News

Taylor English Legal-Mal Suit Tossed Three Weeks Before Trial

Greg Land | April 23, 2018

An engineer and inventor of a medical device claimed that Taylor English and firm lawyer Michael Trotter drafted a contract that allowed an investor to close down their company and steal his invention, costing him millions of dollars.

News

Judge Merrilee Ehrlich Planned to Retire, But a Controversial Video Forced Her Out Sooner

Samantha Joseph | April 23, 2018

"That was not just a little off," Broward Public Defender Howard Finkelstein said. "That was mean, it was abusive, it was cruel, and it was gratuitous.”

News

Judge Delivers Allen Charge to Deadlocked Tex McIver Jury

R. Robin McDonald | April 23, 2018

The jury told the judge Monday that they cannot decide whether Tex McIver intended to kill his wife when he shot her.

News

No Standing for Monkey to Bring Selfie Copyright Suit

Scott Graham | April 23, 2018

Ninth Circuit Judges Carlos Bea and N. Randy Smith said an en banc panel of the court ought to reconsider whether animals ever have standing to bring claims.

Commentary

Resolving 'Unfinished Business' From a Defunct Law Firm

Shari L. Klevens and Alanna Clair| April 23, 2018

If rainmakers have an incentive to stay at a firm through rough seas, the firm’s chance of survival may increase.

News

'Snarky Comments,' 'Watering Down' and Other Things Judges Hate, Per Bench Panel

Katheryn Tucker | April 23, 2018

An appellate lawyer recently had an opportunity to turn the tables on a panel of judges at the State Bar of Georgia headquarters building in Atlanta for a conference on “Handling Big Cases."

News

Tex McIver Jury Calls it a Week—Without a Verdict

R. Robin McDonald | April 20, 2018

Jurors deliberating the fate of former Fisher & Phillips partner Tex McIver said they were going home at 4 p.m., apparently changed their minds, then changed them back. At 4:10 p.m., the jury said, buh-bye.

News

Atlanta's New Partner Class Expanded, but Gender Imbalance Remains

Meredith Hobbs | April 20, 2018

Two new women partners, Meredith Jones Kingsley of Alston & Bird and Troutman's Puja Patel Lea of Troutman Sanders, said support from mentors and their firms was key.

News

11th Circuit Turns Down Gay Rights Asylum Appeal

Katheryn Tucker | April 20, 2018

A student in Cameroon said he was attacked, cut with a knife and threatened with death after posting a message in a university publication asking for equal rights and treatment of homosexuals.

Analysis

Higher Law: Your 4/20 Update on Cannabis as a Practice

Cheryl Miller | April 20, 2018

What do President Trump's statements on marijuana might mean for state-legalization efforts? Plus, California is trying—again—to find a banking solution for cannabis businesses and a marijuana law boutique expands to meet demand.

Commentary

The Business Case for Associate Development: Top Reasons to Invest in Associates

Kristin Aquino-Pham and Ted Blum| April 20, 2018

Firms typically spend substantial dollars on marketing and recruiting; however, positive testimonials about the firm, from the mouths of happy associates, are free.

Alabama Mail-Bomber the Oldest Executed in US Modern Times

Kim Chandler, Associated Press| April 20, 2018

Walter Leroy Moody Jr., 83, was executed Thursday night. He had been convicted of sending four mail bombs in December 1989, killing an 11th Circuit judge in Alabama and a Savannah civil rights attorney. Two bombs were intercepted and did not explode. He was convicted in 1991 in federal court on dozens of bomb-related charges.

News

Alston & Bird Settles Multimillion-Dollar Legal Mal Suit

Greg Land | April 19, 2018

The complaint alleged that the firm caused a onetime employee of the widow of late Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizuega to lose tens of millions of dollars in gifts and bequests from Olga Goizuega and cost her millions more in tax judgments and fines.

