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Law firm to dedicate Norton Commons office
Headline News |
2007/08/16 09:06
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Goldberg and Simpson PSC will dedicate its new $5 million, 35,000 square-foot office building in Norton Commons at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday.
The law firm is moving to the northeastern suburbs after 25 years in National City Tower downtown.
Jonathan Goldberg, the firm’s managing partner, will be presented a "key to the city" by "Mayor Jerry" - not Jerry Abramson, but Jerry Zegart, a financial adviser who has earned the nickname for his enthusiasm about living in Norton Commons.
Norton Commons partners will also be on hand.
Reporter Chris Otts can be reached at (502) 582-4589.
The first corporate building to go up in Norton Commons, it will house the firm's 63 employees on the second and third floors, with a dining area and a gym in the basement. The first floor of the building will be leased.
The ceremony is at 10 a.m. The building is at 9301 Dayflower Street. Norton Commons is off Ky. 1694 just north of Interstate 71. |
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Entrust Deploys E-mail Encryption for Top-50 U.K. Law Firm
Headline News |
2007/08/15 09:47
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| Charles Russell, a U.K.-based law practice, heard the resounding requests from their customers and clients: provide seamless e-mail encryption to protect sensitive data. In response, the top-50 law firm looked to Entrust and the Entrust Entelligence Messaging Server, a key component of a strong, layered security strategy. Leveraging Entrust Entelligence Messaging Server, Charles Russell is now able to provide its customers full encryption for e-mails containing sensitive data. Further, those clients can benefit from e-mail encryption regardless of their own capabilities. To streamline protocol, the firm will place e-mail encryption policy management in the hands of the organization's IT department, freeing lawyers from the burden of encrypting confidential information during electronic communication. "In an industry that is constantly viewing, storing and managing extremely sensitive client information, the ability to seamlessly encrypt e-mails will increase efficiency and help guarantee compliance with regulatory mandates," said Charles Russell IT Director Jon Gould. "Not only did Entrust's e-mail encryption solution solve our security requirements, but their reputation and expertise in this field only confirmed our decision." A testament to Entrust's heritage, Charles Russell was attracted to the standards-based credential management technology within Entrust Entelligence Messaging Server. The solution automates harvesting of certificate credentials, and boundary deployment eliminates lawyer intervention, one of the initial requirements of the firm. As a standards-based credential management solution, Entrust Entelligence Messaging Server delivers a technology that can evolve as the practice's security goals change over time. "For an organization whose business revolves entirely around sensitive or private information, seamless e-mail encryption is a much-needed asset," said Entrust Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Bill Conner. "A key component of a strategic layered security approach, Entrust Entelligence Messaging Server will afford Charles Russell clients, and its workforce, an invaluable peace of mind. And, as security goals evolve, more solutions can be introduced to help realize the objective of a comprehensive layered security model." Entrust Entelligence Messaging Server is an e-mail security solution that makes it easier to communicate securely with external business partners, customers and clients. Part of Entrust's Information Protection Platform, the solution is shipped as a hardware appliance and delivers standards-based e-mail encryption capabilities in a comprehensive solution. In addition, it's easy to deploy and maintain for organizations that communicate sensitive or regulated information -- both inside and outside their organization -- via e-mail. U.K.-based Charles Russell is a top-50, full-service legal practice with offices in London, Guildford, Cheltenham, Cambridge, Oxford and Geneva. The firm boasts the expertise and size to advise on complex, cross-border transactions and to manage the input of international networks of major law firms. The organization's clients range from international, FTSE and AIM- listed businesses to governments, not-for-profit bodies, private individuals, trustees and intermediaries. About Entrust Entrust secures digital identities and information for consumers, enterprises and governments in 1,650 organizations spanning 60 countries. Leveraging a layered security approach to address growing risks, Entrust solutions help secure the most common digital identity and information protection pain points in an organization. These include SSL, authentication, fraud detection, shared data protection and e-mail security. For information, call 888-690-2424, e-mail entrust@entrust.com or visit http://www.entrust.com. Entrust is a registered trademark of Entrust, Inc. in the United States and certain other countries. In Canada, Entrust is a registered trademark of Entrust Limited. All Entrust product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of Entrust, Inc. or Entrust Limited. All other company and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
