New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Complex Lit Blog

RICO — More Than 2 Years = Substantial Period of Time & Satisfies Closed-Ended Continuity — Pattern Doesn’t Require Multiple Schemes As Long As the Predicate Acts Aren’t Isolated or Sporadic

Kearney v. Foley & Lardner, LLP, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 10279 (9th Cir. June 18, 2015): Plaintiff-Appellant Joan Brown Kearney appeals the district court's dismissal of her [*2]  42 U.S.C. § 1983; Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961, et seq. ("RICO"); and RICO conspir ...
Kearney v. Foley & Lardner, LLP, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 10279 (9th Cir. June 18, 2015): Plaintiff-Appellant Joan Brown Kearney appeals the district court's dismissal of her [*2]  42 U.S.C. § 1983; Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, 18 U.S.C.…
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Texts Authenticated by Testimony Witness Used Cell No. Defendant Gave Her via Facebook, Where Number Verified as Defendant’s and Defendant Acted Per Messages — Facebook Account Authenticated by True Cell Number and Contents of FB Messages

Coe v. State, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 6374 & 6440 (Tex. Ct. App. June 24, 2015): Brandon Chadwick Coe appeals his convictions for online solicitation of a minor and attempted sexual assault of a child. See Tex. Penal Code Ann. §§ 15.01, 33.021(c) (West 2011). *** *** B. ...
Coe v. State, 2015 Tex. App. LEXIS 6374 & 6440 (Tex. Ct. App. June 24, 2015): Brandon Chadwick Coe appeals his convictions for online solicitation of a minor and attempted sexual assault of a child. See Tex. Penal Code Ann.…
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Judicial Notice of Internet Evidence — Factual Info on Governmental Website — Lawyers Don’t Act under Color of State Law within § 1983, Though Licensed & Officers of the Court, when Performing Traditional Lawyer Functions

Duncan v. Strickland, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98863 (D.S.C. May 22, 2015): Both Defendants are public defenders in Colleton County1 and are not either a "person acting under color of state law" within the meaning of § 1983. See Deas v. Potts, 547 F.2d 800 (4th Cir. 1976) ("A (private) attorney ...
Duncan v. Strickland, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 98863 (D.S.C. May 22, 2015): Both Defendants are public defenders in Colleton County1 and are not either a "person acting under color of state law" within the meaning of § 1983. See Deas…
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Disqualification Motion Must Be Decided Before Reaching Merits of Dispositive Motion Because It Calls into Question the Integrity of the Process in Which Allegedly Disqualified Counsel Participates

Grimes v. District of Columbia, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 12534 (D.C. Cir. July 21, 2015): The district court erred in the sequence in which it rendered its decisions. Because a claim of counsel's conflict of interest calls into question the integrity of the process in which the allegedly conflicted counsel participates, the co ...
Grimes v. District of Columbia, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 12534 (D.C. Cir. July 21, 2015): The district court erred in the sequence in which it rendered its decisions. Because a claim of counsel's conflict of interest calls into question the …
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Inherent Power — Disbarment/Suspension — Clear and Convincing Evidence of Bad Faith Required — De Novo Review Whether Conduct Is Sanctionable, Abuse of Discretion As to Specific Sanction (5th Circuit)

In re Booker, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 13699 (5th Cir. Aug. 3, 2015): Robert Booker appeals the district court's order suspending him from the roll of attorneys admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (the "Eastern District") for a period of three years.
In re Booker, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 13699 (5th Cir. Aug. 3, 2015): Robert Booker appeals the district court's order suspending him from the roll of attorneys admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Eastern District …
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Instagram Photos Authenticated by Fact Username & Password Needed, Same Photos on Alleged User’s Cell, User in Same Clothes As in Photos, with Same People — Captions = Hearsay — Cellebrite Software to Download Cell

In re KB, 2015 Cal. App. LEXIS 627 (Cal. Ct. App. July 20, 2015): On October 23, 2013, the San Francisco County District Attorney filed a petition charging appellant, age 17, with two counts of possessing firearms. (Pen. Code, § 29610.) On November 19, 2013, after a contested jurisdictional hearing, the juvenile court sustai ...
In re KB, 2015 Cal. App. LEXIS 627 (Cal. Ct. App. July 20, 2015): On October 23, 2013, the San Francisco County District Attorney filed a petition charging appellant, age 17, with two counts of possessing firearms. (Pen. Code, §…
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Does Contingent Fee Agreement with Expert Disqualify the Witness? — Caselaw Split — Sham Affidavit Rule Doesn’t Bar Affidavit Clarifying Ambiguous Deposition Testimony

Taylor v. Cottrell, Inc., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 13173 (8th Cir. July 29, 2015): Timmy A. Taylor ("Taylor") and Deborah Taylor brought this action to recover damages resulting from injuries Taylor sustained in two incidents involving a Cottrell, Inc. ("Cottrell") truck trailer. Upon Cottrell's motion in limine, t ...
Taylor v. Cottrell, Inc., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 13173 (8th Cir. July 29, 2015): Timmy A. Taylor ("Taylor") and Deborah Taylor brought this action to recover damages resulting from injuries Taylor sustained in two incidents involving a Cottrell, Inc. ("Cottrell")…
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Post-Dismissal So-Ordering of Settlement Agreement Ineffective to Retain Jurisdiction — Court Must Incorporate Settlement in an Order or Expressly Retain Jurisdiction — Rule 60(b) Fix? — Otherwise, Court of Claims If vs. US

