The Legal Intelligencer Blog

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal

Welcome to your Thursday morning round-up of stories in today’s edition of The Legal Intelligencer. All of the links below will take you directly to today’s stories, or you can head straight over to The Legal’s homepage. (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

The top story this morning is an attorney for Wyeth arguing that a $10 million verdict against the company in a hormone-replacement therapy case stemmed from a trial that was “permeated with irrelevant and inflammatory evidence.” Reporter Gina Passarella writes that Dechert’s Robert Heim told a three-judge Superior Court panel on Tuesday that, “No defendant could have won this trial.”

Also above the fold on Page 1, reporter Saranac Hale Spencer writes that a federal judge has rejected three Harrisburg residents’ challenge to Act 47, the Financially Distressed Municipalities Act. The judge said the challengers lacked standing to seek the injunction.

Below the fold on Page 1, Gina Passarella writes that the state Supreme Court has denied the appeal of a Luzerne County prothonotary who sued when the county decided to dissolve the elected office and create an appointed system for overseeing judicial records.

In more Regional News on Page 3, reporter Jeff Mordock writes that insurance liabilities may be transferred to trusts in asbestos claims.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2, and the top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

In a Securities Law column on Page 5, Katayun I. Jaffari and Jill M. Stadelman write about the JOBS Act and wonder whether it will be able to kick start employment growth.

This week’s Young Lawyer column is on Page 7, as Lisa Myers write about a year spent as an assistant district attorney and the lessons she learned.

If you have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole, we invite you to e-mail any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal.

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal

Welcome to your Thursday morning round-up of stories in today’s edition of The Legal Intelligencer. All of the links below will take you directly to today’s stories, or you can head straight over to The Legal’s homepage. (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

The top story this morning is an Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruling that Internet service providers must disclose the names of their subscribers who are accused of using a file-sharing site to copy a pornographic movie. As reporter Saranac Hale Spencer writes, with no 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals standard for balancing the right to anonymous speech against discovery, the court adopted a five-point test used by the 2nd Circuit.

Also above the fold on Page 1, reporter Zack Needles writes that records related to the safety of natural gas pipelines are not public, according to a ruling by the Commonwealth Court. A three-judge panel reversed a determination by the state Office of Open Records that had directed the Public Utility Commission to turn over records to a Wall Street Journal reporter.

Below the fold on Page 1, reporter Ben Present writes that a federal magistrate judge has tossed an injured man’s plea for punitives in an accident where he alleged the driver that hit him “looked at” his cellphone. The court held that looking at or using a cellphone while driving could not support a claim of “reckless indifference” or an “evil motive.”

In more Regional News on Page 3, reporter Jeff Mordock writes that a Delaware Supreme Court judge has approved an order retroactively applying spousal testimonial privilege to a same-sex couple who were married in California in 2008. Their partnership was not legally recognized in Delaware until the state’s civil union law went into effect earlier this year.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2, and the top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

As it is Thursday, this week’s Young Lawyer column is on Page 5, as Elizabeth F. Collura writes about leveraging document review work into a permanent position.

In a Business Law column on Page 7, Nevena Simidjiyska writes about practicing law in an international world, discussing the importance of U.S. export control compliance for clients.

If you have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole, we invite you to e-mail any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal.

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal

Welcome to your Friday morning round-up of stories in today’s edition of The Legal Intelligencer. All of the links below will take you directly to today’s stories, or you can head straight over to The Legal’s homepage. (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

The top story this morning is a look at Cozen O’Connor’s firm financials. As reporter Gina Passarella writes, the firm grew revenue 6 percent and profits per equity partner 8.3 percent in 2011, marking historic highs for the firm. The firm also saw its profit margin jump three percentage points to 33 percent.

Below the fold on Page 1, reporter Amaris Elliott-Engel writes that Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Sandra Mazer Moss said an appeal by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals of her decision not to dismiss digestive drug products liability claims against the drugmaker at the preliminary objections stage should be quashed.

