Tracy Krall

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the 2025 Legal Risk Index Report by Embroker, what percentage of legal professionals say they use AI in their day-to-day work? Hint: Last year only 22% said they use AI — what a difference a year makes. See the answer on the next page. The post Lawyers Hit Turning Point On AI appeared first on Above the Law.

So… everyone’s been talking about the Biglaw Biter. Not exclusively in Biglaw circles, or even just within the legal profession, but like Page Six is talking about the story that Above the Law broke. Hell, it’s even gone international. There’s been speculation about what the BB is up to now, since she’s been bounced from Sidley Austin. But if and when the most famous Biter in Biglaw gets a second bite at the apple, will she f it up again? You see, there’re rumors this isn’t the Biglaw Biter’s first vampire impression, with reports that this was even something she playfully mentioned during icebreakers at the start of the summer. (Which makes sense, it’d actually be weirder if she’d never bit anyone ever before and then busted out the move in Biglaw.) Alison Green of Ask A Manager has some advice for the Biglaw Biter in all her future professional endeavors: “Don’t bite anyone at work ever again!…

  Coverage Cracks in Demolition Claims. Second Department Rebuffs Excess Insurer’s Attempt to Dismiss     📖 Case Summary: Harco Construction, LLC v. Scottsdale Insurance Co.   This Second Department decision stems from a 2011 building collapse in Harlem during demolition work on a project managed by Harco Construction.   🚧 What Happened:   Subcontractor Disano Demolition cut into an elevator shaft, triggering the collapse. Harco sought coverage as an additional insured from: FMIC (Disano’s primary insurer), and Scottsdale (Disano’s excess insurer, whose policy followed form to FMIC).   📜 Prior Proceedings:   FMIC denied coverage based on a “work height” exclusion. Harco and the property owner sued FMIC, Scottsdale, and Disano. The trial court upheld FMIC’s disclaimer. But the Second Department reversed in part—ruling that FMIC’s denial to Harco was…

New York Appellate Division, Third Department  Holds Snow Contractor Must Face Negligence Claims in Butler v. Vestal Parkway Plaza, LLC 📖 Case Summary: Butler v. Vestal Parkway Plaza, LLC   In this premises liability action, a bank employee slipped on ice outside her workplace. The Appellate Division, Third Department upheld the denial of summary judgment to the snow removal contractors, finding that questions of fact exist under the Espinal doctrine regarding whether the plaintiff detrimentally relied on their services or if they assumed complete maintenance responsibility. ⚡️ What Happened: Plaintiff slipped and fell on an icy sidewalk outside her job at Citizens Bank. US Maintenance (USM) contracted with the bank to handle snow and ice removal. USM subcontracted to J.G. Maintenance (Gresham). Gresham last salted the site three days before the incident. Water runoff from the roof above the bank entrance formed clear ice, a known hazard.…

Suit challenging diversity efforts in Wisconsin bar programs fully resolved

Security Failure? Kardenai Anthony Hollis Shooting Fort Wayne.  We have over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Kardenai Anthony Hollis. Kardenai Anthony Hollis Killed in Fort Wayne, IN Apartment Complex Shooting. (Stock Photo: MurrayLegal.com) Fort Wayne, IN – Gunfire rang out at an apartment complex early Saturday morning, July 19, 2025, leaving one teen dead. As reported by WANE.com, “[a]round 3 a.m. Saturday, officers responded to the shooting in the 1800 block of River Run Trail, at an apartment complex on the city’s northeast side.” According to the report, “[officers] found [the victim] suffering from gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital.”  The victim was reported to be a…

Anyone who suffered a 9/11-related injury or illness as a result of the WTC attacks or exposure to the harmful toxic dust cloud that hung over Lower Manhattan after the attacks can claim compensation from the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). However, a 9/11 VCF claim is not the only way to receive financial assistance for 9/11-related losses. Legal action via a Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) lawsuit, for instance, has the potential to compensate many thousands of victims. How does JASTA lawsuit compensation impact a VCF claim? Let’s find out. Request A Free ConsultationWhat is a JASTA lawsuit?The Justice Against State Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) was passed into law in 2016, despite a veto from President Obama, based on fears that it could put U.S. service members, diplomats, and taxpayers at “significant risk” should similar laws be adopted by other countries. JASTA essentially weakened the concept of “sovereign…

