What’s on the docket this week:
- Featured Story – Law School Ethics Becomes ‘Real’
- 🗄 IP/Transactional – Google Sued Over Deceptive Location Tracking
- 🤺 Litigation – Litigation Strategies Are Shifting Due to Covid-19
- 📲 Legaltech – New Tool Uses AI and Analytics to Value Cases and Predict Outcomes In Auto Warranty Litigation
- 🔪 Criminal/Politics – Yes, Sovereign Citizens, You Do Need A Driver’s License
- 💰 Finance/Econ/Regulatory – Amazon Is Ramping Up Its Push For Legalizing Marijuana
- ⚖️ Ethics – Probably Not A Great Idea To Refer to District Attorneys as “These Two Sluts”
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Featured Story: Law School Ethics Becomes ‘Real’
Ethics, as taught in law school, is boring. Terribly, horrifically boring. Which I have always found bizarre because there is an overflowing wealth of entertaining, real world ethical examples out there. I’m an aficionado of disciplinary opinions from around the country. It’s why I include one every week (and why I’m going to get to writing my own case law book one day).
Fortunately, it seems as though the pandemic and social justice movements in the past two years have begun to have an impact on law school ethics classes.
Students need to differentiate between what’s easier and what environment—remote or in-person—will make them a better lawyer, said Ray Brescia, who teaches professional responsibility at Albany Law School. At another law school, real-world examples, such as Rudy Giuliani’s temporary suspension for his involvement in frivolous election fraud lawsuits, and a Florida lawyer who dressed up as the grim reaper, made classroom discussions relevant and practical.
A renaissance in law school ethics courses? We’ll see. In the meantime, I’ll keep providing examples on how to not get disbarred.
🗄 IP/Transactional
Google Sued Over Deceptive Location Tracking
In Google’s latest data privacy lawsuit, the company is being sued for deliberately misleading, ambiguous, and incomplete descriptions surrounding its location tracking features. Consumers found that turning off one location tracking setting in its apps was insufficient to fully disable this feature, which could be affecting up to 2 billion Android and Apple devices. Deceptive practices by Google and other large tech companies has increased attention from data regulators and will likely lead to changes to current data privacy regulation.
🤺 Litigation
Litigation Strategies Are Shifting Due to Covid-19
Covid-19 has been a disruptive force in many aspects of society, and litigation is no different. Just a few years ago, virtual depositions were unheard of, and now they are becoming the norm with the increased adoption of remote technologies. The pandemic has influenced attorney decisions on where to bring suit, discovery, and strategy leading up to trial. But the pandemic’s impacts don’t stop with litigators, as juror perspectives are also shifting, especially when it comes to cases involving scientific, social, and political issues surrounding Covid-19.
📲 Legaltech
New Tool Uses AI and Analytics to Value Cases and Predict Outcomes In Auto Warranty Litigation
With increased use and investment in technology across all industries, artificial intelligence was bound to make its way into courtrooms. LegalEase Solutions has developed a new product that uses historical data, artificial intelligence, and predictive analytics to value cases and predict outcomes in auto warranty litigation. With the addition of this new technology, litigators will be able to assess cases more efficiently and spend more time developing their litigation strategies. Successful use of this technology could lead to similar product development in other legal practices and reshape the way litigators approach cases.
🔪 Criminal/Politics
Yes, Sovereign Citizens, You Do Need A Driver’s License
Sovereign citizen and current leader of the “Vaccine Police” Christopher Key is currently driving across the country with the intention of making a citizen’s arrest of every Democratic governor. As a self-proclaimed sovereign citizen of the land, Key claims he isn’t driving a car but “travelling in his conveyance” therefore he is exempt from the need to have a driver’s license or registration. This is just one instance of how sovereign citizens like to use quasi-legal language and partake in various schemes that they believe discharge them from legal responsibilities.
💰 Finance/Econ/Regulatory
Amazon Is Ramping Up Its Push For Legalizing Marijuana
In a recent and unexpected announcement, Amazon publicly endorsed legislation to end the federal prohibition on pot. The e-commerce giant claims that the success of this legislation would make it easier for the company to expand its workforce as it continues a big hiring urge. Although, an ulterior motive for the company’s public backing on this legislation is that it could open the door to a very lucrative new market for the online retailer. Either way, an endorsement from such a large company can go a long way and will provide great momentum going forward.
⚖️ Ethics
Probably Not A Great Idea To Refer to District Attorneys as “These Two Sluts”
Discipline: 3 Year Suspension
Until next week, adjourned.
Keith & Tracey
New addendum to the sign off this week. The newsletter wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of our intern Tracey McEvans who does most of the heavy lifting on getting the newsletter out every week. Thanks to Tracey for all her help getting the newsletter out every week!
p.s. – please send me your stories, news, & tips for inclusion in future editions [email protected]