Legal Research

Selections from National Law Journal Daily Headlines May 28, 2008

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: NLJ.com, May 29, 2008.

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FROM THE UPCOMING ISSUE  |  Patent holders seek protection overseas from trade commission
"Drawn by a fast forum and an effective remedy, companies and their intellectual property lawyers are filing a record number of cases this year at the U.S. International Trade Commission as they seek to block patent-infringing products from entering the United States. The commission, a quasi-judicial federal agency with broad investigative powers in trade matters, adjudicates complaints brought by domestic industries under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 that allege infringement of U.S. intellectual property rights, most often patent and trademark infringement by imported goods."

FROM THE UPCOMING ISSUE  |  Controversial lawyer-rating service runs into a roadblock
"After defeating a consumer class action lawsuit filed by two Seattle lawyers last year, Avvo Inc., the controversial Web site that rates lawyers, is facing another roadblock. But it's not coming from court this time. In recent months, the Illinois Supreme Court's Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, which has access to a master list of lawyers in the state, has denied Avvo's request for the names."

WEB-ONLY  |  Ex-Illinois governor loses bid for U.S. Supreme Court review
"Former Republican Illinois Governor George Ryan lost his bid for a U.S. Supreme Court review of the case that resulted in his 2006 conviction on political corruption charges and a sentence of 6 1/2 years in federal prison. Ryan's lawyers argued that the case should be reviewed by the highest court because of the way in which the six-month trial was conducted, with some jurors being replaced during deliberations and others engaging in questionable conduct in what they called a 'cascade' of trial errors."

WEB-ONLY  |  Illinois high court makes plans for e-filing
"The Illinois Supreme Court plans to create a system for electronically linking the state's 23 judicial circuits, allowing for electronic filing of case documents in trial courts statewide and access to case information in counties through a single Web portal. The new system will be developed over the next three to five years."

WEB-ONLY  |  Holland & Hart merges with Hale Lane to form 415-attorney firm
"Denver-based Holland & Hart has merged with Hale Lane Peek Dennison and Howard to form a 415-attorney law firm, with 63 attorneys in Nevada. Hale Lane, with about 50 attorneys in Reno, Carson City and Las Vegas, has a general business practice"

OPINION:

OPEC AND ANTITRUST  |  U.S. laws should govern
"If price-fixing agreements made abroad produce a 'substantial effect' in the United States, DOJ and injured private plaintiffs may invoke remedies under U.S. antitrust laws. OPEC makes such agreements. Enforcement of these laws against OPEC or its members is constrained chiefly by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, the act of state doctrine, procedures for service of process and, for private plaintiffs, 'standing.' Congress could, and should, enact legislation to make OPEC subject to U.S. antitrust laws."

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on May 28, 2008 (boomark / email).