Federal Government Rolls Out a New Official Language of Sorts: Plain English

WASHINGTON
By CALVIN WOODWARD, Associated Press Calvin Woodward, Associated Press
Thu May 19, 6:47 am ET

That's right: Pursuant to regulations promulgated thereunder and commencing in accordance with a statute signed herein by President Barack Obama, the government shall be precluded from writing the pompous gibberish heretofore evidenced, to the extent practicable.

That sentence contains 11 new language no-nos.

Obama signed the Plain Writing Act last fall after decades of effort by a cadre of passionate grammarians in the civil service to jettison the jargon.

It takes full effect in October, when federal agencies must start writing plainly in all new or substantially revised documents produced for the public. The government will still be allowed to write nonsensically to itself.

Ahead then, if the law works,

Bank of America Agrees to Settlement in Fees Lawsuit

Bank of America has agreed to a $410 million settlement for their part in a broad class-action lawsuit filed by consumers against excessive overdraft fees. The lawsuit accuses many of the nation's banks of "manipulating debit transactions to maximize the fees they could charge customers who exceeded the balance in their accounts." Other defendants in the lawsuit include JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, and Citibank Andrew Martin, The New York Times 05/23/2011

Read Article: The New York Times

First 'Skype Booth' Opens at Estonian Airport as Company Reaches 30 Million Simultaneous Users

By Vlad Savov posted Mar 30th 2011 2:57AM

Phone booths are old hat, we know that much for sure. But Skype booths? Tallinn Airport in Estonia's capital has become the first site to host a dedicated Skype station, which allows you to video chat with your friends or call them on their phones using Skype credit, exactly as you might do on your computer at home. There's a 22-inch touchscreen up front and a headset nearby, only thing you'll need are some actual friends you want to communicate with. The idea's being put into action by three Estonian companies, all of whom are quite happy to remind us Skype originated in their fine Northern European nation, and the plan is to roll the futuristic-looking booths out to other airports, hotels, shopping malls, hospitals, and the like. In the meantime, Skype usage keeps growing and the company recently recorded 30 million simultaneous users online, breaking its previous record by a trivial three million extra souls.

Honda Civics Recalled for Potential Fuel Leak

Automaker Honda has issued a recall of 1,156 Civics due to a problem with the vehicle's gas line that can pose a fire hazard. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement that a misalignment with the car's O-ring may lead to a fuel leak. The recall affects 2012 model year two-door and four-door Civics. Staff Report, United Press International 05/23/2011

Read Article: United Press International

OCWLA - Volunteers For Justice Annual Dinner - June 20, 2011

Join the OCWLA at the PLC "Volunteers For Justice" Annual Dinner
Monday, June 20, 2011 at 5:30pm
Hyatt Regency Irvine

Honoring: Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, Law Firm of the Year; and Fermin Valencia, Attorney of the Year

Keynote Speaker: Honorable Tani Cantil-Sakauye, Chief Justice of California

***Please contact the OCWLA at info@ocwla.org to reserve your place at the dinner. A discounted rate of $100 per ticket will be extended to all OCWLA members on a first-come-first-serve basis.***

Largest California False Claims Lawsuit Settled

Medical lab services provider Quest Diagnostics Inc. has agreed to a $241 million settlement in a whistle-blower lawsuit filed against the company over fraudulent Medi-Cal charges. The settlement was the largest in the state's history under the California False Claims Act. On top of the fraudulent charges, the lawsuit also alleges Quest "paid illegal kickbacks to doctors, hospitals and clinics that sent patients their way." Marc Lifsher, LA Times 05/20/2011

Read Article: LA Times

$7 Million Malpractice Settlement Approved

A $7 million settlement in a malpractice suit between four medical professionals at a Worcester, Mass., hospital and the mother of a disabled child has been approved. The suit alleged doctors and officials at the hospital failed to tell the mother of tests that could have been done to test her child for genetic disorders before she was born. The tests could have prompted the plaintiff to have an abortion "rather than carry her now-disabled child to term," her lawyer told the Boston Globe. Travis Andersen, Boston Globe 05/06/2011

Read Article: Boston Globe

West Coast Casualty Conference 2011 - A Success

Submitted by Jeff Koller, Client Services and General Counsel

We just finished our 15th year of attending the West Coast Casualty conference in Anaheim. This year's conference was dubbed the "best ever" and we agree.  It was great to see both existing clients and establish the first steps towards new relationships. Hats off to Dave Stern and his team for such a phenomenal job, and we look forward to the 19th annual conference a mere 360 or so days away!

In 1920 Court Deposition, Black Sox Player Hints that Cubs also Threw World Series

April 21, 2011 - Associated Press

CHICAGO - If the city has been willing to believe that a cow caused the Great Chicago Fire, maybe it will buy this one: The White Sox got the idea to throw the 1919 World Series after the Cubs did the same thing 1 year earlier.

