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Nebraska Ethics Board Gives Lawyers OK to Accept Bitcoin, with Caveats
More large law firms are accepting bitcoin payments for their legal services, signaling the digital currency’s firmer foothold in corporate America.

Attorney who allegedly violated confidentiality in Monsanto case could result in his firm’s removal.
Brent Wisner of Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman PC came under fire last week when he posted Monsanto emails the day after he believed the deadline to preserve confidentiality was over. Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman PC represent the plaintiffs in an action accusing Monsanto of selling cancer-causing weedkillers. The emails involve questions about Monsanto influencing research on Roundup’s carcinogenic effects. Monsanto was outraged by the documents’ release. “There is a standing confidentiality order that they violated,” said Scott Partridge, […]

Ineffective assistance claims abound
In a number of recent Utah appellate court opinions, appellants have alleged clams of ineffective assistance of counsel in varying degrees. Under Utah law, in order to prove a claim for ineffective assistance, a defendant must prove that his or her counsel’s representation fell below an objective standard and that there is a reasonable probability that, but for his or her counsel’s unprofessional errors the result of the proceeding would have been different. Thus, not only must a defendant show […]

When securing your fee is not a priority
A recent case before the Utah Court of Appeals saw a law firm challenge a trial court’s ruling that a judgment creditor’s right to a set off takes priority over the firm’s right to rents under an assignment. The court of appeals ultimately disagreed with the law firm’s argument that, as an assignee, the firm had priority over a judgment creditor. The appellate court concluded that the law firm merely “stood in the shoes of its assignor,” and, because the […]

Fair Use defense fails in Newegg brief copying row
A federal judge sitting in the Central District of California recently denied an IP attorney’s bid to set forth a fair use defense in a copyright infringement lawsuit. While the judge allowed Ezra Sutton to amend the final pretrial order to include a fair use defense, the judge granted Newegg’s motion for summary judgment regarding its copyright infringement claims. Newegg Alleges Ezra Sutton Attorney Improperly Copied Newegg Appellate Brief The suit, between Newegg, Inc. and Ezra Sutton, P.A., alleges that […]
Facebook walloped over rookie lawyer
A recent ordinary scheduling conference turned into anything but ordinary when New York federal judge Nicholas Garaufis made a point of berating Facebook Inc. for sending a first-year associate to cover the hearing. Garaufis’s comments strongly suggest that the court believes the social media giant is not taking seriously lawsuits alleging that Facebook is not doing enough to deter terrorists from using the social media platform. Judge Garaufis Hammers Facebook for Sending First-Year Associate to Hearing Addressing the first year […]