News

Jury Questions Are the Norm in Tex McIver Murder Trial

R. Robin McDonald | April 19, 2018

A Fulton County jury posed 298 questions to witnesses testifying in the ongoing murder trial of Atlanta attorney and former Fisher & Phillips partner Tex McIver. They didn't stop, even after they began deliberating.

News

Fisher & Phillips Reports Revenue Gains, but Profits Stay Flat

Meredith Hobbs | April 19, 2018

Tech investments and slightly lower billable hours per attorney dampened profits last year.

News

Package Bomber Set to Be Executed for 11th Circuit Judge's Murder

Kim Chandler Associated Press| April 19, 2018

Walter Leroy Moody Jr., 83, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday and become the oldest inmate put to death since executions resumed in the U.S. in the 1970s.

News

February Bar Exam Performance Hits Record Low

Karen Sloan | April 19, 2018

A decline in the average MBE score from the February 2018 bar exam does not bode well for pass rates, which are beginning to trickle out.

News

Challenge to Felony Murder Conviction Fails in Case of Child’s Cocaine Death

Katheryn Tucker | April 19, 2018

Justice Nels Peterson ruled that the “facts support the unmistakable conclusion” that 14-month old Jewell Williams “ingested the deadly dose of cocaine after finding it in the place where [her parents] stored it to sell to others.”

News

11th Circuit Revives False Claims Lawsuit in Three-Way Circuit Split

Greg Land | April 19, 2018

In reversing an Alabama judge, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that the False Claims Act's statute of limitations for bringing a claim starts when the government learns of the fraud, not when the whistleblower finds out about it.

Letter to the Editor

A Recent Trial Shows Georgia Really Is at the Crossroads With Diversity

J. Randolph Evans| April 19, 2018

As a familiar refrain for the indefensible, those who suffer discrimination in whatever form know from their own painful experiences that the bad actors always try to change the subject, typically by attacking everyone else (including me in this case) and ignoring the abhorrent and unacceptable behavior involved.

News

Food Frenzy Advances $10K in Atlanta

Jonathan Ringel | April 18, 2018

The top of the scorecard remained the same as the first two days, with Georgia Tech's legal office in first place.

News

High Court Says Judge Declared Mistrial Too Soon

Katheryn Tucker | April 18, 2018

"The trial court declared the mistrial without sufficient factual support and without considering less drastic alternatives," Justice David Nahmias wrote. "We reverse."

News

Atlanta Law Firm Presses Fee Fight in US Supreme Court Bankruptcy Case

Marcia Coyle | April 18, 2018

The law firm Lamar, Archer & Cofrin claims that a client’s fraudulent statement about a single asset does not allow his debt to the firm—more than $104,000 in legal fees—to be discharged in a bankruptcy.

News

McIver Jury Asks if It Can Acquit on Murder & Assault Charges, but Convict for Influencing Witness

R. Robin McDonald | April 18, 2018

Fulton County Chief Judge Robert McBurney, at the urging of defense attorneys, said yes to the jury question.

News

Tech Inventor Sues AT&T for $1.8B Over 'Stolen' Streaming Platform

Greg Land | April 18, 2018

Erik Underwood's complaint accuses AT&T and four of its vendors of promising him millions of dollars to fund his project, only to steal his technology and abandon his company.

News

GAPABA Marks 25th Anniversary With Tributes to Choi, Huynh

Meredith Hobbs | April 18, 2018

Han Choi and Trinh Huynh, both immigrants, were remembered as trailblazers for their contributions to the Georgia Asian Pacific American Bar Association and their communities.

Letter to the Editor

Support Senate Bill Protecting Special Counsel: Letter

Elizabeth Finn Johnson| April 18, 2018

I write to urge my fellow citizens to stand against this unprecedented attack on our democratic institutions and to join L4GG in demanding that Congress pass S. 2644, a bipartisan bill which ensures judicial review of the removal of the special counsel.

News

Triple Food Frenzy Winner Aims to Raise $20,000

Jonathan Ringel | April 17, 2018

One in four of all Georgia children don't know where their next meal is coming from, the food banks say.

