The Buzz in the LexBlogosphere

LXBN: The best of the LexBlog Network, all the time.

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 22:12:26 GMT

To give readers a better view of the insight and commentary published by the LexBlog’s Network’s more than 7,000 authors, LexBlog has launched LXBN, a constantly-curated view of the Network’s best posts. For an explanation on how the publication came to be, here is Colin O’Keefe’s post on the publication.

In my time at LexBlog, I’ve written exactly 624 roundups assembling the LexBlog Network’s top ten posts of the day. Whether it be from the one of the three LexBlog offices over that time span, the lobby in the University of Montana School of Journalism or any number of hotels and coffee shops around the country—that is 624 times I’ve opened up my RSS reader and perused every post published to a LexBlog Network publication.

A few years ago, there were the occasional days when it was a struggle to find ten exceptionally strong posts—sometimes I was left to choose between hard-to-comprehend case law or something slightly too promotional when rounding out the last of the top ten.

But things have evolved significantly. Even on days without major legal news, it is almost impossible to limit the roundup to ten. When a piece of news the magnitude of Wal-Mart v. Dukes or the Casey Anthony verdict hits —forget it, I am forced to leave out a significant amount of insightful content.

At the beginning of the year, things started to reach a tipping point. The quality of the content produced across the LexBlog Network had reached such a high level that I wanted to find a way for everyone to visualize and connect with the Network as a whole.

Through the hard work of a lot of talented people at LexBlog, I think we’ve found that in LXBN, a constant view of content posted and shared by the LexBlog Network’s more than 850 publications and 7,000 authors. Reviewing every post individually, our editorial team scours those publications for unique and compelling content and highlights it throughout the day on LXBN .

With channels devoted to individual practice areas and a front page serving up the most timely and influential legal news, I believe LXBN provides a unique social look at the law through the eyes of some of the world’s best lawyers and law firms.

I encourage you to have a look and let us know what you think. Whether you are an avid blogger scouring for insightful publications and people to connect with, or possibly just a professional looking to stay up to speed on developments in privacy, employment law or any other number of subjects—I believe this can be a valuable resource. Whether you’re an experienced or novice blogger, LXBN can be used as a tool to find new content and subjects to discuss—or simply a way to find other publications to benchmark yours against.

As a blogger, one should always be looking for sources to engage and people to connect with. Used as a discovery tool, LXBN will give readers a look at the diverse range of perspectives and ideas that come across the LexBlog Network every day. One day it might be Cynthia Larose of AmLaw 200 firm Mintz Levin and former cyber crime prosecutor John Lacey offering their thoughts on the Sony Playstation Network’s catastrophic data breach while another day it may be the always-great Dan Schwartz and Littler’s Philip Gordon breaking down what employers should know about social media use; LXBN will give readers a view of all of it.

Again, if you have comments or questions, do let me know. I look forward to hearing what people think and hope to provide everyone with the same great view of the LexBlog Network I’ve had for the past few years.

Best in Law Blogs : The LexBlog Network : July 19, 2011

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:46:12 GMT

Today’s roundup is a bit heavy on the technology and privacy side with good posts from Jeffrey Freedman, Winston Maxwell and Richard Granat. Also, Kevin LaCroix offers his comments on a report documenting the corporate and securities litigation in the second quarter of 2011. Total posts on the LexBlog Network today: 145.

