July 2009
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Morning Docket
Morning Docket 07.22.09
* ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was secretly taped by a peephole videographer. Now the naked tape has made the rounds on the Internet. (Before you search, beware of viruses.) Her lawyer says Andrews plans to pursue criminal and civil charges against the peeper. [Fox News] * “Morgan Lewis signals Armageddon.” [AmLaw Daily] * Deutsche Bank […]
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Mystery Meeting at Troutman Sanders
History repeats itself. Back in March, we wrote in advance about a mystery meeting at Troutman Sanders. At that meeting, the firm announced a voluntary departure program for staff, as well as looming layoffs for lawyers. The firm never provided numbers on those attorney layoffs, but it appears that approximately 28 lawyers were affected. Troutman […] - Sponsored
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Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 07.21.09
* Yet another sports figure is accused of sexual assault. This time it’s Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. [TMZ] * How to get out of paying your ex-wife $2.5 million: go to jail for 14 years. [Lowering the Bar] * A Pennsylvania prisoner, serving time as a sex offender, sued to get porn while in […]
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Li-ann Thio
Dr. Li-ann Thio: An Online Petition
There’s a minor new development in the saga of Dr. Li-ann Thio, the NYU visiting law professor whose views on homosexuality have made her the legal academic everyone loves to hate. It’s an online petition, addressed to the NYU law school and university administration, expressing “deep dissatisfaction with New York University School of Law’s appointment […] -
Lawsuit of the Day
Lawsuit of the Day: Don't Tase and Threaten Me With Sodomy, Bro.
The use of tasers by police officers is occasionally controversial (See Man bursts into flames after Taser shock and Police Officer Tases Great Grandmother). When minors are involved, taser use becomes even more controversial. When the taser use on a minor is followed by sodomy threats… well, that warrants a lawsuit and an ATL post. […] -
Career Alternatives, Job Searches, Paralegals
Can't find work? Paralegal for Weil Gotshal
The legal job market is a little dicey right now, leading some law grads to question the worth of their shiny new J.D. degree. Suffolk Law grads — and not just the ones who can’t get dates — are really questioning the value of their degrees, after an ill-timed job advertisement from Weil Gotshal & […] -
Lawyer of the Day, Sports
'Crotchety' Lawyer of the Day: Johann Scott Scrimshire
Johann Scott Scrimshire is a Minneapolis attorney who likes to let it all hang out. He specializes in criminal defense and business corporate law, but is apparently unfamiliar with laws dealing with public nudity. From the Minneapolis Star Tribune: Johann Scott Scrimshire, 42, was arrested about 6 a.m. near Calhoun Parkway after a 911 call […] -
Law Schools
Missing UNLV Professor Says: 'I did not just disappear.'
Yesterday, we told you about the strange case of the UNLV Constitutional Law professor who went “missing,” causing all of her students to receive a grade of “pass” in her 1L course. Some students argued that the change in the grading system disadvantaged students that were hoping to make it onto the law review. The […] - Sponsored
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Harvard, Police, Racism
More on Gatesgate: Charles Ogletree Responds (and Prosecutors Drop Charges)
Last week, prominent African-American studies scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. was arrested for disorderly conduct after police confronted him for trying to break into his own home. There are accusations of racial profiling. Harvard Law School professor Charles Olgetree is representing Gates. The media are all over the story; even TMZ is covering it (and […] -
Akerman Senterfitt, Associate Salaries, Biglaw, Midsize Firms / Regional Firms, Money, Salary Cuts
Nationwide Salary Cut Watch: Akerman Senterfitt Opens Books, Cuts Salaries
Akerman Senterfitt is a Florida based firm, so — given the economy in Florida — it’s not all that surprising that the firm has decided to join the salary cutting party. Multiple tipsters independently confirm that Akerman has instituted an across the board, 10% pay cut on all class years. Here is the internal email […] -
Email Scandals, Screw-Ups, Summer Associates
Too Much Free Time at Winston & Strawn?
