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Ep. 98: Fear and Loathing At An Opioid Trial Apr 06, 2019

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In one of the first criminal cases brought against pharma execs over the opioid crisis, officials at a small drug company are standing trial on charges they fueled the epidemic by bribing doctors to prescribe fentanyl. Law360’s Chris Villani has been in the courtroom for all of it, so he joins us to break down the trial and preview the verdict. Also on this week’s show, the latest news in the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal; a bankruptcy case that’s yielded accusations of shady billing by a BigLaw giant; and a Texas judge who accidentally resigned from the bench.

Ep. 97: There's Corn Syrup In The Beer! Mar 30, 2019

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The Beer Wars moved from the barroom to the courtroom this week, as MillerCoors filed a false advertising lawsuit over Bud Light ads that say Miller Lite is made with corn syrup. Those ads might be technically true, but our own Bill Donahue walks us through why that might not matter. Also this week, two big developments in the legal fight over the opioid epidemic; an abrupt reversal from the Trump administration in a case over Obamacare; and rapper Cardi B aims to lock up her signature catchphrase.

Ep. 96: Caseload Crisis Mar 23, 2019

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Judicial vacancies are a problem, but a sheer lack of new judgeships is a deeper issue that’s stretching the federal judiciary to the breaking point. In overburdened courthouses across the country, cases languish, judges get burned out and attorneys avoid federal court altogether. Reporter Cara Bayles joins us this week to explain the problem and how we got here. Also this week, a brutal oral argument for states accusing President Trump of violating the so-called emoluments clause; and a wacky lawsuit against Twitter over Rep. Devin Nunes’ cow.

Ep. 95: Summa Cum Fraude Mar 16, 2019

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A major college admissions scandal unfolded this week as federal prosecutors charged dozens of people with participating in an elaborate scheme to help children of wealthy parents — including the co-chairman of a powerful BigLaw firm — get into elite universities. Senior white collar crime reporter Jody Godoy joins the show this week to explain the charges. We’ll also touch on a big ruling that allowed parents of Sandy Hook shooting victims sue a gunmaker, and a Department of Justice decision to roll back an anti-bribery rule that banned disappearing message services.

Ep. 94: As Arrests Rise, Is Court Too Risky For Immigrants? Mar 09, 2019

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Immigrants are facing a growing risk of arrest if they enter a courthouse, as federal officials are increasingly using courts as staging grounds for enforcement actions. On this week’s show, reporter RJ Vogt joins us to discuss the trend, including why officers say it’s necessary and why advocates say it’s a problem. Also this week, a California appeals court rebukes an attorney who referred a female judge as “succubistic”; a Mardi Gras dispute in New Orleans over “huge ass beers”; and a nod to famed legal movie “My Cousin Vinny” from D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Merrick Garland.

Ep. 93: ‘Judges Are Appointed For Life, Not For Eternity’ Mar 02, 2019

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An existential question: Can you fix the wage gap from beyond the grave? The Supreme Court said no this week, nixing a ruling in a gender bias case because the judge who wrote it passed away before it was published. We discuss that weird situation on this week’s show, plus a wave of copyright lawsuits over dance moves in the popular video game Fortnite; new criminal charges over ballot tampering in North Carolina; and the legal downfall of a project to remove the rat from the end of "The Departed."

Ep. 92: The Post-Oscars Legacy Of Hollywood’s ‘Inclusion Rider’ Feb 23, 2019

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During her acceptance speech at the 2018 Academy Awards, actress Frances McDormand let the world know about inclusion riders, a novel contract provision that improves hiring practices to deepen diversity within an industry like Hollywood. In light of the 2019 Oscars on Sunday, we welcome in Kalpana Kotagal, a civil rights and employment lawyer at Cohen Milstein and a co-author of the inclusion rider, to explain what’s happened in the year since the provision took center stage. Also on this week’s Pro Say, Justice Clarence Thomas wants to open up libel laws; the Supreme Court deals a blow to civil asset forfeiture; and a judge’s dissatisfied “meh” makes its way into a published order.

Ep. 91: Criminal Records - Easy To Get, Harder To Clear Feb 16, 2019

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Roughly one in three Americans have some type of criminal record, and in today’s interconnected world that information is easily accessible and can present a barrier to employment, housing and education. On this week’s episode of Pro Say, reporter RJ Vogt stops by to explain how states are stepping in to help people clear their records, and how that process can still be hard to access. Also this week, a judge rules Paul Manafort lied to prosecutors; a former Apple attorney is charged with insider trading; the 4th Circuit says workplace sex gossip can support bias claims; and an embarrassing piece of evidence in a pharmaceutical company’s racketeering trial.

Ep. 90: CEO’s Bragging Has Equifax In A Cyber Mess Feb 09, 2019

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A lawsuit over the huge Equifax data breach is moving forward after a judge ruled that investors can sue the company for bragging that it had top-notch cybersecurity, raising tough questions for other companies about how they tout their own hacking defenses. Ben Kochman, senior cybersecurity reporter, joins us this week to discuss the case and its ramifications. Also this week, a lawsuit aimed at tearing down the federal court system’s paywall; an Apple bug that accidentally recorded an attorney-client meeting; and a Manhattan associate who was suspended for repeatedly making his mistakes worse

Ep. 89: No Country For Old Lawyers Feb 02, 2019

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As baby boomer attorneys who hung their shingles in small towns around the country retire, fewer and fewer new lawyers are willing to replace them, leaving many residents with limited or even no access to legal help. Jack Karp who wrote about the issue for our Access to Justice newsletter comes on the show to tell us about these legal deserts. Also this week we discuss more than 170 general counsels issuing an ultimatum to BigLaw over attorney diversity; a pair of indictments leveled against Chinese telecom giant Huawei; and instagram influencers facing questions over Fyre Fest.

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