Hendrickson v. United States, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 11186 (2d Cir. June 30, 2015): This appeal arises from an attempt to enforce a settlement agreement signed by Plaintiffs-Appellees William and Patricia Hendrickson, the United States, and the district court more than thirty years ago. In 1985, the district court clearly indicated its ...
Hendrickson v. United States, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 11186 (2d Cir. June 30, 2015): This appeal arises from an attempt to enforce a settlement agreement signed by Plaintiffs-Appellees William and Patricia Hendrickson, the United States, and the district court more…
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Inherent Power Sanctions — $2.7 Million in Fees for Discovery Abuse: Withholding Test Results Absent Order Compelling Production — Is Award Compensatory If Not Strictly Linked to Misconduct? (Due Process) — Divided 9th Cir. Panel

Haeger v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 12484 (9th Cir. July 20, 2015) [Note: Opinion updated in 2016 - 813 F3d 1233 (9th Cir. 2016)]: On November 8, 2012, after a six-hour evidentiary hearing, and after considering the record in the case and fifteen briefs filed by the potentially-sanctionable part ...
Haeger v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 12484 (9th Cir. July 20, 2015) [Note: Opinion updated in 2016 – 813 F3d 1233 (9th Cir. 2016)]: On November 8, 2012, after a six-hour evidentiary hearing, and after …
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Opinions in Expert Report Attached to Complaint Disregarded on Dismissal Motion — RICO: Difficulties Pleading Wage Depression Due to Hiring of Undocumented Workers: Defining Market, Alleging Injury

Varela v. Gonzales, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 23293 (5th Cir. Dec. 11, 2014): Appellants Jaime Varela and Yesica Wiegert bring this civil action alleging RICO violations against their former employers, Appellees David Benitez Gonzales, Ana Cristina Benitez, Intelligent Mexican Marketing, Inc., and Marketing and Inventory Management ...
Varela v. Gonzales, 2014 U.S. App. LEXIS 23293 (5th Cir. Dec. 11, 2014): Appellants Jaime Varela and Yesica Wiegert bring this civil action alleging RICO violations against their former employers, Appellees David Benitez Gonzales, Ana Cristina Benitez, Intelligent Mexican Marketing, …
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Recent Posts

(1) RICO Pattern: Open-Ended Continuity — The Vendetta Exception — Jury Could Reasonably Infer That Scheme Directed at One Person, With Goal of Destroying His Current and Future Business Prospects, Presented A Threat of Continued Racketeering Activity Extending Indefinitely into the Future — Lawsuit’s “Fortuitous Interruption” of Scheme ≠ Lack of Threat of Continuing Racketeering Activity — Acts of Concealment Used to Perpetuate Violations — Multiple Schemes Not Required — Jury Could Judge Defendant’s Credibility in Assessing Threat of Continuing Criminal Activity — (2) RICO Conspiracy — Two Methods of Proof: Agreement to Overall Objective Or to Commit Predicate Acts — Agreement Can Be Inferred from Conduct — Conspirator Needn’t Know All Details, Have Contact with Other Conspirators Or Participate in Every Stage

Experts: “Normally, Courts Are Loath to Outright Dismiss An Expert” (Good Quote) — Experts Are Unhelpful If They Misstate the Law [Note Premise That Testimony on Law Not Precluded Outright] — Rule 37 Sanctions Unwarranted for Unjustifiable Failure to Produce Relevant Document Already in Requester’s Possession

FRAP 38 Sanctions: (1) Pressing Objectively Frivolous Arguments, Multiple Misstatements at Oral Argument and Failure to Address What District Judge Said Warrant Award against Appellants’ Counsel (Only) — (2) “General Award” of $5,000 Warranted Where Appellee Failed to Sufficiently Document Its Fees and Expenses [Goodyear v. Haegar Issue]]

RICO: Capital Call Investment Process Increasing Equity of Those Responding to Call at Expense of Those Not Responding ≠ Collection of An Unlawful Debt

RICO [And Constitutional] Standing: Concrete Injury Requirement Not Satisfied by Alleged Intangible Injuries of Intrusion Upon Seclusion, Confusion And Emotional Distress, Public Disclosure of Private Facts, Deterred Speech On Nondefamatory Matters, Violation Of First Amendment Rights, And Compulsion

Rule 37(b) Sanctions: Striking of Answer, Default Judgment, Civil Contempt and Piercing Corporate Veil for Deliberate Disregard of Multiple Orders to Produce — Finding of Deliberate Disregard of Court Order Is Factual, Triggering Clear Error Review — Discretion Narrows When Default Sanction Involved — Fourth Circuit Factors for Rule 37 Default Sanction Are Different Than Those for Inherent Power Dismissal Sanction — Continued Defiance of Court Orders And Millions in Unpaid Judgments And Tax Liens Render Lesser Sanctions Futile

RICO: No Causation for Company Harmed by Governmental Customers Shunning It After Employee Publishes Book Admitting He Bribed Governmental Officials — Harm Too Indirect, Not from Bribery (Predicate Act) But from Customers’ Decisions to Shun and Publication of Book (Both Lawful) — Customers Injured by Bribery of Their Officials Are More Direct Plaintiffs

FRAP 38 Sanctions for Frivolous Opposition to Arbitration

Extrinsic Fraud Exception to Rooker-Feldman — Where Defendants’ Perjury, False Evidence, Flawed Legal Arguments Prevented Plaintiffs from Presenting Their Claim in State Court

Federal Jurisdiction: Party Can Waive Subject Matter Jurisdiction — While Federal Courts Must Ensure They Do Not Lack Subject Matter Jurisdiction, There Is No Duty to Find and Exercise It

Archives
New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

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