Are March Madness Office Pools Legal?

Brace yourselves, employers: March Madness is upon us. Thursday, March 20, was the first full day of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship Tournament games, and the tourney does not conclude until the Championship Game on Monday, April 7, in Arlington, Texas. During the tournament’s three weeks, the US economy will lose an estimated $1.2 billion in productivity as employees watch early round games, participate in office pools, and discuss the outcomes with co-workers. The question remains, are these office pools legal?

The

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Attorney Reprimanded for Criticizing Out-of-State Judges

Attorneys are expected to show the utmost respect when appearing before the judiciary.  There is a line that differentiates zealous advocacy and disrespect. In a recent decision, a New Jersey attorney learned a valuable lesson about bad mouthing the court, even if that court sits in another jurisdiction.

The case arises from a New Jersey attorney who tried a case in Pennsylvania state court against a company that provided dispute resolution services.  When the state court trial and appellate court judges ruled against the …

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Great Career “Moves” – Treadmills in the Office Boost Productivity

In the non-stop business world, many employees struggle to find time to exercise.  Yet, some employers encourage physical fitness as a means of boosting the health and productivity of their teams.  A recent study suggests that a new double-tasking combination – exercising while working – might be a good business “move”. 

A recent study found that walking while working might boost productivity, with the added benefit of ameliorating overall employee health.  In the study, 40 employees of a financial services company regularly walked on …

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An Ethics Lesson from Judge Judy

Popular television judge “Judge Judy” is known for her no-nonsense approach inside her courtroom.  Based on the recent lawsuit she filed against a law firm, it would appear that she maintains that same approach outside the courtroom.  Judith Sheindlin – better known as “Judge Judy” filed a March 12 lawsuit alleging that a fellow Connecticut attorney used her image in advertisements without permission.  The suit provides another reminder of the risks of attorney advertising.

The judge, who filed her suit in the USDC

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Professional Liability Monthly – March Edition is Now Available

Case analysis in this edition of Professional Liability Monthly include:

  • Court Refuses Design Professional’s Bid to Avoid Liability Reliant on Future Inspection or Approvals
  • A Plaintiff’s Complaint Alleging Defamation and Violations of Connecticut’s Unfair Trade Practices Act Is Stricken Under the Absolute Litigation Privilege
  • Pennsylvania Enacts Benevolent-Gesture Bill Into Law
  • Evidence of Informed Consent Inadmissible in Medical Malpractice Case
  • Case of First Impression: Plaintiffs Lack Standing to Bring Malicious Prosecution/Vexatious Litigation Actions Against Attorneys and Attorneys’ Clients
  • Court Finds Theory of Apparent Agency Applicable
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Cases for Professional Liability Monthly – March 2014 Edition

The below cases correspond with the March edition of Professional Liability Monthly and the analysis of each case. Click here to access to the newsletter. Cases are provided courtesy of LexisNexis.

Brady v. Urbas

Granger Constr. Co. v. G.C. Fire Prot. Sys.

Meyers, Harrison & Pia, LLC v. Riella

Ntumbanzondo v. Bang Chau

Scalise v. Cummings & Lockwood, LLC

Schlump v. Pabst

Wojeck v. Latimer Point Condo. Ass’n,

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Attorney-Client Privilege Put to the Test

Although many attorneys may hate to admit it, the attorney-client privilege has its limitations. Of course, this long-standing privilege protects confidential communications made by a client to her attorney for the purpose of seeking legal advice.  By protecting these confidential communications, clients are encouraged to disclose all pertinent information to their attorneys. Particularly in the private sector, the attorney-client privilege enjoys wide latitude.  However, a recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision suggests that the issue of whether the privilege extends to government entities and the attorneys …

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The Tax Professional’s “Dirty Dozen” List

April 15 is looming. For tax professionals across the country, the emergence of spring also means it’s time to hunker down to prepare tax returns. In the midst of preparing returns and meeting deadlines, tax professionals must also consider the reality that tax advice and return preparation reportedly result in the greatest number of claims against accountants. Some good news is that there are common themes amongst the types of claims facing tax professionals which provide insight and valuable lessons. In particular, the IRS publishes …

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Confidentiality Issues in High Profile Litigation

It was nearly 20 years ago when a white Ford Bronco sped down an Los Angeles highway containing O.J. Simpson. Some believe that the trial that followed changed litigation, but there have been a number of trials that have garnered international attention since: Oscar Pistorius, Michael Jackson, and Amanda Knox are more recent examples. Attorneys involved in high-profile litigation have unique responsibilities to consider when balancing obligations to the client with immense pressure imposed by the media and the public. In particular, …

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Settlement Voided due to Facebook Post

Facebook strikes again! Just ask a settling plaintiff who learned that his negotiated settlement payment was deemed void as a result of his daughter’s Facebook post.  According to a recent decision out of Miami, an $80,000 payment was presumptively waived as a result of a post from the plaintiff’s daughter broadcasting the “victory” due to a confidentiality clause within the settlement agreement. This is just another example of the serious consequences of inadvertent disclosure of confidential information and the risks of social media.

In the …

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