Bankruptcy Fraud and Lenny Dykstra – Phoenix lawyer Vladimir Gagic on his blog, the Arizona Criminal Law & Sex Crimes Post
“Article 29 Working Party Guidelines on Consent will Lead to More Pop-ups ":http://www.hldataprotection.com/2011/07/articles/international-eu-privacy/article-29-working-party-guidelines-on-consent-will-lead-to-more-popups/ – Paris lawyer Winston Maxwell of Hogan & Hartson on the firm’s blog, Chronicle of Data Protection
Tracking Employees Driving Employer Vehicles Via GPS – Los Angeles attorney Jeffrey Freedman of Liebert Cassidy Whitmore on the firm’s California Public Agency Labor & Employment Blog
Beth Israel Hospital suffers data breach – 2,021 people affected – Boston attorney John Lacey of The McCormack Firm at his Massachusetts Data Privacy Law Blog
How to Document a Transaction – Maryland lawyer Eliot Wagonheim of Wagonheim & Associates on the firm’s blog Bottom Line Business Insights
Revenue Per Lawyer at U.S. Firms Increased 9.5% in 2010 – Chicago-based business development advisor Larry Bodine on the Larry Bodine Law Marketing Blog
Advisen Releases Second Quarter 2011 Corporate and Securities Litigation Report – Ohio attorney Kevin LaCroix of OakBridge Insurance Services in his blog, The D & O Diary
What remedy is available when a Condominium corporation treats owners unfairly? – Ottawa lawyer Rod Escayola of Hennan Blaikie on the firm’s blog, Condo Reporter
Bostic—Baron & Budd Swings For The Fences – Houston attorney David Oliver of Vorys on the firm’s blog, Mass Torts: State of the Art
Legal Cloud Computing Association Publishes Responses to ABA, North Carolina State Bar – Self-help law specialist Richard Granat on his blog, Law That You Can Afford

Best in Law Blogs : The LexBlog Network : July 18, 2011

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:34:05 GMT

As I mentioned last week, sometimes it’s good to have a little bit of non-law fun in these roundups. Then, it was Hunter Biederman celebrating with the Dallas Mavericks and this week it’s Greg Price observing the last ever Space Shuttle launch from Mission Control. Total posts on the LexBlog Network today: 161.

President Obama Announces Plan to Nominate Former Ohio AG to Lead Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – Washington, DC attorney Lee Istrail of Kelley Drye on the firm’s Consumer Finance Law Blog
PTSD and Arizona’s Veterans – Phoenix lawyer Vladimir Gagic on his blog, the Arizona Criminal Law & Sex Crimes Post
A Monkey, a Blogger, and a News Agency Walk into a Bar . . . – Minneapolis lawyer Dan Kelly of Winthrop & Weinstine on the firm’s Duets Blog
10 Social Media Must Haves For Your Corporate Compliance And Ethics Program – Los Angeles attorney Michelle Sherman of Sheppard Mullin on the firm’s Corporate & Securities Law Blog
Last US Manned Spaceflight Launch – PKF Texas director Greg Price in his blog, From Greg’s Head
Are Facebook & Twitter To Blame For Car Accidents? – Chicago lawyer Jonathan Rosenfeld of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers on his blog, Child Injury Laws
The Parade of PHI Security Breaches—WellPoint Finally Settles with the Attorney General of Indiana – New Jersey attorney Alain Leibman on Fox Rothschild’s White Collar Defense & Compliance
The Use of Social Media in Hiring Decisions—Tempting Fruit from a Poisonous Tree – Christopher Gibson, Summer Associate at McNees Wallace and Nurick on the firm’s Pennsylvania Labor and Employment Blog
’Interview With PTIS Co-founder Brian Wagner – Minneapolis attorney Dan Kelly of Winthrop & Weinstine on the firm’s Duets Blog
Who Owns China’s Internet? Why Even Ask That? – Seattle lawyer Dan Harris of Harris & Moure on the firm’s China Law Blog

New blogs & sites joining the LexBlog Network for the week of 7/11-7/15

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:44:19 GMT

Well, as LXBN got its own post, we’ll leave that out for now. However, even with that excluded, it isn’t just blogs launching this week as we also created a new website to accompany Florida appellate lawyer Dan Bushell’s excellent blog. Have a great weekend, everyone.

The second publication on the LexBlog Network from Looper Reed & McGraw, the Texas Employer Handbook, is authored by Dallas attorney Michael Kelsheimer. Thus far, Keilsheimer has done an excellent job scouring outlets for news affecting employers and provides his own input on subjects that include social media’s impact on employment law, discrimination in the workplace and employee benefits.
Joining Dan Bushell’s excellent Florida Appellate Review, this week also brings the launch of the website for Bushell Appellate Law, P.A. Even though Bushell’s blog has only been live for three months I’d say he’s already one of the Network’s better authors. These appellate lawyers really know how to write, who knew?

