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This Week's Issue
2009 Salary & Billing Survey: Alternative Billing Increasingly Important In Bad Economy
Texas Lawyer
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Balancing the risks and rewards of using alternative billing, such as fixed or contingent fees, is a strategy many firms are employing in today's uncertain economy, based on responses from the 74 firms that participated in Texas Lawyer's 2009 Salary & Billing Survey. Kenneth S. Marks (pictured) was a member of Susman Godfrey's June committee considering alternative billing strategies.
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New Haven Violated Firefighters' Civil Rights
The National Law Journal
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
In a dramatic ending before it recessed for the summer, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled 5-4 that the city of New Haven, Conn., violated the civil rights of white and Hispanic firefighters when it tossed out the results of a promotion exam after no African-Americans had passed it. Civil rights advocates immediately denounced the ruling in Ricci v. DeStefano.
Clark, Thomas & Winters Agrees to Pay Millions to Former Client
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
A double whammy hit Austin-based Clark, Thomas & Winters this month. On June 17, a Blanco County grand jury indicted Bennie Fuelberg, former general manager of Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC), and Walter Demond, a former Clark, Thomas shareholder who represented the PEC for two decades. Then on June 18, the firm agreed to pay the PEC a $4.1 million settlement, thereby avoiding a civil suit. Jimmy Williamson (pictured) represents PEC.
Inadmissible
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
"Lawyer Convicted of Two Felonies" and "Wild Kingdom"
The Language of Law
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
Greet Judge Randy Roll with a hearty guten tag and he's likely to give you an elaborate response in German. Not only can he converse in Deutsch, but he's fluent in Russian, French and Spanish, too. After he received his bachelor's degree, he went to Europe where he traveled and taught English in Russia for a while.
Zoning Ordinance Violates Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
In Barr, et al. v. City of Sinton, a unanimous state Supreme Court concluded that a zoning ordinance that effectively prevented a halfway house ministry for parolees and probationers from operating inside Sinton's city limits violates the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Hiram Sasser (pictured), director of litigation at Plano-based Liberty Legal Institute, was one of the attorneys who represented Barr.
Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Settle With Huntsman for $1.73 Billion
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
Instead of spending weeks in trial in Conroe, Gibbs & Bruns partner Kathy Patrick will have time to spend with her children this summer, an unexpected pleasure that occurred because her client, Huntsman Corp. of The Woodlands, agreed to a $1.73 billion settlement with Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
Voting Rights Act Lives to Fight Another Day
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
Once again, a Texas civil rights case threatened to turn constitutional law on its ear, but last week the U.S. Supreme Court issued an opinion on the Voting Rights Act that left both sides happy. Gregory Coleman (pictured), a partner in the Austin office of Yetter, Warden & Coleman, represents the utility district pro bono in the case.
VerdictSearch
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
Jury awards $4,531,776 to worker injured in transfer to tanker. Teen who contracted STDs from older man gets $115,000. Jury awards $38,000 to boy injured when car crashed into day care. Woman who sustained neck, back injuries in rear-ender gets $10,000.
Commentary: Micromanagement Turns Staff Into Zombies
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thinking, responsible employees need autonomy to keep their brains from dying, says The Assistant-at-Law. But some lawyers are too busy breathing down their assistants' necks and hand-holding us through every little task to imagine that, if they threw their assistants the occasional challenge, they might just rise to it.
Learn How to Use LinkedIn to Build Business
The Legal Intelligencer
Monday, June 29, 2009
LinkedIn is predominately a professional Web site that is used primarily for business connections, unlike other sites that are more informal, including Facebook and YouTube. If you want to increase your network, boost your productivity and develop your book of business, you can achieve this by getting familiar with LinkedIn and using this in your everyday interactions with colleagues and clients.
I Like Being a Lawyer
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 29, 2009
A. Clay Graham lists the top five reasons he likes being a lawyer.
Special Report: Immigration Law
Texas Lawyer
Friday, June 26, 2009
Developments in the following three areas over the past six months merit attention from Texas immigration lawyers: Mexican immigration to the United States, the security of the border between the two nations and work-site enforcement of immigration laws. Also in this special report: "Immigration Liability Can Arise From Mergers and Acquisitions" and "ICE Squad: How to Ensure Clients Don't Become Targets."
Girl's Strip Search Violated Fourth Amendment Right Against Improper Search and Seizure
Texas Lawyer
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Ruling in a case that struck a chord with families nationwide, the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday said that the strip search of an Arizona middle school girl in pursuit of drugs in 2003 was a violation of her Fourth Amendment right against improper search and seizure. Eight justices mdash; all but Justice Clarence Thomas — agreed the search at a public school was excessive.
