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Archive for September, 2010

Pa. woman to plead guilty in Boston bridal scam

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

A Pittsburgh woman has agreed to plead guilty to allegations she defrauded advertisers and exhibitors out of thousands of dollars with a fake bridal show in Boston.

Federal prosecutors say Karen Tucker on Tuesday agreed to waive indictment on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in exchange for a lenient sentence of up to nearly five years in jail.

Tucker and an uncharged co-conspirator allegedly posed as representatives of a business known as The Boston 411, which promoted a nonexistent home and bridal show in March.

The two allegedly collected advance fees from exhibitors and used most of the money for personal expenses. Authorities say they conducted similar scams elsewhere.

Tucker's attorney says a court date has not been set.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

Woman due in Washington court in acid hoax case

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

The Washington state woman who falsely claimed a stranger threw acid in her face is due in court in what will be her first public appearance since she held a hospital press conference nearly a month ago with her head swathed in bandages.

Bethany Storro of Vancouver is expected to plead not guilty Wednesday to three theft charges.

Deputy Prosecutor Tony Golik says she accepted donations for help with facial burns she suffered Aug. 30. Police say she later admitted putting drain cleaner on her face.

Her lawyer expects Storro will be released after a brief appearance in Clark County Superior Court.

Court records indicate Storro spent about $1,500 of the nearly $28,000 donated. Storro's parents have said the money will be returned.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

Woman due in Washington court in acid hoax case

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

The Washington state woman who falsely claimed a stranger threw acid in her face is due in court in what will be her first public appearance since she held a hospital press conference nearly a month ago with her head swathed in bandages.

Bethany Storro of Vancouver is expected to plead not guilty Wednesday to three theft charges.

Deputy Prosecutor Tony Golik says she accepted donations for help with facial burns she suffered Aug. 30. Police say she later admitted putting drain cleaner on her face.

Her lawyer expects Storro will be released after a brief appearance in Clark County Superior Court.

Court records indicate Storro spent about $1,500 of the nearly $28,000 donated. Storro's parents have said the money will be returned.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

Law firm could face £500,000 fine over data breach

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

The London law firm could face a fine of up to 500,000 pounds by the Information Commissioner over data breach.

The law firm has been accused of breaching with personal details of more than 8000 Sky broadband customers, 400 Plusnet customers and 500 Britons. The company is also accused of file sharing of its customers.

The details were unveiled in files on a website which belongs to the ACS: Law, a law company which has attracted the ire of a number of online forums because of its aggressive approach to people.

The website was the target of denial of service attack over the weekend which was the main reason of its collapse. When the site was brought back online all the hidden and unauthorized files became visible for normal users.

If the Information Commissioner finds this problem was happened because of the fault of the firm rather than a result of hacking then it would order a fine against it Experts said it was one of the worst data breach ever seen in the UK and the Information Commissioner should take strong legal action against the company.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

Law firm could face £500,000 fine over data breach

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

The London law firm could face a fine of up to 500,000 pounds by the Information Commissioner over data breach.

The law firm has been accused of breaching with personal details of more than 8000 Sky broadband customers, 400 Plusnet customers and 500 Britons. The company is also accused of file sharing of its customers.

The details were unveiled in files on a website which belongs to the ACS: Law, a law company which has attracted the ire of a number of online forums because of its aggressive approach to people.

The website was the target of denial of service attack over the weekend which was the main reason of its collapse. When the site was brought back online all the hidden and unauthorized files became visible for normal users.

If the Information Commissioner finds this problem was happened because of the fault of the firm rather than a result of hacking then it would order a fine against it Experts said it was one of the worst data breach ever seen in the UK and the Information Commissioner should take strong legal action against the company.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

Irvine law firm ranked among best in nation

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

Fisher & Phillips LLP's Irvine office has been ranked among the nation's best management-side labor and employment law firms in a new collaboration between U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The inaugural Best Law Firms rankings cover 8,782 law firms in 81 practice areas in 171 metropolitan areas and seven states. The Irvine branch of Fisher & Phillips received a first-tier ranking for the Orange County metropolitan area. The firm received a national first-tier ranking, as well.

The firm, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary in Orange County, is one of the largest law firms in the United States dedicated solely to representing employers in labor and employment matters, with more than 225 attorneys in 23 offices. The Irvine office is its second-largest.

The rankings were devised using the results of surveys sent to 52,480 clients including every Fortune 100 company and 43,900 lawyers. The rankings also incorporate 3.1 million evaluations of 39,372 individual lawyers collected by Best Lawyers in its most recent annual survey.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

Irvine law firm ranked among best in nation

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

Fisher & Phillips LLP's Irvine office has been ranked among the nation's best management-side labor and employment law firms in a new collaboration between U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. The inaugural Best Law Firms rankings cover 8,782 law firms in 81 practice areas in 171 metropolitan areas and seven states. The Irvine branch of Fisher & Phillips received a first-tier ranking for the Orange County metropolitan area. The firm received a national first-tier ranking, as well.

The firm, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary in Orange County, is one of the largest law firms in the United States dedicated solely to representing employers in labor and employment matters, with more than 225 attorneys in 23 offices. The Irvine office is its second-largest.

