Stop the presses, put the safeties on
Legislators aiming to control the use of 3D printers to make guns may have overshot the mark. [...]
Topics
Billionaire Mark Cuban beats the SEC’s full court press
Mark Cuban’s decade-long fight with the SEC is over following his being found not guilty of insider trading. [...]
2013 Editor’s Picks
The following is a brief list of some of the most interesting and insightful articles published by the Campbell Law Observer over the past year. We hope you take a moment to read - hopefully not for the first time - these excellent articles by our staff. [...]
Officers of the Legal System: Requirements of a Self-Policing Profession
Editor’s Note: The Campbell Law Observer has partnered with the Wake County Bar Association & Tenth Judicial District to occasionally re-publish articles from the Professionalism Committee. The following article was recently published on the WCBA’s Professionalism Committee blog. I, like many of you, have never really considered myself to be a “policeman,” or perhaps more appropriately, a “law enforcement officer.” For one, law enforcement officers wear holsters on [...]
Campbell Law unveils flexible enrollment option
Campbell Law School Dean J. Rich Leonard announced today the establishment of Campbell Flex, a flexible enrollment option beginning with the fall 2014 semester. A premium option of study for area residents looking to pursue alternative career paths, Campbell Flex enables students to earn a Juris Doctor by taking fewer hours each semester than required by the traditional program. Dean J. Rich Leonard “The Triangle is a vibrant area which continues to grow and attract the best and brightest [...]
Good Cause, Bad Lawyering: Chevron fights Ecuadorian judgment in the U.S. through genuine claims of fraud
Ecuadorian plaintiffs alleging environmental harms and private injuries against Chevron may have lost their only remedy through their lawyer’s fraudulent actions in Ecuador. [...]
Seven Dirty Words in Lawyer Advertising
OK, so the words are not really dirty, indecent, or obscene, and their use won’t get you arrested — a la George Carlin. But there are certain words or phrases a NC attorney should be wary of when creating a webpage or an advertisement. These are words or phrases that can get you in trouble unless you are careful about how you use them and, in some cases, unless you include disclaimer language. By the way, this is not an exclusive list, but it does include some of the usual language that trips up attorneys. [...]
Birth Control & the Affordable Care Act: What’s the government’s “compelling interest,” anyway?
Does the new employer healthcare mandate pass the “strict scrutiny” test, or are Obama’s carve outs too arbitrary to pass muster? [...]
Warrantless GPS tracking deemed unconstitutional by Third Circuit
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently decided United States v. Katzin, a case that now expands the holding of United States v. Jones and requires law enforcement to obtain an authorized warrant before attaching a GPS tracking device to a vehicle. [...]
Richie Incognito: Loose cannon or leader of a hostile work environment?
The Miami Dolphins seem to be caught in the middle of potential litigation regarding the lack of control over their locker room environment. [...]
11.01.2013 Order of Discipline – Suspension [Mecklenburg County]
In November 2008, William Belk was elected as a District Court judge in the District Court of Judicial District 26 in Mecklenburg County. At the time of his election, Mr. Belk was also a member of the Board of Directors of Sonic Automotive, Inc. Prior to his swearing-in, Mr. Belk was advised that a failure to resign his position on the Board of Directors at Sonic would amount to a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Nevertheless, Mr. Belk did not resign his position. On February 13, [...]
10.30.2013 Order of Discipline – Suspension [Wake County]
In early 2012, the North Carolina Board of Continuing Legal Education mailed the 2011 CLE reporting form to John David Hauser, a Wake County attorney. All annual report forms were to be signed and returned to the State Bar or postmarked by February 29, 2012. Because Mr. Hauser did not return his form by that date, the CLE board sent a second notice, dated March 14, 2012. Finally, on May 10, 2012, the CLE Board issued a “Notice to Show Cause” to Mr. Hauser regarding his continued failure to [...]
10.29.2013 Order of Discipline – Consent Order of Suspension [Wake County]
This disciplinary order relates to two different trust accounts maintained by John H. McWilliam at two different firms during two different time periods. Prior to May 31, 2011, McWilliam was a member of Firm 1, where he maintained a trust account with BB&T. On May 31, 2011, McWilliam formed Firm 2, where he maintained a trust account with North State Bank. For both trust accounts, McWilliam employed and had direct supervisory authority over a bookkeeper. This bookkeeper oversaw receipt and [...]
10.25.2013 Order of Reinstatement [Buncombe County]
In August 2008, the Disciplinary Hearing Commission of the North Carolina State Bar suspended Paul L. Erickson from the practice of law for a period of five years. Mr. Erickson’s suspension was based on his role in a “debt elimination scheme.” In its twenty-two page order, the Commission concluded that Erickson violated a litany of Rules of Professional Conduct. The suspension became effective on October 9, 2008. On September 24, 2013, Mr. Erickson filed a petition for [...]
Happy hour—both a benefit and a burden to restaurant owners
Happy hour regulations vary drastically among the states, with many focusing on the detriments to public welfare and safety, while others concentrate on the advantages to local businesses and economies. [...]
