#legalethics
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𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 Justia Webinar on February 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET. Register today: j.st/5cJi! This interactive CLE with Ama K. Karikari equips legal professionals with practical tools to engage across differences while maintaining professionalism, trust, and civility.
#LegalEthics #Civility
January 28, 2026 at 2:38 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If I settle my client’s case without authority, do I have to pay the settlement amount?

A IN law firm showed up unprepared for a court-ordered settlement conference, but ended up agreeing to a settlement amount, even though the ... (cont.)

www.govinfo.gov/app/details/...
#law
Image of two men shaking hands by Andrea Piacquadio via Pexels
January 28, 2026 at 2:18 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If my co-counsel is not the sort of person to use #AI, do I still need to check the citations?

An AZ lawyer in a CA litigation turned over brief drafting to co-counsel, who was normally meticulous & professional...(cont.)

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#lawsky #law
Order on Motion for Leave to File Document – #207 in N.Z. v. Fenix International Limited (C.D. Cal., 8:24-cv-01655) – CourtListener.com
MINUTES (IN CHAMBERS) by Judge Fred W. Slaughter: ORDER DENYING MOTION FOR LEAVE TO WITHDRAW ECF NOS. 138, 141, 142, AND 158, AND FILE CORRECTIVE BRIEFS 176 AND IMPOSING SANCTIONS 187 . Carey and Hage...
storage.courtlistener.com
January 28, 2026 at 2:14 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If my #AI generated brief responds to arguments the opponent didn’t make, is that sanctionable?

In a MD litigation, plaintiff argued that the defendant’s summary judgment reply brief must have been drafted ... (cont.)

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

#lawksy #Law
1. “The [Counterclaim Defendants] erroneously argue that where there is no merger paper, there is no successor liability.” (ECF No. 268, at 17). They make no such argument. 2. “The [Counterclaim Defendants] further erroneously contend that the application of [successor liability] doctrines do not apply to LLCs.” (ECF No. 268, at 17). They make no such argument. 4. “Van Norstrand can and does attribute roles by individual actor [sic] in the proposed findings and. [sic]” (ECF No. 268, at 27). There are no proposed findings. 5. “[T]he court should establish individual liability...based on the tried-by-consent record[.]” (ECF No. 268, at 32). There is no tried-by-consent record.
January 27, 2026 at 1:31 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Do I have a duty to Google the opposing party?

A NJ/MI attorney admitted pro hac vice in E.D. PA brought a 1983 Civil Rights Action against Valley Forge Military Academy on behalf of a student who was expelled following ... (cont.)

www.govinfo.gov/app/details/...
#law
Google results for "Valley Forge Military Academy"
January 27, 2026 at 1:26 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Should it be harder for the fourth attorney to withdraw from a case than it was for the first attorney?

In December 2022, a doctor was charged with healthcare fraud and tax evasion in MA. A Magistrate Judge appointed ... (cont.)

#law
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
1 - Terminate Hearings AND Memorandum & Order – #347 in United States v. Merchia (D. Mass., 1:22-cr-10355) – CourtListener.com
Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton: ORDER entered. MEMORANDUM AND ORDER. For the foregoing reasons, the renewed motion to withdraw of defendant, Pankaj Merchia, (Docket No. 338 ) is DENIED.The status conferenc...
storage.courtlistener.com
January 26, 2026 at 5:12 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: As a reasonable accommodation for my disability, can I use #AI to answer deposition questions?

In an OH litigation, the pro se plaintiff asked the court for various accommodations due to a cognitive issue that limits ... (cont.)

