Criminal Practice – Court Sees Discovery Abuse, But Upholds Conviction
U.S. v. Bartko : A securities lawyer convicted of crimes arising from a fraudulent investment scheme cannot win a new trial based on his claims that the government withheld information favorable to his case; the 4th Circuit upholds the lawyer’s convictions, but admonishes the prosecutors in this district about a pattern of discovery abuse.
Attorneys – Tort/Negligence — Legal Malpractice Claim – Real Property – Closing – Fiduciary Duty – Unfair Trade Practices – Securities
RFT Management Co. v. Tinsley & Adams L.L.P. Since the parties agreed at trial that plaintiff’s legal malpractice claim involved questions of fact that required submission of the claim to a jury, plaintiff may not now complain that it was entitled to judgment as a matter of law on its legal malpractice claim.
Attorneys – Fees – S.C. Statute – Frivolous Lawsuits – Arbitration – Securities – Labor & Employment
Wachovia Securities LLC v. Brand A securities firm that lost its FINRA arbitration proceeding against former employees who left to work for a competitor winds up paying over $1 million in attorney’s fees under a South Carolina statute that penalizes frivolous lawsuits; the 4th Circuit affirms the district court order refusing to vacate the arbitration award in favor of the former employ[...]
Securities – Fraud – Leveraged Buyout – Disappointed Investors – Civil Practice – Pleadings Amendments
Katyle v. Penn National Gaming Inc. (Lawyers Weekly No. 001-055-11, 31 pp.) (Baldock, J.) No. 09-2272, March 14, 2010; USDC at Greenbelt, Md. (Messitte, J.) 4th Cir. Click here for the full text of the opinion. Holding: Plaintiffs, investors who were disappointed after a gaming company’s projected leveraged buyout failed to go through in 2008, […]
Supremes ponder service provider’s securities liability
The justices of the U.S. Supreme Court grappled with the question of whether a claim may be stated against a service management company for alleged securities violations of the mutual funds it sponsors. Appealed from the 4th Circuit, the case, Janus Capital Group v. First Derivative Traders, is a class action brought by shareholders who claim they received misleading information in prospectuses re[...]
Business Law
- Economy forces attorneys to get down to business
- Business Court judges trawl for customers
- Va. company's Web site did not subject business to personal jurisdiction in S.C., appeals panel rules
- Former running back from S.C. wins courtroom victory in contract dispute
- Contract – Government Contract – Qui Tam – False Claims Act
- Licenses & Permits – Beer & Wine Permit – Restrictive Covenant – Suitable Location
- Consumer Protection – FCRA – Auto Loan – Bank Accounting Errors
- Licenses & Permits – Veterinarian – Vaccine Maintenance
- Tort – Business Tort – Va. Computer Crimes Act – Trade Secrets
- Textile firm, railroad settle Graniteville train wreck lawsuit
- State regulators look at car dealer accused of lying to customers
- Subprime mortgage meltdown hits securities law
Commentary
- Virginia Tech student got due process in hearing
- High court justices cross the line of propriety
- High court’s term was rough on big business
- The flip side of generative AI in law and how to address it
- The fight for equal educational opportunity continues
- Letter From The Editor – Working from Home
- NLRB joins FTC in taking aim at non-competes
- Supreme Court leaves key internet protection untouched
- US Supreme Court bites back at parody’s use of the First Amendment
- My goal: Provide the information that you need now
- Case study: North Carolina courts provide guidance on scope, limitations of attorney-client privilege
- A Different Ode to Pro Bono Work