Ukrainian American Bar Association UABA News Updates

The UABA 35^th Anniversary Convention

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FOUR MORE WEEKS UNTIL...

NY Is First State to Require Law Students to Do Pro Bono Work to Get Licensed After Graduation

The following are article posts that have recently appeared on the UABA website blogs. You are invited to visit our website which we hope will spark your interest to become a member. We plan to expand our website publications in the future to make the site more interesting but we need your input and participation in our organization. If you are a member, please keep your membership status current; if you are not a member but are interested in our organization, then we invite you to please join. So please visit www.uaba.org !!

All captions have imbedded links to the full articles on the UABA website. To access the article, CLICK on the paragraph caption!

Colo. Man Who Claimed Daily Popcorn Habit Caused Lung Injury Is Awarded $7.2M 20 Sep 2012

Poland urges Ukraine to make East-West choice 20 Sep 2012

European Court obliges Kyiv to pay EUR 39,000 to three Ukrainians 20 Sep 2012

Media Watchdog Denounces Ukraine Defamation Bill 20 Sep 2012

Class Suit Can Proceed Alleging Nissan Transmissons Defective 19 Sep 2012

EEOC Sues Food Retailer for Firing Bipolar Worker 19 Sep 2012

Swedish minister, Yatseniuk not allowed to meet with imprisoned Tymoshenko 19 Sep 2012

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg predicts gay marriage law will come before Supreme Court 19 Sep 2012 11:14 PM

Judge: SD prison tobacco ban substantially burdens Native American inmates’ religious rights 19 Sep 2012

Yanukovych's security admits limiting freedom of speech 19 Sep 2012

Filipinos win settlement in English-only case. 19 Sep 2012

Feds Indict Traffic Court Judge, Two Others 14 Sep 2012

EU tells Ukraine Tymoshenko's jailing harms ties 14 Sep 2012

Klitschko: United opposition and UDAR have every chance to create majority in parliament 14 Sep 2012

9th Circuit Sounds Skeptical on Privilege Claim for Tax Records 14 Sep 2012

Groups want court to bar block Arizona law’s most contention section while appeal is mulled 14 Sep 2012

Moscow accuses European Parliament of interference in Russian internal affairs 14 Sep 2012

Condoleezza Rice: Political persecutions will sully nation's reputation 14 Sep 2012

Instruction on Slaying Defendant’s New Eyeglasses at Issue on Appeal 14 Sep 2012

Woman’s ‘Like’ of Sheriff’s Facebook Page Points Deputies to Photos of Wanted Man On Her Own Page

Police Say DUI Lawyer Crashed Lexus, Took Off Running, Was Tackled by Bystander; Now Faces DUI Case

Група "1 грудня" виступила на захист TBi 13 Sep 2012

Deadline for applying for the summer, 2012

internship position is June 21, 2012

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September 13, 2012 UABA News Update

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 22:03:47 GMT

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FIVE WEEKS UNTIL .....

Thursday through Sunday, October 18 – 21, 2012 Click for Details

All captions have imbedded links to the full articles on the UABA website. To access the article, CLICK on the paragraph caption!

Latham, Gardere Grab Roles on BP's Gulf of Mexico Asset Sale 11 Sep 2012 4:49 PM •

Judge Tosses Lawsuit Over National Geographic Channel Reality Show 11 Sep 2012 4:34 PM •

Ashton: EU expects to see progress in Ukraine's justice system, elections, reforms 11 Sep 2012 4:31 PM

No plan for tackling human rights abuses 11 Sep 2012 4:29 PM

Appeals court says Minnesota woman owes record companies $222,000 for copyright violations 11 Sep 2012 4:26 PM •

Ex-Banker Birkenfeld Gets $104M for UBS Case Cooperation; May Be Biggest US Whistleblower Award 11 Sep 2012 3:30PM

Judge Denies $2.7M Fee Request for $12K Win, Says Amount Was ‘Grossly Inflated’ 11 Sep 2012 3:25 PM •

Kagan Has Second Thoughts on Televised Arguments 10 Sep 2012 5:31 PM

Poroshenko: Ukraine discuss abolition of car recycling tax with Russia at CIS summit in Yalta 10 Sep 2012 5:29 PM

Superior Court Judge William Holden Suspended For Taking Too Long To Issue Rulings 10 Sep 2012 5:26 PM

Possibly facing life, convicted terrorism plotter Jose Padilla to be resentenced on Dec. 3 10 Sep 2012 5:21 PM

Crimean taxpayers see 14% rise in tourist tax in May-August 10 Sep 2012 5:17 PM

Top 10 Ukrainian Legal Stars 10 Sep 2012 5:15 PM

Inmates Are ‘Architects of Their Own Doom,’ Says Judge Who Nixed Mont. Lethal Injection Process 10 Sep 2012 5:11 PM

Once Again, Legal Battles over Voting Procedures Could Delay Election Results 10 Sep 2012 5:09 PM

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Check out the new UABA website; WWW.UABA.ORG and become a member!

September 8, 2012 UABA News Update

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 18:30:06 GMT

DATE: September 8, 2012

Click here to view in PDF format Натисніть тут для перегляду у форматі PDF Follow the UABA on FACEBOOK!