Best in Law Blogs : The LexBlog Network : July 15, 2011

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 16:04:07 GMT

Drawing on 149 posts, today’s roundup of The LexBlog Network has good sports pieces. On the one hand, we have some great legal analysis from Steve Lombardi on the options contract as it pertains catching a ball at a baseball game. And then on the other hand, we have Hunter Biederman’s excellent tale of celebrating the NBA Championship with the Dallas Mavericks. I figured we can have some fun in these from time to time.

FCC’s Proposals for Clearing FM Translator Application Backlog May Harm AM Stations – Washington, DC lawyer David O’Neil of Rini Coran on the firm’s TelecomMediaTech Law Blog
I got mail? No, I got hacked – Boston lawyer John Lacey of The McCormack Firm at his Massachusetts Data Privacy Law Blog
What in the Hell is Going on Here Anyway?—A SWOT Analysis of the Financial Recovery – Philadelphia lawyer Rick Jones of Dechert on the firm’s blog, Crunched Credit
The State of Preemption and the Dodd-Frank Act – Asset Opportunity Director and Shriver Center supervising attorney Karen Harris on The Shriver Brief
Facebook Trash Talk Is Not Protected Speech In A University Setting – Marylee Abrams of Abrams & Schmidt on the firm’s Minnesota Labor & Employment Law Blog
Celebrating with the Mavs at the Loon – Frisco attorney Hunter Biederman on his Frisco DWI Lawyer & Attorney Blog
Baseball Memorabilia and the Options Contract – West Des Moines attorney Steve Lombardi on his blog, The Iowa Edict
The Source Code Shuffle – How the District Courts Are Handling the Intoxilyzer 5000 Appeal. – Roseville, MN attorney Daniel Koewler of Ramsay Law Firm on the firm’s blog, Minnesota DWI Defense
’What happens when an expert changes their mind? – Waco lawyer Walter Reaves in his Texas Criminal Law Blog
Florida Supreme Court Restricts Reach of Asbestos Litigation Reform Law":http://www.floridaappellatereview.com/florida-supreme-court/florida-supreme-court-restricts-reach-of-asbestos-litigation-reform-law/ – West Palm Beach attorney Dan Bushell on his blog, the Florida Appellate Review

Best in Law Blogs : The LexBlog Network : July 12, 2011

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 16:24:33 GMT

Feels a bit like the dog days of summer as there’s no rhyme or reason to today’s roundup besides just offering the day’s best. Philip Gordon comments on social media checks by employers “coming of age”, Ted Lewkowicz continues his series on the New York same-sex marriage law and Stuart Carpey explains why he had to turn down good work. Total posts on The LexBlog Network today: 125.

“Key Holdings in Google Street View Litigation—WiFi Not ’Readily Accessible to the General Public” and ECPA Preempts State Wiretap Laws’:http://www.insideprivacy.com/united-states/key-holdings-in-google-street-view-litigation-wifi-not-readily-accessible-to-the-general-public-and/ – San Francisco lawyer Mali Friedman of Covington & Burling on the firm’s blog, Inside Privacy
Excess Estate Expenses can be Windfall to Beneficiary – New Jersey attorney Deirdre Wheatley-Liss of Fein, Such, Kahn & Shepard on her New Jersey Estate Planning & Elder Law Blog
What Multinational Corporations Need to Know About New Anti-Corruption Rules – Florida lawyer Santiago Cueto of Cueto Law Group on his blog International Business Law Advisor
Basic Small Business Financial Management – Maryland attorney Eliot Wagonheim of Wagonheim & Associates on the firm’s blog Bottom Line Business Insights
New York’s Same-Sex Marriage Law—The Employee Benefits Impact, Part II – New York lawyer Ted Lewkowicz of Bond, Schoeneck & King on the firm’s New York Labor and Employment Law Report
Class Action on Premium Finance Agreements: Florida Supreme Court Addresses Class Certification – Hartford, CT attorney Wystan Ackerman of Robinson & Cole on the firm’s Insurance Class Actions Insider
Microsoft Announces Cloud ‘Office 365’: Will Skype Be Next? – Illinois lawyer Sam Conforti on his blog, Software Licensing & Master Service Agreements
The Parade of PHI Security Breaches—WellPoint Finally Settles with the Attorney General of Indiana – Princeton, NJ attorney Michael Kline of Fox Rothschild on the firm’s blog, HIPAA, HITECH & HIT
‘Social Checks’ Come of Age—What Does It Mean for Employers? – San Francisco lawyer Philip Gordon of Littler Mendelson on the firm’s Workplace Privacy Counsel
Why I Decided To Not Represent Three Perfectly Good Clients With Good Cases In The Last Week – Philadelphia attorney Stuart Carpey of Kreithen Baron & Carpey on his blog, Pennsylvania Injury Law Report

