Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Search


Litigation
Recent cases of interest to your practice.
October issue in PDF format
October issue in PDF format
Courthouse Steps
Recently filed cases in entertainment law, straight from the steps of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
Full October issue in PDF format
October issue in PDF format
V4 Signals A New Path
Recently, at Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., we identified a need to reduce the number of e-mails our team was exchanging with our clients to send versions of documents and felt that the solution should be in the form of a central repository for all of our information. After analyzing a Citrix solution and deciding we weren't willing to devote an entire server to third-party dial-in access plus the costs of the underlying software, we looked at iCONECT, which recently re-launched its flagship product, (previously known as simply as iCONECT), giving it the moniker "V4." Everyone involved in our in-house review really liked how we could store documents, transcripts, images, calendars and case information in one place.
<B><I>Practice Tip</b></i> Protecting Against Metadata Mishaps
Whenever you create, open or save a document using any Microsoft Office application (<i>eg</i>, Word), the document may contain "metadata" - embedded information that you may not know about because it is usually hidden on screen. Metadata is used to enhance several Word functions, such as editing, viewing, filing and document retrieval. Harmless, right? Well, that depends on the type of metadata, the document's method of distribution and your firm's and clients' privacy needs.
<b><i>Case Study</b></i>Implementing Knowledge Management at Rider Bennett
Like many legal and technology professionals, I've been aware that knowledge management (KM) was coming. I've spent the past few years getting the word out to the right people so they were familiar with the concept and researching the potential impact that it would have at our firm.
X1: A Rocket Ship into Computer Archives
Finding files on one's computer can be, to say the least, a tedious and time consuming job that sometimes comes up empty handed. When you couple that with the stresses of putting out documents in a law firm, day in and day out, the job now pushes its way up to a monumental task! One would think that this topic should have been covered years ago, and done in fine fashion at the dawning age of computers. But alas, no such product has come along to make the chore less of a chore. To boot, most of the present day market products are not very handy when it comes to finding files on your office hard disks, but now a very new product makes the search fast ' and furiously good

MOST POPULAR STORIES

  • The 'Sophisticated Insured' Defense
    A majority of courts consider the <i>contra proferentem</i> doctrine to be a pillar of insurance law. The doctrine requires ambiguous terms in an insurance policy to be construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage for the insured. A prominent rationale behind the doctrine is that insurance policies are usually standard-form contracts drafted entirely by insurers.
    Read More ›
  • Abandoned and Unused Cables: A Hidden Liability Under the 2002 National Electric Code
    In an effort to minimize the release of toxic gasses from cables in the event of fire, the 2002 version of the National Electric Code ("NEC"), promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, sets forth new guidelines requiring that abandoned cables must be removed from buildings unless they are located in metal raceways or tagged "For Future Use." While the NEC is not, in itself, binding law, most jurisdictions in the United States adopt the NEC by reference in their state or local building and fire codes. Thus, noncompliance with the recent NEC guidelines will likely mean that a building is in violation of a building or fire code. If so, the building owner may also be in breach of agreements with tenants and lenders and may be jeopardizing its fire insurance coverage. Even in jurisdictions where the 2002 NEC has not been adopted, it may be argued that the guidelines represent the standard of reasonable care and could result in tort liability for the landlord if toxic gasses from abandoned cables are emitted in a fire. With these potential liabilities in mind, this article discusses: 1) how to address the abandoned wires and cables currently located within the risers, ceilings and other areas of properties, and 2) additional considerations in the placement and removal of telecommunications cables going forward.
    Read More ›
  • Cutting Off the Stream: How United States v. Silver Affects "Stream of Benefits" or "Retainer" Bribery
    Although the court stressed that, by vacating certain of former NY State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver's counts of conviction, it was clarifying and not altering the "as opportunities arise" theory, it nevertheless emphasized that this theory requires particularity with respect to the "question or matter" that is the subject of the bribe payor and recipient's corrupt agreement.
    Read More ›