State Superior Court Reinstates $180,000 Verdict Against Berry 07 Sep 2012 12:26 PM

EU Delegation in Chisinau praises Moldova's effort, regrets Ukraine's passivity 07 Sep 2012 12:24 PM

Judge Rebukes Feds Over Attempt to Change Gitmo Attorney-Client Rules 07 Sep 2012 12:21 PM

Judge Approves E-Book Price-Fixing Settlement, Quotes Emily Dickinson Poem 07 Sep 2012 12:15 PM

Azarov: Economic crisis affects Ukraine, but situation better than in 2008 07 Sep 2012 12:13 PM

Hungarian declared regional language in western Ukrainian town of Berehove 07 Sep 2012 12:11 PM

Fla. Universities Can’t Charge Higher College Tuition for Children of Illegal Immigrants, Judge Says 07 Sep 2012 12:09 PM

Askew Elected a Trustee of National Conference of Bar Examiners 07 Sep 2012 12:07 PM

TVi audience to be limited in Kyiv 04 Sep 2012 6:26 PM

Ukraine authorities shock flyers by shutting down airport duty free stores, restaurants 04 Sep 2012 6:21 PM |

Marilyn Monroe's estate didn't inherit her publicity rights, Ninth Circuit rules 04 Sep 2012 6:15 PM

Fashionista lawyer spots faux pas in refund policy By Steve PlunkettContactAll Articles 04 Sep 2012 6:12 PM

NY Judicial Conduct Commission Seeks Input re Judicial License Plates and Potential Ticket Issues 04 Sep 2012 6:07 PM

Democracy Watch. 04 Sep 2012 3:13 PM

Reporters Interrupt Ukraine Leader's Press Speech 04 Sep 2012 3:04 PM

Symonenko: Communist Party not to support amendments to language law 02 Sep 2012 11:14 PM

Samsung says Apple is resorting to litigation in effort to limit consumer choice 02 Sep 2012 11:09 PM

Transcript of Teixeira’s interview with Kyiv Post 02 Sep 2012 11:02 PM

Bank Fires Customer Rep for Using Fake Dime at Laundromat in 1963, Cites New Regulations 02 Sep 2012 10:59 PM

Irish bank readies bad debt write off over Kyiv’s Ukraina shopping mall 02 Sep 2012 10:55 PM

Ukraine's high court upholds Tymoshenko jail sentence (updated) 30 Aug 2012 12:16 PM

Judge Dismisses Suit Against Bank of America Over Outsourced Calls 30 Aug 2012 12:12 PM

Judge awards $21 million in torture lawsuit against former Somali prime minister Samantar 30 Aug 2012 11:49 AM

IMF arrives to Ukraine, but no hope for cash 30 Aug 2012 11:42 AM

Segodnya: Makar murder suspect says he tried to save her 30 Aug 2012 11:34 AM

The National Bank of Ukraine Introduces Changes to Cash Funds Transfer Procedure over the Customs Border of Ukraine

28 Aug 2012 3:15 PM |

Russia, looking east for business, cool on US-led Asia trade group 28 Aug 2012 3:12 PM

Same judge presides in Lutsenko, Tymoshenko cases in European Court 28 Aug 2012 3:01 PM

What Apple’s $1 billion victory over Samsung in smartphone case means for consumers 28 Aug 2012 2:58 PM

Mexican president-elect supports citizen seeking new trial in Texas murder case 28 Aug 2012 2:54 PM

Penn State Dickinson Plans to Cut JD Enrollment, But Will Keep Both Campuses 28 Aug 2012 2:51 PM

6th Circuit Upholds Conviction for Threat to Judge in YouTube Song 28 Aug 2012 2:48 PM

Popov: Investors to finance construction of Russian-language school in Kyiv 27 Aug 2012 1:20 PM

Pre-emption doesn't apply to off-label use of medical device 27 Aug 2012 1:18 PM

Ex-associate broadens bias complaint against Ropes & Gray 27 Aug 2012 1:14 PM

Hungary, Czech Republic to send observers to Rada elections 27 Aug 2012 1:10 PM

Ukraine court to rule on Tymoshenko appeal on Aug. 29 27 Aug 2012 1:07 PM

Texas Lawyer, Known for Indigent Defense, Indicted on Charges of Theft, Forging Judges’ Signatures 27 Aug 2012 1:00 PM

Fla. Prosecutor Agrees to Step Down for Using Crime Databases to Spy on Political Opponent, Others 27 Aug 2012 12:51 PM

United opposition calls on Ukrainians not to vote for Regions Party 24 Aug 2012 10:35 AM

Poll: Number of supporters of Ukraine's independence in eastern regions shrinks by almost 10% 24 Aug 2012 10:31 AM

Russian spreads like wildfires in dry Ukrainian forest 24 Aug 2012 10:28 AM

Payday Lenders Using Courts to Create Modern-Day Debtors’ Prisons in Missouri, Critics Say 24 Aug 2012 10:25 AM

New Model Jury Instructions Tell Jurors to Turn in Others Who Flout Social Media Ban 24 Aug 2012 10:22 AM

Firm Says Comments, Posters Show Judge's 'Bias' and 'Hostility' 24 Aug 2012 10:15 AM

In Big Win for Plaintiffs, Justices Upend 80-Year-Old Rule on Joint and Several Liability 24 Aug 2012 10:13 AM

SCAMS DIRECTED AT LAWYERS – ANOTHER CAUTIONARY TALE 23 Aug 2012 11:56 AM

Poker Found a Game of Skill Not Covered by U.S. Gambling Act 22 Aug 2012 2:36 PM |

Lawyers in Apple-Samsung Fight Try For Simple Themes 22 Aug 2012 2:33 PM

Dept. of Labor May Set Wages for Foreign Workers in $847 Mil. Case 22 Aug 2012 2:31 PM

Augusta National drops 'no girls allowed' rule 22 Aug 2012 2:23 PM

Court: Ala schools can’t check student immigration status; police can ask for suspects’ papers 22 Aug 2012 2:12 PM

State’s Attorney in Illinois Won’t Prosecute People Who Carry Weapons with ‘No Evil Intent’ 22 Aug 2012 2:01 PM

The National Bank of Ukraine Restricts Purchase of Foreign Currency under Importation Contracts 21 Aug 2012 2:35 PM

UABA Objects to Next WORLD CONGRESS of UKRAINIAN JURISTS Being Held on October 20. 2012

20 Aug 2012 10:33

Ukrainian Opposition Filing Lawsuit Against President 20 Aug 2012 11:28 AM

U.S. Government Statement Regarding the Verdict in the Yuriy Lutsenko Trial 20 Aug 2012 10:38 AM

Leaks at the Supreme Court 20 Aug 2012 10:19 AM

How the Supreme Court Came to Embrace Strip Searches for Trivial Offenses 20 Aug 2012 10:08 AM

