Florida

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.16.21

* Dr. Dre's lawyer has been disqualified from representing him in his divorce. Too bad Dr. Dre went to medical school instead of law school... [Page Six] * A Florida man, who was found guilty of impersonating a lawyer, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. [New York Times] * A new lawsuit alleges that the tipping policy of Olive Garden's parent company has a discriminatory impact on workers. If true, maybe "when you're here, your family" should apply to employees too. [Today] * Veritas founder James O'Keefe is threatening litigation after being banned from Twitter. [Forbes] * Fyre Festival has settled claims with 277 ticket-holders over the ill-fated 2017 music event. Hope they make a documentary about this part of the Fyre Festival saga... [Fox News]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.12.21

* A lawsuit about the use of the "Corona" brand name with hard seltzers is heating up. It's an interesting name to be associated with these days... [Yahoo News] * Ramsey Clark, the former United States Attorney General and a civil rights lawyer, has passed away at 93. [New York Times] * An Oklahoma City attorney, who allegedly fell in love with a client, has been charged in the triple murder of the client's girlfriend and parents. [Oklahoman] * Congressman Matt Gaetz has hired a lawyer who is also representing the Trump Organization in a criminal probe. [NBC News] * President Biden has established a commission to consider reforms to the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary. [Politico] * The State of Florida has filed a lawsuit aimed at reopening the cruise industry. This would make a great plot of a sequel for Speed 2: Cruise Control... [CBS News]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.08.21

* A lawsuit alleges Florida police used excessive force after mistaking Star Trek memorabilia for weapons. They should have set their phasers to stun... [Hill] * The Trump Organization has hired a criminal defense lawyer. [Wall Street Journal] * A public defender is suing her boss for allegedly being told to dress more modestly to avoid the sexual interest of male prisoners. [Daily Mail] * Three Michigan lawyers have been charged in a scheme to collect debts on money that was allegedly never owed. [Fox News] * Check out this article on how Originalism is being used by state court judges. [Juris Lab] * A man's death after participating in a taco-eating contest has spawned a lawsuit against a minor-league baseball team. [Washington Post] * The Biden Administration is asking a judge to dismiss a climate change lawsuit filed on behalf of kids. Hope they can handle the heat... [Hill]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.06.21

* A new lawsuit alleges that a radio personality's "rabid" fans forced a Florida man to leave the Sunshine State. Maybe the plaintiff was just a "snow bird"... [Tampa Bay Times] * The highest-paid lawyers at Viacom/CBS were paid $12.7 million last year. [Bloomberg Law] * The Supreme Court handed Google a win over Oracle in a longstanding copyright dispute. Maybe the justices just hate using Bing... [CNN] * Harvey Weinstein has filed an appeal of his criminal conviction. [Fox News] * A group of farmers recently filed an antitrust lawsuit against a number of agricultural companies. [AP] * A Florida lawyer is getting recognition for helping professional wrestlers trademark parts of their personas. Guess he smells what the Rock is cooking... money. [Tampa Bay Times]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.30.21

* Nike filed a trademark infringement lawsuit over Lil Nas X's so-called "Satan Shoes" which include a drop of human blood and other Satanic imagery. Guess the old town road went straight to hell, and hope they hired the "Devil's advocate"... [Forbes] * The trial in a class action against 3M, on behalf of servicepeople who allegedly suffered hearing loss from faulty ear plugs, is underway. [Military.com] * Seattle is taking steps to ensure that everyone facing eviction has the benefit of a lawyer. [Seattle Times] * A Florida lawyer faces possible disbarment for allegedly taking money from clients and ghosting them. [Click Orlando] * A woman representing herself pro se was able to discharge tens of thousands of dollars of student loans in bankruptcy. Maybe she would have gotten more debt discharged if she went to law school... [Yahoo News]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.29.21

* Florida's Ron DeSantis threatened litigation unless the CDC greenlights cruises to resume by summer. Maybe he just wants to galivant around the Caribbean... [Yahoo News] * Amazon is facing litigation over allegations that it failed to provide required meal breaks. [Verge] * A Brooklyn judge has dismissed a case because a lawyer refused to wear a mask. [Daily News] * A Minnesota lawyer has been sanctioned for allegedly filing election challenges without the plaintiffs' knowledge. [Twin Cities Pioneer Press] * A small Chicago bookseller is suing Amazon for allegedly using anticompetitive tactics. Sounds like this could be a sequel for You've Got Mail... [Oregonian]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.19.21

* The Florida Senate just passed a bill to shield businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits. Many wish Florida was doing more to shield residents from COVID-19... [Tampa Bay Times] * A former lawyer for AT&T is accusing the company of overcharging needy schools and libraries for internet service. [Dallas Morning News] * A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a journalist over allegedly illicit wiretapping. [Politico] * Check out this interesting article on removal and remand rates in federal court. [Juris Lab] * An Illinois attorney has been suspended from practice for allegedly mishandling client money. [Quad-City Times] * A prominent lawyer for computer hackers has been arrested for destroying his son's computer. Guess that's another kind of hacking... [New York Daily News]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.15.21

