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Class-action pioneer Lerach leaves California firm
- William Lerach, the plaintiffs attorney who pioneered the modern class-action lawsuit while a partner at Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lynch, has left the California law firm he founded three years ago, according to numerous news reports.
Commissions to nominate judges appointed by O’Malley
- Gov. Martin O’Malley, as the five governors before him had done, issued an executive order Friday appointing commissions to nominate judges for the circuit and appellate courts.
Chamber opposes city plan to charge for legal services
- The District government’s plan to charge outside organizations for transaction-related legal fees is ripe for abuse and could suffocate struggling nonprofits, a key business group told the D.C. Council Tuesday.
Council confirms nominee for county attorney position
- Montgomery County Council members on Tuesday confirmed a former member of the U.S. Attorney’s Office to become county attorney, an office both the new appointee and council members said has an increasing focus on land use and procurement litigation.
Virginia’s longest-serving prosecutor won’t run again
- Robert Horan Jr., who has served four decades as Fairfax County’s top prosecutor, announced Tuesday he will not seek another term in office.
- Robert Horan Jr., who has served four decades as Fairfax County’s top prosecutor, announced Tuesday he will not seek another term in office.
Former assistant principal sues schools
- A former Fairfax County assistant principal is suing school officials in federal court, arguing he was passed over for promotion because of his race.
- A former Fairfax County assistant principal is suing school officials in federal court, arguing he was passed over for promotion because of his race.
Fairfax magistrates want higher pay
- Magistrates in Fairfax County are urging the Board of Supervisors to increase their salaries, arguing the county’s comparatively lower pay supplement fuels high turnover and a lack of qualified applicants.
Why tort lawyers usually win without going to trial
- If mass torts are the all-out war of class-action lawsuits, their kissing cousins are traditional class-action lawsuits and related securities suits. The economic impact of tort litigation is enormous. According to a study released Tuesday by the Pacific Research Institute, a conservative think tank, the total costs of litigation on the American economy, including the dampening of innovation and growth, now exceeds $865 billion per year.
- If mass torts are the all-out war of class-action lawsuits, their kissing cousins are traditional class-action lawsuits and related securities suits. The economic impact of tort litigation is enormous. According to a study released Tuesday by the Pacific Research Institute, a conservative think tank, the total costs of litigation on the American economy, including the dampening of innovation and growth, now exceeds $865 billion per year.
Shakedown artists — or defenders of the little guy?
- Love ’em or loathe ’em, class-action lawyers wield enormous — and controversial — influence in business and politics. Critics charge that class- action lawyers often practice a kind of legal extortion, shaking down large and small businesses with threats of litigation and, more often than not, winning generous settlements without even going to trial. According to critics, plaintiffs suing for damages often receive precious little, but their lawyers walk away with multimillion dollar payouts. Companies are put under severe stress, often cutting jobs or even going bankrupt.
- Love ’em or loathe ’em, class-action lawyers wield enormous — and controversial — influence in business and politics. Critics charge that class- action lawyers often practice a kind of legal extortion, shaking down large and small businesses with threats of litigation and, more often than not, winning generous settlements without even going to trial. According to critics, plaintiffs suing for damages often receive precious little, but their lawyers walk away with multimillion dollar payouts. Companies are put under severe stress, often cutting jobs or even going bankrupt.
Wheelchair athlete wants to be counted in state meets
- Tatyana McFadden doesn’t care if she’s scored the same way as other runners — the ones without wheelchairs — as long as her points count.
High court: Bar requirement kept Perez out of race
- During last year’s elections, Maryland’s highest court — not the voters — eliminated one of the Democrats trying to become Maryland’s attorney general.
Governor signs bill restricting cell phones, allowing red-light cameras
- Young drivers will have to hang up cell phones when they get behind the wheel under legislation Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine signed into law Friday.
Pedophiles getting life sentences
- James Reigle Jr. received life in prison without the possibility of parole.