Discipline Sought for Lawyer Who Filed Pleadings Calling a Judge ‘Black-Robed Bigot’ 17 Aug 2012 6:16 PM

Judge Accepts Australian Lawyer’s Argument That He Forgot Stealing Two Paintings 17 Aug 2012 6:12 PM

Ukraine Picks Exxon Mobil-led Group to Develop Black Sea Field 17 Aug 2012 6:07 PM

I Can Has Political Advertising: Cat-Themed Opposition Billboards Taken Down In Ukraine 17 Aug 2012 6:00 PM

Appeals court rules condemned Va. man in murder-for-hire case should be exonerated, freed 17 Aug 2012 5:56 PM

Ukraine Court Upholds Decision on Tymoshenko, Lutsenko 17 Aug 2012 5:46 PM

Appeals court in Virginia rejects Texas man’s bid for new hearing in ‘Norfolk 4’ case 16 Aug 2012 12:46 PM

Attorney Faces Disbarment for Smuggling Cuban Cigars in 1990s 16 Aug 2012 11:22 AM

6th Circuit OKs Warrantless Tracking of Cellphones 16 Aug 2012 11:12 AM

People First: The latest in the watch on Ukrainian democracy 14 Aug 2012 12:01 PM |

Fears rising over fate of two refugees wanted by Russia 14 Aug 2012 11:58 AM

Mommy, kids won’t play with me – can you make them? 14 Aug 2012 11:53 AM |

Virginia New Majority group pushes health care, voting rights 14 Aug 2012 11:45 AM

House Committee Sues AG Holder for Civil Contempt, Asks Judge to Nix Obama Executive Privilege Claim

14 Aug 2012 11:34 AM

Top Nevada Court Says Attorney Son Can Represent Dad in Divorce From Mom 14 Aug 2012 11:30 AM

Ukraine law students pioneers for their country 13 Aug 2012 3:18 PM

Still in courts over election, Lutsenko might get another term for negligence 13 Aug 2012 11:34 AM

Judge: No right to same-sex marriage 13 Aug 2012 11:01 AM

Civil Rights Activist Morris Dees Receives ABA Medal 10 Aug 2012 12:35 PM |

Lawyer Who Picked Up Client’s Kids at School, Drove Them Around Aimlessly, Gets 6-Month Suspension

10 Aug 2012 12:32 PM

Law Schools Could Be Admitting 80 Percent of Their Applicants This Fall, Statistics Suggest 10 Aug 2012 12:30 PM

Єврокомісія почала розслідування проти Газпрому 04 Sep 2012 4:03 PM

Данило КУРДЕЛЬЧУК: Примірна типовість чи чергова нетипова щедрість ? 04 Sep 2012 10:50 AM

Рада планує легалізувати арешт за мирні зібрання, не радячись з Європою 04 Sep 2012 2:29 AM

Москаль просить Пшонку порушити справи проти керівників облрад, що визнали російську регіональною

26 Aug 2012 6:50 PM

Леонід Кравчук: Україну заважають будувати внутрішні вороги 24 Aug 2012 2:19 AM

Апеляційна колегія підтвердила законність ліквідації Об'єднання українців Росії 23 Aug 2012 8:37 AM

Кучма вважає недолугим "мовний закон" Колесніченка-Ківалова. 22 Aug 2012 1:56 PM

За десять років у Прип'яті підірвуть усі будинки. 22 Aug 2012 1:52 PM

Українські олімпійці заявили про дискримінацію та залякування з боку керівництва. 22 Aug 2012 1:50 PM

Лише російська мова отримала статус регіональної після введення в дію скандального закону Ківалова-Колесніченка. 20 Aug 2012 5:00 PM |

Статус російської мови в Україні хвилює тільки 4% громадян 20 Aug 2012 10:41 AM

Москаль: АП блокує визнання регіональними мов, окрім російської 20 Aug 2012 4:14 AM

На Одещині надали регіонального статусу російській, але не захотіли прирівняти до неї болгарську.

18 Aug 2012 11:30 AM

Тернопільська облрада оголосила закон про мови «поза законом» 16 Aug 2012 3:18 PM

Вищий адмінсуд не пустив Тимошенко і Луценка на вибори 15 Aug 2012 12:07 PM

З 2 млн підручників, закуплених для молодших класів, 1,9 млн російськомовні. 15 Aug 2012 10:03 AM

Регіонал пропонує усі мови, крім української, визнати іноземними 14 Aug 2012 8:26

Одеська міськрада надала російській мові статусу регіональної 13 Aug 2012 8:35 AM

Янукович підписав закон про мовну політику 08 Aug 2012 5:07 PM

В Італії заарештували екс-майора Мельниченка 04 Aug 2012 4:06 AM

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August 9, 2012 UABA News Update

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 23:36:23 GMT

DATE: August 9, 2012

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Thursday through Sunday, October 18 – 21, 2012 Click for Details

All captions have imbedded links to the full articles on the UABA website. To access the article, CLICK on the paragraph caption!

Ukraine's President signs contentious Russian language bill into law

08 Aug 2012 4:59 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich on Wednesday signed into law a bill, which will make Russian the official language in parts of the former Soviet republic, angering opponents who warn it risks splitting the country. The political opposition, which has united to fight Yanukovych's Party of the Regions in an October 28 election, also cried foul after election authorities refused to allow jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko run in the vote. A statement by the united opposition Batkivschyna (Fatherland) said her exclusion by the central election commission had been carried out on Yanukovych's direct instructions and amounted to "a violation of the rights of millions of our fellow citizens who support Yulia Tymoshenko".Yanukovich's Regions rushed the language bill through parliament last month in what opponents saw as an attempt to rally flagging public support in Russian-speaking regions ahead of the October vote. Read More

Янукович підписав закон про мовну політику

08 Aug 2012 5:07 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Віктор Янукович доручив Кабінету Міністрів утворити робочу групу для удосконалення мовного законодавстваПрезидент Віктор Янукович підписав закон "Про засади державної мовної політики" та доручив Кабінету Міністрів утворити робочу групу для розробки та внесення системних пропозицій з удосконалення законодавства щодо застосування мов в Україні.Як повідомляє прес-служба президента, у дорученні президента вказано, що метою діяльності створюваної робочої групи є забезпечення всебічного розвитку і функціонування української мови в усіх сферах суспільного життя на всій території держави, гарантування вільного розвитку, використання і захисту всіх рідних мов громадян України.У дорученні президента також йдеться про необхідність затвердження Державної програми всебічного розвитку і функціонування української мови.Верховна Рада ухвалила закон про мови 3 липня. Read More

Suit Claims Spirit Airlines Misleads Customers About Reason for ‘Usage Fee’

08 Aug 2012 5:38 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

A class action lawsuit filed Monday evening claims Spirit Airlines is misleading passengers by implying its “passenger usage fees” are a government tax or fee. Spirit’s website says usage fees range from $8.99 to $16.99 each way, the Miami Herald reports.

