Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

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

Search


To Settle or Defend
When trying to make a reasoned decision about whether to settle or defend a medical malpractice claim, there are a number of things that should be taken into account. In this regard, the authoroffers eight factors to consider, four of which were addressed in last month's newsletter. The discussion concludes herein.
Getting to Zero
The question of how to manage paper records ' both onsite and off ' is probably the greatest hurdle faced by many of our clients. For most areas of back-office operations not running optimally, firms can outsource or hire a new manager and typically solve the problem. This is not the case for paper records.
How to Work with a Business Development Coach
Many firms are stepping up their business development game, often pressing greater numbers of lawyers to be actively engaged in, and accountable for, developing business.
The Right to Associate in the Defense
The "right to associate" permits the insurer to work with the insured to investigate, defend, or settle a claim. Such partnerships protect the insurer and can prove beneficial to the insured's underlying case and ultimate exposure.
Can the EEOC Be Trusted to Police Its Own Compliance?
The EEOC has an express statutory duty to attempt to secure, in good faith, a conciliation agreement with an employer as a precondition to filing a lawsuit. In some cases, however, the EEOC has approached conciliation in a "take-it-or-leave-it" manner, making unreasonable demands while threatening to file suit and issue a press release, which can inflict significant reputational harm on the employer.
Viacom and Google Defeat Privacy Claims over Kids' Online Data
A federal judge in Newark dismissed multidistrict litigation against Google Inc. and Viacom Inc. in rejecting claims that the companies' online data collection violates the privacy of children under 13.
'Unreliable ' Articles, 'Trial by Literature ' Revisited
The reliance upon, and use of, unreliable hearsay literature by expert testifiers is a challenging topic that cuts across the spectrum of complex litigation. Often, the literature is comprised of technical or scientific articles published in some journal with a claim that the published work product has been "peer reviewed." The problems seem to have exacerbated.
Cameo Clips
Texas Court of Appeals Upholds Ruling for Lawyer Defendant in Malpractice Suit over TV Network Stock Dispute<br>TV Executive Can't Get Punitive Damages from Alleged Fraud in Hiring
Development
A case in which a challenge to a positive SEQRA determination was not ripe.
Law Firm Leaders Struggle with Setting Firmwide Rates
Rate-setting has proven a bit vexing for firm leaders as they grapple with setting rates in an era where firms span multiple markets and practice concentrations, clients aren't willing to pay the published rates, and alternative fee deals are a growing part of firm revenue.

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 ›