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Launched in 2001, USLAW is an organization of independent law firms with offices throughout the United States. Through USLAW, these firms share information in order to enhance the speed, efficiency and quality of legal services provided to each member's clients. By sharing this information, USLAW firms provide high quality legal services, without unnecessary expense to the client. |
Click here for more information about USLAW!
USLAW welcomes aticles, case law, trial results and items of interest to be submitted for future e-newsletters.
Please e-mail Roger M. Yaffe with submissions
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Welcome to USLAW's Premier Issue of NETWORK NEWS
by Charles Carr, Carr Allison Pugh Howard Oliver & Sisson, Mobile, AL
There was once a famous football coach from my state by the name of Paul W. Bryant. You probably would know him better if I referred to him as “Bear” Bryant. After his 3rd or 4th national championship, a national sports reporter asked him how he had done so well as a coach at Alabama. His response was simple. Bear Bryant replied that he had simply been blessed to have surrounded himself with good coaches and he stood back and watched what they did.
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The Dilemma of a Super Bowl Referee
by Ed Hochuli, Jones Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C., Phoenix, AZ
It is February 1, 2004 and I am standing at midfield of Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas. In just 15 seconds, TV will return from commercial and go live to me, as I am to ask the legendary Y.A. Title to please toss the coin for Super Bowl XXXVIII. What an honor for me to be here, the Referee of this Super Bowl, but to add in the opportunity to actually meet and talk with the one and only Y.A. Title . . . things can't get any better than this.
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Scenes from Napa!
USLAW Members and Their Clients Caught Enjoying Themselves
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The 3rd Annual USLAW NETWORK Client Conference conducted in Napa, California at the Silverado Resort has been considered a rousing success. Over 100 attorneys, 60 clients and 80 spouses/guests were attendance for two and one-half days of timely sessions, networking and memorable social activites. And who can forget the Chocolate Fountain! USLAW caught many of our attendees having a great time. Click the Full Story link below to see more. |
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Strategic Litigation and Crisis Management
USLAW FEATURED ARTICLE
by John Allison, Assistant General Counsel, 3M Company
There are many examples of significant lawsuits, mass tort litigation and public regulatory or compliance issues that have damaged an organization’s reputation, diminished a company’s market capitalization or destroyed a brand. The way such matters are managed can affect the results. This paper will outline a proactive approach to managing significant litigation and public issues that can increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.
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USLAW Member Spotlight
In each edition of USLAW NETWORK NEWS, we will focus on three firms that are members of the organization. We hope that these “spotlights” will give you a little better understanding of the types of firms that make up our network.
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"USLAW Success Stories"
In only three short years of existence, the cooperation of USLAW members as resulted in a number of "Success Stories." Each issue of USLAW Network News will profile a sampling of these stories
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Avoiding Retaliation Claims: Managing the Litigant-Employee
PRESENTED BY THE USLAW EMPLOYMENT LAW PRACTICE GROUP
by William Murphy & Carla Hartley, Dillingham & Murphy, San Francisco, CA
Employment retaliation claims frequently evolve out of other disputes between an employee and his or her employer. What may start out as a relatively simple, and defensible, discrimination claim may, if not managed properly, spawn a much more problematic retaliation claim. “Managing the Litigant-Employee” provides practical advice for employers faced with this challenging situation to reduce the risk of a retaliation lawsuit and even to use the situation to their advantage.
Other Employment Law Articles in This Issue...
What Desert Palace, Inc. v. Costa Means For Employers and Their Counsel
National Origin & Religious Discrimination: Vigilance is Important Now More Than Ever
The Standard for Proceeding as a Collective Action Under the Fair Labor Standards Act
The Viability of Wrongful Termination Claims in Virginia
Georgia Supreme Court to Look at Creating "Promise-Not-To-Fire" Exception to At-Will Employment Doctrine
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USLAW Welcomes Five New Member Firms
Territories including North and South Dakota, New Mexico, Northern Mississippi, and Tucson, Arizona now filled with top notch firms.
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Is It Time for Contractors to "Wrap Up"?
PRESENTED BY THE USLAW CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE GROUP
by Kathy Davis, Carr Allison Pugh Howard Oliver & Sisson, Birmingham, AL
The times are changing and construction projects are changing too. Many contractors are moving from typical insurance policies to “wrap-up” policies. A “wrap up” policy (also known as an owner controlled insurance policy or OCIP) is an increasingly popular insurance procurement option that allows coverages for multiple insureds to be bundled (or wrapped up) into a consolidated program.
Other Construction Articles in This Issue...
When You Build a City on the Hill....The ADA is Implicated: A Case Review
General Contractor Not Entitled To Summary Judgment
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Significant Outcomes in Court
Recent Trial Results of USLAW Members
Numerous USLAW firms have had positive trial outcomes in the past few months. USLAW will profile these and others in the future newsletters.
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Employee Duty of Loyalty
PRESENTED BY THE USLAW BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL/CLASS ACTION PRACTICE GROUP
by Andrew Botti, Donovan Hatem, LLP, Boston, MA
What follows is an introduction to the issues raised by the law of employee duty of loyalty, and its relation to trade secrets and other proprietary business information. This area of the law often forms the basis for disputes arising between employers and their former employees. In particular, emphasis is placed upon those situations where ex-employees choose to compete in the same business with their former employers. It is this circumstance which seems to offer the greatest temptation for former employees to utilize wrongfully the information and knowledge gained in their prior positions, often to the detriment of their previous employer.