2 Lawyers Face Criminal Contempt Case for Appealing OK of New Counsel for Client Seeking Execution

08 Aug 2012 5:34 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

En Banc 7th Circuit Says Parking Tickets May Violate Privacy Statute; Posner Predicts Scofflaw Suits

08 Aug 2012 5:29 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Euro architect Otmar Issing: Some members could leave

08 Aug 2012 5:17 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Ukraine, Russia to delimit seas

07 Aug 2012 5:38 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Miron Sycz: Ukraine will be a part of the EU, I don't see any other way

07 Aug 2012 5:34 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Indiana gets real on immigration

07 Aug 2012 5:17 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Skadden's contract in Ukraine raises questions

07 Aug 2012 11:44 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

On Aug. 28, Yulia Tymoshenko and the nation of Ukraine will clash in the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg. The former prime minister is suing the government because she believes her rights – including to a fair trial -- were violated in the course of a lengthy trial that sent her to prison for seven years. Defendant Ukraine is collecting ammunition with the help of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, an American law firm that was contracted by the Justice Ministry earlier this year. The company was hired to look closer at Tymoshenko's trial in Ukraine, and then to produce a report with its findings to be used in the European court. But even before the report is out, Skadden's work in Ukraine is raising a lot of questions and criticism. Skadden failed to respond to multiple requests for comments for this story. Read More

Ghost Town Revisited

06 Aug 2012 11:47 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Melnychenko asks court not to extradite him to Ukraine

06 Aug 2012 11:43 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Celebrity politics in Ukraine

06 Aug 2012 11:37 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Me? Cantankerous? Scalia Says It Isn’t True, Needles Posner in Defense of Immigration Dissent

06 Aug 2012 11:35 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

ABA House to Consider Ethics Rule Changes to Help Young and Mobile Lawyers

06 Aug 2012 11:28 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Judge Postpones Attempted Murder Trial So Juror Can Attend ‘Law & Order’ Tryout

06 Aug 2012 11:21 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Woman Hurt in Pet Chimp Attack Seeks OK to Sue State for $150M, Says Officials Ignored Danger Signs

06 Aug 2012 11:13 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Lazarenko Will Lead Political Party in Ukraine Election–From Prison

03 Aug 2012 7:18 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Average Americans don't need assault weapons - by Ronald Martin

03 Aug 2012 7:14 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Bill that restricts protests at military funerals awaits Obama's signature

03 Aug 2012 7:12 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

State spending moves further into shadows with new law

03 Aug 2012 7:09 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Netflix Notifies Customers of Class Action Settlement; Privacy Groups Will Benefit

02 Aug 2012 12:19 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

New Md. Law May Be First in Country Banning Employers From Seeking Workers’ Social Media Passwords

02 Aug 2012 12:15 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

During Drought China Turns to Ukraine as Food Source

02 Aug 2012 12:11 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

New York skyscraper to be illuminated with colors of Ukraine's flag

02 Aug 2012 12:06 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Ukraine to Conduct Two Tenders for Exploration and Production of Oil & Gas at Foros and Skifska fields of the Black Sea under Production Sharing Agreements

30 Jul 2012 4:35 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

In Buyer Beware Decision, Judge Tosses Grads’ Suit Against Cooley Law School

30 Jul 2012 4:29 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

A federal judge in Michigan has dismissed a suit by 12 Cooley law grads claiming they were misled about their job prospects. Read More

Judge bars birth control mandate

30 Jul 2012 4:22 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

A federal judge in Colorado, acting on one of two dozen cases across the nation challenging the new health care law’s promise of free birth-control for women workers, on Friday temporarily barred the enforcement of that mandate against a Catholic family’s private business firm.. Read More

DNA testing may go on

30 Jul 2012 4:17 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., calling tests of the DNA of individuals arrested by police “a valuable tool for investigating unsolved crimes,” on Monday cleared the way for the state of Maryland to continue that practice until the Supreme Court can act on a challenge to its constitutionality.

Federal Judge Blasts US Prosecutors for ‘Unbelievably Inexcusable Behavior’ in Somali Piracy Case

29 Jul 2012 3:55 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Володимир Василенко: Підписаний Литвином мовний законопроект як продукт правового шахрайства

03 Aug 2012 11:30 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Комісія з питань моралі просить Януковича ветувати "мовний" закон

02 Aug 2012 11:03 AM | Oksana Boyko

Міліція каже, що адвоката не била, а "запобігала його травмуванню"

01 Aug 2012 12:49 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Стокгольмський арбітраж позбавив Газпром контролю над ГТС Литви

01 Aug 2012 2:51 AM | Oksana Boyko

На Банковій усвідомлюють, що мовний закон суперечить Конституції

Литвин дав зелене світло скандальному закону про мови.

