Top Legal News
Nigeria: Car Saga - 'I Was Bribed to Frame Bankole'
A self-styled pro-democracy activist, Mallam Umar Farouk, yesterday appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges investigating the N2.3billion car purchase saga alleging that he was recruited by five lawmakers to spearhead a smear campaign against the leadership of the House. More »
Zimbabwe: Politicians Also Behind Economic Mess
WHILE Zimbabwe is facing an unprecedented economic crisis mainly caused by greedy politicians who are reluctant to share power, it is now time to reflect and look at alternatives to turn around our economy. More »
Botswana: Policeman Admits Failure in Patlakwe Rape Case
An investigating officer in the case in which former government journalist Norman Patlakwe is accused of rape, said at the Village Magistrates' Court yesterday that he did not do a thorough job. More »
Botswana: Sister Held in Connection With Brother's Death
Police in Mabutsane are holding a 32-year-old woman in connection with her brother's death. The deceased was 35-years-old. More »
Botswana: CMS Fraud Rises to P20 Million
The additional charge states that the 11 suspects in the corruption case defrauded the government of nearly P3.5 million by falsely pretending that a pharmaceutical company had sold and delivered drugs to CMS. More »
Orrick Lays Off Associates, Staff in Response to Downturn
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe announced Thursday that it's laying off 40 associates and counsel and 35 staff. The cuts come in practice areas most affected by the slowdown: structured finance, real estate and corporate. "This is the most significant financial crisis in my lifetime," said Orrick Chairman Ralph Baxter Jr. "It is something that happened relatively suddenly: It dropped and stayed down, and it produced a need to do this." Baxter emphasized that none of the cuts is performance-based. More »
Detroit Firm Leaders Don't Fear Being Driven off the Road
What does the possibility of a Chapter 11 filing by General Motors mean for law firms that depend on Detroit's business? The big question for law firms is which will be left standing in the wake of "massive consolidation," says one law firm CEO, adding that, in the meantime, the turmoil creates a lot of legal work. Another CEO notes that the auto industry downturn has existed for the past several years. "Right now we're just trying to stay the course." More »
Judge Nixes Change in Exxon Valdez Damage Payout
A federal judge has rejected a seafood company's request to rewrite a plan for dividing punitive damages to be awarded from the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Barring an appeal of the ruling, lawyers hope to begin handing out punitive damages to fishermen, cannery workers, landowners, Alaska Natives and other claimants in the yearslong legal battle with Exxon Mobil Corp. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court reduced Exxon's punitive damages from $5 billion to no more than $507.5 million. More »
Attention Law Firms: Lehman Brothers Is Open for Business -- Again
Good news for law firms that do work for Lehman Brothers: Judge James Peck at federal bankruptcy court in Manhattan has given the failed investment bank permission to start hiring outside professionals in the normal course of business. Not surprisingly, law firms have been among the first to jump in on the action. First out of the gate: Thacher Proffitt & Wood and Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. More »
Attorney in Defamation Case Sanctioned $14,000 for 'Frivolous' Action
An attorney who was sued for defamation by a New York law firm has been sanctioned $14,000 for a "frivolous" legal maneuver -- impleading his adversary's attorney as a third-party defendant. The suit arose from Thomas F. Liotti's representation of Anthony Galasso, a former bookkeeper of Galasso, Langione, Catterson & LoFrumento who pleaded guilty to embezzling upwards of $2 million from the firm. In an interview Thursday, Liotti vowed to appeal the sanction. More »