http://overlawyered.com Chronicling the high cost of our legal system Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:28:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 http://overlawyered.com/2011/11/lawyer-pleads-guilty-in-scheme-to-elect-condo-board-members-favoring-construction-lawsuits/ http://overlawyered.com/2011/11/lawyer-pleads-guilty-in-scheme-to-elect-condo-board-members-favoring-construction-lawsuits/#comments Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:24:03 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=25562 “A Las Vegas lawyer who once ran a courthouse restaurant has pleaded guilty in a scheme to take $3,000 in kickbacks to rig two condo board elections in Nevada.” The takeover of the condo boards, advanced by methods that included stuffing ballot boxes with fake ballots, made it possible to bring in a favored law firm to file construction-defect suits. “Federal prosecutors claim conspirators used straw buyers to buy properties in about a dozen condo communities from 2003 to 2009 and helped them win control of condo boards, AP says.” A wider investigation continues whose targets allegedly include judges. [ABA Journal]

Tags: construction defect, Nevada, real estate

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]]> http://overlawyered.com/2011/11/lawyer-pleads-guilty-in-scheme-to-elect-condo-board-members-favoring-construction-lawsuits/feed/ 3 http://overlawyered.com/2011/10/october-17-roundup-2/ http://overlawyered.com/2011/10/october-17-roundup-2/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 12:24:23 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=25164

“Convicted King of Class Actions Builds Aviary, Regrets Nothing” [Lerach, Bloomberg profile]

Teva/Baxter suits: Latest Nevada you-made-the-vials-too-big propofol verdict makes no more sense than first [Glenn Lammi, Forbes; Ted at PoL]

EPA malicious prosecution in Hubert Vidrine case won’t be “isolated” unless we change our thinking [Ken at Popehat]

Title IX coordinator training: “How federal regulations are making college ‘risk management’ lawyers rich” [Robert Shibley, Daily Caller] A lawyer spots more problems with Department of Education regulations on campus sexual assault [Robert Smith, RCP]

Time to admit: on consequences of protecting big banks from capitalism, “Occupy” has a point [Nicole Gelinas, City Journal]

Lawsuits accuse Boeing of engine-air-in-cabin “fume events” [MSNBC]

About those “Topeka decriminalizes domestic violence” stories [Lowering the Bar]

Tags: banks, Bill Lerach, colleges and universities, Nevada, pharmaceuticals, Title IX

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• Title IX quotas for science? (2)
• Title IX math/science quotas, cont’d (9)
• Pharmacies liable for pill-abusers’ crashes? (3)
• November 17 roundup (2)

]]> http://overlawyered.com/2011/10/october-17-roundup-2/feed/ 4 http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/september-16-roundup/ http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/september-16-roundup/#comments Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:11:55 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=24652

House Judiciary holds hearing on asbestos-claim fraud and abuse, with Prof. Brickman headlining [Main Justice, Legal NewsLine, WSJ law blog, PoL, Brickman testimony]

Endangered species habitat in Nevada: “Elko County wants end to 15-year-old trout case” [AP]

“Why is the Eastern District of Texas home to so many patent trolls?” [Ted Frank/PoL, more] Tech giants say multi-defendant patent suits place them at disadvantage [WSJ Law Blog] Plus: “Patent company has big case, no office” [John O'Brien, Legal NewsLine]

Lawsuit settlement and the lizard brain [Popehat]

“U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Looks Into Eminent Domain Abuses” [Kanner, Somin] U.K.: “Squatters could be good for us all, says judge in empty homes ruling” [Telegraph]

Madison mob silences Roger Clegg at news conference where he releases new study of UW race bias [ABA Journal, Althouse]

Life in Australia: “Another motorized-beer-cooler DUI” [Lowering the Bar]

Tags: asbestos, Australia, Eastern District of Texas, eminent domain, endangered species, Lester Brickman, Nevada, patent trolls, settlement, United Kingdom

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• U.K.: “The widow who refused to sue” (2)

]]> http://overlawyered.com/2011/09/september-16-roundup/feed/ 4 http://overlawyered.com/2011/07/a-ladies-night-carve-out/ http://overlawyered.com/2011/07/a-ladies-night-carve-out/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:27:46 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=23907 Nevada has passed a law banning sex discrimination, but, perhaps wary of the litigious track record of California’s Unruh Act, has exempted “Ladies’ Nights” promotions. [Las Vegas Sun]

Tags: ladies' nights, Nevada, Unruh Act

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]]> http://overlawyered.com/2011/07/a-ladies-night-carve-out/feed/ 0 http://overlawyered.com/2011/03/nevada-proposal-ban-candles-air-fresheners-in-public-places/ http://overlawyered.com/2011/03/nevada-proposal-ban-candles-air-fresheners-in-public-places/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:04:04 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=22134 The anti-scent movement wafts on, following controversy over a proposal to ban perfume and cologne in Portland, Ore. city buildings. [Balko]

Tags: Nevada, Oregon

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]]> http://overlawyered.com/2011/03/nevada-proposal-ban-candles-air-fresheners-in-public-places/feed/ 4 http://overlawyered.com/2010/08/august-23-roundup/ http://overlawyered.com/2010/08/august-23-roundup/#comments Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:57:38 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=18970

Lawsuit alleging failure to warn of addictiveness of online game Lineage II survives motion to dismiss [Kravets/Wired, Mystal/AtL]

Research: outcome of job-bias claims hard to predict, smaller and legally unsophisticated employers at higher risk of adverse outcome [Schwartz]

UK survey sheds light on decline of outdoor and neighborhood kids’ play [BBC via Free-Range Kids]

“The Music-Copyright Enforcers” [John Bowe, NY Times Magazine via Carton, Legal Blog Watch]

Did an early-offer/full-disclosure system reduce medical malpractice costs at University of Michigan hospitals? [Ted at PoL]

Here’s a professor who might become very popular with the class action bar [Vanderbilt Law School, SSRN] P.S. Andrew Trask responds to Prof. Brian Fitzpatrick.

