Combating bullies has recently become a trending topic, particularly with the rise of bullying on social media. However, in the legal world, bullies also run the risk of being sanctioned, as a recent fashion copyright infringement case illustrates. The suit, filed by graffiti artist RIME against fashion label Moschino, alleges illegal copying of a design. In response to the designers’ motion to dismiss, RIME filed its own motion, based in part on abuse of process. According to RIME, the designers’ motion to dismiss is …
Continue ReadingCategory: Risk Management
Communication Breakdown = PL Claim
Communication is key. Defining clear objectives, limiting unreasonable expectations, and keeping the client reasonably informed of any developments in the matter at hand all go a long way to maintaining client satisfaction. However, not all professionals prioritize these relatively simple measures for successful representation. According to a recent study investigating malpractice claims against medical professionals, poor communication is a major contributor to liability actions. The study analyzed over 1800 lawsuits against doctors arising between 2007 and 2014, with a focus on the specific elements that …
Continue ReadingTo Retain or Refrain? Legal Record Retention Requirements
Litigation generates a ton of paper – pleadings, motions, drafts, correspondence, legal research – and these materials do not simply vanish once your involvement with a case has ended. What happens to all of this paper is an important question not only in terms of your legal obligations with regard to retention, but also for your bottom line. The necessity of managing and storing records from closed cases adds to the cost of providing legal services. So what happens when a case closes or you …
Continue ReadingDangers of Providing Advice Outside of Your Expertise
Today’s lesson: stick with what you know. Clients may ask their commercial litigator for an assist with their cousin’s DUI. An estate attorney may feel inclined to advise a longstanding client about a trademark application. It is not uncommon for clients to seek input from their attorneys irrespective of whether the advice falls well outside of the attorney’s area of expertise. As a recent New Jersey case illustrates, the attorney’s best bet may be to refer the client elsewhere.
In the subject case, a …
Continue ReadingWho is Really Writing the Expert Report?
Expert reports are a staple in many litigated matters. A good report should clearly convey the opinion and provide sound reasoning for the basis of the opinion. It is to be expected that an attorney and the expert will work together to formulate the expert opinions and ultimately to author a report. But how much input may an attorney provide? Federal Rule 26 clearly states that the expert report is to be prepared and signed by the witness. Nothing in the rule prohibits counsel from …
Continue ReadingDrop Dead Deadlines – Impartial or Indiscriminate?
The world of litigation is rife with deadlines. Even a meritorious argument or strong case can be derailed by failure to timely file pleadings and motions. This reality was illustrated in the recent case of Connolly v. 129 East 69th St. Corp. In this slip and fall case, a defendant moved for summary judgment to dismiss plaintiff’s case, and the trial court granted the motion. On appeal, however, the decision was reversed, as the court held the motion was filed one day after the motion …
Continue ReadingAOM Failure Closes the Door, but for How Long?
To minimize frivolous professional malpractice claims, many states have enacted affidavit of merit statutes. The range and substance of these statutes can be dizzying; indeed, that’s why we recently published a handy table with requirements and resources for each state. The AOM rules provide defense attorneys with an important tool to help defend malpractice claims in certain jurisdictions. In the extreme scenario, dismissal may be appropriate due to a faulty, lacking or late AOM. But, the question remains, whether the plaintiff has the opportunity to …
Continue ReadingPublic and Private E-mails Don’t Mix
Hillary Clinton recently made headlines for using her personal email account for business purposes during her tenure as Secretary of State. This high profile example provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon what is commonplace for some. It can be tempting for employees to use personal email accounts to conduct corporate business, particularly when working remotely. However, the highly sensitive nature of Clinton’s job raised questions over the security of using a non-work email account to transmit information. Depending on the nature of your …
Continue ReadingDoes Privity Matter? Yup, According to a Recent Dismissal
Attorneys may be prepared for, or at the very least are aware of the risk of, claims raised by current or former clients. Generally, the first element in any malpractice claim is the existence of an attorney-client relationship. The Restatement (Third) of the Law Governing Lawyers provides that an attorney-client relationship arises when, “a person manifests to a lawyer the person’s intent that the lawyer provide legal services for the person; and either (a) the lawyer manifests to the person consent to do so; or …
Continue ReadingNo More “Signing” on the Dotted Line
E-mails rule the business world. Due in part to the sheer volume of e-mails we receive, many professionals use standardized email signatures, which are automatically inserted at the bottom of an email. The shift to more transactions occurring by email raises the question: what constitutes a legally binding signature? A recent decision by the California Court of Appeals addressed the issue of when an e-mail may constitute a binding signature. The decision underscores the importance of understanding the validity of electronic signatures and the statutory …
Continue Reading