In more Regional News on Page 3, reporter Jeff Mordock writes that the Delaware Chancery Court’s criticism of two separate chief executive offers in recent opinions represents a lesson that might be missed: the court’s willingness to let the shareholders determine a merger’s fate when no rival bidder emerges.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2, and the top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

In an Asset Management column on Page 5, Mark L. Silow writes about planning for some proposed changes in the tax code.

In a Bankruptcy Update on Page 7, Francis J. Lawall and Evelyn J. Meltzer write about arbitrating bankruptcy disputes, noting that unless they are pursued in a timely fashion, you run the risk of losing your rights.

If you have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole, we invite you to e-mail any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal.

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal

Welcome to your Monday morning round-up of stories in today’s edition of The Legal Intelligencer. All of the links below will take you directly to today’s stories, or you can head straight over to The Legal’s homepage. (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

The top story this morning is a class action against HSBC that has settled for $23.5 million. As reporter Gina Passarella writes, the plaintiffs brought the suit against the credit card issuer over the company’s payment protection plan for its users.

Below the fold on Page 1, reporter Zack Needles writes that a Bucks County jury has awarded $3.6 million to a developer that claimed a bank breached its contract when it reneged on a $12.3 million loan for a retail and office complex. The 11-member jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of the plaintiff on Feb. 10, following a two-week trial and about two hours of deliberation.

In more Regional News on Page 3, reporter Jeff Mordock writes that e-discovery litigator Kevin F. Brady has left the Wilmington, Del., office of Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz to join Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott. Brady will focus on corporate litigation, e-disovery issues, environmental insurance coverage litigation and director and officer insurance coverage litigation.

Also on Page 3, reporter Amaris Elliott-Engel writes that the First Judicial District’s electronic filing system is slated to become available to the public online today.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2, and the top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

On Page 5, the Editorial Board writes that, having been acquitted of murder, William J. Barnes should be released from prison. Barnes shot a Philadelphia police officer in 1966 and when the officer died in 2007, the district attorney charged Barnes with murder.

In a Public Interest column on Page 7, Mark S. Schwartz, Judy F. Berkman and Margaret Henn write that pre-condemnation municipal liens are causing problems for homebuyers. Page 7 also features the public interest calendar of events.

If you have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole, we invite you to e-mail any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal.

 

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal

Welcome to your Thursday morning round-up of stories in today’s edition of The Legal Intelligencer. All of the links below will take you directly to today’s stories, or you can head straight over to The Legal’s homepage. (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

The top story this morning is a federal judge recommending the release of convicted cop shooter William Barnes from state prison. Reporter Zack Needles writes that U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy R. Rice issued a report recommending that Barnes, who is 75, be released immediately. Barnes was found guilty of attempted murder after shooting Philadelphia Police Officer Walter Barclay in 1966 and served 16 years for the crime, then was re-incarcerated following Barclay’s death in 2007, despite being acquitted of the new murder charges brought against him.

Above the fold on Page 1, Michael A. Riccardi writes that an Eastern District of Pennsylvania judge has ruled that the use of decade-old district lines in this year’s election for seats in the state General Assembly is permissible as an emergency measure. Judge R. Barclay Surrick ruled that the public interest in the election requires that the state remain on track to hold its primary on April 24.

Below the fold on Page 1, reporter Gina Passarella writes that a federal judge in Philadelphia has tossed some cases in the multidistrict asbestos litigation. U.S. District Court Judge Eduardo C. Robreno of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania wrote in a footnote to his opinion in Conner v. Alfa Laval Inc. that the group of defendants couldn’t be held liable for the fact that their asbestos-free products were used in asbestos-containing products handled by the plaintiffs.

