WLJ Legal News News

Newspapers lawsuit against Doyle dismissed

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:06:00 CDT

Madison (AP) — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by The Capital Times newspaper that claimed Gov. Jim Doyle’s office improperly delayed the release of public records.

BOG candidate looks for voice in mandatory bar discussion

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:49:48 CDT

The State Bar of Wisconsin released its list of candidates vying for two-year terms on the Board of Governors starting on July 1.

Court supports unauthorized practice petition

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:47:40 CDT

The state Supreme Court unanimously voted on March 8 to support in principle a petition filed by the State Bar of Wisconsin that would clearly define what constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.

Trek Bicycle cant sue Trek Winery in Wisconsin

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:46:12 CDT

If high-end bicycle manufacturer Trek wants to pursue a claim for trademark infringement against tiny Trek Winery in California, they will have to find a forum outside of Wisconsin to do it.

High Court ruling that lawyers are debt relief agents gets mixed reaction

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 13:09:34 CDT

Washington – Bankruptcy attorneys may be more careful about how they advise their clients after the U.S Supreme Court’s holding this week that the communication and disclosure rules that apply to debt relief agents also apply to them.

Commentary: Telling the brief tale

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:57:09 CDT

Most lawyers have neither the time nor the resources to produce extensively researched and intricately crafted legal briefs. The process is often viewed as a time-eating money loser, and so assigned to young, inexperienced associates. Briefs, however, and the research that goes into them, are critical to successful litigation.

Law firm can't block bankruptcy dismissal

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:40:16 CDT

Boston (Dolan) — A law firm that acted as counsel for the creditors’ committee in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy lacked standing to challenge dismissal of the case, the 7th Circuit has ruled.

Former judge defends sentencing guidelines

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:33:40 CDT

The federal sentencing guidelines are now advisory, rather than mandatory. But district judges should still be cautious in departing from them, advised Hon. Mark R. Filip, a former federal judge and former Deputy Attorney General.

Board of Governors opposes lifetime ban on practice

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:25:12 CST

Lawyers who lose their licenses should still have the ability to apply for reinstatement after five years.

Videotape can be played during closing

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:06:30 CST

Prosecutors can play witnesses’ videotaped statements during closing arguments.

Attorney-client privilege claim denied

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:04:27 CST

The Seventh Circuit has maintained a high bar for obtaining appellate review of adverse decisions on the attorney-client privilege.

Court takes up another gun law challenge

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:57:52 CST

Washington – The U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to hold that the Second Amendment protections established two years ago in D.C. v. Heller apply to cities and states through the Fourteenth Amendment. But whether the extent of those protections requires the Court to strike down Chicago’s handgun ban remains unclear.

Wisconsin attorneys pursue cases tied to Toyota recall

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:36:42 CST

As the recall totals of Toyota vehicles continue to climb, personal injury attorneys around the country are getting involved in suits against the automaker.

Take care in classifying employees

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:34:27 CST

Karla Osolin was disappointed with her first paycheck from Turocy & Watson LLP, a boutique intellectual property firm in Cleveland, Ohio.

Fines for UPL not dischargeable

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:23:06 CST

Boston (Dolan) — Penalties for the unauthorized practice of law are not dischargeable in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the Ohio Supreme Court has ruled.

Abandoned practices generate lots of work, little pay

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:17:01 CST

Janet M. McDonough shared an office with fellow solo attorney Bryan C. Royce when he died in a car accident in 2006.

Family of those killed in 2006 crash poised to sue Toyota

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:13:56 CST

An attorney for the family of three people killed when their vehicle was struck by a Toyota Camry four years ago is convinced he’ll be able to prove that a defect in the Camry was the cause of the crash.

Judgment contradicts bad faith findings

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:12:57 CST

In what may be the largest lemon law verdict ever, a plaintiff won a $482,000 judgment from a court, including $302,000 in attorney fees, against Mercedes-Benz.

Negative equity in car is secured

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 09:32:50 CST

The Seventh Circuit has finally resolved an issue that has plagued and divided Wisconsin bankruptcy courts since the enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 – whether negative equity used to buy a new car is included as part of the lender’s security interest.

2010 Leaders in the Law

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:10:02 CST

The Wisconsin Law Journal sponsored its Leaders in the Law event on February 26. The luncheon recognized 23 attorneys for their contributions to the legal profession, as well as federal appellate court judge Terence T. Evans with a lifetime achievement award. Close to 250 judges, lawyers, family and friends attended to support this year’s honorees.

When does the EEOC filing clock start?

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:13:34 CST

Washington — Less than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Ricci v. DeStefano, the Court is considering yet another case involving the alleged discriminatory impact of an entrance exam on firefighters.

Domestic violence gun ban to be heard en banc

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:10:08 CST

The Seventh Circuit on Feb. 22 took the rare step of granting a petition for an en banc hearing.

Payday lending proposal introduced

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:09:58 CST

Legislators are considering proposals that would make Wisconsin the last state to regulate payday lending practices.

The Assembly recently passed AB 447, which would impose a $600 limit on payday loans and ban auto title loans. The Senate referred the legislation to committee, but has yet to schedule a hearing. It also has a separate payday lending proposal.

Bankrupt clients turning lawyers into creditors

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 13:03:15 CST

Last year’s historic rise in bankruptcy filings has resulted in more business for bankruptcy attorneys, but it also has meant more lawyers and law firms getting stiffed on their bills.

Commentary: True name fraud difficult to repair

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:54:19 CST

Anyone with a decent credit history fears having his or her good name tarnished. We hear stories of other people’s credit problems finding their way onto our credit reports. We’re familiar with data breaches that expose our private details to criminals. But the scariest form of identity theft is true name fraud, in which someone opens credit accounts using your name and personal details.