In Wake of 'Heller,' 3rd Circuit OKs Ban on Unnumbered Guns

In an important Second Amendment decision that charts a course for evaluating the validity of gun laws now that the Supreme Court has declared the right to be an individual one, the 3rd Circuit has refused to strike down a federal law that bans possession of guns with obliterated serial numbers. Perhaps the most important lesson to be gleaned from the 3rd Circuit opinion is that courts faced with unanswered questions in the Second Amendment arena should look to the extensive jurisprudence on First Amendment claims for guidance.

Lawyers Argue Over Venue in BP Spill, Toyota Hybrid Cases

More than 100 lawyers squeezed into a courtroom on Thursday in Idaho to argue before a panel of seven judges about which U.S. courthouse should host the massive litigation over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation appeared receptive to appointing more than one judge. Meanwhile, lawyers pressing claims against Toyota Motor over its recall of Prius hybrids asked the panel to put those cases in Santa Ana, Calif.

Federal Agencies Slipping on Discrimination Complaints, Says EEOC

The federal government's efficiency in handling discrimination complaints by its own workers is slipping a bit, even as more minorities are landing federal jobs, according to an annual report on the federal work force, released this week by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The report offered good and bad news.

Bridging the Communication Gap in E-Discovery

Communication gaps between legal and IT in e-discovery can result in operational inefficiency, fines, sanctions, and reputational damage. Consultant Peter Caradonna offers tips to facilitate dialogue between legal and IT: from data maps to savvy employees, from software to "soft skills."

Baker Botts Associates Moving From Lockstep to Merit-Based System

Baker Botts associates are learning this week about potential changes to their pay and bonus packages that become effective Jan. 1, 2011, says Maria Boyce, partner-in-charge of the firm's Houston office. The firm is moving associates from lockstep promotions and pay to a merit-based system, she says. She also notes, "No associate is going to have their base pay cut in 2010 as a result of the introduction of this change."