Professionals Sued For Expert Witness Work: When Does Witness Immunity Apply?
In addition to their work for their own clients in their own areas of expertise, some professionals also serve as expert witnesses in litigation. They employ their knowledge and experience in their...
View ArticleRule 5.5 ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct
In the upcoming Annual Meeting of the ABA, the Commission of Ethics 20/20 will consider amending Model Rule 5.5, which addresses unauthorized practice of law issues. Of particular concern is the issue...
View ArticleDon't Squander Your Unearned Reputation For Honesty
It is simply too easy for lawyers to quickly lose credibility within the bar and before the judiciary. It seems we've already lost this battle with much of the public, but within the profession I like...
View ArticleDisclosing Client Information When Moving from One Firm to Another: Ethical?
As reported by InsideCounsel, the American Bar Association House of Delegates (“ABAHD”) recently approved an amended model rule stating that it is ethical for lawyers to disclose client information...
View ArticleEthics 20/20: The Impact of Technology
Every day, we see the impact of technology on the practice of law. Blogs, social networking, electronically stored information, and other legal resources create enormous economies and unprecedented...
View ArticleThirty-Six Million Have Participated in Class Actions and It’s Not for the Money
An astounding four out of ten Americans have been invited to participate in a class action suit. Fifteen percent, the equivalent of 36 million people, actually participated in one, and most do not...
View ArticleEthics Experts Question Bank of America’s Request for Legal Fee Credit
Bank of America’s new plan to seek reductions in its legal fees from certain outside law firms have some experts questioning the ethics of this unusual practice. The bank is seeking a credit on its...
View ArticleBe Careful What You Wish For: Interesting Article On Efforts To “Punish”...
Terry Baynes of Thomson Reuters has an interesting article on efforts by a few plaintiffs’ attorneys to “crowd source” consumer arbitration claims. The effort arises out of the Supreme Court’s...
View ArticleTips for Protecting Attorney-Witness Conferences During Deposition Breaks
It is a deposition question that too often surprises lawyers and corporate-witness deponents. Upon return from a water or lunch recess, the deposing lawyer asks the witness: “So, tell me what you and...
View ArticleFormer Federal Prosecutor to Open Yet Another Litigation Financing Firm
The growing industry of litigation funding will be expanding further very soon. Reuters reported last week that well known former federal prosecutor Andrew Stolper of Santa Ana, California, will open...
View ArticleABA v. NSA: An Unhelpful Exchange
The Edward Snowden scandal brought to light evidence that the National Security Agency obtained information from foreign intelligence services, which included privileged attorney-client communications...
View ArticleThe Ethics of Representing the Unpopular Client
According to this April 13, 2014 article on Forbes.com, a prominent U.S. law firm has come under fire for agreeing to represent very unpopular clients. The suit, brought on behalf of two California...
View Article"Curiouser and Curiouser"
Or so said Alice in Wonderland when she was "so much surprised, that for the moment she forgot how to speak good English". I had much the same reaction when I read brand new Texas Formal Ethics Op 642...
View ArticlePhiladelphia Bar Association Issues Opinion Reminding Attorneys To Keep...
Last month, the Philadelphia Bar Association Professional Guidance Committee issued Opinion 2014-6, which served as an important reminder that client names cannot be shared with third parties – even...
View ArticleThe Unhappy Client
The ABA Journal recently reported that an unhappy person filled a pick-up with gas, bales of hay and propane and then drove it into a law office. They surmise it was intended to be an explosive device...
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