E-discovery As a Litigation Weapon?
The proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) make clear what most companies engaged in complex litigation are already keenly aware of: that 'electronically stored information' is not only discoverable but is essential to the discovery process.<br>The new rules set forth a series of actions related to e-discovery that both parties must abide by or risk the imposition of sanctions. While the exact impact of these new rules, set to become effective on Dec. 1, is unclear, it is safe to say that the millions of dollars spent on e-discovery last year are sure to increase as companies and their counsel struggle to adapt their practices.
Blogging and the Workplace
You may not know about it, but it is happening: At least one, and probably more, of your business' employees has entered the 'blogosphere.' The world of blogs, or interactive diaries posted on the Internet, has expanded exponentially over the past 3 years, and 'bloggers' cannot seem to resist the urge to talk about their jobs. These sometimes quasi-journalistic postings raise a host of concerns for employers, such as protecting a hard-won public image, safeguarding confidential information, and preventing defamation of managers and co-workers. Such concerns arise because blogs can reach millions of readers long before the employer even learns about the posting.
<b>BREAKING NEWS: </b>THOMPSON MEMORANDUM ON FEES FOUND UNCONSTITUTIONAL
KPMG refused to pay its employees' legal fees because the government held a 'gun to its head' and thus 'violated the Constitution it is sworn to defend.' These strong words from U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan in the KPMG tax shelter case have shaken the foundations of corporate prosecutorial policy. <i>United States v. Stein et al.</i>, 2006 WL 1735260, (S.D.N.Y. June 26, 2006).READ THE FULL STORY FROM THE ATTORNEY WHO WON THE RULING IN THE AUGUST, 2006, ISSUE, ONLINE AUGUST 1!
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Case Briefs
Highlights of the latest insurance cases from around the country.
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Managing the Co-Insurer Relationship: Preserving Contribution Claims
Typically, when an insurer accepts an insured's tender of defense, the response letter to the insured includes a request for information regarding the insured's co-insurers, and in the context of a progressive bodily injury or property damage claim, successive insurers. The insured is obligated to provide this information pursuant to the policy's cooperation clause. The purpose for requesting this information is to determine what other insurers may potentially be responsible for sharing in the defense and indemnity of the claim.
Tools for Challenging Settlements
A policyholder, claiming that its insurer is engaging in improper foot dragging while the policyholder faces huge liability exposure, enters into a settlement. It does so without the insurer's consent. Then the policyholder de-mands that the insurer fund the settlement. The insurer objects. In the litigation that is sure to follow, the insurer need not be on the defensive ' even if it breached its contractual obligations. Instead, several legal tools are available to an insurer to effectively challenge coverage for the settlement.
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Dealing with Insurers in Liquidation
Insurer insolvency has become an increasingly significant concern. Since 1969, more than 400 property and casualty insurers have been placed in liquidation. The past 5 years have seen several larger commercial insurers go into liquidation, among them The Home Insurance Company and Reliance Insurance Company. Indeed, from just 2001 to 2003, Guaranty Associations paid approximately $5 billion in covered claims — more than half the $10 billion they had paid in the previous 31 years from their inception. This article addresses what creditors need to know when dealing with a financially troubled insurer.
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The Power of One
Landmark research reveals that having a single individual accountable for firm-wide client service boosts profits per attorney by up to 41.2%. This article discusses the critical success factors that drive this exceptional ROI ' and learn how to define this role at your firm to deliver measurable results with lasting impact.
Alliance Marketing Can Extend Your Firm's Reach
Alliance marketing offers law firms a great way to increase their exposure to potential clients while showing off their expertise in the law to other professionals who can be a wellspring of referrals. An alliance-marketing relationship brings together lawyers with accountants, bankers, investment planners, publishers or other professionals who may want to market their services to the same potential clients. These alliances could be formed to run seminars for current and potential clients, to work together to publish articles or for creation of advertising materials.
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<b>The Place to Network:</b> Making the Business Case For Gratitude
Benjamin Franklin had an odd habit: He would routinely ask for favors of his political adversaries. They were small favors ' borrowing a book, for instance ' but they were favors indeed. Why on earth would he indebt himself in this way to his enemies? Because he knew that getting people to do things for you is one of the fastest ways to get them to like you.
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