In more Regional News on Page 3, reporter Jeff Mordock writes that a defamation lawsuit filed by a former Widener University School of Law professor against the school’s dean has been settled. Lawrence J. Connell had filed suit against Linda L. Ammons in April after he was placed on administrative leave for allegedly making offense statements regarding women and minorities in his criminal law class.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2, and the top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

As it is Thursday, this week’s Young Lawyer column is on Page 5, as Michael J. Newman writes about finding his comfort zone in the kitchen and the ways in which is newfound hobby of cooking has translated into making him a better lawyer.

In a Litigation column on Page 7, Shayna Slater writes that mandatory arbitration clauses are a sneaky secret of nursing homes that need to be examined closely when admitting a loved one into such a facility.

If you have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole, we invite you to e-mail any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal.

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal

Welcome to your Monday morning round-up of stories in today’s edition of The Legal Intelligencer. All of the links below will take you directly to today’s stories, or you can head straight over to The Legal’s homepage. (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

Today’s top story details the wave of changes that are coming for Philadelphia’s criminal courts when the new judicial calendar starts later this month. As reporter Amaris Elliott-Engel writes, the changes include the addition of a 10th courtroom dedicated to homicide cases, the elimination of “chamber weeks” for civil judges and the creation of a “ready trial room” to immediately hear the trials of defendants who initially waive their right to a jury, but then demand that right.

On the bottom of Page 1 in today’s Legal, reporter Gina Passarella writes that recent changes in leadership in two of Ballard Spahr’s most prominent departments are part of a larger shift in practice management for the firm. John B. Langel took over as chairman of the firm’s litigation group, while William C. Rhodes will now lead the public finance department.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that two United Kingdom entities seeking to pursue debt claims against Nortel Networks Inc. in the U.K. are not governmental units and cannot invoke the police protection exemption in the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, writes reporter Jeff Mordock in today’s Page 3 story.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2, and the top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

James P. Goslee writes today’s Litigation column on Page 5, detailing the major changes in store for removal jurisdiction in 2012. As Goslee writes, the most significant change set in motion by President Obama’s new legislation is the Later-Served Rule, which means each individual defendant has 30 days from the date they were served to remove the case. There had previously been a split in the circuit courts on this topic.

Today’s Technology Law column on Page 7 details ways to protect your company in the new social media world, including implementing strict social media policies and being aware of litigation considerations regarding social media.

If you have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole, we invite you to e-mail any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal.

 

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal (and Delaware!)

By Jaime Bochet
Of the Legal Staff

Welcome to your daily round-up of stories in today's edition of The Legal Intelligencer. Click the links below to access stories directly, or head to The Legal homepage.  (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

Just as Tuesdays always include our Pennsylvania Law Weekly section, Wednesday is the unofficial "Day of Delaware," when we roll out the fresh ink from our First State to the south. That includes the Delaware Law Weekly, available online at www.delawarelawweekly.com, as well as our newest product, the Delaware Business Court Insider, an online newsletter that definitely warrants a look.

But more about Delaware in a bit … let's get to today's Legal.

Topping the front page, U.S. Courthouse Correspondent Shannon P. Duffy has news that deals a legal setback to the Obama administration: "A federal judge in Harrisburg has struck down several provisions of the Affordable Care Act after concluding that the law's 'individual mandate' is an unconstitutional extension of Congress's authority under the Commerce Clause. 'The issue is whether Congress can invoke its Commerce Clause power to compel individuals to buy insurance as a condition of lawful citizenship or residency,' U.S. District Judge Christopher C. Conner wrote in his 53-page opinion in Goudy-Bachman v. United States."

Below the fold, reporter Amaris Elliott-Engel was there as the Supreme Court heard (televised) oral arguments in an historic setting in Old City Philadelphia yesterday. In the case she covered, a state Supreme Court justice characterized the drugmaker Wyeth as asserting that there is enough protection for persons harmed by prescription drugs in federal regulation of the release of drugs onto the market, and limiting plaintiffs to lawsuits for drugmakers' alleged failures to adequately warn of risks.