31 Jul 2012 9:39 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Козир Росії на переговорах з Україною про заміну старих кораблів Чорноморського флоту РФ на нові – ціна на газ

28 Jul 2012 11:08 AM | Oksana Boyko

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July 26, 2012 UABA News Update

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:13:04 GMT

DATE: July 26, 2012

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Thursday through Sunday, October 18 – 21, 2012 Click for Details

UABA sends letter to OSCE High Commissioner

On July 26, 2012, Knut Vollebaek, the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) completed a visit to Ukraine and discussed with Ukrainian political leaders the Ukrainian drat bill ""on the Principles of State Language Policy". During his visit, Mr. Vollebaek met with the proponents of the bill who, according to media reports, regrettably misinformed him on the circumstances of the bill's alleged passage in the Verchovna Rada and the consequences of this proposed legislation. The UABA letter pointed out this disinformation and urged the High Commissioner to continue his criticism of the Ukrainian language bill as being non-compliant with European and CSCE standards. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE LETTER

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities urges dialogue and compromise on ‘divisive’ language law in Ukraine

KYIV, 26 JULY 2012 – OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Knut Vollebaek described the situation surrounding a new language law in Ukraine as “deeply divisive” at the conclusion of his visit to the country today, and urged the authorities to engage in dialogue. Vollebaek visited the country from 24 to 26 July to update himself on this and several other issues, including Ukraine’s Chairmanship of the OSCE next year. The language law recently adopted by Parliament has proved controversial and has provoked strong reactions, he noted. Earlier this year the High Commissioner provided the authorities with an assessment of the law and advised against adopting it in its current form. Детальніше-Read More

Make English a regional language in Kyiv

19 Jul 2012 8:47 PM | Kateryna Bondar

KyivPost Детальніше-Read More

Регіональна двомовність: від слів - до діла

18 Jul 2012 7:06 PM | Kateryna Bondar

У Конституції чорним по білому написано, що державною мовою є українська. Однак провладні народні депутати не шанують Основний Закон, тому щоразу перед новими виборами висувають свої законодавчі ініціативи із запровадження двомовності в країні. І так - останні 20 років. Однак цього разу їх намагання можуть мати серйозні наслідки. І ось чому. Конституційний переворот Як відомо, 5 червня Верховна Рада прийняла у першому читанні законопроект "Про засади державної мовної політики", ініційований народними депутатами від Партії регіонів Сергієм Ківаловим та Вадимом Колесніченком (у просторіччі "КаКа"), яким намагаються російській мові надати статусу регіональної у 13-ти з 27-ти адміністративно-територіальних одиниць України.За це рішення проголосували 234 з 248 народних депутатів, зареєстрованих у сесійній залі. Серед них - більшість з Партії регіонів, двоє членів фракції НУ-НС, 25 депутатів від КПУ, 2 - від Народної партії, 6 членів групи "Реформи заради майбутнього" і 12 позафракційних депутатів. На цьому парламент не збирається зупинятися і вже готує "мовний" законопроект до прийняття у другому читанні. У тому, що він стане законом, сьогодні ні трохи не сумніваються представники більшості у парламенті, які беруть курс на зміну Конституції. Про що заявив один з авторів скандального законопроекту -- заступник голови фракції Партії регіонів Вадим Колесніченко. "У новій Конституції України повинні бути дві державні мови", - прямо сказав він. На його думку, Конституційна Асамблея, яка нещодавно розпочала свою роботу, має створити новий текст Основного Закону. "Ми будемо добиватися того, щоб до нього увійшла норма про те, що в Україні буде дві державні мови - українська і російська", - цитує слова Колесніченка прес-служба Партії регіонів. Олександра ТИМОЩУК Юридичний вісник України №27, 7-13 липня 2012 Детальніше-Read More

Judge Posner Critic of ‘Goofy’ Trend in GOP, Says He’s Becoming Less Conservative

17 Jul 2012 9:15 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Judge Richard Posner is a big fan of two conservative icons: President Ronald Reagan and economist Milton Friedman.Posner owes his job on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to an appointment by Reagan. But he tells National Public Radio he’s becoming less enamored with the Republican Party.Over the last 10 years, Posner said, there has been “a real deterioration in conservative thinking” that is leading people himself included to re-examine their own beliefs. "I've become less conservative since the Republican Party started becoming goofy," he told NPR. ABAJournal Read More

Are Pit Bulls Inherently Dangerous? Motion Asks Maryland High Court to Reconsider Strict Liability

17 Jul 2012 9:09 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Owners of pit bulls in Maryland are grappling with a state high court decision holding that the breed is inherently dangerous.State lawmaker Heather Mizeur, who backed unsuccessful legislation to overturn the April decision, tells the Baltimore Sun that she has heard from pit bull owners who are getting eviction notices. Animal shelters are also concerned about liability. A task force is now drafting proposed legislation to limit the scope of the ruling, Mizeur said.A motion to reconsider has been filed with the court, delaying the effect the decision, according to an opinion issued this week by the state attorney general. Read More

Suspension Recommended for Attorney Who Ran Errands for Client at $125 Per Hour

17 Jul 2012 9:05 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

A lawyer who, among other misconduct, charged a client her usual billable rate of $125 per hour for running errands and taking him to Walmart should be suspended rather than disbarred, the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board has recommended.Stepping back from an earlier hearing committee recommendation of disbarment , the found in its written opinion (PDF) that Katherine M. Guste was paid about $30,000 over a six-month period between 2007 and 2008 for performing a substantial amount of nonlegal services for a client who was arguably disabled. Additionally, she didn't have a written retainer agreement, didn't deposit any of these funds into a trust account and didn't keep contemporaneous billing records. Read More

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly urges Ukraine to release all political prisoners

16 Jul 2012 10:43 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

In the Monaco Declaration, adopted at the OSCE PA Annual Session on July 9, "the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly reaffirms that there should not be any political prisoners in the OSCE area and calls on Ukraine to free all political prisoners." The OSCE PA also calls on Ukraine to guarantee a functioning, independent, and transparent judiciary by fulfilling its OSCE Human Dimension commitments, particularly with regard to the effective right to fair trial and the respect of the principle of equality in proceedings, as well as to adequate treatment of convicted persons. Read More

Yanukovych: simplification of Ukrainian-Russian border-crossing is under Presidents’ control

