Determining the length of the statute of limitations is easy but the trick often comes in figuring out when the statutory period begins running. In the legal malpractice context, this may often present the difference between dismissal or protracted litigation. A recent New York Supreme Court decision has shed some further light on why it remains important for all parties to know the applicable statute and accrual date, and highlights yet another situation in which a Court will employ a jurisdictional accrual rule to bar …
Continue ReadingAuthor: Anthony J. Golowski
Potential Conflicts for Summer Hires?
Many law firms employ law clerks, or hire summer associates. The former are often current law students, while the latter are almost always current law students. There are benefits to both the firm and the student in these situations; the student gains real-world legal experience and an opportunity to work alongside experienced attorneys, while the firm gets capable and often short-term employees. Many firms use these experiences as a way of determining future hiring, as a sort of “trial run” used to assess whether any …
Continue ReadingAdvance Conflict Waiver = Unenforceable
Even the most experienced of professionals cannot predict the future. So, as a risk prevention measure, many of us turn to the next best thing by agreeing to clear contractual terms with our clients so as to eliminate confusion down the road. We spell out the terms and scope of our engagement and we identify the client’s responsibilities in an effort to avoid problems before they arise. We attempt to reach agreements today that may impact us tomorrow. According to the ABA, conflicts of …
Continue ReadingHigh Times: Ethics of Marijuana Advice
Marijuana laws in the US are rapidly changing. Colorado, Oregon, and Washington have legalized marijuana outright for recreational use. Twenty more states and the District of Columbia have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Now, the Pennsylvania legislature has proposed a new law that would permit limited medical marijuana use. Despite these changes at the state level, marijuana is still classified under federal law as a Schedule I drug that has no accepted medical use. Inconsistencies between state and federal laws create potential …
Continue ReadingLimitations on Local Counsel?
Attorneys often utilize local counsel to assist in a venue they are not licensed. The role of the local counsel will vary from case to case. Generally speaking, local counsel have a more limited role in the litigation. However, according to a recent NY ethics opinion, a limited role does not necessarily mean limited responsibilities or risks.
Attorneys who agree to act as local counsel may be subjected to certain unanticipated risks or obligations despite their limited role in the litigation. According to …
Continue ReadingWhat is Work? New Definitions for the New Year
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”), employees are entitled to compensation for “hours worked.” However, what is considered compensable work time is a contentious topic for many employers. A recent decision by the Supreme Court is likely to help clarify the test for compensable work under the FLSA and effectively end much of the current litigation faced by employers surrounding back wages and overtime pay. This month, in a rare unanimous decision, the Supreme Court held that employees’ time spent waiting for and undergoing …
Continue ReadingOverzealous Advocacy Leads to Sanctions: Part II
Attorneys have an obligation to provide zealous advocacy on behalf of their clients and to pursue a client’s interests within the bounds of the law. We recently posted an example of an attorney that crossed the line. Here’s another example which resulted in sanctions imposed upon an attorney for discovery abuse. In both cases, sanctions were levied against attorneys defending a deposition. Accordingly, we’ll take the opportunity to provide some tips to avoid a similar result in your practice.
In this recent example, a U.S. …
Continue ReadingWhen Ethics and Online Reviews Collide
Before making dinner reservations, hiring a dog-walker, going to the movies or finding a plumber many consumers utilize online review websites to help make an informed decision. Sites like Angie’s List, Yelp, Consumer Reports and even Facebook provide the opportunity for an online community to publish a review for all to see. Professionals fall into the class of other service-providers who may be reviewed online. These reviews may serve as a nice source of referral business; they can also tarnish a professional’s reputation …
Continue ReadingWhen Negligence = Murder: Follow-Up Report
On February 26, 2013 we posted this piece regarding an architect facing manslaughter charges arising from the death of an LA firefighter. At the time we posed this unprecedented issue: Can defective design lead to criminal liability? We’re now in a position to definitively answer that question: “yes,” given that the architect just received a one-year jail sentence.
As previously posted, the case concerns an architect/builder, Gerhard Becker, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter after the $11 million Hollywood home he designed and …
Continue ReadingThe Floodgates have Opened: Unpaid Internship Suits on the Rise
Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Last month we discussed the first suit filed by unpaid interns against their “employers” under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Channeling our inner Miss Cleo, we suggested at the time that the decision in Glatt v. Fox Searchlight Pictures, Inc., would have far-ranging implications on the EPL community. Sure enough, the floodgates have opened for unpaid interns seeking repayment under the FLSA.
In recent weeks, Conde Nast, Gawker, Warner Music, Nickelodeon, and …
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