News

Georgia Supreme Court Elects New Chief and Presiding Justice

Katheryn Tucker | April 17, 2018

The changing of the chiefs marks the ascent of the high court’s younger generation of justices. The difference between their ages—and their bar admission dates—is 23 years.

News

Prosecutors, Defense Give Closing Arguments in McIver Murder Trial

R. Robin McDonald | April 17, 2018

Prosecutors battled with defense lawyers for more than five hours over whether Diane McIver's shooting was an accident or financially motivated.

News

'Not Worried About Blowback': Lawyers for Sandy Hook Families Discuss Suit Against InfoWars' Alex Jones

Robert Storace | April 17, 2018

Two families of children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting sue InfoWars host Alex Jones for defamation.

News

Chrysler Pays $40M Jeep Judgment

Katheryn Tucker | April 17, 2018

The total amount with interest: $47,045,342.46, according to lead plaintiffs counsel James Butler Jr. of Butler Wooten & Peak in Atlanta and Columbus.

News

Experts: Hackers, Insiders and Regulators Are Among Companies' Biggest Threats

Kristen Rasmussen | April 17, 2018

In-house data privacy and other cybersecurity experts spoke during a panel discussion at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Southeast Regional Conference in Atlanta last week.

News

Conservative Law Prof Heckled by CUNY Protestors Warns of Troubling Trend

Karen Sloan | April 17, 2018

Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, says "there is a lot of silence from people who should be speaking out about this."

News

Morris Manning Adds 8 Lawyers in DC Growth Spree

Meredith Hobbs | April 17, 2018

Managing partner Louise Wells said the Atlanta firm aims to double the size of its Washington office in the next five years.

News

Locke Lord Hires Troutman Sanders International Arbitration Duo in Hong Kong

Anna Zhang | April 17, 2018

The Texas-based firm has hired the two-lawyer disputes team as Atlanta-based Troutman winds down its Asia practice.

News

Ford Wants Judge to Recuse From Contentious Roof Crush Case

Katheryn Tucker | April 17, 2018

Ford’s lawyers have filed a motion to recuse Gwinnett County State Court Judge Shawn Bratton, accusing him of “one-sided rulings,” “abdicating judicial responsibility” and “refusal to at least admonish” opposing counsel.

News

Georgia Tech Takes Early Legal Food Frenzy Lead in Atlanta

Jonathan Ringel | April 16, 2018

A food bank official in Augusta said the Legal Food Frenzy is important because it keeps food kitchens stocked through the summer months, when children can't receive free breakfasts and lunches they get during school months.

News

Appeals Court Orders New Trial Finding Meager Med-Mal Award a 'Shock to Conscience'

Greg Land | April 16, 2018

The Georgia Court of Appeals ruled a post-apportionment award for past medical bills with no other damages was "so clearly inadequate as to be inconsistent with the preponderance of the evidence," and required a new trial on damages and liability.

News

Prosecutors Call Their Own Sleep Expert to Rebut Defense

R. Robin McDonald | April 16, 2018

Fulton County prosecutors on Monday called their own sleep expert to counter testimony by an neurologist called by the defense who said that Tex McIver could have experienced a "confusional arousal" that startled him awake and caused him to shoot his wife.

News

Court Says Cell Companies Can Seek Sales Tax Overpayments

Katheryn Tucker | April 16, 2018

The decision removes a roadblock to $6 million in sales tax being refunded to cellphone customers.

News

Delta's Top Lawyer 'Begging' for Project-Based Billing

Kristen Rasmussen | April 16, 2018

The issue of alternative fee arrangements was among many topics that Delta’s Peter Carter and other top lawyers at Fortune 500 companies, including UPS, AIG and Union Pacific, discussed during a panel at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s Southeast Regional Conference in Atlanta last week.

News

Ga. Supreme Court Disbars 2, Suspends 1

Eden Landow | April 16, 2018

The Supreme Court of Georgia on Monday issued three attorney discipline opinons.

