The Common Scold: SAIL AWAY......

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The Common Scold

The Common Scold is named after a cause of action that originated in Pilgrim days, when meddlesome, argumentative, opinionated women who displeased the Puritan elders were punished by a brisk dunk in the local pond. Believe it or not, the tort lasted until 1972, when State v. Palendrano, 120 N.J. Super. 336, 293 A.2d 747 (N.J.Super.L., Jul 13, 1972) pretty much put it to rest. But the thought of those feisty women, not afraid of a little cold water, has always cheered me up and inspired me. I first used the moniker as the name of my humor column at the University of San Francisco School of Law many moons ago, and revive it now for this blawg!

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SAIL AWAY......

Our spies have let us know the latest company to be gobbled up by LexisNexis -- even though the deal hasn't yet been officially announced: CaseSoft.

The good news, sez one insider: "We're receiving additional development resources, so we'll be able to speed up work on some very cool new enhancements to our tools," says a CaseSoft staffer.

Of course, you can expect that "the CaseSoft trade name may eventually sail into the sunset," she sez wistfully.

May 18, 2006 | Permalink

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Is anyone worried about Lexis' consolidation of so many tools for lawyers? Where are the anti-trust attorneys? I am terrified of the day when Lexis becomes the only game in town for everything needed for law firm support and operation.

Posted by: Carolyn Elefant | May 19, 2006 9:55:31 PM

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Fear Factor: Why Lawyers Aren't Using Technology. The ABA's most recent tech survey found that only 11.7% of the nation's lawyers are using ANY trial technology. We interview lawyers, vendors, and consultants to find out why, and the answers are shocking: lawyers are afraid of technology, don't understand it, and are overwhelmed by too many choices. Vendors take some of the blame by not educating lawyers about tech's potential. The dramatic conclusion: lawyers must embrace change, and adopt technology, or they simply will not survive in today's competitive marketplace.

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The World is Flat
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Life Interrupted
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Only the Paranoid Survive
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Business @ the Speed of Thought
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