Football

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.14.16

* “[S]he didn’t earn the nickname ‘The Notorious RBG’ for nothing.” During a press briefing yesterday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said that he was not surprised that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had decided to weigh in about presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his qualifications. [POLITICO] * In a recent Twitter poll, Law.com asked whether Justice Ginsburg's comments related to Trump were "out of bounds" for a Supreme Court justice. After thousands upon thousands of user votes poured in, the results were split, with 51 percent responding "no," and 49 percent responding "yes." What do you think? Email us. [Law.com] * Cravath Swaine & Moore partners have elected a new presiding partner to succeed C. Allen Parker. Faiza Saeed is currently the co-head of Cravath's mergers-and-acquisitions practice, and will soon serve as the first-ever female presiding partner of the firm. Congratulations! We'll have more on this exciting news later today. [Am Law Daily] * Like his balls, Tom Brady must be a little down since it looks the challenge to his four-game "Deflategate" suspension has officially been sacked. The Second Circuit has flat-out refused to rehear the case or rehear it en banc, and now the New England Patriots quarterback's hopes rest on a Hail Mary to the Supreme Court. [Big Law Business] * It's well-known that music icon Prince died of an accidental drug overdose without a will, but according to a recent order from the judge presiding over the probate of his estate, a Minnesota law firm that previously represented the singer "might possess confidential information potentially relevant" to who his true heirs are. [USA Today] * "Elle [Woods] embodies fighting for what is right, staying true to yourself, and defeating the odds." It's been fifteen years since the film first hit theaters, but Legally Blonde is still inspiring people to go to law school, despite the bleak employment scene that awaits graduates. Unfortunately, the bend-and-snap won't win you a job. [People]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.23.16

* So Sheppard Mullin was our only associate raise of yesterday. Well, that's not technically true because there was another one overnight, but we don't have that post up yet. So stay tuned! [Above the Law / 2016 Salary Increase] * Jones Day sued over gender and pregnancy discrimination. Maybe this explains the firm's reticence in raising salaries: it's trying to build a record that it screws all its associates equally. [Law360] * Jimmy Johns agrees to drop its ludicrous noncompete agreements as part of a settlement with the NYAG's office. Finally, Subway and Quiznos can build that lateral market we always desperately needed. [CNBC] * Did this GC lose her job over her Tweets? [Corporate Counsel] * The American Constitution Society unveiled a study proving what we pretty much would have expected -- judges are mostly white dudes. But the extent of the racial and gender disparity is astounding. [Gavel Gap] * Texas Senator sues Dez Bryant. Is this finally something he can't blame on the rest of the team? [Courthouse News Service] * Interesting profile of Jodi Ettenberg, the world traveling food connoisseur former lawyer we've covered before. [Business Insider]

By Joe Patrice
Education / Schools

Chicago Public Schools’ Use Of Outdated Football Equipment Could Lead To Future Lawsuits

Last football season, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) escaped a potential doomsday scenario when Cook County Judge Leroy K. Martin, Jr. dismissed a class-action lawsuit brought by former Chicago high school athlete, Alex Pierscionek, who alleged that the organization’s concussion polices were negligent and dangerous. Pierscionek sought logical, but expensive, protections for athletes such as mandatory baseline testing […]

By The Legal Blitz
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 06.03.16

* A ray of light for Madonna as the Ninth Circuit hands her a victory in a long-running copyright infringement case, creating a circuit split in the process. [Billboard] * The New York Court of Appeals overturns the $17.2 million award Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder earlier won against Cadwalader at summary judgment. Life's hard for billionaires who beg regular people pay their bills for them. [Law360] * Kirkland & Ellis plays hardball with departing partner, forcing him to repay a $120K bonus before walking out the door. [Legal Week] * This is why we can't have nice things. Literally. Intellectual property concerns threaten customizable goods. [Corporate Counsel] * Texas AG Ken Paxton's still gonna have to face those criminal fraud charges. [Courthouse News Service] * Industry groups come out of the woodwork to challenge a Department of Labor rule requiring retirement advisors to act in the best interest of their customers. Crocodile tears abound as the groups claim they agree with the sentiment of the rule but just want the SEC to write it -- knowing full well that the SEC isn't going to write it. [Wall Street Journal] * Add ABA President Paulette Brown to the list of people outraged that Donald Trump is criticizing a federal judge for, among other things, being of Mexican descent. [Law360] * Irell gets sneaky in this copyright win over pre-1972 songs. [Litigation Daily]

