Collecting Social Security Numbers
This article suggests a framework for ensuring compliance with the majority (albeit not all) of the applicable state laws and avoiding the financial, legal and reputational damage that can occur when SSNs are improperly collected, used or disclosed.
Proof and Defense of Causation in Failure-to-Warn Claims
In litigating failure-to-warn claims, the focus often is on duty (whether the manufacturer should have included a warning) and adequacy issues. In most cases, there is little attention paid to proof that the lack of a warning, or an inadequate warning, caused the accident. This article focuses on strategies for proving and defending the causation element of failure-to-warn.
Unfinished Business Claims
This two-part article describes recent developments with respect to unfinished business claims, discusses the implications that those cases may have on law firm partnerships, and provides some suggestions as to what law firms may do to avoid unfinished business claim litigation.
Obstruction of (Contemplated) Justice
Obstruction of justice is seeing increased use, and could prove to be a powerful tool in the federal prosecutor's toolbox. Reflective of its growing attention, as discussed further below, it is the subject of a pending U.S. Supreme Court case that will examine just how broadly this statute may reach.
Collecting Social Security Numbers
In the first half of 2014, at least 96 significant data breaches were reported, compromising more than 2.2 million records. Of these breaches, at least 46 involved records that may have contained Social Security Numbers (SSNs). What the affected businesses may not know is that the mere collection of SSNs may have put them in violation of state laws, in addition to the liability they may now face for having failed to protect the SSN information.
Gaps in Coverage After <i>Farmers Mutual </i>
Recently, the New Jersey Supreme Court addressed the question of the role of a state insurance guaranty fund within a pro rata allocation scheme. The court's opinion has called into question New Jersey's approach to allocation more generally.
Changing the Law Firm Business Model
Lawyers must understand the process by which they deliver a legal solution. That means they understand every task in the process and who should be performing those tasks, whether it is a partner, an associate, a paralegal, or another professional.
Keep It Under Control
Client questions about litigation management are always the same: How likely are we to win? How long will it take? How much will it cost? The answers vary from case to case, but metrics exist to answer the questions and to enhance litigation management.