Last summer, Winston & Strawn only had a 90% offer rate for summer associates. Last year, that was worrisome. This year, summers would likely injure baby seals for a 90% offer rate. Summers are getting nervous, and it appears that a video conference from Winston’s managing partner, Tom Fitzgerald, didn’t help matters. Here is one […] -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket 07.21.09
* New York is considering the Madoff bill: making rich prisoners foot their own prison bills. No word as to whether tipping the prison warden is suggested during the holiday season. [Reuters via Daily Beast] * Part of the U.S. DOJ is relocating from D.C. to South Carolina. [Associated Press] * Doctors prescribing gag orders? […]
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Harvard, Police, Racism
The Gatesgate Arrest Scandal: Harvard Law Prof Charles Ogletree to Represent
We mentioned Gatesgate yesterday in Non-Sequiturs. Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., a prominent African-American studies scholar, was arrested on Thursday after a neighbor called police to report that Gates was trying to break into his own home. The New York Times says Gates was returning from a trip to China, and that his door […]
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Accounting / Accountants, Admin, Announcements, Going Concern
Making Accounting Sexy: Meet Going Concern
The Breaking Media family of sites — which until now consisted of Above the Law, Dealbreaker, and Fashionista — continues to grow. Today ATL welcomes a little sibling: Going Concern, a blog for accountants, CFOs, and business finance executives. Going Concern will be similar to ATL, but aimed at CPAs rather than JDs, or the […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 07.20.09
* Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. was arrested for trying to break into his own home. I predict a very lucrative future lawsuit of the day. [Transracial] * Speaking of Harvard, HLS is offering a seminar on evil this semester. At least they are dispensing with the pleasantries and directly teaching 3Ls how to […] -
Loyola Law School, Rankings, U.S. News
Loyola Law School (L.A.) Blames Name Mistake For Drop In Rankings
This year’s U.S. News Law School Rankings saw Loyola Law School (L.A.) drop from #63 to #71. Despite the back-and-forth between Above the Law and Loyola Law dean Victor Gold, the drop had nothing to do with us. Apparently, the drop didn’t have anything to do with any legitimate factor. Brian Leiter is on the […] -
Layoffs
Nationwide Layoff Watch: Time for Government Lawyers to Wipe That Smile Off Their Faces
For months, some government lawyers have been prancing around and making fun of Biglaw lawyers that have been fired during the economic recession. But perhaps working for the government isn’t the safe harbor many have touted? There is disturbing news from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The state has had to fire 29 people. Here’s […] -
Fabulosity, Fashion, Federal Judges, SCOTUS, Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court
Breaking Down Sotomayor's Fashion Choices
Is it sexist to dissect the fashion choices of Judge Sonia Sotomayor during last week’s confirmation hearings? Probably. I don’t remember anybody asking what Sam Alito was trying to convey with his confirmation tie choices. But Sotomayor was trying to convey something with her choices. We might as well take a look at what message […] -
Law School Deans, Law Schools
UNLV Con Law Professor Is Running, UNLV Students Are Rebelling
Something very strange is happening at the UNLV Boyd School of Law. One of the school’s professors has randomly gone missing, and she left before she turned in the students’ grades. In response, UNLV Law Dean John Valery White just decided to give all of the students a “pass.” Literally. The Nevada law blog, Wild […] -
Ballard Spahr, Biglaw, Canceled Summer Programs - 2010, Summer Associates, Thompson Hine
Ballard Spahr And Thompson Hine Cancel Their 2010 Summer Programs (Update: Squire Sanders, Too)
Just last week, Ballard Spahr was sending around inspirational messages to its associates. Today, the firm has decided to cancel its 2010 Summer Program. Thompson Hine has also decided to cancel its 2010 Summer Program. If nothing else the move should give Rogue Associate an opportunity to comment. It’s one thing to cancel your entire […]