#law
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief – #50 in Rudolph v. Harrison Metropolitan Housing Authority (S.D. Ohio, 2:25-cv-00757) – CourtListener.com
ORDER granting in part and denying in part 45 Plaintiff's Motion for Reasonable Accommodations and Extension of Time. Signed by Magistrate Judge Chelsey M. Vascura on 1/22/26. (sem)(This document has ...
storage.courtlistener.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:26 PM
primalaw.bsky.social
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Retroactive laws punish people for following the rules. 📉 ⚖️

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#Immigration #LegalEthics #PrimaLaw #SCOTUS #Justice
January 24, 2026 at 12:02 AM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Is being “Scared Straight” sufficient to deter #AI Misuse?

An OH lawyer was caught submitting AI-generated hallucinated citations and fabricated quotations to a federal court. In response to the Court’s show ... (cont.)

#law #lawsky
law.justia.com/cases/federa...
First page and Caption of Safe Choice v. City of Cleveland, which is available at the link.
January 23, 2026 at 2:20 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Can a judge do his own research on witness credibility?

A MN criminal defendant was convicted of murder in part based on the testimony of a fellow prison inmate. In a post-conviction motion, the defendant moved for a new trial on the ... (cont.)

lnkd.in/eNMSFSuR
#lawsky #law
First Page and Caption of Hennepin v. Duol, the text of which is available at the link.
January 23, 2026 at 2:15 PM
nonilex.masto.ai.ap.brid.gy
#trump budget office orders review of funds to Democratic-controlled #states
Trump said his admin would cut off federal resources to “#sanctuarycities” on Feb 1.

#law #whitesupremacy #revengepolitics #russvought #omb #project2025 #weaponizationofgovernment #legalethics #statesrights #dissent […]
Original post on masto.ai
masto.ai
January 22, 2026 at 7:14 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Should the Court reduce the attorneys’ fee award against me if opposing counsel could have saved money by using #AI?

In a CO trade secret litigation, the defendants moved for $114k in attorneys’ fees against the ... (cont.)

www.linkedin.com/posts/davidk...
#lawsky #law
Caption and first page of Flux Drive v. Sparks, which is available at the link.
January 22, 2026 at 2:04 PM
leslieclevin.bsky.social
Another example of court continuing to act as guardrails during this dark time. Suggests disbarment may be appropriate for pardoned lawyer involved in Jan. 6 events. #ruleoflaw

www.law360.com/legalethics/...
Ga. Justices Deny Atty's Reprimand Bid After Jan. 6 Actions - Law360
A public reprimand may not be enough to discipline an attorney who was convicted and later pardoned of a felony and several misdemeanor federal offenses in connection with his participation in events ...
www.law360.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:04 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If my bar exam tutor hands me the answers without my asking for them, did I cheat?

An Ontario bar applicant signed up for an online tutoring service in preparation for the barrister’s exam. It turns out that the tutor’s pedagogical ... (cont.)

lnkd.in/e92Me-Ce
#law #lawsky
Image of student talking to another student during an exam. Image by RDNE Stock Project via Pexels
January 22, 2026 at 2:02 PM
dailyjournalcorp.bsky.social
$25K sanction imposed on attorney for a writ petition lacking support and violating #CRC8492. Read the court's opinion [subscribers only]: https://ow.ly/XHiF50Y0WgA #CaliforniaLaw #LegalNews #CourtSanctions #LegalEthics
January 22, 2026 at 12:00 AM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Is a Rule 4.2 violation “unlawful” for purposes of a tortious interference claim?

A CA lawyer represented a group of trust beneficiaries on a contingency seeking to install a new trustee. The new trustee was appointed and then obtained ...(cont.)

lnkd.in/e3-2un_4
#lawsky #law
First page and caption of Emeziem v. Unger. Full text available at the link.
January 21, 2026 at 1:12 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: Should the Judge recuse herself when she no longer trusts the lawyers?

