Many Judges are reluctant to punish delinquent discovery. To many prosecuting attorneys, it can be a frustrating experience – sending out demands, then follow-up letters, arranging for meet-and-confers, and finally, motion practice that ends with the other side...
Less is Not Necessarily More When Submitting a Pre-Motion Letter in Federal Court
It is not uncommon in litigation and, in fact, is sometimes mandated, that prior to filing a motion, counsel will submit a pre-motion letter to the Judge explaining their position, a preview of what’s to come. Some practitioners might be tempted to set forth a...
Be Careful — or Be Subject to a Spoliation Claim
Spoliation of evidence can negatively affect a client’s case before the lawsuit is even filed. Clients should avoid the temptation to delete emails or texts, and affirmatively make certain that no documents are “routinely” deleted with litigation on the horizon,...
A Lesson in Avoiding Dismissal and Potential Sanctions in Maryland Federal Court
A complaint missing key factual pleadings and setting forth bare legal conclusions masquerading as facts was recently dismissed in a scathing opinion by the Maryland Federal Court in Temescal Wellness of Maryland, LLC T/A Evermore Cannabis Company, v. Faces Human...
Trade Secrets May Remain Secret in Perpetuity
While a former employer cannot impose a non-compete restrictive covenant against an ex-employee in perpetuity, the recent case of Coeur, Inc. v. Wygal, No. 6:20-CV-06473 EAW, 2021 WL 4225657 (W.D.N.Y. Sept. 16, 2021) has shown that trade secrets can indeed remain...
The Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing
Sometimes, a breach of contract claim is not enough, especially when presented with a bad faith scheme to undermine the deal which founded the contract. In the recent decision in Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC v. Env't Working Grp., No. 20 CIV. 1098 (ER), 2021 WL...
Litigation Lessons From Cyberattacks: Separation Is Key To Ensuring Work Product Doctrine Protection
As seen in the New York Law Journal The COVID-related increase in the number of employees working remotely has created an unexpected consequence: heightened risk of cyberattacks as employees are logging on to office networks through personal computers which may not be...
When Are Communications Between In-House Counsel and Company Employees Protected By Attorney-Client Privilege?
When employees speak to in-house counsel, it is often assumed that the information is protected by the attorney-client privilege. However, as demonstrated in a recent decision in a New York federal district court, not all communications between in-house counsel and...
“All For One and One For All” – Application of Joint Privilege
When preparing a legal opinion which could apply to more than one entity with a joint interest, a good phrase for attorneys to keep in mind is “All for one, and one for all!” In a recent decision from the New York Supreme Court in a billion-dollar case, a...