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Law firm isn’t liable for wrongful discharge 

Published: February 21, 2013

Tags: ethics, perjury, wrongful discharge

A law firm did not violate public policy when it fired an associate after she complained that a client may have committed perjury, the Washington Court of Appeals has ruled in reversing a $36,500 jury verdict.

Recusal unnecessary when judge consulted with firm 

Published: February 19, 2013

Tags: ethics, recusal

A judge was not automatically required to recuse himself based on his prior consultation with an attorney who appeared as counsel in the case presently before him, the Florida Supreme Court’s judicial ethics committee has concluded in an advisory opinion.

Are you really in control of your client files? 

By: Ed Poll
Published: February 4, 2013

Tags: client files, ethics, practice management

Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15 states that lawyers have a professional duty to protect all documents relating to clients by requiring that client property and files be “appropriately safeguarded.”

Failure to keep files safe and free from outside perusal is a failure in the duty to act competently in the best interests of a client. The rules and specific time periods for storing or destroying client files vary by jurisdiction.

Attorney suspended for withholding fees from firm 

Published: January 28, 2013

Tags: attorney discipline, ethics, suspension

An indefinite suspension is a sufficient sanction for an attorney who violated his firm’s shareholder agreement by depositing earned fees into his personal bank account, the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled.

Ethics rules may apply to social media postings 

Published: January 23, 2013

Tags: attorney advertising, ethics, social media

An attorney’s postings on social media websites may be subject to professional responsibility rules and standards governing attorney advertising, a California State Bar committee has concluded in an ethics opinion.

O’Quinn firm faces suit over expenses 

Published: January 7, 2013

Tags: breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, deceptive trade practices, ethics, fraud, legal ethics, mass tort, negligence, referral fees, settlements, silicosis litigation

According to a lawsuit filed by former clients, the Texas-based O’Quinn law firm mishandled their silicosis litigation settlement funds.

Elderly lawyer must be assessed for cognitive decline 

Published: December 20, 2012

Tags: attorney discipline, CLE, Continuing Legal Education, ethics, legal ethics, Sanctions

An elderly Ohio lawyer must undergo a geriatric psychological assessment and otherwise establish his fitness before being allowed to return to practice following his suspension for mishandling a client’s case.

S.F. firm must distance itself from ‘disgraced’ lawyer 

Published: December 13, 2012

Tags: attorney discipline, ethics, immigration, legal ethics, unauthorized practice of law

A San Francisco immigration firm must notify its clients that its founder resigned from the bar in the face of disciplinary charges, according to an injunction upheld last week by the California Court of Appeal.

In-house counsel gets permanent double disbarment 

Published: December 4, 2012

Tags: attorney discipline, disbarment, ethics, in-house counsel, legal ethics, professional responsibility, unauthorized practice of law, Verizon, WorldCom

A lawyer who continued to work as an in-house attorney after he had been disbarred has now been permanently disbarred.

Calif. justices adopt changes to judicial ethics code 

Published: November 28, 2012

Tags: campaign contributions, Code of Judicial Ethics, ethics, ex parte communication, Judges, legal ethics

The justices of the California Supreme Court have unanimously adopted amendments to the state’s judicial code of ethics, addressing a wide array of subjects ranging from ex parte communication to campaign contributions.