's Official: Phila. Off Tort Reform's 'Judicial Hellholes' List
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
After two years, the American Tort Reform Association, a conservative group that aims to change tort law, took Philadelphia off its "judicial hellholes list" and placed it on its "watch list."
Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal - December 12
The Legal Intelligencer
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Can't find a paper, but want a sneak peek at the stories inside The Legal this morning? Consider this your personal delivery service.
Reporter's Notebook: Pro Bono Program May Help Traffic Court Image
The Legal Intelligencer
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
As part of reporting a story on the future of the Philadelphia Traffic Court after allegations of ticket-fixing have become widely publicized, I learned about an upcoming program that is aiming to help ex-convicts set up payment plans for past traffic infractions in order to get their driver's licenses restored.
The Legal's Best Law Firm Corporate Practices
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, December 10, 2012
The Legal Intelligencer will be publishing for the first time the Best Law Firm Corporate Practices supplement in 2013, honoring the top general corporate practices, as well as specialty transactional areas including: Real Estate; Finance and M&A; Bankruptcy/Reorganization; Non-litigation IP; and Corporate Governance.
Social Media and the Courts: Recap From TLI Litigation Summit, Part IV
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, December 10, 2012
In September, The Legal Intelligencer hosted its first annual Litigation Summit in Philadelphia. I had the pleasure of co-moderating the lunch program with Mary Platt of Griesing Law . Our panelists included Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas President Judge Pamela P. Dembe, the Judge John W. Herron, administrative judge of the court?s Trial Division, and President Judge Marsha H. Neifield, of the Philadelphia Municipal Court. We discussed how social media has affected litigation in the courts. Here are some of the takeaways.
Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal - December 10
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, December 10, 2012
Can't find a paper, but want a sneak peek at the stories inside The Legal this morning? Consider this your personal delivery service.
Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal - December 7
The Legal Intelligencer
Friday, December 7, 2012
Can't find a paper, but want a sneak peek at the stories inside The Legal this morning? Consider this your personal delivery service.
