We promote fairness and justice in the American legal system by enhancing the lives and careers of trial lawyers. Our members aspire to the highest professional levels, and join us for access to the innovative, entertaining, and thought-provoking programming we provide across the country, as well as for our award-winning Verdict Journal and website. We are a sociable group, hosting committee breakfasts, lunches, and dinners throughout the year. In addition to fostering collegiality and ethics within the trial bar, the Trial Practice Committee is devoted to bringing more diversity into the community of trial lawyers and to solving the work/life balance issues that litigators face.

In Vaden v. Discover Bank, the U.S. Supreme Court has resolved a long-standing circuit split regarding parties’ ability to seek federal court assistance to compel arbitration of litigation pending in state court. The Court, in an opinion by Justice Ginsburg, held that federal jurisdiction to render such order arises only when the entire controversy, as framed by the underlying state court complaint, could be removed to federal court.

The Winter 2009 edition of Verdict is now avaiable.

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On February 12, 2009, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that an attorney’s attempt to deceive a court will result in treble damages.