Today's Page 3 Regional News story is by reporter Zack Needles, who chronicles the growth of an area law firm: Philadelphia-based Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy has acquired four transactional lawyers from the Philadelphia office of Maryland-based Offit Kurman, saying increased work in that practice area over the last few months has necessitated the growth.

As always, our People in the News sectionis on Page 2. The top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

Today's contributed columns begin on Page 5 with an "Employment Law" column by Sid Steinberg of Post & Schell, who writes that as cases under the amended Americans with Disabilities Act begin to reach the courts, less emphasis will be placed on whether an employee is "disabled" and a greater emphasis will be placed on the questions of whether an employee is a "qualified individual" under the act and whether an employee could be reasonably accommodated.

Page 7 features our weekly "GC Mid-Atlantic" page, with an article from affiliate Corporate Counsel magazine, which profiles the new head of the Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA), Joe West.

As we move south in our weekly coverage to Delaware, we'll stop first at the Delaware Law Weekly, where reporter Jeff Mordock has the top stories. Please note: all of our Delaware coverage is for paid subscribers, but you can register for a free 30-day trial by clicking here.

In the top slot, Jeff writes that four Sussex County residents have filed a lawsuit accusing the county's legislative council of explicitly endorsing Christianity by beginning each meeting by reciting the "Our Father."

Jeff also reports that St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Co. has filed a lawsuit seeking to remove itself from the duty of defending or reimbursing the Beebe Medical Center in Lewes, Del., from civil lawsuits related to the crimes committed by former pediatrician Earl Bradley.

Finally, we'd like you to meet (if you haven't already) the Delaware Business Court Insider.  As the name suggests, this is a national product covering the latest news, analysis and cases from the Delaware Chancery Court, Bankruptcy Court and Supreme Court. The accompanying website is www.delbizcourt.com, where you can go to subscribe to this newsletter weekly. You can also follow us on Twitter at: @delbizcour.

Top stories there include the following:
- President Obama is set to overhaul the nation's patent system, but attorneys say it is too early to see how the law will affect business.
-  Plaintiffs filed yet another amended complaint in their derivative suit against News Corp., including new allegations against the company.
- Vice Chancellor Noble denies plaintiffs' request for interim attorney fees in the Novell shareholder dispute.

Have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole? E-mail me or any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal and our Delaware coverage!

Jaime Bochet is the Magazines & Supplements Editor for The Legal. Follow her on Twitter at @JaimeBochetTLI or e-mail JBochet@alm.com.

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal (and DLW!)

By Jaime Bochet
Of the Legal Staff

Welcome to your daily round-up of stories in today's edition of The Legal Intelligencer. Click the links below to access stories directly, or head to The Legal homepage.  (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

Just as Tuesdays always include our Pennsylvania Law Weekly section, Wednesday is the unofficial "Delaware Day," when we roll out the fresh ink from our First State to the south. That includes the Delaware Law Weekly, available online at www.delawarelawweekly.com, as well as our newest product, the Delaware Business Court Insider, an online newsletter that definitely warrants a look.

But more about Delaware in a bit … let's get to today's Legal.

Topping the front page, reporter Zack Needles updates his coverage of the Marcellus Shale play: "A new report by the U.S. Geological Survey regarding the amount of recoverable natural gas contained in the Marcellus Shale has garnered major press since the agency sent out its Aug. 23 press release detailing its findings, but Pennsylvania energy attorneys said the data is not necessarily as newsworthy as either pro- or anti-drilling factions have made it out to be." You can check out all of our previous Marcellus Shale play content by clicking here.

Below the fold, senior reporter Gina Passarella has an update on a business of law story. The parties involved in a same-sex marriage dispute involving a deceased Cozen O'Connor partner and her profit-sharing plan continue to trade court filings and have now officially raised questions regarding the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and Pennsylvania's "mini DOMA."