16 Jul 2012 10:39 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Simplification of Ukrainian-Russian border-crossing aimed at providing maximum comfort for Ukrainian and Russian citizens is under Presidents’ control. It was stated by the President at the meeting with media representatives after the session of Ukrainian-Russian interstate commission.“Me and Vladimir Vladimirovich have a pleasure to note positive results of joint actions in simplification of Ukrainian-Russian border-crossing by our citizens,” the President said. Read More

Ukraine Upset by Putin 'Rudeness' During Visit

16 Jul 2012 10:26 AM | Liudmyla Mozgova

The visit of President Vladimir Putin to Ukraine, aimed at tightening ties with Russia's neighbour, appeared to have the opposite effect Friday as leading figures castigated him for "rudeness" in showing up four hours late.According to AFP, Putin on Thursday held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych in the Crimean resort of Yalta, seen as an attempt to smooth out a dispute over Ukraine's gas imports from Russia.The Russian president arrived several hours behind schedule but rather than rushing to meet his host he instead went to greet a group of Russian bikers known as the "Night Wolves" whose events he has attended in the past. Read More

Protest the Anti-Constitutional Ukrainian Language Law

16 Jul 2012 9:26 AM | Kateryna Bondar

Passage of Law No. 9073 “On the Principles of Language Policy” in the Parliament of Ukraine will have dramatic ramifications for all of Ukraine’s society. The Venice Commission’s (of the Council of Europe) review of the anti-constitutional measure indicates the gravity and seriousness of the proposed law’s usurpation of the sole state language of Ukraine – Ukrainian. Improper parliamentary procedures by the majority party in the Parliament of Ukraine have led to the fraudulent passage of the intended law which will wreak civil discord in the months prior to Ukraine’s upcoming national elections. UCCA Детальніше-Read More

Forbes: Language as a weapon of mass distraction.

13 Jul 2012 3:03 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

The recent move by Ukraine’s parliament allowing Russian to be used in courts, educational institutions, and other official venues in Russian-speaking regions is not only controversial because the vote was rushed through without giving the opposition a chance to have its say, but was also insulting to a country that is already struggling with its national identity and a cultural divide.The language bill, which hasn’t been signed by president Viktor Yanukovych yet but has been approved by parliament, caused mass protests in Kyiv, with activists clashing with the police, raising the question of Ukrainian sovereignty and its pro-Russian direction. Read More

На сайті ВР з'явилось розпорядження Литвина про скликання Ради 30 липня

26 Jul 2012 12:31 PM | Oksana Boyko

Голова Верховної Ради України Володимир Литвин підписав розпорядження про скликання 30 липня позачергової сесії Верховної Ради шостого скликання.

Про це УНІАН повідомили в прес-службі ВР.

Засідання розпочнеться о 10 годині. повідомленні зазначається, що В.Литвин на вимогу 157 народних депутатів України та відповідно до частини другої статті 83 Конституції України підписав розпорядження про скликання позачергової сесії Верховної Ради України. Планується розгляд кадрових питань, що стосуються компетенції Верховної Ради України, проектів законів щодо внесення змін до Державного бюджету України на 2012 рік, питання ратифікації, проекти законів економічного спрямування. http://www.unian.ua/print/517045

Газпром може припинити поставки в Польщу, щоб не дати шансу Україні

23 Jul 2012 3:13 AM | Oksana Boyko

"Газпром" відмовляється від зниження цін на газ для польських споживачів, а в разі програшу в судах обіцяє припинити їм постачання, щоб не створювати прецендент, яким може скористатися український "Нафтогаз".

PGNiG може лишитися зовсім без газу У п'ятницю про такі підсумки переговорів з російською монополією повідомили у польській PGNiG. У п'ятницю генеральний директор польської нафтогазової компанії Polskie Gornictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo (PGNiG) Гражина Петровська-Олива заявила, що не бачить можливості позасудового врегулювання конфлікту з "Газпромом" щодо перегляду контракту і зниження ціни газу, пише Комерсант-Україна. http://www.unian.ua/print/516248

Заява голодувальників біля Українського дому про продовження акції

18 Jul 2012 4:05 AM | Oksana Boyko

16 липня 2012, в день прийняття Декларації про державний Сувернітет України, учасники акції на захист української мови, що відбувається біля Українського дому, заявили про продовження безстрокового голодування. Повний текст заяви, яку зачитала голодувальниця 26-річна Оксана Неживенко: http://www.bilozerska.info/?p=9037

Конституцію Криму хочуть прирівняти до основного закону Україну

18 Jul 2012 3:03 AM | Oksana Boyko

Керівництво Криму готує зміни в Конституцію, щоб повернути собі законодавче право.

Дехто ініціативу Могильова сприймає як піар-хід

Кримське керівництво пропонує прирівняти в правах Конституцію Автономної республіки до Конституції Україні і наділити Верховну раду АРК правом законодавчої ініціативи. Такі пропозиції робоча група, створена головою Ради міністрів Криму Анатолієм Могильовим, планує протягом двох місяців подати на розгляд Конституційної асамблеї при президенті Януковичі. В опозиції заявляють, що реалізація подібних ініціатив буде означати "вихід Криму зі складу України", пише Коммерсант-Україна. http://www.unian.ua/print/515431

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July 12, 2012 UABA News Update

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 01:51:31 GMT

DATE: July 12, 2012

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UKRAINIAN AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION
STATEMENT
REGARDING THE UKRAINIAN LAW
"ON THE PRINCIPLES OF LANGUAGE POLICY"

Thursday through Sunday, October 18 – 21, 2012 Click for Details

UABA statement regarding the Ukrainian law on languages in as reported in Ukrainian Media

12 Jul 2012 7:39 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Please follow the links below in order to observe recent appearances in the world media of the UABA statement regarding the Ukrainian law on languages.
1) Ukrainian -American Bar Assn. sharply critical of language law - Ukraine Business. Read More
2) Заява Асоціації Українських Правників Америки Щодо Закону України "Про Засади Державної Мовної Політики." Taras Kuzio Blog Read More
3)Українські правники Америки: мовний закон грубо порушує Конституцію - The Week/Тиждень Read More