Best in Law Blogs : The LexBlog Network : July 11, 2011

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:50:06 GMT

Today’s roundup of the day’s best brings analysis on some pretty major subjects: Ted Lewkowicz discusses New York’s same-sex marriage law, Dan Schwartz comments on what employers should know about Google+ and Max Kennerly offers analysis of the NFL lockout. Total posts on The LexBlog Network today: 161.

New UGA Law Review Article Takes Georgia to Task for the Way We Handle IAC Claims – McDonough lawyer Scott Key on his Georgia Criminal Appellate Law Blog
New York’s Same-Sex Marriage Law—The Employee Benefits Impact, Part I – New York attorney Ted Lewkowicz of Bond, Schoeneck & King on the firm’s New York Labor and Employment Law Report
Mixed Decision on Motion to Dismiss Google Street View Class Action Augurs Continuing Difficulty in Maintaining Privacy Class Actions – Boston lawyer Kevin McGinty of Mintz Levin on the firm’s blog, Privacy & Security Matters
Great Lessons I Learned From My First Mentor – Dallas, Texas attorney coach Cordell Parvin on the Cordell Parvin Blog
EPA Is Required to Make An Endangerment Finding Concerning Airplane Engines – Boston lawyer Seth Jaffe of Foley Hoag on the firm’s blog, Law & The Environment
You, NOT the Newspapers, Should Report a Breach: WellPoint to Pay $100,000 to Indiana AG for Delayed Breach Notification – Washington, DC attorney Brendon Tavelli of Proskauer Rose on the firm’s Privacy Law Blog
What Employers Need to Know About Google+ – Hartford lawyer Daniel Schwartz of Pullman & Comley in his Connecticut Employment Law Blog
NFL Lockout Injunction Reversal—Using Labor Law Against Employees – Philadelphia attorney Maxwell Kennerly of The Beasley Firm on his blog, Litigation & Trial
How Lawyers Can Use Twitter to Get Speaking Gigs – Chicago-based business development advisor Larry Bodine on the Larry Bodine Law Marketing Blog
Introductions—When School Marms Attack – Houston lawyer Kendall Gray of Andrews Kurth on his blog, The Appellate Record

New blogs joining The LexBlog Network for the week of 7/5-7/8

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:27:22 GMT

The most underrated part of the three-day weekend is easily the four-day workweek that follows—especially when it’s right in the middle of summer. So, as we conclude this short week and a decent amount of the LexBlog team is already out enjoying the afternoon, let’s look back at the two publications joining The LexBlog Network this week.

Published by Lee Davis and Bryan Hoss of Chattanooga, TN law firm Davis & Hoss, PC, we have Athletes in Court. As they use this sharp-looking publication to cover athletes and their legal transgressions, they carry with them a wealth of experience representing athletes in everything from a failed drug test (they got the athlete reinstated) to a triple murder (the college athlete was acquitted of all charges). Check it out as this publication already features some interesting analysis and entertaining writing on some major stories.
Tax Law Roundup is authored by Washington, DC attorney Steven Schneider of Ghoulston & Storrs. Steve is a recognized leader in the field of taxation, and is an Adjunct Professor at the Georgetown University Law Center. He uses this publication to cover topics that include US and international taxation, partnerships and LLCs, real estate, REITs, tax credits and a lot more.

Best in Law Blogs : The LexBlog Network : July 7, 2011

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:26:22 GMT

Over the past six months, there haven’t been more popular topics on The LexBlog Network than privacy and data security. Continuing that trend, we have two excellent pieces from Cynthia LaRose, who rounds up the privacy news in Congress, and Elizabeth Litten, who asks where your personal health information is stored. Total posts on The LexBlog Network Thursday: 139.

