Online posts lead to real-life arrests
Social media users may be arrested for making threatening posts. ...[Continue Reading]
Topics
Fear of Lawsuits May Chill Artists’ Creativity
The number of music copyright infringement cases has significantly increased in the last decade. ...[Continue Reading]
Using Medical Science to Reform the Heat of Passion Defense
A defendant's unique brain structure and circumstances should be examined before arguing for the application of the "heat of passion" defense to homicide. ...[Continue Reading]
2014 Formal Ethics Opinion 8: Accepting an Invitation from a Judge to Connect on LinkedIn
View the Formal Ethics Opinion in Full Here. The Ethics Committee adopted 2014 Formal Ethics Opinion 8 at its meeting on January 23, 2015. The opinion examines the ethics of a lawyer accepting an invitation from a judge to connect on LinkedIn, the popular social networking website for ...[Continue Reading]
2013 Formal Ethics Opinion 2: Providing Incarcerated Defendant with Opportunity to Review Discovery Materials
View the Formal Ethics Opinion in Full Here. The Ethics Committee of the North Carolina Bar took an unusual step at its quarterly meeting held on October 24, 2014. The Committee withdrew a previous opinion, voting instead to adopt an alternative version of the 2013 Formal Ethics Opinion 2. The ...[Continue Reading]
2014 Formal Ethics Opinion 6: Duty to Avoid Conflicts When Advising Members of Nonprofit Organization
View the Formal Ethics Opinion in Full Here. The Ethics Committee voted to publish 2014 Formal Ethics Opinion 6 at its meeting on July 25, 2014. The opinion examines the issue of a lawyer offering her services to a nonprofit organization on a volunteer basis. Members of the nonprofit ...[Continue Reading]
2014 Formal Ethics Opinion 5: Advising a Civil Litigation Client About Social Media
View the Formal Ethics Opinion in Full Here. Editor’s Note: At its meeting on July 17, 2015, the Ethics Committed voted to withdraw this opinion, and offer a substitute opinion. The substitute opinion can be found here. During its quarterly meeting on July 25, 2014, the Ethics Committee voted ...[Continue Reading]
Alternative Proposed 2013 FEO 14: Representation of Parties to a Commercial Real Estate Loan Closing
View proposed ethics opinion in full here This alternative to 2013 Formal Ethics Opinion 14 would restrict a lawyer completely from representing both the lender and borrower in a commercial real estate closing. This opinion takes the proposition that there are no instances in which common ...[Continue Reading]
01.08.15 Disbarment [Robeson County]
Ertle Knox Chavis was disbarred on January 23, 2015 by the Disciplinary Hearing Commission (DHC) pursuant to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 84-28(b)(2) for violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct. The DHC found that Chavis violated Rule 1.15 (and its subparts 1.15-1, 1.15-2, and 1.15-3) by (1) failing ...[Continue Reading]
12.19.14 Transfer to Active Status [New Hanover County]
Sam Drewes Ryan was transferred to consensual inactive status in 2013 due to health concerns. At that time a trustee was appointed to oversee her law practice. The North Carolina State Bar completed an audit of Ryan’s trust and fiduciary accounts and found them to be in good order. In ...[Continue Reading]
2013 Formal Ethics Opinion 14: Representation of Parties to a Commercial Real Estate Loan Closing
View the Formal Ethics Opinion in Full Here The Ethics Committee voted to publish 2013 Formal Ethics Opinion 14 for comment at its meeting on October 24, 2014. This opinion was published along with an alternative due to the split in opinion on whether a lawyer can represent multiple parties to a ...[Continue Reading]
Can a post on your wall lead to walking papers?
Employees working for private companies have limited options for pursuing their employers over Facebook-related firings. ...[Continue Reading]
Same Old Song and Dance
Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke are not the first musicians to get into legal trouble for copying another artist's work, whether intentionally or unintentionally. ...[Continue Reading]
UPDATE: Discrimination Against Pregnant Workers Can Be Inferred
The U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in Young v. UPS on March 25, 2015. ...[Continue Reading]
Hey driver, do you even work here?
In an ongoing class action lawsuit, Uber drivers challenge the line between employee and independent contractor. ...[Continue Reading]
