Under Investigation: Greenberg Traurig is facing a malpractice investigation by the Heller Ehrman estate for reportedly not recognizing that Bank of America, Heller's biggest creditor, had terminated its security interest in the firm, The Recorder reports. Heller retained Greenberg last year and would have had more leverage with banks and creditors had the firm known Bank of America was not a secured creditor, lawyers familiar with the matter tell The Recorder.
Gun Battle: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit has rejected a challenge to Chicago's strict handgun laws in a unanimous ruling that court observers say could minimize criticism of Circuit Judge Sonia Sotomayor as a judicial activist, The Washington Post reports. Sotomayor, who sits on the 2nd Circuit, was part of a panel that heard a Second Amendment case and reached the same conclusion as the 7th Circuit. Critics portray Sotomayor, President Obama's pick to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter, as an "anti-gun radical." In case you missed it, here is The BLT post about how the 7th Circuit opinion gives Sotomayor political cover.
MySpace Mockery: The Legal Intelligencer examines two cases involving First Amendment disputes rooted in user profiles created on the social networking site MySpace. The cases—both involve students who ridiculed school principals—are similar. But it appears appellate judges who are reviewing the cases could disagree. Remarks at oral argument reveal a split among the judges about free-speech rights in the realm of the Internet. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, which sided with the students in both cases, won one case and lost the other.
Oops: A declassified but sensitive report detailing the country's civilian nuclear sites and programs was mistakenly made public on a government Web site, The Wall Street Journal and other news outlets reported. Obama administration officials say the report, which shows where stockpiles of fuel for nuclear weapons are located, was posted on the Web site of the Government Printing Office. The document was removed Tuesday. Government officials say the report was accidentally posted online.
Dead Case: Federal prosecutors in Pittsburgh have dropped charges against a pathologist accused of fraud for allegedly overbilling private clients for limousines and airplane rides and overcharging prosecutors for mileage fees for the times he was used as an expert witness, the AP reports. Cyril Wecht said he would continue working as a pathologist.
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