What's Going On (5/27/05)

A Los Angeles jury awarded $6.5 million in a malpractice verdict against an LA public defender who allegedly failed to spot and expose the Rampart police abuse scandal that was behind the conviction of the PD's client.  This verdict surprises me and anyone who can explain it would be doing me a favor.    . . . .     An unusual arrangement where a lawyer was simultaneously general counsel of a corporation and a law firm partner has come to an end, possibly due to alleged conflicts.    . . . .    Italian prosecutors are targeting a leading Italian lawyer in an accounting scandal investigation into missing billions.    . . . .      Medical malpractice reforms are being pushed in the UK, but plaintiffs lawyers (or "claimants' lawyers) are pushing back on behalf of patients.    . . . .     A suspended Ohio judge and his alleged mistress be tried in separate trials this Fall, and the presiding court will need to decide if it should be disqualified because of alleged ties to the accused judge.    . . . .    The increasing importance of antitrust and trade law across the Atlantic created an opportunity for formerly high ranking DOJ attorney Hewitt Pate to move to Hunton & Williams.    . . . .     OK, so we really are heading toward an era of law firm awards galas, like this one where Magic Circle firm Linklaters won European Tax Litigation Firm of the Year.  What's next?  Law school of the year awards?  Blawgs of the year awards?