Today's Page 3 Regional News story is by reporter Amaris Elliott-Engel, who writes that the Commonwealth Court, sitting en banc, has ruled that the state-run fund that provides excess coverage in medical malpractice claims must pay for coverage in a case in which an allegedly negligent doctor's primary malpractice insurance policy converted from a claims-made policy to an occurrence-type policy.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2. The top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

Today's contributed columns are our "GC Mid-Atlantic" page, with a story from our affiliate, Corporate Counsel magazine, and a "Public Interest" column by Matthew J. Lambert of the Pennsylvania Immigration Resource Center. 

As we move south in our weekly coverage to Delaware, we'll stop first at the Delaware Law Weekly, where reporter Jeff Mordock has the top stories. Please note: all of our Delaware coverage is for paid subscribers, but you can register for a free 30-day trial by clicking here.

In the top slot, Jeff writes that Robert Taishoff has resigned from his position as chairman of Widener University School of Law's Campaign Committee in protest of the university's suspension of controversial law professor Lawrence J. Connell. The resignation is seen as a major loss for the law school because Taishoff was one of its most active alumni and had donated millions to the university.

Jeff also reports that Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz's Wilmington office has bolstered its intellectual property practice with the addition of partners Edward F. Behm Jr. and Thomas J. McWilliams.

Finally, we'd like you to meet (if you haven't already) the Delaware Business Court Inside. As the name suggests, this is a national product covering the latest news, analysis and cases from the Delaware Chancery Court, Bankruptcy Court and Supreme Court. The accompanying website is www.delbizcourt.com, where you can go to subscribe to this newsletter weekly. You can also follow us on Twitter at @delbizcourt.

Top stories there include:
- The Delaware Supreme Court has reversed a Chancery Court decision, recasting the plaintiff's claim as a waiver dispute instead of breach of contract.
- The Delaware Superior Court has dismissed a fraud count against an investment group.
- The 3rd Circuit has upheld a district court decision to dismiss fraud claims for lack of scienter.

Have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole? E-mail me or any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal and our Delaware coverage!

Jaime Bochet is the Magazines & Supplements Editor for The Legal. Follow her on Twitter at @JaimeBochetTLI or e-mail JBochet@alm.com.

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal (and Delaware!)

By Jaime Bochet
Of the Legal Staff

Welcome to your daily round-up of stories in today's edition of The Legal Intelligencer. Click the links below to access stories directly, or head to The Legal homepage. (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

Just as Tuesdays always include our Pennsylvania Law Weekly section, Wednesday is the unofficial "Day of Delaware," when we roll out the fresh ink from our First State to the south. That includes the Delaware Law Weekly, available online at www.delawarelawweekly.com, as well as our newest product, the Delaware Business Court Insider, an online newsletter that definitely warrants a look.

But more about Delaware in a bit … let's get to today's Legal.

Topping the front page, U.S. Courthouse Correspondent Shannon P. Duffy has news that former state Sen. Vincent J. Fumo must be resentenced, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled, because the trial judge made a series of errors in the sentencing process and failed to explain precisely how he decided to reduce the recommended prison term under the guidelines to 55 months. Voting 2-1, the court found that Senior U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter miscalculated the losses caused by Fumo’s massive fraud schemes in several ways and also failed to impose two key "enhancements" that would have increased the recommended sentence. 

Below the fold, Shannon also reports that an expert witness who testifies equally for plaintiffs and defendants cannot be compelled to disclose how much he earned from all his work as an expert in the past year, a federal judge in Harrisburg has ruled, because the information could not be used to prove bias.

Today's Page 3 story is by editorial intern Jen Zimmerman: When Max Baer, now a Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice, began serving on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas family division court bench in 1993, he had no background or education in child development or family dynamics, and he was "faced with decisions that were purely in [his] own discretion" regarding children's welfare, he said.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2. The top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

Today's contributed columns are our "GC Mid-Atlantic" page, with a story from our affiliate, Corporate Counsel magazine, and the first of two "Legal Marketing" articles by Gina F. Rubel on sorting out social media for lawyers.