Federal Judge Irked at Lawyer for Playing ‘Race Card,’ Orders Written Apology

07 Jul 2012 11:53 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

A federal judge in Texas has rejected a prosecution contention that a defense lawyer should forfeit attorney fees of $50,000 for suggesting to jurors that the prosecution of his client was racially motivated. Read More

Foreign media view as to the Ukrainian law on languages

07 Jul 2012 11:38 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

•· Ukraine seethes after Russian language law voted in. Read More
•· Language Law Triggers Violence in Ukraine. Read More
•· Playing with ambiguities: Ukraine's language law. Read More

Ambassador Volodymyr Vassylenko; Opposition to the Ukrainian law "On the Principles of Language Policy"

05 Jul 2012 7:23 PM | Myroslaw Smorodsky

On July 3, 2012, the Parliament [Verchovna Rada] of Ukraine, passed legislation under very dubious circumstances that would make the Russian language an official state language of Ukraine in violation of the Ukrainian constitution. Ambassador Volodymyr Vassylenko has opposed this legislation vehemently and has penned letters on behalf of numerous Ukrainian organizations to the President of Ukraine and to the Speaker of the Parliament detailing the illegality of this law and its divisiveness of Ukrainian society.
Links to these letters are as follows:

Opinion regarding the new law ,"On the principles of language policy." \

07 Jul 2012 11:34 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

The new law that was adopted by Verhovna Rada concerning the principles of state language policy makes the Russian language a regional language in thirteen out of twenty seven regions, it was disguised by naming it based on the European charter of minority languages and was enacted in violation of the legislative process for enacting laws in Parliament. The Constitution of Ukraine clearly states that, “The State ensures the comprehensive development and functioning of the Ukrainian language in all spheres of social life throughout the entire territory of Ukraine “ and therefore, Ukrainian- American Bar Association believes that the bill is a threat to Ukrainian language and culture as a whole, as well as an attempt to divide Ukraine between minority and majority groups.

In my opinion, this law is a disgrace on the Ukrainian legislative power system. To become a law the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Volodymyr Lytvyn and the President need to endorse the document.

Therefore, the Ukrainian- American Bar Association is hoping that the Ukrainian President will make a decision that will be in the best interest of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian Constitution.

Political Maneuvering Stalls Language Bill in Ukraine

07 Jul 2012 12:23 PM | Kateryna Bondar

Детальніше-Read More

US Law Schools Expanding Clinical, Professionalism Offerings, Survey Shows

06 Jul 2012 11:28 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

U.S. law schools have been beefing up their clinical and professionalism programs in response to the shifting economy and various calls for curricula changes from academia and the media, a new survey shows. Read More

Liudmyla Mozgova selected as UABA Summer 2012 Intern

Liudmyla Mozgova is a citizen of Ukraine and a U.S. permanent resident. She resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia and worked as a paralegal at the law firm of Bullock & Cooper, Virginia which focused on criminal and family law. She received her Bachelor of Law degree in 2011 from the National University named after Shevchenko T.G and Masters in American Law in 2012 from the law school of William and Mary. While in the law school, she assisted the law firm of Troutman and Saunders, Norfolk, Virginia, with maritime law and translation of documents from Ukrainian to English. Her professional interests lie in the area of international law and immigration.

ECHR Fines Ukraine €15,000 in Lutsenko Case

03 Jul 2012 9:45 PM | Kateryna Bondar

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday that Ukrainian opposition leader Yuriy Lutsenko was arbitrarily arrested and detained, and ordered Ukraine to pay 15,000 euros in non-pecuniary damage. The ECHR held that no valid reasons had been given for Lutsenko’s detention, that he had not been duly informed of the reasons for his detention, and, that the lawfulness of his arrest and detention had not been properly reviewed. RIA Novosti Детальніше-Read More Read the Opinion of the Court

Court Backs Obama on Health Law

30 Jun 2012 10:29 PM | Kateryna Bondar

A divided Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Obama administration's health-care law, in one of the most anticipated high-court rulings in a generation. Детальніше-Read More

Justices rule for underage killers sentenced to life without parole

27 Jun 2012 8:54 AM | Kateryna Bondar

The Supreme Court ruled that two men convicted of killings committed when they were 14 cannot be sentenced to life in prison without at least the possibility of parole. CNN Детальніше-Read More

Supreme Court mostly rejects Arizona immigration law; gov says 'heart' remains

27 Jun 2012 8:49 AM | Kateryna Bondar

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down key parts of an Arizona law that sought to deter illegal immigration, but let stand a controversial provision allowing police to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other laws. Детальніше-Read More

Данило Курдельчук i Юлія Морозова: Газпром подасть до суду? Чекаємо!!!

25 Jun 2012 9:29 AM

Днями озвучені наміри «Нафтогазу України» скоротити майже у півтора разу щорічні обсяги закупівлі газу у російського «Газпрому» (з передбачених контрактом від 19 січня 2009 року загальних 52 млрд. кубометрів і обов’язкових 41,6 млрд. до 27 млрд.) викликали, звичайно, негативну реакцію російського газового монополіста. Джерело у «Газпромі» заявило, що не виключаються судові розгляди з Україною.

Можливо, початок розгляду «газпромівського» позову до «Нафтогазу України» і справді послугував би початком розривання десятирічного газового контракту упівлі-продажу російського газу від 19 січня 2009 року.

Проте звернення «Газпрому» до стокгольмського арбітражу з позовом до «Нафтогазу» за недобір газу не обіцяє російській монополії нічого хорошого. Про юридичні наслідки цих намірів DT.UA розповіли президент Укрінюрколегії, заслужений юрист України Данило Курдельчук та юрист-міжнародник, адвокат Юлія Морозова. ZN,UA Детальніше-Read More

Opinion recap: Easing the “crack” disparity

24 Jun 2012 11:03 AM | Kateryna Bondar

A law passed by Congress in 2010 reduced the prison sentences that judges may impose on individuals who are convicted of crimes involving cocaine in the form of “crack.” Lyle Denniston, ScotusBlog Детальніше-Read More

Ukrainian Competition Authority Threatens with Maximum Fines for Unauthorized Mergers

24 Jun 2012 9:13 AM | Kateryna Bondar

On June 18, 2012 the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMC) announced that starting from July 1, 2012 it will be imposing the maximum statutory fines for unauthorized mergers. Thus, companies closing transactions without the Ukrainian clearance may be hit with a fine of 5% of their global group-wide annual turnover. This announcement followed after the largest fine in AMC's history (approx. EUR 41.5M) was imposed last week on the manufacturers of wood-based panels, members of a bid rotation cartel.