News

McIver Prosecutors Cautioned Not to Pursue 'Angle' Involving Judge

R. Robin McDonald | April 16, 2018

Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Robert McBurney told prosecutors in open court he had "independent information"' about a phone call his colleague, Judge Craig Schwall, had made to defendant Tex McIver, and that it "wasn't sinister."

Letter to the Editor

Mediator Challenges Big Firms to Put Up $100 Per Lawyer for Food Frenzy

Steven J. Gold| April 16, 2018

While there are many worthwhile charitable causes for which lawyers across Georgia are engaged, this one in particular is a high-profile, professionwide effort sponsored by the Attorney General's Office and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar.

News

Newt Gingrich Leaves Dentons, Eyes Relationship With New Law Firm

Ryan Lovelace | Meredith Hobbs | April 16, 2018

Gingrich, who joined Dentons' public policy and regulatory group in 2015, said he has been in talks with "various other global law firms."

News

Jury May Also Consider Involuntary Manslaughter Charges Against McIver

R. Robin McDonald | April 13, 2018

When Atlanta attorney Tex McIver was first arrested, he was charged with involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct. A county grand jury later elevated those charges to murder.

News

Acquittals in Sex Tape Trial Shift Focus to Related Civil Suits

Greg Land | April 13, 2018

Civil litigation between former Waffle House CEO Joe Rogers Jr. and the woman and lawyers who arranged to video record him in a sexual encounter has been grinding along in Cobb County for nearly six years. Lawyers on both sides say the battle will continue despite the trio's acquittal on criminal charges.

News

McIver Defense Rests After Three Days of Testimony

R. Robin McDonald | April 13, 2018

Claud "Tex" McIver did not take the stand as the defense wrapped up Friday.

News

Ninth Circuit to Rule in Monkey Selfie Case Despite Settlement

Scott Graham | April 13, 2018

The court declined to dismiss the case, saying it's "wary of abetting ‘strategic behavior’ on the part of institutional litigants."

Slideshow

McIver Trial Featured PR Agents, Racial Claims, Dismissals and a Masseuse: Slideshow

Jonathan Ringel | April 13, 2018

The trial crossed a milestone, as the prosecution rested its case.

Expert Opinion

How to Ask About Compensation in a Job Interview Without Sounding Greedy

Julie Brush| April 13, 2018

For some, “comp” is deliberately discussed at the very beginning to qualify a candidate’s viability upfront. For others, it’s a topic that remains unaddressed until it’s time to talk turkey. But waiting to discuss money until the interview process is at completion is not a wise move.

News

Mayor's Resignation Mandate Puts City Attorney's Job Up in the Air

Kristen Rasmussen | April 13, 2018

The role serves both the mayor and the City Council, and as one former occupant said, “You are advising on the state of the law, and the law doesn’t change based on who’s asking.”

Commentary

Your Client’s Clients Hold the Key

Robin Hensley| April 13, 2018

Supporting your current clients with their business development needs can develop business leads for you.

News

Trial Ends, Fight Continues in Ford Roof Crush Case

Katheryn Tucker | April 12, 2018

Just before Gwinnett County State Court Judge Shawn Bratton declared the mistrial Friday morning, Ford filed motions for sanctions against Kim and Adam Hill, the two sons suing the company for the wrongful death of their parents. At least some of the issues could potentially carry forward into a new trial.

News

Sex Tape Verdict Spurs Debate on Surveillance Law

Greg Land | April 12, 2018

Two veteran lawyers, former State Bar of Georgia President Robin Frazer Clark and prosecutor-turned-defense attorney Noah Pines, differed sharply in their views of Georgia's illegal surveillance statute and the applicability of the third party consent rule in the just-concluded case.

News

Masseuse Says She Spent Week With Medicated McIver to Protect Him From Harm

R. Robin McDonald | April 12, 2018

Prosecution witnesses have testified that Annie Anderson, who was a massage therapist for Tex and Diane McIver, was frequently in McIver's company the week after his wife died.