As we move south in our weekly coverage to Delaware, we'll stop first at the Delaware Law Weekly, where reporter Jeff Mordock has the top stories. Please note: all of our Delaware coverage is for paid subscribers, but you can register for a free 30-day trial by clicking here.

In the top slot, Jeff writes that a Delaware Bankruptcy Court judge has agreed to approve a $35.3 million settlement between two North American affiliates of a European technology firm and their former employees, who alleged that they were laid off without notice in violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, also known as the WARN Act.  

Jeff also reports that the Delaware Chancery Court refused to grant an injunction that would prevent the city of Wilmington from arresting registered sex offenders living in the Harriet Tubman Safe Houses. 

Finally, we'd like you to meet (if you haven't already) the Delaware Business Court Insider.  As the name suggests, this is a national product covering the latest news, analysis and cases from the Delaware Chancery Court, Bankruptcy Court and Supreme Court. The accompanying website is www.delbizcourt.com, where you can go to subscribe to this newsletter weekly. You can also follow us on Twitter at @delbizcourt.

Top stories there include:
- Reversing a Chancery Court decision, the Delaware Supreme Court encouraged applying the "conceivability" test to determine if a complaint states enough facts for a claim to survive dismissal instead of using the "plausibility" test established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly.

- The Delaware Supreme Court outlined multiple factors the Chancery Court must consider in applying laches instead of the three-year statute of limitations which typically governs contract disputes after ruling the lower court correctly applied the equitable defense in IAC/Interactivecorp v. O'Brien.

- The Chancery Court issued a declarative judgment for K&K so its business would not be held up by its dispute with Emerick Capital.

Have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole? E-mail me or any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal and our Delaware coverage!

Jaime Bochet is the Magazines & Supplements Editor for The Legal. Follow her on Twitter at @JaimeBochetTLI  or e-mail JBochet@alm.com.

Fresh Ink: Inside Today's Legal

By Jaime Bochet 
Of the Legal Staff

Welcome to your daily round-up of stories in today's edition of The Legal Intelligencer. Click the links below to access stories directly, or head to The Legal homepage. (Some stories may require registration or a paid subscription.)

Topping today's front page, U.S. Courthouse Correspondent Shannon P. Duffy has a case from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania: In a significant victory for parents of children with autism, a federal judge has certified a class action suit against Cigna Corp. for refusing to cover two types of behavioral treatments on the grounds that they are "investigative or experimental."

Below the fold, reporter Amaris Elliott-Engel writes that a divided state Superior Court has ruled that health care providers can base their charges for providing hard copies of medical records on the maximum charges spelled out under state law.

Our Page 3 Regional News story today is by our Delaware reporter, Jeff Mordock, who writes: Several law professors throughout the country have blasted Widener University School of Law and Dean Linda J. Ammons after the school ordered a one-year suspension without pay and a psychiatric evaluation for university professor Lawrence J. Connell after a university panel cleared him of all but one of the charges levied against him by two former students. The school contends, however, that punishment was warranted in order to protect the students who filed the charges from possible retribution.

As always, our People in the News section is on Page 2, and the top stories from our sister publications across the country make up the Page 4 National News section.

The Legal's contributed columns begin on Page 5, with our "Young Lawyers" (YL) page, featuring a column by Molly Peckman of Dechert, who laments the death of the conversation at the hands of social media and technology.

Page 7 contains our monthly "Paralegals" page, which includes an article by Christine M. Flynn of Swartz Campbell, who writes that CLE plays a vital role in paralegals' professional growth.

Have questions or comments about any of today's stories, or our coverage as a whole? E-mail me or any of the reporters directly. We hope you'll enjoy today's Legal!

Jaime Bochet is the Magazines & Supplements Editor for The Legal. Follow her on Twitter at @JaimeBochetTLI or e-mail JBochet@alm.com.