Articles by Regan Gatlin, Ethics Editor

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About Regan Gatlin, Ethics Editor (42 Articles)
Regan Gatlin is a 2016 graduate and served as the Ethics Editor for the Campbell Law Observer for the 2015-2016 academic year. Regan graduated from North Carolina State University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Sociology. Regan has previously clerked for the Insurance Section of the North Carolina Department of Justice, The General Counsel of The Select Group, and Safran Law Offices. During her experiences clerking, she gained civil litigation and research experience in the areas of insurance, construction law, labor and employment, and compliance. She also competed on a Campbell Law Trial Team in the Buffalo-Niagara Mock Trial Competition and the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Mock Trial Competition. Regan is from Smithfield, North Carolina.
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2015 Formal Ethics Opinion 4: Disclosing Potential Malpractice to a Client

August 18, 2015

View the Proposed Ethics Opinion in Full Here. The North Carolina State Bar voted to formalize Proposed 2015 Formal Ethics Opinion 4 at its meeting on July 17, 2015. Formal Ethics Opinion 2015 FEO 4 rules that due to the seriousness of professional malpractice potential on a client’s case and well-being, the duty to disclose whether an error might constitute legal malpractice depends on where it falls on a spectrum of the duty to keep the client reasonable informed about his legal matter [...]

Jawbone Initiates Three Legal Actions Against Fitbit Alleging Fitbit Stole Jawbone’s Employees, Information, and Patented Ideas

August 4, 2015

Jawbone sues Fitbit claiming Fitbit stole highly confidential information from Jawbone when it “poached” Jawbone’s former employees and encouraged them to take information with them, and that there is a violation of the patents Jawbone has on activity and fitness bands resulting in a call for cease-and-desist and injunction in production of Fitbit trackers. [...]

2015 Formal Ethics Opinion 2: Preparing Waiver of Right to Notice of Foreclosure for Unrepresented Borrower

June 14, 2015

View the Formal Ethics Opinion in Full Here The Formal Ethics Opinion 2015 FEO 2 rules that when the original debt of an unrepresented borrower, owner, or guarantor is over $100,000, a lawyer for a lender may prepare and provide a waiver of the right to notice of foreclosure and the right to a foreclosure hearing pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 45-21.16(f) so long as the lawyer explains that his role and does not give legal advice to any unrepresented person.  It should be noted that a lawyer [...]

2015 Formal Ethics Opinion 3: Offering Prospective Client a Computer Tablet in Direct Mail Solicitation

June 14, 2015

View the Formal Ethics Opinion in Full Here The Formal Ethics Opinion 2015 FEO 3 rules that a lawyer may not offer a computer tablet to a prospective client in a direct mail solicitation letter.  A lawyer is not permitted to make false or misleading statements or communications about him or his services as per Rule 7.1. In the instance with the computer tablet, even with a disclaimer stating that the tablet is on loan and must be returned at the conclusion of the representation, the sending [...]

Proposed 2014 Formal Ethics Opinion 11: Notice to Parents Seeking Nonsecure Custody Order

June 14, 2015

View the Proposed Ethics Opinion in Full Here Editor’s Note: At its meeting on July 17, 2015, the Ethics Committee voted to withdraw this opinion without substitution in light of recently adopted legislation that resolves the issue of professional responsibility raised in the proposed opinion. Proposed Ethics Opinion 2014 FEO 11, republished at the NC Bar’s April meeting, rules that a Department of Social Services (DSS) attorney must follow legal notice requirements when filing a [...]

2014 Formal Ethics Opinion 10: Lawyer Owned Adoption Agency

June 14, 2015

View the Formal Ethics Opinion in Full Here The Formal Ethics Opinion 2014 FEO 10, republished during the April 2015 meeting, rules that a lawyer who handles adoptions as part of her or his law practice and also owns a financial interest in a for-profit adoption agency may, with informed consent, represent an adopting couple who is utilizing the services of his or her adoption agency.  However, the lawyer may not represent the biological parents, just the adoptive parents. In such a situation, [...]
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