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The CLE reporting period is here again and lawyers are scrambling to find last minute courses to attend. Depending on your jurisdiction, you may be safe this year, but several states schedule their reporting periods right after the new year. For instance, in California, lawyers in Group 3 with last names in the N-Z range need to report their CLE hours to the state bar before February 3, 2014. For those who need to fill up their CLE hours in one sitting or just want to get it over with, here are three last minute ways to complete your CLE hours....

If you’re hunting for continuing legal education credits — or you just want to learn more about intellectual property law — there are several IP-centric opportunities that you should check out this month: The ABA Intellectual Property Conference, the Robotics and Law Conference, and Patents, Innovation and Freedom to Use Ideas. ABA Intellectual Property Conference The American Bar Association’s 28th Annual Intellectual Property Law Conference kicks off tomorrow at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia....

Club W.i.P. is now firing back at Tony Parker’s lawsuit. The club asked a court to throw out the San Antonio Spurs point guard’s lawsuit, claiming that it has no merit, reports The Urban Daily. While Parker’s eye injury suffered during a brawl at the club may be unfortunate, the club does not see why it should be on the hook for the $20 million that Parker is seeking. Parker had claimed that Club W....

This case, friends, lends new meaning to the term “blockhead.” Possibly well meaning but probably dim consumers of the latest in laptop computing have been flim-flammed into purchasing not the new Dell they thought they were getting, but quite literally a block (head) of wood. The product was dressed up in the prettily protective packaging of bubble wrap and, of course, a nice label. Don’t believe everything you read. Police in Norman, Oklahoma say they have busted a tri-state ring of computer criminals selling the fake laptops....

A Pennsylvania man with a prior conviction for counterfeiting is accused of trying to pass off fake $20 bills at a yard sale. Gregory Louis Douglas, 40, was allegedly using the counterfeit currency at a yard sale run by Amy Miller of Rayburn, Pennsylvania – a woman who also works as a bank teller. As Trib Total Media reports, Miller found that the bills Douglas had given her didn’t have the security features or the “feel” of genuine U....

Verizon’s case against the FCC’s net neutrality rules is finally reaching a head as the D.C. Circuit began hearing oral arguments on Monday. The Verizon v. F.C.C. case is slated to pit old and new values regarding the Internet against one another, with The New York Times hailing it as “a heavyweight championship of the technology world.” This case may not be everyone’s Ali-Frazier, but it will set down some instructive precedent on how to treat Internet service providers....

As fallout from Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s racist comments continues, the latest development has Sterling squaring off against what could possibly be his toughest opponent yet: his wife. According to Fox Sports, Shelly Sterling is seeking to have her husband declared mentally incompetent to prevent him from stopping the sale of the Clippers to former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer for $2 billion. Here are five things about this ever-growing legal drama that you need to know:...

We’ve all had the odd fender bender in our day. But most of us don’t get sued for $1 million afterwards. Then again, most of us aren’t Dallas Cowboy running backs. Ezekiel Elliott is facing a lawsuit claiming Elliott’s negligence left a man – a Cowboys fan, no less – with “serious life-altering injuries.” Ronnie Hill claims he’s still dealing with medical issues from the 2017 accident, and is seeking $1 million in damages....

You don’t need a J.D. to make a difference, but in a world that often seems to operate at the speed of changing law, it can help. Being so close to the law–reading it, writing about it, arguing it, being able to change it–can put a unique gavel within your reach. Another way you can make a difference, is by being able to explain law. In plain English. In this TED talk by Alan Siegel, this industry leader in business communications gives his take on the need to simplify legal jargon, where he defines simplicity “as a means to achieving clarity, transparency, and empathy–building humanity into communications....

“For those who already own a firearm and are known to be trustworthy due to the licenses that they hold and a history of responsible gun ownership, there is no justification for imposing the full 10-day waiting period.” That’s District Court Judge Anthony W. Ishii’s holding: For Californians who already lawfully own guns, or for those who are licensed concealed carry permit holders, there is no justifiable reason to have a strict 10-day waiting period before they can exercise their Second Amendment rights....

