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House Panel Demands Toyota Documents of Former In-House Attorney

The National Law Journal

A U.S. House committee has demanded that Dimitrios Biller turn over internal documents that the former in-house attorney says would substantiate his allegation that Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. routinely destroyed and hid evidence in personal injury cases, Biller's lawyer said on Thursday. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has been investigating Toyota's recall of 10 million vehicles because they are subject to out-of-control acceleration and other problems.

School District Accused of Spying on Students via Home Webcams

The Legal Intelligencer

In a case that has set the blogosphere abuzz, a federal lawsuit filed in Philadelphia alleges that 1,800 students were given laptop computers equipped with webcams, which -- unbeknownst to the students or their parents -- could be activated at any time by school officials to spy on the students and their families in their homes. The suit claims that word of the alleged surveillance got out after a school official confronted a student, now the lead plaintiff, with a webcam photo in which he displayed "improper behavior."

Details Emerge on Wachtell's Advice to BofA on Merrill Disclosure Issues

The American Lawyer

The first batch of formerly confidential papers filed with Judge Jed Rakoff in the SEC's case against Bank of America shows that Wachtell and BofA agreed fairly quickly that the bank did not have to disclose that estimates of Merrill's fourth-quarter 2008 losses rose from $5 billion to $15 billion as a shareholder vote approached on whether to approve the Merrill acquisition. This contrasts with the narrative that New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has presented in his lawsuit against BofA and three top executives.

Airgas, Cravath Set to Face Off in Federal Court

The Legal Intelligencer

Airgas says its former law firm broke at least one of two Pennsylvania professional responsibility rules when it dropped Airgas as a client to represent Air Products & Chemicals in its attempted acquisition of Airgas. Airgas wants Cravath enjoined from representing Air Products in its acquisition bid and in litigation between the companies in Delaware. Cravath argues that Pennsylvania's entertaining of the case would be "sharply inconsistent" with principles of judicial comity. The two sides face off in federal court today.

Morrison & Foerster Returns First-Years to $160K

The Recorder

Morrison & Foerster has raised first-year salaries back to $160,000 after a few months of experimenting with the market. The firm had lowered starting salaries outside of New York and Asia to $145,000 in October. Chairman Keith Wetmore said at the time that the market for first-year salaries among national firms was "undetermined." Big-firm starting associate salaries have scattered across the board since the recession ended a salary war that had raised starting pay to $160,000 nearly everywhere.

O'Melveny & Myers Sees New Decreases in Revenue, Profits

The American Lawyer

For the second year in a row, O'Melveny & Myers reported a decline in both revenue and profits as the firm struggled with the continuing economic downturn and client pressure on rates. The firm reported 2009 gross revenue of $826.6 million, a decline of 8.9 percent. Profits per equity partner were $1.47 million, a decline of 4.2 percent. There were some bright spots, notably in the firm's private equity finance practice and its sports and entertainment practice.

Infomercial Star Fined Following E-Mail Blitz Against Federal Judge

The National Law Journal

Infomercial star Kevin Trudeau, author of "The Weight Loss Cure 'They' Don't Want You to Know About," tried to get off the hook in a civil contempt proceeding by exhorting supporters to e-mail the court and explain "how I have changed your life for the better." His backers complied by sending more than 300 messages, clogging the inbox and crashing the computer of Chicago federal Judge Robert Gettleman. On Wednesday, Gettleman held Trudeau in criminal contempt and slapped him with a $5,000 fine.

Both Sides Object to Special Master's Findings in Judge Sharon Keller Case

Texas Lawyer

Prosecutors for the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct argue in objections filed Wednesday that Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller's "willful and/or persistent conduct" in the case of Michael Richard authorizes the commission to sanction her. They were responding to the findings of fact the special master in Keller's case submitted to the commission last month, finding that Keller should not be removed from office or be publicly reprimanded for her conduct in connection with Richard's case.

