Tag Archives: Ethics

Technically Lawful

FBI: “TECH PROBLEMS” NOT CYBERATTACK DISABLE US COURTS WEBSITES

Despite widespread reports that federal court websites were down nationwide yesterday here in the USA due to a DDOS “cyberattck” (and some outfit taking credit for it on Twitter), the FBI said last night the websites were down due to “technical problems.”

I don’t see many news outlets updating their reports this morning. I suppose “Unknown Hacker-Terrorists Launch Cyberattack on US Justice System” gets more page views than “Federal Websites Back Online After IT Issue Fixed with Server Reboot.” Oh well, they are just journalists after all.

Perhaps a bit less sexy, but a more accurate story is here:

FBI: US court websites went down due to “technical problems,” not DDOS | Ars Technica.

MKT

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Attorneys & Lawyers & Counselors

Coming THIS FRIDAY to a CLE in Bloomington, MN . . .

Judgment Enforcement in Minnesota

Bloomington, MN — February 14, 2014

 

Holiday Inn Bloomington I-35, 1201 West 94th Street in Bloomington, MN

Live Seminar 

  • February 14, 2014
  • Bloomington, MN
  • 9:00 am – 4:30 pm

Look below!!! I’m doing it again . . . 

It’s me speaking at a CLE! Click: MKT!

I’m speaking at this Lorman CLE at 9 am. Right in between somebody named Registration and right before Break goes on!

Come on out on Valentines Day and learn about Judgment Enforcement in Minnesota. I’ll speak about ethics issues and cases unique to the collection attorney. I’m even updating my written materials from last year. I might have handouts. Handouts for all!

If you click on my initials above or EVEN RIGHT HERE, you can get 50% off the registration fee! A very lovely discount as a valentine from me (actually I just posted the link). So don’t hesitate and follow that link to register today. Come learn something new and get some credits too!

I’ll see you on 2/14/14 in Bloomington, MN!

MKT

Agenda

8:30 am – 9:00 am Registration
9:00 am – 10:00 am Ethical Considerations Particular to the Collection Attorney
— Mark K. Thompson
  • Overview
  • Meritorious Claims and Contentions
  • Truthfulness in Statements to Others
  • Dealing With Unrepresented People
  • Misconduct and Golden Rule
  • Recent Disciplinary Opinions
  • Closing Remarks
10:00 am – 10:15 am Break

Mark K. Thompson

Mark K. Thompson Law Office, LLC

  • Recently formed Mark K. Thompson Law Office, LLC, after practicing law for 12 years at a downtown firm
  • Continues serving small businesses in litigation, while organizing, when being sold/acquired and with commercial collections
  • Adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota School of Law in its Civil Rights Moot Court class since 2007
  • Was privileged to sit on an advisory committee for the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, as a bar member advising during the court during implementation of case management/electronic case files (CM/ECF)
  • Listed in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as a Rising Star and recognized in Minnesota Law & Politics, Twin Cities Business Monthly and Mpls. St. Paul Magazine
  • Find out more about his practice at http://www.mktlawoffice.com or at http://www.mktlawblog.com
  • Can be contacted at 651-797-0997 or mkt@mktlawoffice.com
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Litigation of Business | Business of Litigation

Small Businesses Sue AIG Over Workers’ Compensation Insurance Scheme

ALTON, Ill. (Oct. 9) (Press Release): Small businesses in California, New York and New Jersey this week initiated coordinated class action lawsuits in federal courts on both coasts against American International Group (“AIG”), its subsidiary companies and former CEO Maurice Greenberg alleging unfair business practices, fraud and violations of the federal racketeering statutes.

The businesses allege that for approximately four decades beginning in the 1970s, AIG engaged in a sophisticated scheme to misreport the amount of workers’ compensation premiums it collected in each state, thereby causing insured employers to pay more in certain workers’ compensation fees than they otherwise would have paid. By making it appear less money was collected in workers’ compensation premiums in these states, AIG caused  . . .

Small Businesses Sue AIG Over Workers’ Compensation Insurance Scheme.

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Attorneys & Lawyers & Counselors

Lawyer agrees to five-year suspension for advising client to clean up his Facebook photos

Don’t you think that maybe he should of advised his client to dump the Facebook page before starting the litigation?  Just sayin’ …… MKT

 

A Virginia lawyer who advised a plaintiff suing over the death of his wife to clean up his Facebook photos has agreed to a five-year suspension. Matthew Murray was unavailable for comment on his suspension because he was volunteering with a group performing maintenance on the Appalachian Trail, relatives told the Daily Progress. The Legal Profession Blog notes the July 17 suspension order, published online on Aug. 2. Murray’s client, Isaiah Lester, had sued Allied Concrete for the death of his wife caused when a cement truck crossed the center line and tipped over on the Lesters’ car. Murray had instructed a paralegal to tell Lester to clean up his Facebook page after lawyers for Allied Concrete sought screen shots and other information, the Daily Progress says. Lester deleted 16 photos, including one in which he held a beer can . . .

via Lawyer agrees to five-year suspension for advising client to clean up his Facebook photos.

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Attorneys & Lawyers & Counselors, Litigation of Business | Business of Litigation

Lawyer’s response to client’s bad Avvo review leads to disciplinary complaint

An Illinois employment lawyer is accused of revealing confidential information about a former client when the lawyer responded online to a negative review on Avvo. Lawyer Betty Tsamis posted a response after her ex-client claimed Tsamis accepted a $1,500 fee even though she “knew full well that a law in Illinois would prevent me from obtaining unemployment benefits,” according to the disciplinary complaint by the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. The Legal Profession Blog noted the complaint. The former client had been fired from a job as a flight attendant based on allegations he assaulted a colleague during a flight. Tsamis wrote that the client did not reveal to her all the facts of the situation that led to his firing, and when she reviewed his personnel file, she advised him he would likely lose, the complaint says. Yet the client opted…

via Lawyer’s response to client’s bad Avvo review leads to disciplinary complaint.

 

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