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Law Firm Petitions For Access To Bridge Site
Headline News |
2007/08/14 09:02
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| A law firm asked a federal court to grant its experts immediate access to the Interstate 35W bridge collapse site so they can begin their own investigation into what could lead to wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits. The petition was filed in U.S. District Court here Monday by the law firm of Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben, which specializes in personal injury cases. In the petition, the firm said it's representing three people severely injured in the Aug. 1 collapse and the families of two people who died in the disaster. It did not identify the victims, and attorney James Schwebel declined to reveal them. A hearing on the petition was scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Patrick J. Schiltz in St. Paul. "We are in the very preliminary stage on this," Schwebel said. "We've been retained by several families. We've been contacted by many others. They're obviously wanting to make sure there is some accountability for whoever is culpable for this disaster, and we need to have experts to answer many of these questions for us." Copies of the petition were served on the offices of the U.S. attorney for Minnesota, the Minneapolis city attorney and the state attorney general because federal, city and state and city agencies are involved in the collapse investigation. Spokespeople for those offices did not immediately return phone calls Tuesday. The petition said the firm had hired two experts to help it pursue wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits on behalf of its clients, and that they had special training and experience that would "assist a jury in determining negligence and causation issues." Time is of the essence because the impending dismantling of the wreckage "will forever make it impossible to perform an inspection on the site," the petition said. Nine people were confirmed dead and four were still missing as of Tuesday, while about 100 people were injured in the collapse. Wrongful death lawsuits must be filed in three years, but the deadline for negligence suits is longer, Schwebel said. The state's liability is limited to $1 million, but any lawsuits could also target private contractors and their insurers. |
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Law firm for paralyzed woman entitled to $500,000
Headline News |
2007/08/10 13:24
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| A law firm that represented a woman paralyzed in a botched operation should receive $500,000 more than the $1.07 million the state Legislature has already approved, a Broward judge ruled Thursday afternoon. Sheldon J. Schlesinger's Fort Lauderdale law firm was entitled to the money based on its contract with the parents of Minouche Noel, Broward Circuit Judge Leroy Moe ruled. The judge rejected Schlesinger's request to receive an additional $42,000 in legal costs. Bruce Johnson, the Noels' current attorney, told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that his clients were "very disappointed." "We were surprised by the ruling, and we believe it was incorrect," Johnson said to the newspaper. A telephone message left by The Associated Press at Schlesinger's office and with the attorney representing the firm, Bruce Rogow, was not immediately returned after hours Thursday. Noel was left paralyzed from the waist down at 6 months old following surgery at a state clinic in 1999. Now 19, she suffers from spina bifida, a congenital defect in which the spinal column fails to close properly. A Broward jury awarded $8.5 million to the Noels, but state law limits such payments to $200,000 without legislative approval. Lawmakers finally passed the claims bill this year after several failed attempts. Schlesinger filed a lien asking for more money than the legislation allocated to the firm. Last month, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink argued the Circuit Court in Fort Lauderdale lacks jurisdiction on the case. A telephone message and an e-mail left after hours by AP for Sink was not immediately returned. Noel and her family lived in Broward County when the surgery took place but have since moved to Brevard County, where she is attending college. |
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Lawmaker seeks bridge trust fund
Headline News |
2007/08/09 14:53
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One weary week after the Interstate 35W bridge collapse, a senior federal lawmaker from Minnesota proposed sweeping legislation to establish a trust fund dedicated to repairing the nation's aging, deficient bridges. The proposal by Rep. Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation Committee, would be aimed at repairing 73,784 bridges from coast to coast rated "structurally deficient" -- with a price tag that could be as much as $188 billion by one estimate. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pledged to support the plan.
It could cost Americans dearly: the proposal includes raising federal gas taxes 5 cents from 18.4 to 23.4 cents, at a time when drivers are already reeling from high gas prices. President Bush and several prominent lawmakers have previously opposed gas tax hikes.
"If you're not prepared to invest another 5 cents in bridge reconstruction and road reconstruction, then God help you," Oberstar said, after touring the site of the collapse by helicopter.
