Wear Socks to Court
An Indiana judge recently ordered a bare-ankled lawyer to appear in court with “appropriate attire,” including “socks upon his feet.” In the matter of In re Proper Courtroom Attire, No. 05C01-1408-CB-000005, a …
State Can’t Prohibit a Lawyer from Quoting Judge’s Kind Words in Advertisements
A New Jersey disciplinary rule that prohibits a lawyer from excerpting a court opinion discussing the lawyer’s legal abilities is unconstitutional, says the United States Court of Appeals for the …
Lawyer Suspended for YouTube Post of Client’s Drug Dealing
On March 14, 2014, the Illinois Supreme Court suspended Mt. Sterling lawyer Jesse Raymond Gilsdorf for a period of five months. Adopting a report and recommendation from a disciplinary commission …
“Geauxjudge” Admits Lapse in Personal Judgment for Comments Posted on LSU Fan Site TigerDroppings.com
Louisiana has seen its share of controversy for online comments posted by public officials on blogs. Now it’s Arkansas’ turn. A judge in Little Rock is under fire for …
Even Death is No Excuse for Letting a Claim Prescribe
A New York appellate court has ruled that a lawyer’s death is no excuse for negligently allowing a client’s tort claim to prescribe. See Cabrera v. Collazo, 2014 NY Slip Op. …
U.S. Department of Justice Rebukes Louisiana’s Bar Admissions Process
In a February 5, 2013 letter to the Louisiana Supreme Court, the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice describes serious problems with “Louisiana’s attorney licensure system,” …
Is it Unethical for a Judge to “Friend” a Lawyer on Facebook?
A January 2014 opinion from a Florida court suggests that there’s nothing wrong with it. See Chance v. Loisel, No. 5D13-4449 (Fla. Ct. App. 5th Dist. 2014). In 2012, another Florida …
Is a Former-Client Conflict of a Paralegal Imputed to a New Law Firm?
Yes, according to the Rhode Island Supreme Court in Fedora v. Werber, No. 2012-50-Appeal (Dec. 20, 2013). In Fedora, a paralegal who worked on a medical malpractice case at a defense firm …
Lawyer Fee Requests: Be Careful What You Ask For
A judge of the Civil Court of the City of New York refused to award BigLaw firm Mayer Brown LLP, $126,026.88 in requested fees for representing a prevailing party in …
Top Ten Legal Ethics Stories of 2013
Legal Ethics Forum has posted its take on the top ten legal ethics stories of 2013. Among them: courts upholding the intra-firm attorney client privilege; the relaxation of rules against …