Judge: Lawyer’s phone call not grounds for ouster

By Patricia Manson Law Bulletin staff writer

Posted March 15, 2017 2:28 PM

A federal judge has declined to toss a lawyer off a civil case for talking to a former employee of his client’s adversary.In a written opinion this week, U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo denied a motion to disqualify Michael P. Padden of Pearne & Gordon LLP from representing Freeman Equipment Inc. in a patent-infringement lawsuit against Caterpillar Inc.Bucklo rejected the argument that Padden violated ethics rules by speaking to William Perry.Perry is a retired Caterpillar employee who worked for nearly 30 …

To Read the Full Story

Your source for legal news and information

Print & Digital Access

Stay in the know all year long with these benefits:

Delivery to your office in downtown Chicago or mailed outside our hand-delivery zone.
Unlimited access to chicagolawbulletin.com.
Access to our e-edition and mobile site.
Breaking news alerts, Morning Lineup and Afternoon Headlines.
Exclusive access to events, discounts and more.

Order now, or call 312-644-2394 or email Subscription@LawBulletinMedia.com for details.

Be in the know. These must-read insider briefings will keep you

informed of the latest legal developments in Chicago. Sign up today!

$1M judgment for exploding vape batteries vacated

A vape store does not have to pay $1 million in damages over a man’s burn injuries after a state appellate panel found it was unfairly sanctioned over discovery responses.
By Emma Oxnevad
Advocates renew push to tighten Illinois firearm laws

Advocates for stricter gun laws rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday for a measure aimed at protecting domestic violence victims and two other criminal justice reforms.
By Cole Longcor
Sanction upheld for firm that faked expert discovery

A judge did not abuse his discretion when he sanctioned Lincolnwood attorney Al-Haroon Husain and his law firm for making up expert witness disclosures while defending themselves against a legal malpractice lawsuit, an Illinois appeals court held.
By Patricia Manson
Ruling eases way to sue for job bias in forced transfers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday made it easier for workers who are transferred from one job to another against their will to pursue job discrimination claims under federal civil rights law, even when they are not demoted or docked pay.
By Mark Sherman
Slip and fall suit against Costco dismissed

A woman cannot sue Costco Wholesale Corp. over injuries she sustained when she slipped and fell in the food court at one of the retail company’s Melrose Park locations.
By Grace Barbic
SCOTUS questions obstruction charges against Jan. 6 rioters, Trump

The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. But it wasn’t clear how the justices would rule in a case that also could affect the prosecution of former President Donald Trump, who faces the same charge for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020.
By Mark Sherman
Roundup maker seeks lawmakers’ help to squelch claims over cancer

Stung by paying billions of dollars for settlements and trials, chemical giant Bayer has been lobbying lawmakers in three states to pass bills providing it a legal shield from lawsuits that claim its popular weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.
By Hannah Fingerhut and David A. Lieb
Panel won’t revive consumer fraud suit against ComEd

ComEd and its parent company do not have to face a lawsuit alleging that its bribery of associates of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan caused its customers to pay higher fees.
By Emma Oxnevad