FTC and States Take Aim at 9 Alleged Job Scam Artists

The National Law Journal

The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general took another swipe this week at scams that target unemployed people, jointly or separately filing nine new lawsuits against alleged "con artists" who charge victims for bogus job leads. The FTC announced that it has filed seven more lawsuits, bringing its total to 11 since spring in what it's calling Operation Bottom Dollar. The agency said it has partnered with online job search companies, including Monster.com and Craigslist, to help job-seekers spot scams.

12 Convicted in Pinot Noir Fraud Scheme

The Associated Press

A court in the medieval town of Carcassonne in southwest France has convicted a dozen people in a scheme in which local wine exported to the United States was passed off as more expensive Pinot Noir, duping the California wine-making empire of E.&J. Gallo. The scheme hit every level of the chain that takes the wine from the vine and gets it to U.S. consumers.

FTC: Springsteen Ticket Buyers Can Expect a Refund From Ticketmaster

The National Law Journal

The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday announced it has settled charges that Ticketmaster and its affiliate TicketsNow used "deceptive bait-and-switch tactics" to sell tickets to 16 Bruce Springsteen concerts last year. The settlement calls for Ticketmaster to refund the difference between the original price of each ticket -- $95 maximum -- and the amount charged by TicketsNow -- up to $400. The FTC also sent warning letters to other ticket resellers, putting them on notice of the agency's new standards.

Police: Duke Lacrosse Players' Accuser Assaulted Boyfriend

The Associated Press

The woman who falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of rape nearly four years ago has been charged with attempted murder, arson and other counts after a fight with her boyfriend, Durham, N.C., police said. Crystal Mangum was charged with identity theft, communicating threats, damage to property, resisting an officer and misdemeanor child abuse. The state's investigation of Mangum's claims in 2006 found there was no DNA, witness accounts or other evidence that confirmed her rape report.

Acquitted of Money Laundering, Attorney Says Case Relied on Fabricated Evidence

Fulton County Daily Report

Attorneys for a Georgia defense lawyer acquitted last November of federal money-laundering charges have accused federal prosecutors of relying on false testimony and a "rogue agent" with the Drug Enforcement Administration to help them make their case. The allegations are found in a court pleading filed on behalf of attorney J. Mark Shelnutt, who is suing the federal government to reimburse him for more than $225,000 in legal fees he spent defending himself against the charges.

Ashurst Asks More Partners to Leave

Legal Week

Ashurst has asked a number of partners to leave by the end of the current financial year, despite already seeing nearly 30 partner exits since May 2009. The top 10 U.K. firm asked fewer than 10 partners to leave shortly before Christmas, with most set to depart by the end of April. The total does not include retirees, such as London corporate partners David Kershaw and Alan Kitchin, and most come on top of the 27 partners who have left Ashurst's limited liability partnership since May 1.

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Does Discarding Unallocated Space Deserve Contempt?

The Legal Intelligencer

In a recent decision a Delaware court found a defendant in contempt of court for wiping the unallocated space of the hard drive of his work computer. Attorney Leonard Deutchman argues the order is suspect and places a dubious value on the computer equivalent of a wastepaper basket.

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Using LinkedIn to Help You Find Work as a Lawyer

The Legal Intelligencer

Whether you're looking for work as a lawyer or interested in client development, LinkedIn can be a useful tool, says consultant Debra L. Bruce. One reason why: the ability, essentially, to present your resume on steroids. Bruce also offers some warnings to keep in mind.

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Head of Greenberg's D.C. Office Goes to Colson Hicks

Daily Business Review

Florida-based Colson Hicks Eidson has opened a Washington, D.C., office and snagged the head of Greenberg Traurig's Washington office to run it. Ron Kleinman, former managing shareholder of Greenberg's Washington office, became the head of the second office for Colson. After 15 years at a large law firm, Kleinman wanted "to try the small-firm thing." He said, "This is a very friendly and amicable parting." The new office is starting out with two lawyers, but there are plans for growth.

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