Early Wednesday morning, a semi-truck crash in Fond du Lac County left the driver seriously injured after his load of paper bales shifted forward and collapsed the cab. According to authorities, the truck was attempting to exit from US Highway 151 to South Main Street when it failed to slow down in time and veered into a ditch. The force of the impact caused the bales of paper to break through the front of the trailer, trapping the 60-year-old driver inside. He was rescued and transported to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. The investigation is ongoing. This crash raises important questions about how the truck was loaded and whether it was properly secured for transport. Could Improper Loading Have Been a Factor in the Crash? The fact that the paper bales shifted forward with such force that they went through the front of the trailer and into the cab suggests that the load may not have been adequately restrained. Semi-trucks hauling heavy materials must use…

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) affirmed Wednesday obligations of states relating to climate change under treaties and customary law. The court emphasized that the severe and far-reaching climate change consequences are an “urgent and existential threat.” The court affirmed that environmental treaties, climate change treaties, and customary law inform one another and are the sources of state obligations at international law. In the instance of the Paris Agreement, state parties consent to limiting the global average temperature increase to well below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This commitment, alongside other provisions and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, is the basis of the states’ obligations relating to climate change. These include the obligation of result to prepare, communicate, and maintain nationally determined contributions with due diligence, and the obligation to implement…

In a recent and significant decision, a Florida appellate court reversed a defendant’s conviction of manslaughter with a firearm because the trial court failed to instruct the jury on the forcible felony self-defense justification, despite substantial evidence supporting it. The court held that the failure to give this instruction was not only erroneous but also prejudicial, requiring reversal and remand for further proceedings. This case serves as a powerful reminder of how critical proper jury instructions are in criminal trials, especially when self-defense is at issue. Lawson v State – 4th DCA 7/23/2025 Facts of the Case The incident began when the defendant and his girlfriend encountered the girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend (the “victim”) in a parking lot. The defendant had prior knowledge of the victim’s violent tendencies, including explicit threats such as, “Who[m]ever I catch you with I’m gonna f**k you and him up. When…

Lincoln Apartments Shooting Walterboro: Legal Claim for Victims? We have over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across the United States, and we have recovered nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the victims of the Lincoln Apartments shooting. Three Injured in Shooting at Lincoln Apartments in Walterboro, SC. (Live5News.com) Walterboro, SC NEWS – Gunfire rang out at an apartment complex late Monday afternoon, July 21, 2025, leaving three people injured. As reported by Live5News.com, “[t]he Colleton County Fire Rescue says it was one of the agencies that responded to Monday’s shooting, which happened just before 11:20 a.m. Crews and law enforcement were called to the scene of Lincoln Apartments, located on the 400 block of Witsell Street.” Counton2.com is reporting, “Law enforcement arrived to find three people suffering from…

Kirwin Hinds Shooting Atlanta. Justice for Family? Our firm has over 25 years of experience representing victims of security failures across Georgia, and we have secured nearly $250 million dollars for our Clients.  Read Our Legal Take below to find out what legal options are available to the family of Kirwin Hinds. Kirwin Hinds Killed in Atlanta, GA Apartment Complex Shooting. (Stock Photo: MurrayLegal.com) Atlanta, GA – Gunfire rang out at an apartment complex Sunday morning, July 20, 2025, leaving one man dead. As reported by WSBtv.com, “[o]fficers were called to…apartments on Peachwood Circle just off Interstate 85 at 7 a.m. to reports of a shooting.” AtlantaNewsFirst.com is reporting, “[officers] found Kirwin Hinds, 47, with gunshot wounds. He later died of his injuries.” The investigation is ongoing. Potential Legal Claims for Family of Kirwin Hinds? OUR LEGAL TAKE FORMER CLIENT: I had lawyers calling me, and…