News

Retirement Class Action Seeks $140M From Home Depot

Katheryn Tucker | April 12, 2018

Home Depot: “We haven’t seen the suit yet, but we’re proud of the financial support and opportunities for saving that we provide our associates.”

News

GSU Law Deploys Data Analytics to Boost Bar Pass Rates

Meredith Hobbs | April 12, 2018

Researchers are using predictive modeling so they can identify law students who are statistically at risk—and offer assistance.

News

King & Spalding Adds Ex-US Congressman, California AG

Xiumei Dong | April 12, 2018

Daniel Lungren, a veteran political operative, has joined the firm as senior counsel in its government matters group in three cities.

News

Isakson and Carr Applaud Trump for Targeting Sex Traffickers

Katheryn Tucker | April 11, 2018

The final legislation incorporates the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which Isakson co-sponsored. The law provides for lawsuits to be filed by victims against traffickers and those who assist them.

News

11th Circuit Rules Constitution Allows GPS Search in Alien Smuggling Case

Katheryn Tucker | April 11, 2018

A GPS was the smoking gun in a Wednesday decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. In a per curiam decision, a panel of…

4 Former Clarence Thomas Clerks Form Legal Team to Challenge Harvard’s Admissions Policy

Tony Mauro | April 11, 2018

Adam Mortara and John Hughes, partners at Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott, are joining William Consovoy and Patrick Strawbridge, partners at Consovoy McCarthy Park, in challenging Harvard's admissions processes.

News

After DA Tries to Stop Deliberations, Jurors Acquit All 3 Defendants in Sex Tape Trial

Greg Land | April 11, 2018

The decision followed a seven-day trial of Rogers’ former housekeeper and her former lawyers, Johns Butters and David Cohen.

News

McIver Defense Introduces Sleep Disorder Evidence

R. Robin McDonald | April 11, 2018

Tex McIver's diagnoses came 16 months after he shot his wife, Diane.

News

Stormy Daniels Lawyer Avenatti Fights to Save Huge Punitive Award Against Kimberly-Clark

Jenna Greene | April 11, 2018

U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee whacked a $450 million award down to $20.7 million in a California class action over “leaky” surgical gowns.

News

New DNA Forensic Science Comes Under Scrutiny at GSU Law Symposium

Gabrielle Orum Hernández | April 11, 2018

A panel at Georgia State University Law discussed the potential and limitations of current computing methods in DNA forensics.

News

Nomination Panel Names 40 Interviewees for Court of Appeals Spots

Katheryn Tucker | April 10, 2018

The commission selected 40 candidates out of the 211 who were nominated before the March 16 deadline.

News

Catoosa County Takes on Drugmakers With Opioid Lawsuit

Katheryn Tucker | April 10, 2018

Catoosa County near the Tennessee and Alabama state lines has filed a lawsuit against multiple defendants in federal court seeking damages for economic losses as a result of the opioid addiction crisis.

News

Former Prosecutors, Judges Join Bid to Upend Conviction in Case of Race-Screened Jury

Katheryn Tucker | April 10, 2018

High-profile Georgia lawyers have thrown their weight behind an effort to overturn a decades-old conviction based on the recent discovery that prosecutors in a 1977 murder case allegedly kept African-Americans off the jury and kept track of them by noting the letter "N" beside their names.

Harassment Records Involving California Judges Must Be Public, Chief Justice Says

Cheryl Miller | April 10, 2018

"The public has a right to know how the judicial branch spends taxpayer funds," Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said Tuesday.

News

Jury Weighs Sex Tape Case Against Lawyers, Former Client

Greg Land | April 10, 2018

“This is not a sexual harassment case,” said a prosecutor. “We’re not asking you to determine whether Ms. Brindle was a victim of sexual harassment” or “to like Joe Rogers.”

News

State Rests Murder Case Against Tex McIver After 16 Days of Testimony

R. Robin McDonald | April 10, 2018

After he was charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and reckless conduct over the fatal shooting of his wife, Tex McIver told a longtime Atlanta media consultant that he could share a success bonus with the county district attorney.

