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

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

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

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.

Lawyer Suspended Following Tirade During Deposition

Daily Business Review

www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202464112106

submitted by Martha Hutchings

August 02, 2010

A Miami attorney's law license has been suspended for 60 days for disruptive and intimidating behavior in a deposition with DuPont attorneys in a Benlate damages case.

The Florida Supreme Court also ordered a public reprimand, two years probation and mental health counseling for Robert Joseph Ratiner and required him to write letters of apology to people at the deposition. He must be videotaped or accompanied by co-counsel at future depositions.

The discipline was based on a videotape of the deposition showing a DuPont attorney attempting to place an exhibit sticker on Ratiner's laptop computer. He responded by briefly touching the opposing counsel's hand, attempting to run around the table toward him and launching into a tirade, according to the referee's findings.

The court suggested Florida Bar members and law students could view the video as part of a course on professionalism "as a glaring example of how not to conduct oneself in a legal proceeding."