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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.

Tagged with: ethics perjury wrongful discharge

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.

Tagged with: ethics recusal

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.

Tagged with: client files ethics practice management

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.

Tagged with: attorney discipline ethics suspension

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.

Tagged with: attorney advertising ethics social media

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

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

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.

Tagged with: attorney discipline CLE Continuing Legal Education ethics legal ethics Sanctions

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.

Tagged with: attorney discipline ethics immigration legal ethics unauthorized practice of law

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

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

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.

Tagged with: campaign contributions Code of Judicial Ethics ethics ex parte communication Judges legal ethics