In plaintiffs’ reverse validation action, raising constitutional challenges to the compact bonds arising from amendments involving Indian class III gaming, plaintiffs’ appeal of trial court’s judgment in favor of defendants is dismissed as Gov. Code section 63048.8(e) states the exclusive means to obtain review of such a judgment shall be by petition to the Supreme Court for writ of review. Defendants’ cross-appeal is also dismissed as they have not offered any reason not to dismiss it....

Court of Appeals judgment for defendant in a sexual harassment action is affirmed where: 1) plaintiff’s factual allegations fail to establish the severe or pervasive conduct necessary to pursue a claim of hostile environment sexual harassment under Civil Code sec. 51.9, as the conduct was not so egregious as to alter the conditions of the underlying professional relationship and could not plausibly be construed by a reasonable trier of fact as a threat to commit a sexual assault on plaintiff; and 2) the court properly granted summary judgment on plaintiff’s claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress as plaintiff failed to establish either extreme or outrageous conduct by defendant or that plaintiff suffered severe or extreme emotional distress....

It’s not a happy Monday for our nation’s law schools. The news, across the board, appears to be negative, both in terms of schools’ financials and their graduates’ job prospects. Back in October, we reported that Standard and Poor’s was close to downgrading Brooklyn Law School’s debt rating. It seems they aren’t the only law school in trouble, however. According to the Wall Street Journal, a new report from Standard and Poor’s offers a grim outlook for standalone law schools, with at least one school reaching “junk bond” status....

The world just got a little bit smaller for Colorado inmates at Garfield County Jail. The jail has banned Colorado inmates from reading local newspapers, limiting what few meaningful connections they may have to the outside world. According to the Associated Press, the jail banned all newspapers for fear that local news will trigger conflicts among prisoners or engender vigilante justice. The only newspaper allowed inside the jail is USA Today because it carries a roundup of national news....

“Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing.” It’s a phrase widely attributed to legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. But Coach Lombardi never advocated cheating. It seems that New York Jets assistant coach Sal Alosi may have taken Lombardi’s famous words too far. The disgraced Alosi tripped Miami Dolphins player Nolan Carroll during the Jets vs. Dolphins game Sunday. Don’t be surprised if the next headline reads “Jets Coach Sal Alosi Fired....

An Ohio man who tried to help a friend in court was held in contempt for wearing low-sagging pants that revealed his underwear. Durrell Brooks tried to offer proof of insurance for a friend’s car accident, but instead was ordered to jail for three days for his saggy attire. “I felt I had no choice,” Lorain Municipal Court Judge Mark Mihok told the local Chronicle-Telegram. Brooks is the third person in the last month whom Judge Mihok has held in contempt for saggy pants....

One word changed the course of convicted murderer Noel Montalvo’s life. One word demanded that he get a retrial in a double-homicide case. That one word was missing from jury instructions in his first trial. The judge told jurors that if prosecutors failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, then the defendant must be guilty. The missing word was “not.” “Not” Guilty Judge Sheryl Dorney knew the right words, but misspoke at trial....

The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) graphic warning labels for cigarettes are not only bad for the tobacco business, they’re unconstitutional. When the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals considers an injunction against the new labels in April, it can also consider the latest ruling finding that the labels violate the First Amendment. The D.C. District Court ruled this week that the warnings violated the tobacco industry’s free speech rights without a compelling government interest....

Mazel to New York attorney Bennett Epstein, on the birth of his grandchild. And why would the ever-patient readers of Legally Weird even care? Because the Manhattan lawyer had the chutzpah to ask U.S. District Court Judge Kimba Wood for some time off to celebrate. In the middle of a jury trial. Yes, the elder Epstein wrote Judge Wood anticipating the birth of his grandchild on December 3, according The Wall Street Journal....

Court of appeal erred in unduly restricting the state’s role at the in camera hearing regarding documents subpoenaed by defendant Kling v. Superior Court, S176171, concerned a challenge to the court of appeals’ holding that the government was entitled to notice of, and to be present at, an in camera hearing once responsive documents requested by the defendant via subpoena have been produced, but was not permitted to learn the identity of the subpoenaed party or the nature of the documents requested, in a prosecution of defendant for two murders with the special circumstances of multiple murder, lying in wait, and financial gain, in addition to other felony offenses....