Articles Discussing Sanctions In Labor And Employment Law Cases.

Defense counsel was sanctioned by a federal court in Washington for bringing a motion to compel in bad faith, with the court finding that defense counsel’s citation of case law analyzing a prior version of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure was “inexcusable.”

Manny and Floyd can’t stop fighting. Recently, counsel for the promoter of Boxer Manny Pacquiao, Top Rank Inc., moved for another opportunity to depose an investment firm, as part of a $100 million antitrust lawsuit against the firm and Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s manager, saying its attorneys’ “obstructionist behavior” barred proper questioning. According to Top Rank, counsel for the deponent obstructed the proceeding by instructing the witness not to answer several questions and by failing to prepare the representative for the line of questioning Top Rank advised that it tended to pursue. The result, per Top Rank, was a “sham deposition”. This dispute highlights what may happen when a party engages in misconduct during a deposition.

Attorneys have a duty to act as zealous advocates for their clients. This duty is particularly important during settlement negotiations, where counsel’s strategy and negotiation skills play a significant role in achieving a favorable result. However, settlement statements that are intended to deceive one’s adversary can quickly cross the line from permissible posturing to unethical misrepresentations of fact.

Your friends at PL Matters aim to keep you updated regarding best practices, especially when it comes to professional obligations. However, sometimes best practices just boil down to the basics, including careful reading of court directives. AT&T recently learned this lesson the hard way. Last week, an appeals court ruled that the telecom giant will have to pay $40 million in connection with a case because its attorneys failed to read a court document.