Expert Analysis

• Preparing For Legal Scrutiny Of Data Retention Policies

  

  Two recent cases involving Google and Meta should serve as a call to action for companies to ensure their data retention policies are updated and properly implemented to the degree of being able to withstand judicial scrutiny, especially as more data is generated by emerging technologies, say Jack Kallus and Labeed Choudhry at Kaufman Dolowich.

• Md. Abuse Law Makes Past Liability Coverage Review Vital

  

  Maryland is the first state to allow an indefinite lookback period for previously time-barred lawsuits by victims of child sexual abuse against public and private entities — and lawsuits brought under the new law likely will implicate coverage under insurance policies issued over the past 80 years or longer, say Michael Levine and Olivia Bushman at Hunton.

• Opinion

  Attorneys Should Have An Ethical Duty To Advance DEI

  

  National and state bar associations are encouraging attorneys to apply diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the legal profession and beyond, and these associations should take it one step further by formally recognizing ethical duties for attorneys to promote DEI, which could better the legal profession and society, says Elena Mitchell at Moore & Van Allen.

• Use Caution In Cases Involving Illegal Images Of Minors

  

  In cases where underage victims of sexual assault and abuse have been coerced into sharing nude or sexual images, attorneys representing abuse survivors must understand the strict protocols that regulate the handling of such illegal images, while taking care to protect essential evidence, says Michelle Simpson Tuegel at Simpson Tuegel.

• Data-Driven Insights Are Key To Attracting Today's Clients

  

  As law firm growth slows and competition for clients increases, modern firms must rely on robust data analytics to develop the sector-based expertise and industry insights that clients increasingly prioritize in relationships with counsel, says Lavinia Calvert at Intapp.

• What Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Case Means For Martial Arts Liability

  

  The $46 million verdict recently handed down by a jury in California state court in Jack Greener v. Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club puts the martial arts community on notice that litigation over sparring-related injuries may increase — so gym owners should review their legal liabilities and insurance coverage, says Gabriel D'Antonio at Gordon & Rees.

• Unpacking NY's Revamped Wrongful Death Bill

  

  Legislation to amend New York’s wrongful death law, introduced May 2, proposes more limited reforms than an earlier version the governor vetoed in January, but will likely still face strong opposition due to the severe financial impacts it would have on insurers’ set premiums and reserves, say Eric Andrew and David Adams at Hurwitz Fine.

• The Rise Of 'Safetyism' Has Entered The Courtroom

  

  A new survey sheds light on the growing prevalence of safetyism — a fixation with minimizing all risk of harm — in litigation, as jurors have increased expectations for product and corporate safety standards, though attorneys can use several strategies to reduce the impact of these fallacious decision-making patterns, say Jill Leibold and Nick Polavin at IMS Consulting.

• Ghosting In BigLaw: Why Better Feedback Habits Are Needed

  

  Not giving assignments or constructive criticism to junior associates can significantly affect their performance and hours, potentially leading them to leave the firm, but partners can prevent this by asking the right questions and creating a culture of feedback, says Rachel Patterson at Orrick.

• Rebuttal

  Law Needs A Balance Between Humanism And Formalism

  

  A recent Law360 guest article rightly questions the pretextual pseudo-originalism that permits ideology to masquerade as judicial philosophy, but the cure would kill the patient because directness, simplicity and humanness are achievable without renouncing form or sacrificing stare decisis, says Vanessa Kubota at the Arizona Court of Appeals.

• NY Ruling Highlights Need For Specific Insurance Disclaimers

  

  New York coverage counsel responsible for writing disclaimer letters should heed a recent appellate decision, Bahnuk v. Countryway Insurance, in which the letter sent to the plaintiff was deemed to be insufficiently specific, leaving the insurance company on the hook for coverage, says Dan Kohane at Hurwitz Fine.

• Short Message Data Challenges In E-Discovery

  

  As short message platforms increasingly dominate work environments, lawyers face multiple programs, different communication styles and emoji in e-discovery, so they must consider new strategies to adapt their processes, says Cristin Traylor at Relativity.

• What's Next After High Court Stay On Abortion Pill Ruling

  

  The U.S. Supreme Court's recent stay of a Texas federal court's order invalidating mifepristone's U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals provides a welcome antidote to the flurry of litigation surrounding the abortion drug, but its ultimate fate hinges on how the Fifth Circuit and Supreme Court will rule on the merits, says Eric Alexander at Reed Smith.

• 5 Mistakes To Avoid When Conducting Jury Focus Groups

  

  As Fox News’ recent settlement with Dominion Voting Systems reiterates, the financial stakes of civil litigation have never been higher, and while attorneys can identify potential issues in a case using jury focus groups, they should be careful to avoid certain pitfalls, say Bill Kanasky Jr. and Steve Wood at Courtroom Sciences.

• Opinion

  Thomas Report Is Final Straw — High Court Needs Ethics Code

  

  As a recent report on Justice Clarence Thomas' ongoing conflicts of interest makes evident, Supreme Court justices should be subject to an enforceable and binding code of ethics — like all other federal judges — to maintain the credibility of the institution, says Erica Salmon Byrne at Ethisphere.