Posts on ‘September 17th, 2009’
Federal Judge Tosses SEC Counts Against Ex-Mercury Interactive GC
One of Silicon Valley’s first in-house lawyers to get caught up in the stock option backdating tsunami just got a little legal reprieve. U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel dismissed all counts brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission against former Mercury Interactive GC Susan Skaer, who now goes by the last name of Tanner. The ruling was a bit of a reversal for Fogel; he had originally let some of the SEC’s suit against Skaer stand, though he had always considered the allegations hazy.
What Are You Doing Legally on Twitter?
Twitter faces issues involving right of publicity, defamation and free speech, say White and Case attorneys William Coats and Jennifer Gossain. To avoid exposing yourself and your company to liability, think about what you tweet, stick to the facts and tweet your opinions.
Gonzales, Former DOJ Officials Dismissed From Lawsuit Over Hiring Process
A federal judge in Washington on Wednesday dismissed in large part a suit against former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other ex-Justice Department officials that alleged they improperly vetted candidates for the DOJ’s summer intern and honors programs. Lead plaintiff Sean Gerlich had sued in 2008, less than a week after the first joint report from the DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility and its Office of the Inspector General documented the politicization of hiring for the programs.
Mace General Counsel Sentenced to Year of Probation
The general counsel of Mace Security International will serve one year of probation and spend six months in home confinement for his role in a scheme to employ illegal Mexican workers at the company’s car washes. Robert Kramer had pleaded guilty in June to federal misdemeanor charges of employing at least 50 illegal immigrants, with the knowledge that they weren’t eligible to work in the U.S. He is still employed by Mace, which is best known for its pepper spray and other personal defense products.
Jones Day: Lehman Judge OK’d Barclays Sale Based on ‘Inaccurate Record’
Lehman Brothers’ lawyers at Jones Day have filed a motion asking a judge
to modify the order approving last September’s sale of Lehman’s
crown-jewel investment arm to Barclays. Jones Day argues the judge OK’d
the deal based on “an inaccurate record due to mistake, inadvertence, or
misrepresentations to the court.” At the time he approved the asset
sale, Jones Day’s team asserts, the judge was not told that certain
Lehman executives brokered a behind-the-scenes discount of several
billion dollars for Barclays.