Other Business/Commercial/Class Action Articles in This Issue...
The CAN-SPAM Act of 2003: Do Your Company’s Commercial E-mails Comply?
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USLAW Firm News
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USLAW member firms are known for their community involvement and support. O'Hagan Smith & Amundsen, L.L.C. IS Director, Chuck Linebaugh, recently traveled to Belize to donate computer equipment to the Corozal District. Click below for some other USALAW firm news. |
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“There’s A Judge Looking Over My Shoulder!"
PRESENTED BY THE USLAW INSURANCE/BAD FAITH PRACTICE GROUP
by Randy Warner, Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C., Phoenix, AZ
In Arizona, the starting point for most third-party bad faith cases is a Damron or Morris agreement. Such agreements go by various names in various states. They involve the defendant’s stipulation or acquiescence to a judgment, a covenant not to execute against the defendant individually, and the defendant’s assignment to the plaintiff of any claim she has against her liability insurance company.
Other Insurance/Bad Faith Articles in This Issue...
The First Thing We Do, Let’s Sue The Lawyers
Arbitration of Uninsured Motorist Claims Not Required
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Recent USLAW Get Togethers
USLAW Members and their clients recently had the opportunity to meet and network in Alabama, New Orleans and Louisiana. Read further to learn more about these get togethers.
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Can You Keep A Secret? Protecting Trade Secrets and Other Information in a Products Liability Suit
PRESENTED BY THE USLAW PRODUCT LIABILITY PRACTICE GROUP
by Renee McElhaney, Cox & Smith Incorporated, San Antonio, TX
The concept behind trade secret protection can be useful for confining discovery in product liability suits. One potential strategy is to review the material a plaintiff is seeking to discover to determine if any of the responsive information can qualify as a trade secret or as confidential. If the information is a trade secret (or even just confidential) there is a process in many jurisdictions to exempt that information from discovery.
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Handling Catastrophic Accident Investigations
PRESENTED BY THE USLAW TRANSPORTATION PRACTICE GROUP
by Brett Ross, Carr Allison Pugh Howard Oliver & Sisson, P.A., Birmingham, AL
The first 24 to 48 hours after an automobile accident involving catastrophic injuries or death can be hectic and stressful for the claims adjuster or safety director. However, this period may be a critical time when measures can be taken to help minimize loss exposure. The purpose of this article is to provide suggestions for handling such claims during the initial phase after notification.
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USLAW and the City
Presented by the USLAW Employment Law Practice Group
May 20 - 22, 2004
Algonquin Hotel
New York, New York
USLAW Transportation Seminar
August 5 - 7, 2004
Omni Interlocken Hotel
Broomfield, Colorado
2004 USLAW Member Meeting
September 16 - 18, 2004
Westin Savannah Resort
Savannah, Georgia
USLAW Quail Hunt
November 18 - 20, 2004
Mexico
2005 USLAW Client Conference
March 10 - 12, 2005
Royal Sonesta Hotel
Nw Orleans, Louisiana
Construction
Environmental / Toxic / Mass Tort
Birmingham, AL
Carr Allison Pugh Howard Oliver & Sisson, P.A.
Phoenix, AZ
Jones Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C.
Tucson, AZ
Chandler & Udall, LLP
Los Angeles, CA
Murchison & Cumming
Santa Barbara, CA
Snyder Law, P.C.
San Diego, CA
KLINEDINST, P.C.
San Francisco, CA
Dillingham and Murphy, L.L.P.
Jacksonville, FL
Marks Gray, P.A.
Miami, FL
Wicker Smith O'Hara McCoy Graham & Ford, P.A.
Tallahassee, FL
McFarlain & Cassedy, P.A.
Atlanta, GA
Hall Booth Smith & Slover, P.C.
Chicago, IL
O'Hagan Smith & Amundsen, L.L.C.
Louisville, KY
Greenebaum Doll and McDonald, P.L.L.C.
New Orleans, LA
McCranie Sistrunk Anzelmo Hardy Maxwell & McDaniel, P.C.
Boston, MA
Donovan Hatem, L.L.P.
Detroit, MI
Clark Hill, P.L.C.
St. Paul, MN
Larson King, L.L.P.
Gulfport, MS
Carr Allison Pugh Howard Oliver & Sisson, P.A.
Ridgeland, MS
Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A.
St. Louis, MO
Lashly & Baer, P.C.
Albuquerque, NM
Modrall Sperling
Alberston, NY
Ahmuty, Demers & McManus
Hawthorne, NY
Traub, Eglin, Lieberman & Straus
Dickinson, ND
Mackoff Kellogg Law Firm
Akron, OH
Roetzel & Andress, LPA
Oklahoma City, OK
Pierce Couch Hendrickson Baysinger & Green, L.L.P.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pietragallo Bosick & Gordon
Philadelphia, PA
Sweeney & Sheehan, P.C.
Columbia, SC
Sweeny Wingate & Barrow, P.A.
Charleston, SC
Buist Moore Smythe & McGee, P.A.
Pierre, SD
Riter, Rogers, Wattier & Brown, L.L.P.
Memphis, TN
Martin, Tate, Morrow & Marston, P.C.
Beaumont, TX
Orgain, Bell & Tucker, L.L.P.
San Antonio, TX
Cox & Smith Incorporated
Richmond, VA
LeClair Ryan, P.C.
Seattle, WA
Williams Kastner & Gibbs, PLLC
Milwaukee, WI
O'Hagan Smith & Amundsen, L.L.C.
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