The rankings were devised using the results of surveys sent to 52,480 clients including every Fortune 100 company and 43,900 lawyers. The rankings also incorporate 3.1 million evaluations of 39,372 individual lawyers collected by Best Lawyers in its most recent annual survey.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

Gallop, Johnson & Neuman IP Practice Expanding

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

The Intellectual Property Practice Group at Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C., is assembling a formidable team of legal talent with new attorneys Donald R. Holland, Ph.D., and William E. Lahey, two experienced, highly-regarded patent attorneys who have joined the firm.
 
Dr. Holland and Mr. Lahey are the first of several prominent IP attorneys the firm is currently adding to its IP practice to address new business in matters of high technology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, pharmaceuticals, and related litigation.
 
“While many law firms and their IP groups are stagnating in the current economy, we are expanding,” says Kenneth Solomon, Chair of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman’s IP Practice Group. “This is not a matter of merely adding capacity,” says Solomon. “This would not have been possible just a few years ago – the talent was just not available.  We are fortunate to add some of the most experienced, well-regarded patent attorneys in the St. Louis region,” he added.  
 
Dr. Holland, who earned a Ph.D. in cell physiology and biochemistry in addition to a law degree, has nearly 20 years of patent law experience in biotech, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences. He has focused his practice on patent preparation and prosecution and on opinion work including patentability opinions, clearance opinions and due diligence opinions.  Dr. Holland also has extensive experience in international and foreign patent prosecution, and in Hatch-Waxman opinion work.  Before becoming a patent attorney, Dr. Holland headed a pharmaceutical discovery research lab for many years.
 
Mr. Lahey has been an intellectual property attorney and “first chair” litigator for 35 years. He has handled cases involving biotechnology, computer sciences, electrical systems, fibers, mining safety, mechanical and other technologies. In addition, he has testified as an expert witness on patent law; conducted licensing negotiations for intellectual property rights; and rendered legal opinions on validity infringement and enforceability of intellectual property rights. He has conducted due diligence analysis for corporate mergers and acquisitions, and handled many patent application prosecution matters including ex-parte and inter-parties practices before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
 
“In today’s technology-driven, patent-sensitive business environment, our clients require more intellectual property services to address a full range of legal issues,” Solomon observes. “Don and Bill are very experienced, very well-known and much respected in business, scientific, engineering and legal communities.”

Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C., a full service law firm of 80 attorneys, has provided legal services to clients in diverse industries since its founding in 1976 and is one of the largest law firms in St. Louis. The firm also has offices in Washington, D.C. The firm serves public corporations; privately-held companies; entrepreneurs and start-up enterprises; individuals and families; trustees and trust beneficiaries; charities; and non-profit entities. The firm’s offices are located at 101 South Hanley Road, Suite 1700, in Clayton, Missouri, and at 1350 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 850, in Washington D.C.

For more information about Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, please contact Lois A. LaDriere at 314.615.6000 or visit the website www.gjn.com.   Media contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.993.6925.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

High court takes case on corporate privacy

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

The Supreme Court is getting involved in an unusual freedom of information dispute over whether corporations may assert personal privacy interests to prevent the government from releasing documents about them.

The court on Tuesday agreed to a request from the Obama administration to take up a case involving claims made by telecommunications giant AT&T to keep secret the information gathered by the Federal Communications Commission during an investigation.

The administration wants the high court to rule that corporations may not claim a personal privacy exception contained in the federal Freedom of Information Act.

The exception may be used only by individuals, the administration said in a brief signed by Elena Kagan, the newest justice who served in the Justice Department until last month.

Kagan will not take part in the case, which will be argued early next year.

AT&T wants the FCC to keep secret all the information it gathered from the company during an investigation into its participation in the federal E-Rate program, which helps schools and libraries get Internet access.

The FCC had released some of the information under an open records request, but withheld some, citing FOIA exemptions that cover trade secrets and humans' right to privacy.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.

High court enters legal fight over Navy plane

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

By Breaking Legal News, Breaking Legal News.

The Supreme Court is getting involved in the longstanding dispute between the Pentagon and two contractors contesting the government's demand for $3 billion over the Navy's ill-fated A-12 Avenger attack plane.

The justices on Tuesday agreed to hear an appeal from the Boeing Co. and General Dynamics Corp., the main contractors on a $4.8 billion project that the Pentagon, then headed by Richard Cheney, canceled in 1991.

The government is seeking repayment of $1.35 billion, plus more than $2.5 billion in accumulated interest, arguing that the companies failed to meet the terms of the contract.

The issue before the court involves the state-secrets privilege, which typically arises in national security and terrorism cases. Invoking the privilege, which the Supreme Court ratified in the 1950s, the government tells a court that allowing a case to go forward would force the disclosure of information that could damage national security.

In this case, the parties are arguing over whether the government's claims about national security have prevented the companies from defending their position that they should not have to repay the money. A federal appeals court sided with the government.

Both Boeing and General Dynamics have disputed the Pentagon's claims that they did not live up to the contract.

Originally posted at Breaking Legal News. Please visit http://www.breakinglegalnews.com/.