Legalethics.com

Debt Collection Agency Can’t Use Facebook to Contact Debtor, Florida Court Rules

David Hricik — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:12:17 +0000

The story about what it portrays as a growing use of social media by debt collectors is here.

Article Surveys Use of Evidence from Social Networking Sites in Personal Injury Cases

David Hricik — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:09:43 +0000

The article is here.

Proposed Texas Rule of Civil Procedure: The Internet is Off Limits, Too, Jurors!

David Hricik — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 11:07:46 +0000

An article and link to the proposed amendment to emphasize that communication about a case is off limits whether on the Internet or not is here. Trial lawyers should consider asking for an instruction like this no matter where the venue.

Kentucky Proposes Fee, Regulation of Social Networking Posts

David Hricik — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:44:40 +0000

The article with links to the proposal are here. To avoid getting any Kentucky readers in trouble, please don’t blog about this!

Wi fi risks: Add-on to Firefox purportedly allows hijacking of social networking user accounts when on unsecured wi fi

David Hricik — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:31:39 +0000

The article with several links is here.

Interesting Piece on Social Networking, Related Issues, and Workers’ Compensation

David Hricik — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:26:32 +0000

It is by Professor Gregory Duhl and Jaclyn Miller, and is available here.

Florida Adopts Jury Instructions Admonishing Jurors not to Tweet, etc.

David Hricik — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:54:03 +0000

An article is here. This is becoming a critical issue, since jurors can now “view” accident scenes without having to drive anywhere; they can “research” technologies from their homes; and they can find all sorts of information out, without the protections of evidentiary rules. I’ve heard tales that some consultants are relying on jurors to violate these admonitions and so are planting information — good for them, bad for the other side — and working to make sure it shows up when jurors look on line rather than in the court room for evidence.

Not really news, but: Material on Social Networking Sites, Though “Private,” Still Discoverable if Relevant

David Hricik — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:31:44 +0000

There’s a new New York case here. I don’t see this as news, since putting “private” on my diary doesn’t make it immune from discovery (if it’s relevant, and, come to think of it, if I had a diary), but the issue gets litigated. Lesson: make sure your clients know that “private” doesn’t mean “nondiscoverable.”

Kentucky weighs in on “can a judge have a facebook page” with a “Qualified Yes.”

David Hricik — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:20:34 +0000

The opinion is here.

Social Networking Ethics Paper Published

prfhricik — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:50:51 +0000

Professor Hricik’s paper on ethics and the Internet, which includes coverage of ethical issues created by use of social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, as well as linking by clients to lawyer webpages, and other issues, is available on-line here.