By Joe Patrice
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By Barbri
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.26.16

* David Mourey, the former assistant dean for bar preparation and academic success at Barry Law, was fired after students continued to fail the bar exam, but in a recently filed gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit, he claims he was discriminated against because he was "singled out for discipline by an all-female management team." We may have more on this later. [Orlando Sentinel] * Despite the wishes of the public and rumors of his firing in the face of the Baylor University coverup of reports of rape and sexual assault by football players, "Ken Starr is [still] president and chancellor of Baylor University." According to a university spokeswoman, the school has not yet finished reviewing Pepper Hamilton's report on the matter, but Baylor will likely make an announcement by June 3. [Associated Press] * "We are willing to fight this all the way to the Supreme Court if we have to." Eleven states have filed suit against the Obama Administration in an effort to get around its guidance on transgender rights for children in schools, calling the policy a "massive social experiment." The states suing are Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. [Reuters] * Sumner Redstone turns 93 years old tomorrow, and he's been in and out of court for the past few months in a battle to prove he's mentally competent. The salacious case filed by his former female companion may have been dismissed, but now he's attempting to fend off claims from Viacom directors who were ousted from a trust that will control his media holdings if he dies or is found incompetent. [DealBook / New York Times] * Now that the world knows that PayPal's co-founder provided funding for Hulk Hogan's invasion of privacy suit against Gawker, it's time to take a look at the lawyer who's been representing the wrestler. Charles Harder is no stranger to Hollywood cases, and may be a longtime fan of litigation finance since he "[tries] to win and do so in a way that's cost effective for a client, so they don't lose when they're winning." [WSJ Law Blog] * Since revenge litigation finance's recent invention, what's there to keep billionaires from destroying you with lawsuits? Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not much, especially when "there is no obligation to disclose the litigation financing arrangements" that have been made. Ethical issues aside, we really hope the super-rich wield their new power to ruin lives through rented lawsuits carefully. [Fortune]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 05.24.16

* "Next thing I know he knocks me over backwards, puts the pillow over me and he cuts my throat and stabs me." Law firm partner Leo Fisher testified yesterday in the trial against Andrew Schmuhl, the lawyer accused of abducting and maliciously wounding him. We'll have more on this horrifying testimony later. [Washington Post] * In a move that's sure to attract attention (and ire) from the Justice Department's Antitrust Division, Bayer has offered to buy Monsanto for $62 billion. This may be the largest all-cash takeover in history, so we wonder which law firms will have the pleasure of reaping all the rewards that come with so huge of a deal representation. [Reuters] * "Can citizens sue the government over climate change?" Great legal minds are divided over the answer to this question. Constitutional law scholar Erwin Chemerinsky says yes, but international law savant Eric Posner says no. Whatever you think is the right answer, it's time we get more aggressive on this issue. [Room for Debate / New York Times] * With Ted Olson quarterbacking Tom Brady's request for an en banc hearing of his four-game Deflategate suspension before the Second Circuit, perhaps this case has a fighting chance. Patriots fans should be praying, because an en banc hearing could result in their QB's suspension being stayed for the start of the season. [WSJ Law Blog] * Victims of the Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood attack have filed suit against the clinic, claiming the shooting was both "predictable and preventable." They say that given the past history of threats of violence against places where abortions are performed, patrons should've been alerted that they were at risk of injury or death. [Denver Post]

By Staci Zaretsky