By Khodadad “Ko” Sharif Incivility may hit a litigant’s pocketbook. In Snoeck v. ExakTime Innovatiohs, Inc., 96 Cal. App. 5th 908 (2023), the Court of Appeal affirmed the trial court’s reduction of $457,863 of the plaintiff’s...
By Khodadad “Ko” Sharif Does California Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.15, entitled “Safekeeping Funds and Property of Clients and Other Persons,” govern government agencies that are holding funds for third parties in a...
By Andrew Servias In a lawsuit against a School District involving a sexual assault, a video potentially relevant to the litigation was not preserved by the defendant. As a result, the plaintiff sought terminating...
Ethical Issues “On the Side” Employment Raises By Edward McIntyre Note: This week features a spin-off of the popular San Diego Lawyer Ethics column, where fictional characters discuss real ethics scenarios. Macbeth, a long-recognized...
By Charles Berwanger The all-important Rules of Professional Conduct are intended to guide our lives as attorneys, and in some instances our personal lives, and with this new year it behooves all of us...
The State Bar Acts to Impose on Attorneys Guidance for the Use of Generative AI and Future Continuing Education Requirements Regarding Technology in the Practice of Law By Charles Berwanger A December 6, 2023...
By Charles Berwanger Practice law long enough and it will happen to you. You’ll learn, after the fact, that a witness on whom you were counting lied at a deposition. With trial looming, what...
By Anne Rudolph Lana Lawyer has a plaintiff’s personal injury practice. She does not maintain an internet web site and does not otherwise engage in advertising. However, her e-mail address is published on the State Bar...
By Eric Deitz A recent ABA ethics opinion addresses the demands that arise when preparing a client to testify and during their testimony. The ABA issued Formal Opinion 508 on August 5, 2023. While...
Ethically Managing Your Legal Intake Support Staff It is important for lawyers to have a solid understanding of their ethical responsibilities when managing and supervising nonlawyer assistants involved in the client intake process. Recently,...