Classic sweaty soda can in Key WestInternational brand protection is no longer a luxury for globally-minded businesses – it’s a necessity.  If you’re a trademark owner outside the United States, the Madrid Protocol offers a streamlined way to seek protection in multiple countries using a single application. In the U.S., such an international application is known as a Section 66(a) application under the U.S. Trademark Act, or Lanham Act. This guide explores what Section 66(a) is, when and how to use it, the benefits and limitations, and how to respond to Office Actions or convert a Madrid Protocol filing into a direct U.S. application if necessary. 1. What Is a Section 66(a) Trademark Application? Section 66(a) refers to the provision of the Lanham Act that allows foreign applicants to extend protection to the United States via the Madrid Protocol, an international treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). To file a…

Our healthcare law firm works with many providers who prescribe medications, including controlled substances. A question that comes up is what a provider’s reporting obligations to the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) are when they discover that controlled substances have been stolen from their office or that prescriptions for controlled substances have been fraudulently submitted to patients under their names. This blog covers two considerations that providers should account for when they are notified of theft or fraudulent prescriptions. Please note that this blog post covers reporting obligations to the DEA, not any reporting obligations to state agencies. If you need assistance reporting theft or fraudulent prescriptions to the appropriate sources or would like to discuss this blog post, you may contact our healthcare law firm at (404) 685-1662 (Atlanta) or (706) 722-7886 (Augusta), or by email, info@littlehealthlaw.com. You may also learn more…

Michael Conklin (Texas A&M University School of Law) has posted Peak Wokeness in Judicial Opinions: An Empirical Analysis of Recent Trends in Progressive Topics on SSRN. Here is the abstract: This Article presents an empirical study of “wokeness” in judicial opinions, testing whether the recent societal retreat from progressive rhetoric is mirrored in the courts. While prior research suggests that American corporations, media, and academia have passed a point of peak wokeness, this study finds the opposite trend within the judiciary. Analyzing over 123,000 data points from 2018–2024, this Article reveals that references to woke terms in judicial opinions have steadily increased. This surprising divergence raises critical questions about the judiciary’s cultural insulation, independence, and the proper relationship between legal scholarship, public discourse, and the courts. By juxtaposing empirical results with broader cultural shifts, this…

Most of the time, when a lawyer unwittingly cites a bunch of fake cases spit out by artificial intelligence, it’s because they never bothered to figure out how the product worked or even superficially consider the ethical implications. They plead with the judge that they’re just a humble scribe of Ashurbanipal who couldn’t possibly grasp the powerful forces involved in asking a mansplaining-as-a-service bot to magic up some cases. As an excuse it doesn’t always work, but tales of ignorance have, thus far, stayed many a judge’s hand. But when the hallucinations come from a lawyer who once published the article “Artifical Intelligence in the Legal Profession: Ethical Considerations,” there’s not a ton of wiggle room. Goldberg Segalla’s Danielle Malaty, who authored the article about ethics, is now out after taking responsibility for a fake cite in a Chicago Housing Authority filing asking the judge to reconsider a…

Last evening, Catherine Montiel, partner at our personal injury law firm, presented an eye-opening seminar titled “What Your Insurance Company Isn’t Telling You” at the Elwood Public Library in East Northport. The response was overwhelming—registration had to be closed due to the high volume of attendees, making the event one of the library’s most successful seminars to date. Empowering the Community Through Education During the seminar, Catherine delivered practical, easy-to-understand advice on insurance policies and how they impact individuals after an accident. The presentation helped attendees learn: What types of coverage are essential (like underinsured motorist protection) What coverage people may be paying for but don’t actually need Why minimum insurance requirements often fall short after serious accidents How better policy choices can lead to long-term savings As a seasoned personal injury attorney, Catherine…

With mental health incidents rising and support systems stretched thin, school districts are pursuing a legal strategy rooted in public nuisance law.