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Sticking to the script: Ethics issues can arise with metadata mining
Electronic documents can tell a tale at odds with the surface script, and dealing with “metadata” can present temptations to corporate counsel when an email hits the wrong person’s inbox. Metadata includes the hidden information that describes the history, tracking or management of an electronic document. Sometimes metadata revelations are merely embarrassing. During the recent […]
Protecting trade secrets, biz goodwill across state lines
According to a recent study, more than half of all employees admit to stealing employers’ confidential data. Meanwhile, a key employee has just left your company for a competitor. Whether this employee would steal your information or not, at a minimum she knows some of your most important trade secrets. She also controls many significant […]
Lawyers, EEOC see rise in pregnancy discrimination claims
When Leopold Aguirre allegedly fired Abigail Shomo from her job as a waitress at his restaurant in Radford, it wasn’t because he was unhappy with her work. In fact, he said he was satisfied with her performance. Instead, he allegedly told her that his customers did not want to see “a belly” on a woman; […]
New fee disclosure rules increase responsibilities
From the Pension Protection Act of 2006 to fee disclosure regulations taking effect in 2012, employer-sponsored retirement plans have seen a flurry of changes from Congress and regulators. While these changes stand to improve retirement outcomes, they also impose a significant burden on employers and plan fiduciaries. In particular, the new fee disclosure regulations will […]
Corporate counsel pay also takes a hit
And in more news from the department of “it’s tough all over,” compensation for corporate counsel also has dropped, according to a new survey released by AmLaw’s Corporate Counsel. Base pay has been relatively stable, the survey reports, dropping slightly to an average of $611,411 for GCs. But stock awards and bonuses are down. The […]
Can we talk? Combatting the fear of runaway fees
A couple of years ago, a lawyer and his partner went to pitch a client for work on a closely held business dispute. The competition was heavy and costs were a significant concern. “What are your rates?” one of the client’s representatives bluntly asked. They were high, the lawyer knew, and he knew they were […]
Corporate counsel look for help from specialists
Corporate counsel may not need to be wined and dined by law firms seeking their business. But they do like meat and potatoes, in the form of substantive reasons why a particular lawyer will help them solve a problem. In-house lawyers shared tips for wooing corporate clients at VLW’s Business and Law Breakfast Forum in […]
‘General counsel’ services now available part-time
Companies leery of adding a full time lawyer to their management team are finding more options for temporary or part-time “general counsel” legal services in Virginia. Startups and small businesses facing legal questions can call on lawyers willing to serve as house-counsel-for-rent, offering a menu of arrangements – from outside consultant to on-site team member […]
Capital One’s Justice Server program links pro bono lawyers to clients
Lawyers and information-technology experts at Capital One are teaming up with private and public sector lawyers to streamline the administration of pro bono legal work in Virginia. Lawyers who do pro bono work find that one of the best ways to reach clients is to work through state and local legal aid organizations. Legal aid […]
Verizon honored for in-house pro bono
WASHINGTON D.C. – The legal department of Verizon Communications Inc. was honored Sept. 22 with a Community Service Award, presented by the Washington Metropolitan Area Corporate Counsel Association at its 7th annual awards program at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C. Under the leadership of General Counsel Randal Milch and Associate General Counsel John Frantz, Verizon […]
Don’t bill for thank-you notes: Working with corporate counsel
Relationships matter, goes the familiar marketing maxim. And communications are the key to a successful collaboration between a lawyer and the in-house legal counsel who hires the lawyer. Notice, it’s the lawyer who is hired, not necessarily the law firm. “When I need to reach out to someone, I think of a lawyer, as opposed […]
Pitfalls for corporate, outside counsel shown
Imagine that you’re corporate counsel, and you’re preparing for a huge case. You learn – from opposing counsel – that one of your key witnesses may have altered two emails to enhance your case. Is eliminating those emails from the case enough, or do you have to pull out all stops to check the veracity […]
Verdicts & Settlements
- 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
- Excessive propofol caused death in dialysis patient — $850,000 settlement
- Pedestrian struck in crosswalk in hit-and-run incident — $300,000 settlement
- Navy veteran killed in collision with box truck — $1.85M arbitration award
- Motorcyclist ejected from bike in collision with SUV — $1.5M settlement
- Jury rules in plaintiff’s favor in defamation suit with city — $300,000 verdict
- Woman missed step on walkway, rupturing Achilles tendon — $160,000 settlement
- Court dismisses suit in hit-and-run death of 2-year-old
Opinion Digests
- Debtor fails to show that signatures were forged
- Alleged defect in service of process excused
- Sales reps defeat injunction motion by former employer
- Court refuses to strike damages expert’s report
- Company can’t dismiss securities class action
- Defendants sued for not repaying loan
- No claim for ACA retaliation outside employment arena
- Plaintiffs awarded $33K in damages, $324K in fees
- Bank dodges claim for customer’s in-person transfer
- Jury to decide who is on hook for $207K loss
- Woman claims hospital did not offer appropriate exam
- Board members accused of political patronage
