Conflicts Calls — Clerk Relationships and Conflicts Considered, Chinese Firm Fights Disqualification of Local Counsel

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David Kluft asks: “Must a judge’s clerks, like Caesar’s Wife, be above suspicion?” “In a mass tort litigation involving a hotel fire in Puerto Rico and several phases of trial, both of the judge’s law clerks had brothers working as lawyers at firms representing plaintiffs (and one of the brothers had actually appeared in the […]

Conflicts and Confidentiality — Seder Conflict Called Out of Order, Data Center Conflicts in the News, Law Firm Clerk Confidentiality Combat

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From the “This is the bread of our confliction” department, comes this catch from David Kluft: “Do I need to run a conflict check at my Passover seder?” — “A man attended a Passover seder and took the opportunity to seek some free legal advice from his host’s daughter, a NY lawyer. “Four years later, […]

Conflicts and DQ News — Ethical Screen and Delayed DQ Motion Mean Firm Stands Firm on Case, Clerks Conflicts Allegation Rejected

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“US judge will not toss Charlie Javice conviction for defrauding JPMorgan based on clerks’ alleged conflicts” — “A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Charlie Javice’s bid to throw out her conviction for defrauding JPMorgan Chase into buying her education startup Frank for $175 million, after she said two law clerks had conflicts of interest by […]

Court Conflicts — Clerk Called Out on Courting Relationship Conflict, Judicial Trust Causes Recusal Consideration, Ethics Opinion on Former DA Now Judge, Another Suit in Judicial Romance Matter

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“Zachary Zayas, former law clerk in alleged conflict of interest in LI inheritance dispute, working for Nassau law firm” — “A law clerk whose relationship with a Uniondale attorney prompted conflict of interest allegations during a contentious inheritance dispute between two siblings has left his position with Queens Surrogate’s Court Judge Peter Kelly to work […]

Conflicts & DQ News — Firm Disqualified from Apnea IP Action, Another Clerk Conflict Clash, Governor’s Permitting Practices Raise Conflicts Concern

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“Hochul Approved Permits That Could Help Clients of Her Husband’s Firm” — “Gov. Kathy Hochul created at least the appearance of a conflict of interest when her administration approved permits benefiting two recent clients of a large law firm that employs her husband, environmental activists and two New York State lawmakers said this week.” “The […]

Conflicts Contentions — Law Clerk Conflict Concern Causes College Case Transfer, Privacy Ombudsman Denies Conflict Alleged Against 23andMe Counsel

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“23andMe Privacy Reviewer Defends WilmerHale as Choice of Counsel” — “The consumer privacy ombudsman in 23andMe’s sale of customers’ genetic data is defending his choice of counsel against objections from the Justice Department’s bankruptcy watchdog. Neil Richards, a Washington University School of Law professor appointed by the court to make privacy recommendations in 23andMe’s asset […]

Conflicts — Judicial Clerk Conflicts Cleared, Summer Associates Avoid Conflicts Concerns, Criminal Matter DQ Motion Mooted

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“Criminal: Motion to disqualify attorney for co-defendant is rejected” — “Where two executives of a home health agency were charged with health care fraud and money laundering, the COO’s motion to disqualify the attorney representing the owner was denied. The attorney previously represented the company, and not the COO. And the COO failed to show […]

Conflicts and Ethics — Pork Producers Call Clerk Conduct Unkosher, Presidential Pro Bono Pushback, Lawyer as Witness California Ethics Draft

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“Pork Producers Want Ruling Tossed Over Clerk’s Conduct” — “Pork producers and Agri Stats Inc., which are defending themselves against a major price-fixing suit, are calling on the Minnesota federal judge overseeing the case to recuse himself and vacate his recent rulings, accusing one of his clerks of having inappropriate relationships with plaintiffs’ attorneys in […]

Conflicts, Confidentiality, and Turkey Legs — Turkey Leg Hut Conflict Alleged, Judicial Clerk Disqualified, Client Confidential Information Meets Attorney Defense

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“Judge disqualifies chief deputy clerk from practicing in her court” — “Mahoning County [Pennsylvania] Domestic Relations Court Judge Beth Smith issued three judgment entries Tuesday and Wednesday disqualifying Mahoning County Chief Deputy Clerk of Courts Jennifer Ciccone from acting as an attorney in Mahoning County Domestic Relations Court. The entries were filed in divorce cases […]

Conflicts Pig and Presidential — Pork Matter Makes for Clerk Conflict Call, “Escalating” Analysis of Trump-Driven Law Firm Conflicts Concerns

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From the website swineweb.com, comes: “Pork Industry Defendants Seek Judge’s Recusal Amid Allegations of Law Clerk Conflict” — “Several of the largest players in the U.S. pork industry—including Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, Seaboard Foods, and Agri Stats—have filed a motion to vacate recent court rulings and called for the recusal of U.S. District Judge John […]