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

Rulemaking 2007

The Recent Articles page contains a new article addressing (1) federal rule changes that are expected to go into effect on December 1, 2007; (2) the activity of the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules dealing with experts and summary judgment; and (3) the Standing Committee's Time Computation Project. ...
The Recent Articles page contains a new article addressing (1) federal rule changes that are expected to go into effect on December 1, 2007; (2) the activity of the Advisory Committee on Civil Rules dealing with experts and summary judgment;…
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Stay Pending Appeal — Likelihood of Success

Judge Hudson of the Eastern District of Virginia ruled on January 16, 2007, that, even if an appellant cannot demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on appeal, if the appellant raises a significant issue of first impression that the Court of Appeals may resolve differently, the appellant has ‛at least demonstrated a substantial case on the merits. A stay may ther ...
Judge Hudson of the Eastern District of Virginia ruled on January 16, 2007, that, even if an appellant cannot demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on appeal, if the appellant raises a significant issue of first impression that the Court of…
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Arbitration — Does a Novation Extinguish an Arbitration Clause?

Under many states’ laws, a novation agreement — under which a new party is substituted for an original contracting party — terminates the prior contract between the parties. Does that apply to an arbitration clause in the underlying contract? Goshaw Dedicated Ltd. v. Portsmouth Settlement Co. I, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 91036 (N.D. Ga. Dec. 18, 2006), holds tha ...
Under many states’ laws, a novation agreement — under which a new party is substituted for an original contracting party — terminates the prior contract between the parties. Does that apply to an arbitration clause in the underlying contract? Goshaw…
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Securities Fraud — Materiality to Investors, Not to SEC

The defendant in a criminal securities fraud prosecution, United States v. Berger, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 1013 (9th Cir. Jan. 18, 2007), was charged with making false statements in SEC filings. Relying on the reasoning of Kungys v. United States, 485 U.S. 759 (1988), an INS case, the defendant argued that the government was obliged to prove -- not that the filings we ...
The defendant in a criminal securities fraud prosecution, United States v. Berger, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 1013 (9th Cir. Jan. 18, 2007), was charged with making false statements in SEC filings. Relying on the reasoning of Kungys v. United States,…
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Rule 11 Safe Harbor — Email Notice — Substantial Compliance

Since 1993, Rule 11(c)(1)(A) has required that Rule 11 sanctions be sought in a separate motion that is served in ordinary course but may not presented to the court if the opposing party withdraws or corrects the challenged paper or contention within 21 days of receipt of the motion. Failure to afford 21 days' grace before filing the motion requires denial of t ...
Since 1993, Rule 11(c)(1)(A) has required that Rule 11 sanctions be sought in a separate motion that is served in ordinary course but may not presented to the court if the opposing party withdraws or corrects the challenged paper or…
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Attorney-Client Privilege — Government Lawyers

In re County of Erie, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 26 (2d Cir. Jan. 3, 2007), the Second Circuit addressed whether "the attorney-client privilege protects communications that pass between a government lawyer having no policymaking authority and a public official, where those communications assess the legality of a policy and propose alternative policies in that light." ...
In re County of Erie, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 26 (2d Cir. Jan. 3, 2007), the Second Circuit addressed whether “the attorney-client privilege protects communications that pass between a government lawyer having no policymaking authority and a public official, where…
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Securities Fraud — Auditor Liability

Yesterday, the Seventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of negligent misrepresentation, common law fraud and securities fraud claims (the latter on loss causation grounds) against PriceWaterhouse Coopers in Tricontinental Indus. Ltd. v. PwC, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 914 (7th Cir. Jan. 17, 2007). ...
Yesterday, the Seventh Circuit affirmed dismissal of negligent misrepresentation, common law fraud and securities fraud claims (the latter on loss causation grounds) against PriceWaterhouse Coopers in Tricontinental Indus. Ltd. v. PwC, 2007 U.S. App. LEXIS 914 (7th Cir. Jan. 17, 2007).
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Sanctions — Spoliation

No good deed goes unpunished. A State Farm policyholder had a serious home fire caused by a defective kitchen appliance. State Farm responded within a day and sent in a fire investigator who determined that a toaster oven instigated the fire. State Farm preserved the toaster oven and other potential igniters and authorized a demolition repair company to come i ...
No good deed goes unpunished. A State Farm policyholder had a serious home fire caused by a defective kitchen appliance. State Farm responded within a day and sent in a fire investigator who determined that a toaster oven instigated the…
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Appellate Procedure — Trial Judge’s Ability to be Heard

Last week, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York filed in the Second Circuit a response to the mandamus petition of KPMG challenging the District Court’s order refusing to dismiss the complaint filed by former KPMG partners seeking advancement of costs to defend a highly publicized criminal prosecution. Un ...
Last week, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York filed in the Second Circuit a response to the mandamus petition of KPMG challenging the District Court’s order refusing to dismiss…
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Experts — Rulemaking — Advisory Committee Meeting of January 13, 2007

The following are observations of Professor Daniel J. Capra, the Reporter to the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Reed Professor of Law at Fordham Law School, concerning the meeting of the Discovery Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in Arizona last Saturday, January 13, 2007 dealing with expe ...
The following are observations of Professor Daniel J. Capra, the Reporter to the Advisory Committee on the Federal Rules of Evidence and the Reed Professor of Law at Fordham Law School, concerning the meeting of the Discovery Subcommittee of the…
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Recent Posts

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

“RICO Is a Judge’s Nightmare” — “The Requisite RICO Pleading Standards Are Far From Explicit, And The RICO Jurisprudence Offers Courts (And Plaintiffs) Little Guidance” (Good Quotes) — Common Elements of § 1962(a), (c) and (d)-Based Claims — Closed-End Continuity: Duration > 1 Year = Substantial Period of Time — Continuity: Courts Skeptical If Number of Victims and Schemes Is Limited — Untargeted Persons Who Suffer Derivative Injury Do Not Add to the Number of Victims Considered for Continuity Purposes — Open Ended Continuity Can Be Established by Showing Defendant Commits Predicate Acts As “Regular Way of Doing Business” — Citing the Existence of Other Lawsuits Alleging Similar Predicates ≠ Pleading Facts Demonstrating Defendant’s Commission of Similar Predicates Against Others

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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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