Georgia Health Care Providers to Pay $3.2M to Settle Kickback Allegations in Whistleblower Case

Kristen Rasmussen | April 10, 2018

A group of orthopedic and anesthesia providers in Newnan, Georgia, has agreed to pay $3.2 million to the United States to settle civil allegations that they engaged in an unlawful kickback scheme, federal prosecutors in Atlanta announced.

News

Menacing Federal Witness Gets Ex-City Employee Three Years Behind Bars

Katheryn Tucker | April 10, 2018

The case involved a “shut up” message on a concrete block thrown through a window and dead rats left on the porch of the home of a federal witness.

News

Trump to Nominate Justice Britt Grant to 11th Circuit

Katheryn Tucker | April 10, 2018

Grant has served on the state high court for one year and three months. Gov. Nathan Deal appointed her to fill one of two expansion positions. She has written opinions for some of the most-watched cases.

News

Ex-King & Spalding Partner Robert Hur Follows Rosenstein as Maryland US Attorney

Mike Scarcella | April 10, 2018

Robert Hur is among several King & Spalding alums to decamp for posts in the Trump administration and associated executive agencies.

News

Spokesman Testifies Judge Tipped McIver to Pending Arrest

R. Robin McDonald | April 09, 2018

Longtime political analyst and commentator Bill Crane testified Monday that Atlanta attorney Tex McIver told him Fulton County Superior Court Judge Craig Schwall had called to warn him his arrest was imminent.

Letter to the Editor

Georgia Judicial Appointments Are at a Crossroads Concerning Diversity: Letter

Advocacy For Action, Inc. and PAC; Retired Judge Thelma Wyatt Moore; Judge Bettianne Hart; Wayne Kendall; Suzy Ockleberry| April 09, 2018

The pernicious trope of diversity as antithetical to excellence continues to be used as cover for the appalling lack of inclusivity in the governor’s appointments where it matters most.

News

Ex-Housekeeper in Sex Tape Trial Testifies

Greg Land | April 09, 2018

The jury in the felony eavesdropping trial of a woman and her two lawyers accused of illegally recording former Waffle House CEO Joe Rogers Jr. in a sexual encounter were able to hear the former housekeeper and assistant tell her side of the story Monday.

News

Testimony Suggests Possible Racial Bias as McIver Murder Trial Reopens

R. Robin McDonald | April 09, 2018

After a weeklong spring break hiatus, the murder trial of Atlanta attorney and former Fisher Phillips partner Tex McIver reopened with testimony about his demeanor when he was notified that his wife, Diane McIver, had died.

News

Baker & Hostetler Lands 5-Lawyer L&E Team From Morris Manning

Meredith Hobbs | April 09, 2018

Partners Brian Harris, Mark Zisholtz and Jason D’Cruz focus on executive employment matters related to corporate transactions, which Harris said made Baker's national reach a draw.

Commentary

You Exercise and Eat Right. Now, About Those Sleep Habits, Counselor

Jonathan Jordan| April 09, 2018

Catching enough shut-eye can be challenging for busy lawyers, but it is vital to well-being.

News

Southwestern Circuit District Attorney Found Dead

Katheryn Tucker | April 09, 2018

“Preliminary information indicates Mr. Hardin died of a single gunshot wound to the chest. No foul play is suspected,” a GBI spokesman said.

Commentary

Tips for Talking to the Media During Litigation

Shari L. Klevens and Alanna Clair| April 09, 2018

No matter the size of the client, many attorneys working on matters that may involve media requests will consider their obligations under Rule 1.4(a)(2) of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct, requiring an attorney to “reasonably consult with the client about the means by which the client’s objectives are to be accomplished.”

Profile

At the Masters, Foley & Lardner Partner Presented the Green Jacket

Roy Strom | April 06, 2018

Foley & Lardner partner Fred Ridley is presiding over his first Masters tournament as chairman of Augusta National Golf Club. He chose law over a professional golf career but has hit both shots about as well as you can.

