Northwestern University School of Law

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.23.15

* Any day Cadwalader can avoid damages in a huge, multimillion-dollar malpractice case is a great day. Yesterday, the New York Court of Appeals dismissed a never-ending suit filed against the firm by a former client over a failed commercial mortgage-backed securitization. Phew! [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA] * Say hello to Northwestern Pritzker Law: In case you missed it, Northwestern Law recently received a $100 million donation, the largest single gift ever made to a law school. For that much money, you're damn right the school has a new name. [Chicago Tribune] * This must've been a huge blow to his ego... U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara had to dismiss insider trading charges against seven defendants thanks to a Second Circuit decision that made it harder to prosecute certain financial crimes. [DealBook / New York Times] * Charleston Law fired back against professors who sued the school by saying in its answer it wouldn't be in such dire straits if they hadn't "sabotaged the transfer of the school to InfiLaw." Take that back, they did a good deed. [Charleston Regional Business Journal] * "Sorry, not sorry, narcs," says Judge Breyer. Earlier this week, a California judge informed the DEA that it needed to stop harshing medical marijuana patients' mellows by shutting down medical pot dispensaries that were operating within state laws. [TIME]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.16.15

* John Stamos of Full House fame was formally charged with driving under the influence earlier this week following his arrest for erratic driving this summer. He faces up to six months in jail if convicted. We have faith that his beautiful hair will survive time in the slammer. [USA Today] * While the vast majority of the law school lawsuits containing allegations related to deceptive employment statistics have been dismissed, a few are still alive and kicking. The very first one filed -- Alaburda v. Thomas Jefferson School of Law -- is heading to trial in 2016. [WSJ Law Blog] * Trick or treat? Per federal prosecutors, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert will plead guilty before Halloween as part of a deal in his ongoing sexual misconduct hush-money case, but whether he’ll serve time is a question that’s yet to be answered. [Reuters] * Headcount at real estate firms with once-prominent foreclosure practices continues to shrink thanks to the recession's end. To that effect, two Chicago firms have eliminated hundreds of positions for legal professionals since 2013. [Chicago Business Journal] * Thanks to a new online system, Northwestern Law will be able to interview prospective students any time, anywhere. The school is the first in the country to offer awkward casting couch sessions as part of its admissions process. [Northwestern University News]

By Staci Zaretsky