Where, When and How Is <i>Ex Parte</i> Communication With a Physician OK?
In medical malpractice cases, treating physicians, nurses and other providers are key witnesses. They have specialized knowledge of the plaintiff and her medical conditions, and, unlike expert witnesses, they have had the opportunity to personally examine and evaluate the plaintiff. Because <i>ex parte</i> meetings and discussions with treating physicians can be so informative, they are often seen as invaluable tools for any party permitted to meet with treating physicians.
Trade Association Liability
As with many good things however, trade associations come with a price. They have attracted the attention of the plaintiffs' bar, and have been named as defendants in a growing variety of cases including antitrust, product liability, and even false advertising.
Slow Growth on Tap for 2014
Just over five years after the start of the global financial crisis, the job of an Am Law 200 law firm leader arguably remains as tough as it has ever been. The painful decisions to cut staff and attorneys may now be a distant memory, at least for most firms, but there remain two distinct drags on Big Law businesses.
Data Security Fears Rise
e-Commerce professionals just aren't destined to get a good night's sleep. First there was the recession, slowing upgrades and new projects. Then lawyers using personal smartphones and tablets for work, raising confidentiality headaches. Now, a new challenge: Protecting against cyberattacks ' and convincing clients that the firm is doing this job well.
Features
Duane Morris Brings Early Case Assessment In-House
With a view to addressing a market imbalance ' litigation clients demanding better early case assessment, and commercial providers not developing tools to meet that need ' Duane Morris litigators handed the firm's technology team a mandate: Help us develop a system to assist our clients in the resolution of the ubiquitous try-or-settle conundrum and, in the process, position the firm to capture more litigation business.
Features
Office 365 Cloud Computing
The world is getting smaller as technology changes enable us to share documents with those on the other side of the globe. When sharing documents "in the cloud" it is possible to see real-time updates when using the Microsoft 365 Office Web Apps. As most legal documents are created in Word, this column will focus on the Word Web App.
How Legal Services Can Maintain Profitability in a Shifting Landscape
Since the 2008 economic downturn, the U.S. legal market has undergone a permanent restructuring. With huge firms collapsing due to crippling debt, we see that legal services firms are no longer untouchable. The legal environment has become increasingly challenging as competition has increased, demand for legal services has remained flat, and firms are being forced to adopt more efficient, cost-effective and strategic business models.
Features
How Metadata Changed the Outcome of a Complex Employment Case
By definition, metadata is data about data. For computer files, it includes metadata fields that are hidden to typical users. This information can be valuable for a court case, and it goes beyond standard electronic discovery data collection: it must be gathered and analyzed by a digital forensics specialist.
Features
Practical Pathways for the Next Generation of e-Discovery Professionals
The e-discovery industry has come a long way in a short period of time. Fifteen years ago, the career path of an aspiring legal technology professional was quite uncertain. However, over time, clearer career trajectories have begun to emerge based on the career choices of pioneer ' and now veteran ' e-discovery professionals. Analyzing the divergent hiring strategies of service providers and law firms helps reveal those career trajectories.
Features
<i>Online Extra:</i> Hulu Loses Bid to Short Circuit Privacy Case
U.S. Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler ruled Hulu's alleged disclosure of users' viewing selections is enough to sustain claims under the Video Privacy Protection Act.
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