Must Louisiana Lawyers Have or Report Malpractice Coverage?
On October 16, 2020, the Supreme Court of West Virginia suspended a lawyer for failing to report to the state bar whether he was covered by at least $100,000 in …
Are Unusual Contingency Fee Agreements Lawyer-Client Business Transactions?
Yes, according to a recent decision by the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. See Weiner, Weiss & Madison, APC v. Fox, No. 19-30688 (5th Cir. Aug. 21, 2020). …
The Ethical Pitfalls of “Reply to All”
Embarrassment is often a person’s first reaction after hitting “reply to all” when sending an email that required only a “reply.”1 If the email was inappropriate, the sender suffers, at …
Is it Worse to Call Opposing Counsel a “Slut” or a “Slug”?
An odd question, but one that a New York court recently considered in a lawyer disciplinary proceeding. See In re Eliot Bloom, No. 2017-11411 (N.Y. App. Div. Dec. 18 2019).1 …
Is Sexting “Sex”?
No, according to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. See Lawyer Disciplinary Board v. Sayre, No. 18-0617 (W. Va. Oct. 24, 2019).1 ABA Model Rule of Professional Conduct …
Lawyer Sanctioned for Frivolous Lawsuit Seeking Dignity for Goats
On December 9, 2019, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit sanctioned lawyer/litigant Todd C. Bank1 for filing a frivolous pro se action to cancel the trademark …
Reprimand Recommended for Lawyer Who Threated to “Punch the Sh*t” Out of Opposing Counsel
On November 6, 2019, a Hearing Committee of the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board recommended the public reprimand of New Orleans lawyer Ike Spears for threatening to “punch the shit” out …
Court Reports Lawyer for Filing Brief Filled with “Gibberish”
We have all seen this brief before. But the Seventh Circuit could take it no more. In a November 2019 opinion, the court noted that “[b]ad writing does not normally …
Judge Expressly Orders Lawyer to Violate Rules of Professional Conduct
It is not uncommon for public defenders in Louisiana to complain that being forced to handle an excessive criminal-defense caseload violates Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct 1.1. That rule requires …
Lawyer Disciplined for Racial Discrimination
The Supreme Court of New Jersey reprimanded a lawyer for violating the anti-discrimination provisions of Rule 8.4(g) in a medical malpractice case against an Asian optometrist. See In re Farmer, …