Practice Tip: Proposed Changes to the FRCP Regarding Electronic Discovery
Part One of this article discussed the proposed new amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure addressing discovery of electronically stored information, scheduled to have taken effect on Dec. 1, 2006. The conclusion advises about sanctions, safe harbor, and production issues.
Application of the Frye Standard to Medical Expert Testimony
This article addresses a recent decision of a New York state appellate court concerning the admissibility of expert medical testimony to establish causation in a case involving injuries allegedly incurred from treatment with a prescription medication. In <i>Zito v. Zabarsky</i>, 28 A.D.3d 42 (2d Dep't Jan. 24, 2006), the appellate court held that expert testimony that a plaintiff's injury was caused by a prescription medication was admissible when that testimony was based on a single case report indicating a link between the medication and the injury. The court's holding is inconsistent with other New York appellate decisions addressing the admissibility of expert testimony concerning medical causation and threatens to dilute New York's standard for making that assessment, and could have the same effect in other states that apply the same standard.
Non-Traditional Sources of Electronic Data in Investigations
On the first of this month, the long-discussed and much-awaited amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) were scheduled to go into effect. This issue and the changes to the rules affect most particularly counsel advising clients in e-discovery matters, but e-discovery and the treatment of information and communications ' before discovery is developed or consider, or before lawsuits are filed ' are issues critical to e-commerce, and that will become more important as this segment of the economy grows, for businesses and for law firms.<br>This article describes how non-traditional sources of electronic data may provide important evidence in investigations. These data sources, including instant messaging (IM), voice mail, Web-based e-mail and sales-management systems, present unique challenges in terms of procuring and analyzing raw data.
Base Salaries Up; Bonus Levels Mixed
The recently released 2006 Altman Weil Law Department Compensation Benchmarking Survey of U.S. corporate law departments, published in partnership with LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell, shows base salaries up across the board for in-house lawyers in 2006.
New Federal Discovery Rules: A Compliance Roadmap
Revised Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have likely gone into effect as you read this. They place a very early focus on existing retention practices and the preservation and discovery of information. For companies without modern enterprise retention programs and robust legal holds processes, a thoughtful gap analysis and readiness plan should be completed immediately.
The Leasing Hotline
Highlights of the latest commercial leasing cases from around the country.
Features
Understanding and Utilizing Percentage Rent Provisions
As retailers like to say, 'The three most important factors in retailing are location, location, location.' The real value of a retail lease, however, resides in the volume of sales produced at the location; therefore, the provider of the location — namely, the landlord — is a key player in the retailer's success. That is why percentage rent has developed in retail leases as a way by which the landlord that provides a successful location might share to some degree in that success.
Features
In the Spotlight: Silica Liability and the Premises Owner
Part One of this series explored the reasons why landlords should be concerned about silicosis litigation. This conclusion suggests some measures that landlords can take to avoid ' or at least reduce ' such litigation.
Features
Considerations in Drafting and Negotiating Early Lease Terminations
The first impression one may have when preparing to draft an early termination agreement is that such a document should be a simple matter. It is true that simplicity and brevity in drafting are, in most circumstances, admirable qualities, and it is equally true that we frequently draft and negotiate documents that are much more complex than most lease termination agreements. Nevertheless, as with any effort to document a transaction, care must be taken in the preparation and negotiation of such an agreement to avoid overlooking potential risks and to protect the client's interests. This article explores some considerations in documenting the early termination of a lease, though not necessarily in order of importance. Although some specific suggestions are made and some sample provisions are included, the primary intent of this discussion is to alert the leasing practitioner to various issues and pitfalls that may be encountered.
Features
Employers Beware EEOC Information Request
Understandably, companies have become more sensitive about protecting confidential, proprietary business information from disclosure to competitors and others outside the company.<br>A recent ruling by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, <i>Venetian Casino Report v. EEOC</i>, 2006 WL 2806568 (D.D. Cir. 2006), demonstrates that such disclosures may occur in the most unexpected ways.
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