ABA Newsroom

ABA In the News

Saturday, November 07, 2009

Latest:

“Ruling Bars Application of FTC 'Red Flags Rule' to Legal Profession,” State Bar of Wisconsin Newsletter, “The American Bar Association today welcomed a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia barring the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from applying its Red Flags Rule. ‘This ruling is an important victory for American lawyers and the clients we serve,’ ABA President Carolyn B. Lamm said in a written statement. ‘The court recognized that the Federal Trade Commission’s interpretation of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) over-reaches and its application to lawyers is unreasonable. By voiding the FTC’s interpretation of a statue that was clearly not intended to apply to the legal profession, the court has ensured that lawyers stay focused on the mission of their work: providing aid and counsel to the individuals and organizations that need us.’”
“Judge: FTC Cannot Make Lawyers Comply With Identity Theft Laws,” Blog of the Legal Times, “The Federal Trade Commission cannot force practicing lawyers to comply with new regulations aimed at curbing identity theft, a federal judge ruled today at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The decision offers a reprieve to law firms across the country, which faced a deadline this weekend to put in place programs to meet so-called ‘Red Flags Rule’ requirements. The rules would have forced firms to verify the identities of potential clients. The American Bar Association, represented by a Proskauer Rose team led by partner Steven Krane, argued that the rules would impose a serious burden on law firms, and sought an injunction and declaratory judgment finding that lawyers were not covered by the rule. The FTC contended that lawyers should be covered, because many of their billing practices, such as charging clients on a monthly basis rather than up front, made them ‘creditors.’”
“Wyoming Legal Eagles Offer Free Advice for Pro Bono Week,” Public News Service, “Attorneys throughout the state are marking the first-ever National Pro Bono Celebration week, organized to heighten awareness of what is often called the ‘justice gap,’ in which 50 million people across the country can't afford legal help for civil court issues. The Celebration will recognize attorneys who donate their time for such cases, and attempt to encourage more attorneys to help level the playing field when it comes to access to the courts. … The American Bar Association estimates 80 percent of the legal needs of Wyoming's lower-income families are unmet.”
“New Grant Encourages Lawyers to Help Victims of Domestic Violence,” Jewish Times Online (Long Island, N.Y.), “Availability of legal resources is an important factor in the reduction of domestic violence, according to a 2002 study by economists at Colgate and the University of Arkansas. … This grant comes at an opportune time. New York’s Division of Criminal Justice has just reported that domestic-violence homicides increased by 7% statewide in 2008 and that intimate-partner homicides tripled. Half of all adult female homicide victims were killed by their intimate partner. With the American Bar Association sponsoring the first National Pro Bono Celebration, October 25–31, the network seeks to maximize the volunteer spirit of attorneys to help address domestic violence.”

Recent:

“Fla. Justices Respond to Death Penalty Confusion,” The Miami Herald
“Death Penalty Recommendations Ignored,” Capitol News Service
“Resuscitate End-of-Life Counseling,” Roll Call
“Wrongfully Convicted Man Praises Pro Bono Work,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Judge Rendell Reflects on Wins, Losses for Women in Legal Work,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“How Two Supreme Court Decisions May Affect Employment Discrimination,” Leagle, Inc.
“Reform of Md. Oversight Panel for Public Defender Eyed,” The Baltimore Sun
“Texas Eases 'Zero Tolerance' Laws,” Time Magazine
“Social Media Apps for CMS,” FolioMag.com
“Ruling the Regulators,” Gulf Coast (Fla.) Business Review

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