In an ugly spat between a hospital and a former hospital executive, the hospital’s lawyers accused the executive’s lawyers of trying to extort the hospital, and the ... (cont.)

lnkd.in/e-2kRPvt
#lawsky #law
First page and caption of Kettering v. Collier, S.D. Ohio, which is available at the link.
January 21, 2026 at 1:08 PM
nonilex.masto.ai.ap.brid.gy
Yeah, that didn’t take much at all /s

FFS

#lindseyhalligan finally] out as <a href="https://masto.ai/tags/judges" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link="bsky">#USattorney following pressure from [#judges [+court orders, a few rulings of unlawful appointment, & her multiple mortifyingly bad attempts at “lawyering”.]

#trump #doj #law #judiciary #legalethics […]
Original post on masto.ai
masto.ai
January 21, 2026 at 4:00 AM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If I share my fee, do I have to tell my client who I’m sharing it with?

A TN client retained Lawyer 1 for a civil rights case. Lawyer 1 brought Lawyer 2 into the case, and afterwards Lawyer 2 entered into a contingency agreement... (cont.)

lnkd.in/eSed4_RS
#lawsky #law
Image of many hands grabbing slices from a pizza, shot from above, by Klara Kulikova via Unsplas
January 20, 2026 at 1:51 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If a pro se party uses #AI to hallucinate cases, should the Court ignore her otherwise-valid arguments?

A KS trailer park initiated proceedings to evict a tenant over an allegedly aggressive German Shepherd who acted as a ... (cont.)

lnkd.in/eTqXwrEd
#law #lawsky
Image of cute German Shepherd with tongue hanging out by Arijit Day via Pexels
January 20, 2026 at 1:46 PM
nonilex.masto.ai.ap.brid.gy
In an interview on FauxNews Sunday, US DAG #toddblanche told Shannon Bream that the #fbi is not, nor are they planning to, investigate #jonathanross — the #ICE agent who shot & killed #RenéeGood in her car in #minneapolis earlier this month.

#law #legalethics #oathofoffice […]
Original post on masto.ai
masto.ai
January 19, 2026 at 5:53 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit #MLKDay edition: Should my administrative law judge be disqualified for quoting #MartinLutherKing, Jr?

In 2003, a company received a favorable ruling from the Department of Transportation (DOT). On appeal, the company’s counsel ... (cont.)

www.linkedin.com/posts/davidk...
#Law
First page and caption of In the Matter of DHL Airways, Inc., which is available at the link.
January 19, 2026 at 2:39 PM
justiacom.bsky.social
𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 Justia Webinar on January 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET. Register today: j.st/5cHo! Join Cari L. Sheehan for a 90-minute session on the essential soft skills every attorney needs to succeed.
#AttorneySkills #SoftSkillsForLawyers #LegalEthics #JustiaWebinars #LawPracticeSkills
January 19, 2026 at 2:16 PM
dkluft.bsky.social
#LegalEthics Tidbit: If I read a judicial opinion a long time ago, do I have to read it again before citing it to a court?

A MS lawyer was caught submitting fabricated case citations and fake case citations to a court. She initially doubled down and falsely ...(cont.)

lnkd.in/e2DHg6Qz
#lawsky #law
THE COURT: Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services v. Tanager Place. That’s 2001 Westlaw 34098652. Did you review the legal citation in that case to ensure that it corresponded to the Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services case prior to your filing? MS. MARTIN: Your Honor, not prior to the filing. Again, I had it -- it was an error of citation. … THE COURT: Did you review that case before submitting it in brief form to this Court? MS. MARTIN: I reviewed the case before I put it into the internal database that I use, and I -- I— THE COURT: That’s not the question I asked you. Did you review it? MS. MARTIN: I did not review it, again, before taking it from my database, no. … THE COURT: And, again, you did not review the cite to determine that that was an appropriate case with -- appropriate case name and appropriate citation prior to filing it in this case? MS. MARTIN: No, Your Honor. I did not go to that specific cite. Again, just -- we’ve used the Iowa Protection and Advocacy Services case quite a bit, and I absolutely should have gone and reviewed it again and not just relied on the familiarity of that case, yes.
January 16, 2026 at 2:02 PM