Anthem

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.26.17

* Can you hear me now? Modern marvels of technology like cellphones and other electronic devices are barred from the Supreme Court during oral arguments, but yesterday, justice was interrupted by the ringing of... a Justice's cellphone. Who was the culprit? The offending phone belonged to Justice Stephen Breyer. Oopsie! [AP] * After a week charged with sexual harassment allegations and the ouster of Bill O'Reilly, just when Fox News thought its troubles were over, a group of current and former employees filed a class-action lawsuit against the network alleging "abhorrent, intolerable, unlawful and hostile racial discrimination." The plaintiffs' lawyers got in this zinger of a statement: "When it comes to racial discrimination, 21st Century Fox has been operating as if it should be called 18th Century Fox." [DealBook / New York Times] * Ever since it dumped Eversheds, Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner has been out on the prowl for another merger partner, and it looks like the firm has finally found its ideal mate in New York boutique Friedman Kaplan Seiler & Adelman. The whole thing seems to be a bit "incestuous" if you ask us. We'll have more on this later today. [Am Law Daily] * Ahead of his confirmation hearing todays, Makan Delrahim, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the antitrust division of the Department of Justice who's been called a "centrist nominee," has pledged to recuse himself from all matters involving his prior work as a lobbyist, including the merger between Anthem and Cigna. [Big Law Business] * At some firms, like Ballard Spahr, senior partners must "transition[] their practices" by age 60, but at other firms, like Cozen O'Connor, age is nothing but a number. "We have so many lawyers who are extremely productive and terrific lawyers and if they want to work well into their 70s, God bless 'em," says CEO Michael Heller. [Philly Inquirer]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.22.16

* You graduated from law school with a Biglaw offer in hand, and you're as happy as can be. A few months later, you receive the worst news possible for a young lawyer. After all of your hard work, you failed the bar exam. What happens now? It really depends on the policies of the firm that you work for. We'll have more on this later today. [Big Law Business] * "[I]f there was a genre of women taking pictures of men's crotches, and pornifying it, I think there's be a law really quickly." In many states, it's still legal for unsavory characters to take photographs and videos up women's skirts, but some are attempting to lawfully address the non-consensual pornography known as "upskirting." [VICE] * [I]t is unrealistic to think the background political views of justices (their political ideologies) have no impact on their opinions." Like it or not, SCOTUS justices are "political animals," and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's remarks about presidential nominee Donald Trump were likely a form of "high politics." [Bloomberg BNA] * The Justice Department wants to block mergers between Anthem and Cigna and Aetna and Humana, citing antitrust concerns. Each deal is worth billions, and they may still go forward despite this roadblock. While Cigna said its deal won't close anytime soon, "if at all," Aetna and Humana will challenge the DOJ. [DealBook / New York Times] * The ABA Journal want to know if you liked law school, or if you wish you'd never set foot inside of a law school. Speaking for myself, I really enjoyed law school, but I sure don't enjoy the insane amount of debt that I'm still drowning in, six years after graduation. What about you? Did you like law school? Please let us know. [ABA Journal]

By Staci Zaretsky