In a significant ruling out of Massachusetts, the state’s Appeals Court reversed a Superior Court’s denial of an eye surgeon’s motion to dismiss a medical malpractice action. The case involved plaintiff Carlos E. Lopez Rivera, a Spanish-speaker, who signed an arbitration agreement prior to eye surgery under surgeon Steven W. Stetson. Lopez later filed a…
A new academic paper, building upon previous research, has delved deeper into the comparison of expected versus observed bar exam passage rates in law schools. The study investigates the dynamics of “overperformance” and “underperformance” in the context of these schools’ ultimate bar passage rates. The research was highlighted by none other than Paul L. Caron,…
The University of Tennessee College of Law recently received a significant financial boost in the form of a $2 million gift from local litigation firm, Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers. The Chattanooga-based firm, with a focus on personal injury and criminal defense, is deeply tied to the university, boasting four UT Law alumni amongst its staff….
In a recent turn of events, the University of Nebraska College of Law has received a generous $1 million gift. This donation has contributed to the establishment of a specialty legal clinic focused on First Amendment rights, a first of its kind. The primary purpose of this clinic is to defend the First Amendment rights…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has provided clarification on the conditions necessary for a treating physician to provide expert testimony regarding the cause of a plaintiff’s injury. The court stated that such a physician must submit an expert report in line with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(a)(2). The elucidation was…
A special committee has requested the U.S. District Court to dismiss a lawsuit from 96-year-old Judge Pauline Newman that aims to halt an investigation into her competency. The committee, leading the inquiry, submitted their request during a hearing on Friday. The panel from U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit argued in their 67-page…
A recent proposal from the U.S. Department of Labor could significantly affect the lifestyles and career trajectories of many American workers. Aimed at extending eligibility for overtime to a larger group of lower-paid salaried employees, the proposed rule could directly benefit an estimated 3.6 million workers who are currently excluded from enjoying the overtime benefits…
The Canadian legal technology firms CiteRight and Jurisage have revealed their plans to merge, operating henceforth under the name Jurisage. The pairing of these two companies signifies a step forward in integrated legal research and drafting solutions. CiteRight stands out in the legal tech field with its litigation drafting platform, while Jurisage has made significant…
In a notable development, a US federal judge has ruled that top attorneys from Southwest Airlines are due to undergo a “religious liberty” training. This decision comes despite efforts from the airline to delay the training pending an appeal process. Judge Brantley Starr, based in Dallas, released a 23-page order that brushed aside the airline’s…
Miguel Zaldivar, who has been reelected to lead Hogan Lovells until 2028, recently confirmed that he plans to boost the firm’s growth through lateral acquisitions in major U.S. markets and by maintaining its presence in China, notwithstanding the retreat of various competitors from the region. Zaldivar’s decision was conveyed in the wake of the firm’s…
It’s been more than three years since COVID-19 caused an abrupt change in office operability, yet it now appears that hybrid work has finally found a stable footing in the legal industry. Despite the post-Labor Day implementation of a 4-day in-office mandate by several reputed law firms, many others prefer leveraging the lure of flexible…
Earlier this week, law firm Goodwin Procter revealed its plans to introduce a system known as “Colleague Connect.” This new system would allow employees to access a firm-wide database to identify who is in the office at any given time. In a recent email, the firm expressed its belief that the introduction of this system…
The legal landscape is seeing a growing trend with boutique firms feeling the urge to scale up. Los Angeles boutique Barton Klugman & Oetting, a ten-lawyer firm, joined forces with Am Law 100 firm Clark Hill this summer. The driving factor behind the union was reportedly pressure from clients wanting the boutique firm to increase…
A case of an unusual will is under scrutiny at the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The deceased woman had intended to leave her entire estate to her pet cocker spaniel, who predeceased her. The court’s Aug. 24 opinion—authored by Justice Elspeth B. Cypher—highlighted the need for further analysis into whether the remaining assets in the…
A legal malpractice suit that previously secured a $1.1 million jury verdict in favor of a lawyer’s client, has been overturned by a federal judge in Massachusetts. Despite acknowledging the seemingly counterintuitive outcome, Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV affirmed his duty to adhere to the parameters set by the policy and Massachusetts law. The…
Pesticide manufacturer Syngenta is alleging potential collaboration between a New York neurologist, plaintiffs’ lawyers and journalists regarding a scientific paper that associates the company’s weedkiller, paraquat, with Alzheimer’s disease. The suspect in question is Dr. Earl Ray Dorsey, a professor at the University of Rochester, who in an article published in 2023, linked paraquat to…
In a bid to maintain client confidentiality and to help its lawyers understand generative AI, Australian law firm Allens took a unique course of action. Instead of opting for public AI such as ChatGPT, the savvy firm managed to construct its own generative AI platform, marking it as one of the first law firms in…
The Faculty of Law at the esteemed University of Toronto has made the decision to return a donation from Amazon worth US$450,000, following reports that the origins of the funding were undisclosed. Despite exercising the university’s rigorous commitment to academic freedom, institutional independence and integrity, it was noted that important questions had been raised about…
The California judicial watchdog agency, the Commission on Judicial Performance, has publicly admonished recently retired Orange County Superior Court Judge Derek Hunt. This disciplinary action follows Rudge’s dissemination of a series of disrespectful comments, including an email sent to an appellate judge that was so confrontational it led the recipient to contact court security. This…
Legal professionals worldwide may find interest in a recent case where global law giant, Dechert, is facing potential sanctions and civil contempt motions. The firm stands accused of failing to comply with discovery deadlines in a lawsuit connected to aviation entrepreneur Farhad Azima. Azima has alleged that he was the target of a hack-and-smear campaign…
Ceribell, an AI-powered neurodiagnostics firm based in Sunnyvale, California, has announced the appointment of former Pfizer lawyer, Louisa Daniels, as its first General Counsel. Daniels brings an impressive track record to the position, boasting over three decades of experience in the biopharma industry. Her professional journey includes an extensive tenure at Pfizer where she served…
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) concluded lawsuit against Impact Theory LLC is having unforeseen ramifications for the non-fungible token (NFT) sector, creating an intricate matrix of regulatory uncertainties. The claim centered on the notion that the media company accrued approximately $30 million via unregistered crypto asset securities. National Law Journal reports that this…
As law firms grapple with their internal policies on Artificial Intelligence (AI), their clients likewise seek to understand the ramifications of this rapidly evolving technology on their businesses. This need has led to a surge in demand for legal counsel specifically on the implications, opportunities, and challenges tied to AI. Large law firms are now…
A recent court decision against Robinhood, the popular stock trading platform, may trigger compliance issues for financial service providers globally. While details on the implications of the ruling are still emerging, it’s clear that the landscape of regulatory compliance could be reshaped significantly. This recently-published piece enlightens us on the verdict’s potential impact. The ruling…
Stephen W. Pidgeon, an attorney based in Everett, Washington, received a one-year suspension from practicing law by the Washington State Bar Association last week. This action was the result of Pidgeon’s involvement in contesting the results of Washington’s 2020 gubernatorial election. On behalf of the Loren Culp campaign, Pidgeon lodged a series of court filings…