That's the suggestion - more of a hint, really - from Eddie Cicotte, one of the infamous Black Sox banned from baseball after their tainted World Series against Cincinnati.

Blackberry Tablet Recalled over Faulty Software

Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) has announced a recall of 1,000 Blackberry tablets due to a glitch in the product's software. The company announced today that the glitch may cause the tablet's software to load incorrectly. The company said most of the affected products have not been sold to customers, but those with malfunctioning tablets should contact RIM. Hugo Miller, Bloomberg 05/16/2011

Read Article: Bloomberg

How Valuable is Your Data?

Some of it is critical

    o those digital pictures you’ve always intended to print but never got around to

    o those emails from family and friends

    o those documents you created and saved

Let’s think worst case

    o What would happen if disaster struck?

    o Your hard drive dies?

    o Your computer gets stolen?
    o A natural disaster strikes?

How would you feel if all of that data were to go away and never come back? If that strikes a little fear to the heart, you need to consider a backup solution.

Bill Jimenez, IT Director at Hutchings Court Reporters shares his suggestions for backing up your data.

Another View: In Real Life, Court Reporters Count!

From The Sacramento Bee - Published Sunday, May 1, 2011

Re: Court Reporters' Monopoly Must Come to an End" (Editorial, April 26)

The Bee's editorial sounds good on first blush: We are told California could save $100 million a year by switching from certified shorthand court reporters to electronic recording. Electronic recording works well for the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal. Why not our trial courts too?

The answer is simple: There is a world of difference between appellate and trial courts. In appellate courts, attorneys stand at a podium and give formal arguments, one person talking at a time. Factual findings were already made in the trial courts, where it is not unusual for several people to be talking at once.

The trial lawyer is not finished with her question but the witness is already answering; while opposing counsel interposes an objection. This happens every day.

Client Development 101 - May 24, 2011

Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles Presents: Client Development 101

WHEN: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 12:00 noon
WHERE: Reed Smith LLP, 355 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 2900, Los Angeles

Learning how to develop business has never been more important for lawyers - and it has never been more complicated.

This program offers a special opportunity for WLALA members and guests to learn about client development from one of the foremost experts in the field. In this program, client development coach Cordell Parvin, who works with lawyers at major law firms across the country, will share practical ideas that you will be able to make use of right away and for years to come. You'll learn how to put together a powerful business development plan, what kinds of activities are the most likely to help you generate new business, how to find time to develop new business, and how to get on track to reach your client development goals. More information about the speaker is available at http://www.cordellparvin.com/.

Sponsored by Reed Smith LLP
To register for this event online.
To add this event to your Outlook Calendar.

West Coast Casualty Conference - Anaheim, CA May 12-13, 2011

Hutchings Court Reporters has been a proud supporter of West Coast Casualty for 15 years

JPK West Coast Casualty's Construction Defect Seminar will be held on May 12 and 13, 2011 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim CA.  This construction defect seminar is the largest event of its kind worldwide focusing on construction defect and claims.

Approximately 2000 attendees will come from 35 U.S. states and several foreign countries to hear speakers' views on emerging issues of construction defects. Topics include prosecution, defense, coverage as well as new technologies and methods of dealing with construction defect related matters. Speakers include judges, attorneys, claims personnel and experts. The audience is traditionally made up of judges, attorneys, claims adjusters, experts, contractors, underwriters, MGA’s, wholesale and retail brokers. MCLE/CE credits available from 40 states (including ethics). More information

Taking a Deposition for the First Time

It’s easy to remember or imagine how stressful it can be to take a witness’s deposition for the first time. It has to be worse than making a moot court argument in law school or conducting a mock deposition where the witness is one of your buddies. 

Here is an article by Media, PA lawyer Michael Davey offering some tips to the first timer. It comes from “At Issue,” the online publication of the Young Lawyer’s Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. The issue also offers an article by Drew Rothman on presenting and defending discovery motions. Thank you Legal Skills Prof Blog.

Comic Relief -- Carol Burnett Portrays a Court Reporter

There aren't many court reporters portrayed on television...but Carole Burnett must have had fun with this one!

TrialPad: Your Path to Streamline Litigation

Hutchings Court Reporters continues to present the latest information in technology as it's being introduced. The following piece, written by Donna Seyle in her blog post "TrialPad: Your Path to Streamline Litigation", is another example as she speaks of the benefits of using the iPad in trial. You may also be interested in an article we posted on our blog earlier, "What the iPad 2 Means for Lawyers".

Written on February 21, 2011 by Donna in Virtual Law Firm Practice, future of law, innovative law practice, law practice management, legal technology.