Ethics

ETHICS

Bullying in the Legal Workplace
The legal industry appears to have a significant workplace bullying problem. That’s according to a 2024 Illinois study by Stephanie A. Scharf and Roberta D. Liebenberg, “Bullying in the Legal Profession: A Study of Illinois Lawyers’ Experiences and R
John P. Ratnaswamy, Esquire

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ETHICS

A Cautionary Tale About Deleting Text Messages
A recent Delaware Court of Chancery decision addressed penalties for spoliation of electronically stored information (ESI)—specifically, text messages that were not preserved for litigation despite a duty to do so.
Frank G. X. Pileggi, Esquire, and Aimee M. Czachorowski, Esquire

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ETHICS

When Might a Lawyer—or Client—Be Ethically Required to Use AI?
Most authorities, opinions, and articles about legal ethics aspects of a lawyer’s use or potential use of artificial intelligence (AI)—especially of generative AI (GAI), which is AI that creates content—have focused largely on the risks of AI use and
John P. Ratnaswamy, Esquire

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ETHICS

Avoiding Spoliation Penalities: Duties to Preserve Evidence
A recent Delaware Court of Chancery decision provides useful guidance regarding the obligation to preserve evidence in connection with litigation and the potential penalties for spoliation. In the matter styled In re Facebook, Inc. Derivative Litigat
Frank G. X. Pileggi, Esquire, and Aimee M. Czachorowski, Esquire

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ETHICS

How to Properly Use Ethics Hotlines
Many state bar associations (as well as most lawyer ethics state regulatory authorities) have legal ethics hotlines that may be called by lawyers who could use some help working through an actual or potential ethics issue. The hotline might or might
John P. Ratnaswamy, Esquire

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