Meanwhile, federal investigators seeking a cause for the accident zeroed inon two key factors that could not only explain the collapse but may also have implications for bridge safety nationwide.
One focus of the investigation now centers on how much concrete was on the bridge at the time of the accident and whether the bridge could sustain a load of new concrete as it was being resurfaced. Investigators also identified possible design flaws in "gusset plates" that connected the steel beams in a pattern on the bridge structure.
The concrete on the bridge surface had been poured during the 48 hours before the accident in ongoing summertime resurfacing, although none was poured on the day of the accident, according to National Transportation Safety Board sources.
The uncured concrete that was poured added weight to the bridge deck but because it had not yet set, it added no structural support, they said.
Investigators "obtained core samples of the bridge deck material to get a better picture of the deck thickness to help make an assessment about the amount of concrete on the bridge at the time of the accident," the NTSB said in a statement Wednesday.
As for the gusset plates, a weakness in the design when the bridge was built in the 1960s may have caused the bridge to fall under its load, investigators theorize.
"Safety Board investigators are in the process of verifying the loads and stresses on the gusset plates at these locations, as well as the materials used in constructing the gusset plates," the NTSB said.
Emotions remain high now with bodies still missing in the Mississippi River and a major investigation under way. But with Congress in recess, the ultimate fate of the legislation must await its return. It faces a balancing act with other priorities for spending, including costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"Last week, the country received a wake-up call with the collapse of the bridge in Minnesota. Our sadness must at least be met with a commitment to address our infrastructure shortcomings," Pelosi said in a prepared address to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
While Pelosi's spokesman, Brendan Daly, said the bill would "come to the floor quickly," its chances of passage are unclear.
Oberstar's chairmanship of the Transportation Committee, along with Pelosi's early endorsement of his efforts, boosts its odds of passing. With the tragedy fresh in their minds, lawmakers have made numerous comments about the need to tackle America's failing infrastructure.
But the measure faces serious hurdles, Congress-watchers say.
In a written statement, Minority Leader John Mica, (R-Fla.) called the legislation "a knee jerk reaction to the critical problem facing our transportation and infrastructure systems."
Thomas Mann, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., said the packed schedule the House is expected to face in September, combined with the proposed taxes, make it unlikely that Oberstar's legislation will succeed.
"Bush is utterly committed to vetoing any tax increases of any kind and Republicans in general remain opposed to this," he said. "This would probably require a Democratic president."
Estimates vary as to the cost of repairing all 73,784 structurally deficient bridges, but The Associated Press reported that the American Society of Civil Engineers estimates it would require spending at least $9.4 billion a year for 20 years, or $188 billion.
As the political debate swirled, searchers and federal divers worked nearly round-the clock and in painstaking detail to find at least eight people who remain missing. Authorities have mapped 88 vehicles in the river but did not say what was in them. Five people were confirmed dead in the last week and more than 80 injured. |
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‘Pant Lawsuit’ Judge May Not Be Reappointed
Headline News |
2007/08/09 13:59
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The D.C. judge who sued his ethnic Korean dry cleaners for $54 million over a pair of pants will probably have to begin looking for a new job.
A city commission has voted to formally notify Administrative Law Judge Roy Pearson that he may not be reappointed to the 10-year bench, Washington Post quoted a government source as saying Wednesday.
In a letter sent to Pearson Tuesday, the Commission on Selection and Tenure of Administrative Law Judges cited not only Pearson's infamous failed lawsuit against Custom Cleaners, but his work as a judge the past two years, the Post said in its Website.
“Pearson is not out of work yet. The letter is a key step, though, alerting him that his reappointment is in jeopardy. He has 15 days to file a rebuttal and could push for reappointment by appearing before the commission at its next meeting in September,” the Post said.
Pearson has not responded to recent efforts to reach him for comment, including e-mail and telephone messages this week, according to the newspaper.
The commission has been reviewing applications from several administrative law judges seeking reappointment. In a statement, the chairman, D.C Superior Court Judge Robert R. Rigsby, said it has considered all of the applications "thoroughly and thoughtfully," the Website said. |
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