Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Features

Proposed Amendments to Federal Rules Would Limit Expert Witness Disclosures Image

Proposed Amendments to Federal Rules Would Limit Expert Witness Disclosures

Leyla Mujkic, Hesham M. Sharawy & Daniel J. Herling

Rule 26 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure incentivizes a party's attorney to get creative in his efforts to prevent disclosure of his communications with the party's expert ... The results of the rule have been costly and often lead to the discovery of information that is only marginally relevant to any genuine issue in dispute.

NJ Judge Won't Certify Class Action By Vioxx Users Image

NJ Judge Won't Certify Class Action By Vioxx Users

Charles Toutant

In March, an Atlantic County, NJ, judge denied a request to certify a class action against Merck & Co. on behalf of consumers for their out-of-pocket expenses for the painkiller Vioxx, which was withdrawn from the market in 2004 after a medical study linked it to heart disease.

Practice Tip: Reducing Product Liability Litigation Costs Image

Practice Tip: Reducing Product Liability Litigation Costs

Ronald J. Levine & Jennifer Smith Finnegan

This article poses ten questions in-house corporate counsel should ask themselves when they are preparing to defend a case and are in the process of retaining outside counsel.

Recalls of Foreign-Made Products Lead to Increased Scrutiny at Home Image

Recalls of Foreign-Made Products Lead to Increased Scrutiny at Home

Kimberly H. Clancy & Brendan P. Sheehey

The increased regulation of safety standards, testing, certifications of compliance, and advertising will likely result in a significant increase in the number of foreign product recalls. This, in turn, will yield increased litigation in the future. Here's why.

Ex-Heller Employees Sue Former Partners Image

Ex-Heller Employees Sue Former Partners

Amanda Royal

Former employees of Heller Ehrman sued at least 179 former partners in April, demanding they fork over $32 million for the largest group of creditors in the defunct firm's bankruptcy.

Features

Partial Plan Terminations Image

Partial Plan Terminations

Marcia S. Wagner

Management teams should be aware that reductions in workforce ("RIFs"), while seemingly cost-cutting in nature, can actually yield the opposite result, and can cause unintended and costly consequences with respect to a firm's tax-qualified employee benefit plan.

Advance Conflict Waivers Image

Advance Conflict Waivers

Richard M. Zielinski

An advance conflict waiver is an agreement, given by your client, to a potential future representation by your law firm that would otherwise be precluded because of a conflict of interest. Law firms increasingly include such waivers in their standard form engagement letters. Here's what you need to know.

Best Practices in Client Relationship Skills Image

Best Practices in Client Relationship Skills

Sharon Meit Abrahams

There are key activities that lawyers can engage in to promote the health of existing client interactions. All of these activities can be categorized into one of three stages: 1) establishing the relationship; 2) building the relationship; and 3) proliferating the relationship.

Let the Hirer Beware Image

Let the Hirer Beware

Brant Weidner

With so many lawyers up for grabs these days, firms have enticing opportunities to bring aboard top talent, sometimes at bargain prices. But let the hirer beware. Lateral hiring isn't without risk, and more lateral hiring means more exposure to claims alleging malpractice and other failings.

Deciphering SEC Enforcement and Its Impact on e-Discovery Image

Deciphering SEC Enforcement and Its Impact on e-Discovery

Virginia P. Henschel

In October 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the first time made public its Enforcement Manual, the agency's internal reference guide for Enforcement Division staff in the investigation of potential violations of the federal securities laws. Law firms and corporations involved in matters before the SEC will find it a valuable resource to aid their understanding of SEC operations.

Need Help?

  1. Prefer an IP authenticated environment? Request a transition or call 800-756-8993.
  2. Need other assistance? email Customer Service or call 1-877-256-2472.

MOST POPULAR STORIES

  • The 'Sophisticated Insured' Defense
    A majority of courts consider the <i>contra proferentem</i> doctrine to be a pillar of insurance law. The doctrine requires ambiguous terms in an insurance policy to be construed against the insurer and in favor of coverage for the insured. A prominent rationale behind the doctrine is that insurance policies are usually standard-form contracts drafted entirely by insurers.
    Read More ›
  • Abandoned and Unused Cables: A Hidden Liability Under the 2002 National Electric Code
    In an effort to minimize the release of toxic gasses from cables in the event of fire, the 2002 version of the National Electric Code ("NEC"), promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, sets forth new guidelines requiring that abandoned cables must be removed from buildings unless they are located in metal raceways or tagged "For Future Use." While the NEC is not, in itself, binding law, most jurisdictions in the United States adopt the NEC by reference in their state or local building and fire codes. Thus, noncompliance with the recent NEC guidelines will likely mean that a building is in violation of a building or fire code. If so, the building owner may also be in breach of agreements with tenants and lenders and may be jeopardizing its fire insurance coverage. Even in jurisdictions where the 2002 NEC has not been adopted, it may be argued that the guidelines represent the standard of reasonable care and could result in tort liability for the landlord if toxic gasses from abandoned cables are emitted in a fire. With these potential liabilities in mind, this article discusses: 1) how to address the abandoned wires and cables currently located within the risers, ceilings and other areas of properties, and 2) additional considerations in the placement and removal of telecommunications cables going forward.
    Read More ›