Nevada: “Process Server & Office Manager Are Criminally Charged re Alleged False Filings for Debt Collector” [Neil, ABA Journal]

1-800-PIT-BULL: not an urban legend [six years ago on Overlawyered]

Tags: class actions, debtor-creditor law, failure to warn, hospitals, Michigan, music and musicians, Nevada, recreation, restaurants, videogames, workplace

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]]> http://overlawyered.com/2010/08/august-23-roundup/feed/ 4 http://overlawyered.com/2010/05/may-22-roundup-3/ http://overlawyered.com/2010/05/may-22-roundup-3/#comments Sat, 22 May 2010 05:08:49 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=17445

No answer at 911? “Florida Verdict May Threaten EMS Availability” [White Coat]

New Orleans politico Steve Theriot drops suit seeking identities of online critics [Times-Picayune and more, NYT "Media Decoder", Slabbed, earlier]

On a vial of anesthetic: “One patient use only.” Nevada jury finds that warning inadequate to prevent multiple patient use and awards $500 million in punitives [Carter at Point of Law, Abnormal Use] More: Ted at PoL.

Floodgates to litigation? “Parent Can Sue Ex for Turning Children Against Him” [NJLJ]

Lawyer who isn’t honest is a threat to the social order: noted Allentown, Pa. attorney gets 6 1/2 years for fraud [Legal Intelligencer, earlier]

“Another European Prosecution for Insulting Religion” [Volokh; pop star Dorota Rabczewska, Poland]

A lawyer’s advice: try to get those Rand Paul types off your jury [Turkewitz]

If SEIU craves respectability, maybe it shouldn’t send mobs to besiege bank execs at their homes [Nina Easton, Fortune, cross-posted from Cato at Liberty; related from PoL last year; more from Big Journalism including role of D.C. police, but note denials on last point]

Tags: emergency medicine, failure to warn, family law, hate speech, labor unions, Nevada, New Orleans

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]]> http://overlawyered.com/2010/05/may-22-roundup-3/feed/ 3 http://overlawyered.com/2010/04/%e2%80%9dshe-is-getting-a-greater-penalty-for-having-a-boy-touch-her-breast/ http://overlawyered.com/2010/04/%e2%80%9dshe-is-getting-a-greater-penalty-for-having-a-boy-touch-her-breast/#comments Thu, 29 Apr 2010 05:05:56 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=17143 “…than if she killed him.” More: Greenfield.

Tags: child abuse, Nevada

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]]> http://overlawyered.com/2010/04/%e2%80%9dshe-is-getting-a-greater-penalty-for-having-a-boy-touch-her-breast/feed/ 2 http://overlawyered.com/2010/04/las-vegas-lawyers-radio-ad-grossly-misstated-the-law/ http://overlawyered.com/2010/04/las-vegas-lawyers-radio-ad-grossly-misstated-the-law/#comments Mon, 19 Apr 2010 05:08:29 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=16983 The ten-second commercial for Anthony “Tony the Tiger” Lopez Jr. on Spanish-language radio told listeners: “If you have had an auto accident, by law you have the right to receive at least $15,000 for your case.” The Nevada Supreme Court reprimanded Lopez, upholding the findings of a bar disciplinary panel that said his marketing had “harmed the public by fostering unnecessary and unwarranted litigation by people who were not necessarily entitled to any recovery.” [Las Vegas Review Journal via ABA Journal]

Tags: chasing clients, Nevada

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]]> http://overlawyered.com/2010/04/las-vegas-lawyers-radio-ad-grossly-misstated-the-law/feed/ 1 http://overlawyered.com/2010/02/february-24-roundup/ http://overlawyered.com/2010/02/february-24-roundup/#comments Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:08:26 +0000 Walter Olson http://overlawyered.com/?p=16236

Adventures of a 28-year-old California foreclosure attorney [McSweeneys]

National Enquirer ruled eligible for Pulitzer Prize consideration for John Edwards coverage [ABC, Guardian]

Las Vegas attorney agrees to plead to unspecified charges in tort-mill scheme initially described by prosecutors as massive [ABA Journal, earlier here and here]

Expect demands for greater regulation of general aviation after Austin attack [Skating on Stilts]

Dear firm colleagues: does Morocco has an extradition treaty with the U.S.? Need to know quickly [Lowering the Bar] Related on Scott Rothstein: do not purchase investment advice from persons with gold toilets;

Is a Texas prosecutor seeking to criminalize workplace accidents? [Bennett, Defending People]

Cold comfort dept.: lawprof tired of people carrying on about being dragged through litigation, it’s not as if they’re being held liable [Howard Wasserman, Prawfsblawg]

Iceland’s free-press project “is largely symbolic – which is not to say unimportant” [N.Y. Times quoting David Ardia, earlier]

Tags: aviation, California, crime and punishment, mortgages, Nevada, Rielle Hunter, Scott Rothstein, workplace

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