* Buckingham Palace is reportedly hiring a law firm to investigate Megan Markle's bullying claims. Wonder what it would be like if the firm from Suits did this job... [Business Insider] * Google will face a lawsuit claiming that it still tracks users in Incognito Mode. [Verge] * The criminal trial of Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, may be delayed due to her recently announced pregnancy. [Guardian] * The Manhattan District Attorney recently announced he will be retiring at the end of his term. [Washington Post] * A Florida lawyer has been charged with first-degree murder. [ABC News] * The Clemson University Track and Field Team has hired counsel over the elimination of their program. Hope they don't have too many "hurdles" to pursuing a claim... [ESPN]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.04.21

* A federal detainee who threw a chair at a prosecutor has been charged. Guess they threw the book at him... [Department of Justice] * Residents of North Carolina will purportedly be allowed to phone a lawyer for free tomorrow. [ABC News] * A lawyer for Joe Biden accuser Tara Reade is requesting that the New York Times compensate his client for publishing Reade's social security number. [Fox News] * A proposed law in Florida would make it difficult to sue healthcare providers and nursing homes for damages related to COVID-19. [NBC News] * The former owner of New York Sports Clubs has settled a lawsuit over billing practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. That case wasn't on the legal treadmill for long... [Reuters]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.17.21

* Donald Trump has reportedly dumped Rudy Giuliani as his personal lawyer. Wonder if he was told "you're fired"... [CNN] * Lawyers for an alleged Capitol rioter are reportedly trying to use Mitch McConnell's words about President Trump's actions to their advantage. [Law and Crime] * A former Florida lawyer, whose pants literally caught on fire during a trial in 2017, has allegedly been charged with cocaine possession. [New York Post] * A new lawsuit filed by a Democratic Congressman alleges that Donald Trump and others conspired to cause the January 6th Capitol riot. [Reuters] * Dominion Voting Systems reportedly plans on filing a lawsuit against the CEO of MyPillow after he said "please sue me." He's probably still sleeping well at night... [Newsweek]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.12.21

* A Florida lawyer who became famous dressing up as the "grim reaper" on beaches to warn about COVID-19 may face discipline for an appeal he filed. Hope he didn't wear the "grim reaper" outfit to court... [ABC News] * Megan Markle won a lawsuit against a company that published portions of a private letter she wrote to her father. [Harper's Bazaar] * Check out this group of Harvard Law grads who are trying to eliminate harassments and discrimination in the legal profession. [New York Times] * Bruce Springsteen has hired a New Jersey legal eagle to defend himself in a DWI case. [New York Post] * Since Above the Law hasn't had a "Lawyerly Lairs" segment in a while, just wanted to relate that a lawyer just bought a multimillion-dollar waterfront mansion in Jupiter, California. Check out the sweet digs in the article. [Real Deal]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.08.21

* President Trump's impeachment lawyer has asked that the impeachment trial be paused for the Jewish Sabbath. Guess he doesn't roll shomer shabbos... [CNN] * A Florida lawyer accidentally flashed his medical marijuana card instead of his driver's license in a video that has gone viral. [Fox News] * The Supreme Court has ruled that some of California's restrictions on in-person worship are unconstitutional. [NPR] * Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager accused of shooting protestors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, has fired an attorney who raised a substantial amount of money for Rittenhouse's legal defense. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel] * Subways is offering 15% off tuna sandwiches after a lawsuit was filed alleging the company does not use real tuna. Something smells fishy... [Yahoo News]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.03.21

* Whole Foods is facing a lawsuit alleging the retailer misled customers by calling a product "Honey Graham Crackers" when it actually wasn't that healthy. Guess you do attract more flies with honey... [Fox News] * A Florida lawyer has been disbarred for filming sexual encounters with inmates in jail. [New York Daily News] * The Manhattan District Attorney is apparently investigating Stephen Bannon following his federal pardon by President Trump. [Washington Post] * Check out a summary on all of the lawsuits faced by Robinhood over its decisions regarding GameStop stock. [Verge] * A bank has repossessed a private plane owned by a San Antonio lawyer. Maybe he fought for the plane like it was the Alamo... [KSAT.com]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 02.02.21

* A Michigan lawyer is giving away a free divorce for Valentine's Day. How romantic... [Fox News] * Google is paying millions to resolve allegations that it discriminated against female and Asian job applicants. [Bloomberg Law] * A paralegal in Texas is accused of embezzling around $40,000 from her former employer. [ABC News] * A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit about the alleged lack of Spanish-language voting materials in Florida. [NBC News] * Quinn Emanuel is apparently operating an office in Atlanta out of a former partner's home. Since everyone is working from home anyways, this seems completely normal. [Bloomberg Law]

By Jordan Rothman
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 01.20.20

* The New Jersey Supreme Court has thrown out a conviction because a prosecutor referenced The Shining during a trial. And it wasn't even a "redrum" case... [New Jersey Law Journal] * Chief Justice Roberts will be swearing in another person today who opposed his confirmation to the Supreme Court. [Yahoo News] * An attorney said "I bet I don't appear again. Goodbye!" last week in response to being denied leave to withdraw from a case. Of course this happened in Florida, and check out the video of the aftermath in the article, it's amazing. [BoingBoing] * Newly-minted lawyer Tiffany Trump announced her engagement yesterday to boyfriend Michael Boulos. [New York Times] * A class action has been filed by residents who experience intense smells because they live near a Florida perfume factory. Maybe they prefer toilet smell to eau de toilette... [News4Jax]

By Jordan Rothman