VerdictSearch: Driver of 18-Wheeler Wins $1,789,049 in Suit Against Frito-Lay
VerdictSearch
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
The driver of an 18-wheeler who was injured in a 2005 crash won an award of more than $1.7 million in a suit tried recently in Fort Bend County County. The plaintiff claimed that a truck operated by Frito-Lay Inc. cut him off while he was driving near Katy, causing the accident. Frito-Lay denied that any of its vehicles were in the vicinity, but the jury sided with the plaintiff.
Help Is Nigh on the Student Loan Front
The National Law Journal
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Moaning about massive student debt is a time-honored tradition among law school graduates. Some members of the class of 2009 will have less to complain about, however. A new federal program intended to help borrowers manage their student debt goes into effect on July 1.
Supreme Court Steps Back on Voting Rights Act
The National Law Journal
Monday, June 22, 2009
There was considerable suspense in the Supreme Court chamber Monday morning as Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. began announcing the Court's much-awaited decision in Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District No. 1 v. Holder, the challenge to the constitutionality of a central part of the Voting Rights Act.
It's the Bomb: Fallout Shelter? Ice Cube? Or Is the Austin County Courthouse a Model of Modern Design?
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
In each of Texas' 254 counties is an important building that often evokes feelings of awe and inspiration. But some of the courthouses in this state come nowhere close to that kind of adoration because they are downright ugly. So Texas Lawyer asked readers to identify what they believe are some of the state's most unsightly courthouses. First on the list is the Austin County Courthouse in Bellville (pictured). And here's a video about the courthouse.
Report: Counsel Without Malpractice Insurance Should Tell Clients
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
A controversial issue has resurfaced: The Grievance Oversight Committee, which is appointed by the Texas Supreme Court, recently recommended that the court adopt a rule requiring lawyers who do not carry legal malpractice insurance to disclose their lack of coverage to clients. "It's a very contentious issue," says Jo Ann Merica (pictured), a member of the State Bar task force studying the issue.
Estes Earns High Marks As Bar Prez
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
Harper Estes was not looking to reinvent the wheel when he became the State Bar of Texas president in June 2008. "When I got elected, I said I wanted to look at what we do well and improve on that," says Estes, a shareholder in Lynch, Chappell & Alsup in Midland. Estes will pass the gavel to Roland Johnson of Fort Worth June 25 at the State Bar's annual meeting in Dallas.
Inadmissible
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
"Border Apprehensions Down," "Happy 90th!" and "Youngest Appellate Judge"
Courthouse News Service Sues Clerks Over Access to Filings
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
On June 12, Courthouse News Service filed a federal suit alleging Harris County district clerk Loren Jackson and chief deputy clerk Wes McCoy are violating its constitutional rights by making it difficult for its Houston-based reporter to get immediate access to civil court filings. CNS is a legal newswire service based in Pasadena, Calif.
The Seekers: Tales About the Search for Permanent Employment in the Law
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
In these turbulent times, when firms and layoffs go together like law school and student loans, Texas Lawyer talked to two recent graduates and one soon-to-be grad — Linda Nguyen (pictured) from the University of Houston, a graduate from Texas Wesleyan University and another from Baylor University — who do not have full-time, permanent law jobs yet.
State Bar of Texas Recognizes Pro Bono Performance
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
People behind bars, clients at legal clinics, veterans and those seeking to vindicate their civil rights all benefitted from the public interest work done by those who will be honored by the State Bar of Texas Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee.
Discipline Report: Harris County Lawyer Placed on Probation for Three Years
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
One lawyer was placed on probation for three years, and two others received public reprimands in separate disciplinary actions by the State Bar of Texas. The Harris County lawyer who was placed on probation also must pay $1,200 in attorney's fees and direct expenses to the State Bar. The two reprimanded lawyers are from McLennan County and Tarrant County.
VerdictSearch
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
Officers didn't use excessive force in incident with college student. FedEx, driver not to blame for wreck that severely injured teen. Man who rolled 18-wheeler after truck cut him off wins $1,789,049.
Visas, Travel and Work-Site Enforcement
Texas Lawyer
Monday, June 22, 2009
Developments in the following three areas over the past six months merit attention from Texas immigration lawyers: Mexican immigration to the United States, the security of the border between the two nations and work-site enforcement of immigration laws.