News

Gwinnett Courthouse Hosts Mark Wahlberg Movie Set

Katheryn Tucker | April 06, 2018

Gwinnett County State Court Judge Shawn Bratton declared a mistrial Friday morning, abruptly ending a wrongful death product liability trial that had gone on for three weeks. As lawyers arrived to hear the fate of their case, they had to share elevators with carts, cords, camera equipment and the crew for a Mark Wahlberg feature film called “Instant Family.”

News

Liability Questions Loom in Delta Vendor Breach

Gabrielle Orum Hernández | April 06, 2018

In the event of a third-party breach, multinational corporations such as Delta potentially face breach notification requirements in multiple states.

News

DAs Rest Case, Defense Takes Over in Waffle House Sex Tape Trial

R. Robin McDonald | April 06, 2018

Fulton County prosecutors rested their case Friday against Waffle House chairman Joe Rogers' former housekeeper and her lawyers on criminal felony eavesdropping charges for a sex tape they made.

News

Judge Declares Mistrial in Ford Case

Katheryn Tucker | April 06, 2018

Gwinnett County State Court Judge Shawn Bratton declared the mistrial Friday morning: “I have determined that in the interest of justice this case can no longer proceed.”

News

Charge It? Not to Pay Bankruptcy Lawyers, 11th Circuit Says

Greg Land | April 06, 2018

Ruling in a putative class action against a defunct Orlando law firm, a panel said an attorney violates federal law "if he instructs a client to pay his bankruptcy-related legal fees using a credit card."

Commentary

Loser Pays: Employment Contract Clauses to Better Defend Your Company

Nick Panayotopoulos and Nan Rigby| April 06, 2018

'Prevailing party' clauses may better allocate the financial risks of litigation, as well as potentially discourage employees and former employees from pursuing meritless litigation.

Commentary

Summer Interns: Who Are They? Are You Classifying Them Properly?

Deepa N. Subramanian| April 06, 2018

While state laws may vary on this subject, when it comes to the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), in determining whether an unpaid internship passes muster, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is most concerned with the purpose of the internship and who is benefiting from it.

Commentary

In-house Counsel: Are Your Communications Protected?

Jonathan E. Hawkins| April 06, 2018

The attorney-client privilege does not simply follow an attorney by virtue of his or her profession.

News

Law School Applications Are Up, Especially Among High LSAT Scorers

Karen Sloan | April 06, 2018

The percent of applicants with LSAT scores of 160 or higher is up more than 21 percent over last year, a welcome development for legal educators who have struggled to attract strong candidates in recent years.

News

Smith Gambrell Increased Revenue in 2017 as It Expanded in Europe and U.S.

Meredith Hobbs | April 05, 2018

The firm reported solid gains in revenue, but the investments in European locations and U.S. expansion kept profit flat.

News

Judge Sanctions Ford by Tossing Key Witness

Katheryn Tucker | April 05, 2018

Gwinnett County State Court Judge Shawn Bratton told the jury after lunch Thursday to disregard the testimony of a Ford expert who had been on the stand for two days because questions “willfully violated" orders.

News

Defense in Sex Tape Trial Shifts Focus to Waffle House Exec’s Alleged Harassment

R. Robin McDonald | April 05, 2018

Waffle House Chairman Joe Rogers' testimony that he "had never pursued anyone in an unwanted fashion" opened the door to questions about an earlier harassment claim by another former housekeeper.

News

Cox Automotive Names Coke Global Lawyer as New GC

Kristen Rasmussen | April 05, 2018

Angus Haig, who spent 19 years at The Coca-Cola Co. in international counsel positions, joins the automotive services company next week.

Commentary

Meeting Our Clients in Immigration Detention Opened Our Eyes

Audra Dial and Alyson Wooten| April 05, 2018

I cannot imagine the despair that would result if, after that journey, I were told that my fears were unfounded and I would have to return to my homeland and face probable death.