Recent Articles from BridgeTower Media Newswires
Know the value of leadership communication
By Susan Letterman White BridgeTower Media Newswires Leading involves influencing people in a way that helps turn your vision for your law firm into reality, and a leader’s success depends on communication skills. Developing communication skills The most effective leaders create conditions in which relationships can develop and deepen. A leader who understands a person’s […]
Under pressure
By Shawn Healy BridgeTower Media Newswires One of the most common issues I hear from law students, lawyers and judges has to do with time, or a lack of it. I recently had the opportunity to listen to a podcast episode that shed new light on the problem. I often hear about podcasts and think, […]
Return sought of files seized in law firm raid
By Heather Cobun BridgeTower Media Newswires A federal appeals court ordered that the review of materials seized from a Baltimore law firm in June be reassigned from prosecutors to a magistrate judge Thursday. A spokeswoman for the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office said Friday, “We will certainly abide by the court’s decision.” The Baltimore Sun reported in […]
Is fast thinking slowing you down?
BY SUSAN LETTERMAN WHITE BridgeTower Media Newswires In 2012, Facebook conducted an experiment to see whether it could influence the emotions and postings of its users by curating news feed content calculated to manipulate mood. The experiment worked. If you had any doubt that your decision-making is affected by forces that fall below your radar, […]
One Doc v. Everyone Else
By Bill Cresenzo BridgeTower Media Newswires An insurance company that denied benefits to a disabled plant manager in the face of overwhelming evidence of his total disability has been rebuked sharply by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which unanimously affirmed reinstatement of the man’s benefits. Every doctor who examined the man found he […]
Six keys to increasing loyalty at your law firm
By Beth Sears BridgeTower Media Newswires All too often, attorneys abandon the law practice with which they work to join another or start their own. Usually unresolved conflict, misaligned values or better opportunities head the list of reasons for the separation. Many just think that their firm will be better now and do not use […]
The essentials of witness training
By Julie Campanini BridgeTower Media Newswires Witness preparation and training is critically important. After all, evidence comes through witnesses. Bad witnesses, if they are prominent, can tank a case. Knowing where you stand with your witnesses and how they can help or hurt a story cannot be overstated. Step 1: Assessment Assessment is the opportunity […]
Reversing course, 4th Circuit OKs some mortgage cramdowns
BY CORREY E. STEPHENSON BridgeTower Media Newswires Overruling 22 years of precedent, the en banc 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Chapter 13 debtors may divide some undersecured home mortgage loans into secured and unsecured claims and “cram down” the unsecured portion of such loans. The decision, Hurlburt v. Black (VLW 019-2-150), […]
Three ways to improve practice group meetings
By Matt Prinn BridgeTower Media Newswires Most law firms, big or small, realize that it makes sense for lawyers who practice in the same area to meet, typically by phone or video conference, every month or quarter. These meetings can be wastes of time and money (one hour billable time lost for each lawyer). A […]
Money Management: Beneficiary review
By Sharon L. Thornton BridgeTower Media Newswires The most important gift that you can leave your heirs is a well-thought-out transition of property. Circumstances change in life. It could be divorce, death, deciding to no longer enable grown children to live beyond their means or different causes that initiate a change in beneficiaries or the […]
Diversity on corporate boards: a tortuous path
By Stephen M. Honig BridgeTower Media Newswires “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities.” — Stephen R. Covey “Diversity” in business means variance in gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability and experience. Few goals are more discussed, and yet so unachieved, as diversity on corporate boards of directors. Statistics published this spring by the National Association […]
Qualifying for the home office deduction
By Jamie Bushart BridgeTower Media Newswires With more and more people working remotely, a common question clients asked this past tax season was whether they are eligible to take the home office deduction. This is also referred to as business use of home. The qualifying factors have remained unchanged; however, over the past six years, […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- Driver fell asleep, causing significant auto accident — $1M settlement
- Defense verdict returned for company in rear-end crash
- Cauda equina syndrome developed after procedure — $625,000 settlement
- Passenger died months after sustaining multiple injuries — $725,000 settlement
- Plaintiff injured in crash with oncoming vehicle — $235,000 settlement
- Driver killed in rear-end collision with tractor-trailer — $1.5M settlement
- Man died from pancreatic cancer after delayed response — $1.8M settlement
- Worker fell off roof, rendering him a paraplegic — $1.25M settlement
- Driver sustained permanent hearing loss after traffic collision — $240,000 settlement
- Plaintiff suffered concussion in rear-end collision — $81,000 verdict
- Builder misrepresented home status to buyers — $675,000 verdict
- Low potassium led to cardiac arrest, death of patient — $1M settlement
Opinion Digests
- Evidence shows child was abused or neglected
- Company owner dodges breach of contract suit
- Employee’s own allegations doom minimum wage claim
- Federal government defeats former employee’s claims
- Principal wasn’t entitled to exclusively remote work
- USPTO properly redacted info in responsive documents
- Untimely lawsuit allowed to proceed
- Engineering consultant dismissed from suit
- Rule 60 motion was filed too late
- Nonprofit directors immune from ex-employees’ claims
- City, employees immune from whistleblower claims
- Experts excluded in condemnation damages suit