Paying for Dropped Calls Every Month—Thank the Supreme Court and its 2010 Term – Washington, DC lawyer Steven Berk on his blog, The Corporate Observer
UPDATE—Apple v. Amazon, Apple Denied Preliminary Injunction Over APP STORE Mark – Seattle attorney Stacia Lay of Hendricks & Lewis on her blog, IP Law Chat
Privacy Still on Congressional Radar Screen – Boston attorney Cynthia LaRose of Mintz Levin on the firm’s blog, Privacy & Security Matters
Wellpoint Settles with Indiana AG Over Data Breach – Chicago lawyer Kari Timm of Walker Wilcox Matousek on the firm’s blog, CyBIR
Report from Canada: New Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation About to Go Into Effect – Washington, DC attorney Christopher Wolf of Hogan Lovells on the firm’s blog, Chronicles of Data Protection
Avoiding Whistleblower Claims – It’s All in the Employer’s Response – West Bloomfield lawyer Jason Shinn of E-Business Counsel on his blog, Michigan Employment Law Advisor
Caylee Anthony Trademark Likely Owned by Acquitted Mother – The blogging lawyers and attorneys at Mandour & Associates on the firm’s blog, Intellectual Property News
A Matter of Trust: Where is your Protected Health Information? – Princeton, NJ lawyer Elizabeth Litten of Fox Rothschild on the firm’s blog, HIPAA, HITECH & HIT
Google Loses Skirmish in ‘Wardriving’ Class Actions – Seattle attorney Dan Royalty of K&L Gates on the firm’s blog, TMT Law Watch
DePuy Hip Replacement Patients: What The Company Doesn’t Want You To Know About Your Legal Rights – Chicago attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld of Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers on his Nursing Homes Abuse Blog

Best in Law Blogs : The LexBlog Network : July 6, 2011

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:34:20 GMT

While the verdict came and went yesterday, I still want to pass along some great views on the Casey Anthony trial from Scott Gordon and Jim Walker. It turns out the verdict wasn’t as shocking as some people would lead you to believe. Total posts on The LexBlog Network today: 144.

The FCC’s Fifteenth Report—A Fresh Look at Wireless Competition – Washington, DC lawyer Douglas Jarrett of Keller and Heckman on the firm’s Beyond Telecom Law Blog
Six Tips for Compliance with Europe’s New Cookie Rules – Robert F. Stankey and Adam Shoemaker of Davis Wright Tremaine on the firm’s blog, Privacy & Data Security Law Blog
Online Pharmacies Put Consumers at Risk – Dallas attorney Kay Van Wey on her blog, Pill Mill Monitor
Lawyers Bidding On Other Lawyers – Illegal or Just Unethical? – Houston lawyer Travis Crabtree of Looper Reed & McGraw on his blog, eMedia Law Insider
The Casey Anthony Verdict and Criminal Law 101 – Sarasota, FL attorney Scott Gordon of Lutz, Bobo, Telfair, Eastman, Gabel, and Lee on the firm’s blog, Florida ROC
Hindsight is Not 20/20 — At Least in Cases of Late Notice – Atlanta lawyer Charles McDaniel, Jr. of Carlock Copeland on the firm’s Insurance Coverage Corner
Yet Another Trademark Lesson From Jersey Shore attorney Sharon Armstrong of Winthrop & Weinstine on the firm’s Duets Blog – Minneapolis attorney Sharon Armstrong of Winthrop & Weinstine on the firm’s Duets Blog
Where Were You When Casey Anthony Was Acquitted? – Miami lawyer Jim Walker of Walker & O’Neill on his blog, Cruise Law News
Lawyers Bidding On Other Lawyers – Illegal or Just Unethical? – Houston lawyer Travis Crabtree of Looper Reed & McGraw on his blog, eMedia Law Insider
Location, Location, Location—Recent Developments in ‘GeoPrivacy’ and the Impact on the Use of GPS in the U.S. Workplace – San Francisco attorney Philip Gordon of Littler Mendelson on the firm’s Workplace Privacy Counsel