Mason Lawlor

August 26, 2022 | Law.com

Nominations for three open seats on the Vermont State Bar's board are set to take place at the organization's annual meeting Sept. 30 at Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT, the VBA announced Thursday.

By Mason Lawlor

1 minute read

August 24, 2022 | Law.com

"In today's business world, investigations of alleged violations of company policy, including policies prohibiting sexual harassment or discrimination, are ordinary business activities and, accordingly, the communications made in such investigations are not necessarily 'made in the course of giving or seeking legal advice for a proper purpose,"' the North Carolina Supreme Court wrote.

By Mason Lawlor

3 minute read

August 23, 2022 | Law.com

The U.S. District Court for the District of Maine has shot down a beverage maker's attempt to escape hostile work environment claims in a sexual harassment case brought under the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA), but agreed to dismiss retaliation and constructive discharge claims.

By Mason Lawlor

3 minute read

August 23, 2022 | Law.com

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled that Alabama's grand jury secrecy rule is constitutional, drawing a distinction between the instant case and the U.S. Supreme Court's 1990 decision in "Butterworth v. Smith."

By Mason Lawlor

5 minute read

August 15, 2022 | Daily Report Online

"Under the collateral order doctrine, an interlocutory order may be appealed directly if it: '(1) resolves an issue that is substantially separate from the basic issues to be decided at trial, (2) would result in the loss of an important right if review had to await final judgment, and (3) completely and conclusively decides the issue on appeal."

By Mason Lawlor

3 minute read

August 15, 2022 | Daily Report Online

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled August 10 that a well-known attorney in Birmingham, Alabama, was rightfully denied disability benefits by her insurer and not excluded from their life insurance premiums based on a "reasonable" interpretation of the policy.

By Mason Lawlor

4 minute read

August 12, 2022 | Daily Report Online

"Our Supreme Court rightly—and bravely—held that when less than all parties are dismissed, that does not dismiss a case against nonparties too. Albeit hard to believe, that was the law in Georgia for nearly 40 years."

By Mason Lawlor

5 minute read

August 11, 2022 | Law.com

"A defendant who claims ineffective assistance of counsel arising from an alleged conflict of interest and who raised no objection at trial 'must demonstrate that an actual conflict of interest adversely affected his lawyer's performance,'" the federal appeals court said.

By Mason Lawlor

5 minute read

August 09, 2022 | Law.com

The North Carolina Court of Appeals has denied a defendant's motion to amend a complaint as part of an insurance case, finding that allowing him to do so would materially prejudice the opposing party.

By Mason Lawlor

4 minute read

August 05, 2022 | Law.com

"If we extend the doctrine of present execution to all important issues that theoretically cannot be remedied after final judgment, then the exception will swallow the rule," Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd wrote in the court's opinion.

By Mason Lawlor

4 minute read