I Asters Law Firm Newsletter

Legal job market hits new low: BC Law lists job below minimum wage

24 Jun 2012 9:00 AM | Kateryna Bondar

By now, most people know a law degree hardly guarantees law school graduates will snag a good job, let alone a high-paying BigLaw position. But it may be even tougher than you think to get a high-paying legal job just out of law school. Детальніше-Read More

КС не дозволив парламенту вносити зміни до конституції в частині скасування недоторканності президента і суддів.

11 Jul 2012 11:46 AM | Oksana Boyko

Конституційний Суд України не дозволив Верховній Раді вносити зміни до Конституції в частині скасування недоторканності Президента і суддів. Про це йдеться в оприлюдненому сьогодні рішенні Конституційного Суду щодо ухваленого ВР 20 червня законопроекту про внесення змін до Основного Закону, який передбачав скасування недоторканності депутатів, Президента та суддів. Цей законопроект був внесений опозицією.

http://www.unian.ua/print/514286

Посол США пояснив, чому американці не інвестують в Україну

10 Jul 2012 12:51 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Рейтинг інвестиційної привабливості України є вельми низьким. Це зазначив посол США Джон Теффт під час лекції для студентів Дніпропетровського національного університету. Read More

Рукавички донецьких студентів допоможуть німим заговорити

10 Jul 2012 12:47 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Група донецьких студентів QuadSquad, в рамках проекту Microsoft's Imagine Cup створили рукавички Enable Talk, які дозволяють глухонімим людям переводити жести в мову. Read More

Заяву про злочин у парламенті подано до Генпрокуратури

Народний депутат Микола Томенко направив звернення генеральному прокурору Віктору Пшонці. http://www.unian.ua/print/513564

Литвин каже, що не може підписати закон про мови

06 Jul 2012 8:38 AM | Oksana Boyko

Голова Верховної Ради України Володимир Литвин не підпише закон про засади державної мовної політики.Володир Литвин знайшов, як всім зберегти обличчя Як передає кореспондент УНІАН, про це він заявив сьогодні в інтерв’ю телеканалу «Рада».«Закон не можна підписати, немає підстав для того, щоб підписати», - сказав він.закону з урахуванням поправок, які внесені до нього. http://www.unian.ua/print/513405

Рада відмовилась розглядати відставку Литвина

06 Jul 2012 4:10 AM | Oksana Boyko

Верховна Рада не підтримала внесення до порядку денного питання про відставку спікера Володимира Литвина.

http://tyzhden.ua/News/54719

У парламенті зареєстрували письмову заяву Володимира Литвина про звільнення з посади голови Верховної Ради

05 Jul 2012 5:35 PM | Oksana Boyko

У парламенті зареєстрували письмову заяву Володимира Литвина про звільнення з посади голови Верховної Ради. Про це повідомляють на офіційному сайті парламенту. І, за словами голови фракції регіоналів Олександра Єфремова, завтра це питання мають внести на порядок денний і призначити день розгляду. Тим часом у сесійній залі не вщухають суперечки навколо мовного закону. Сьогодні одинадцятеро депутатів відкликали свої голоси за його ухвалення. Зокрема, 5 обранців з Народної Партії і ще четверо з Партії Регіонів. Водночас, кілька депутатів попросили додати їхні голоси. Опозиція хоче переголосувати документ. http://1tv.com.ua/ru/news/2012/07/05/23690

Екс-прем'єрка Юлія Тимошенко жорстко розкритикувала прийняття закону про мови.

05 Jul 2012 12:38 PM | Liudmyla Mozgova

Юлія Тимошенко назвала більшість у Раді "картковими шулерам", а закон про мови назвала законом про "підлість та негідність". http://tsn.ua/politika/yanukovich-ogolosiv-viynu-ukrayini-timoshenko.html

Регіонали проштовхнули скандальний закон про мови

03 Jul 2012 6:34 PM | Oksana Boyko

Сьогодні парламент перевершив сам себе. Скандальний "мовний" законопроект регіоналів Вадима Колесніченка і Сергія Ківалова прийняли. І те, як це було зроблено, шокувало навіть бувалих депутатів.

Голосування відбулося у перші хвилини пленарного засідання. Перед цим депутати від Партії регіонів, які зазвичай беруть участь у силових протистояннях, зайняли місця в ложі уряду. Пізніше вони завадили депутатам від опозиції зірвати голосування. Незважаючи на те, що опозиціонери вирвали мікрофони в президії Ради, віце-спікер Адам Мартинюк "запустив" голосування з місця голови ВР Володимира Литвина.

Як розповів позафракційний депутат Тарас Чорновіл

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June 21, 2012 UABA News Update

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 21:50:58 GMT

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Prof. Alexander Motyl to be Keynote Speaker at the UABA Convention in Jamaica

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The Ukrainian American Bar Association is pleased to announce that Prof. Alexander Motyl has graciously accepted its invitation to be the Keynote Speaker at its 35th Annual Convention to be held on October 18 - 21, 2012 at the Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort & Spa, Mammee Bay, Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

ALEXANDER J. MOTYL is professor of political science at Rutgers University-Newark, as well as a writer and painter. He served as associate director of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University from 1992 to 1998. A specialist on Ukraine, Russia, and the USSR, and on nationalism, revolutions, empires, and theory, he is the author of Pidsumky imperii; Puti imperii; Imperial Ends: The Decay, Collapse, and Revival of Empires; Revolutions, Nations, Empires: Conceptual Limits and Theoretical Possibilities; Dilemmas of Independence: Ukraine after Totalitarianism; Sovietology, Rationality, Nationality: Coming to Grips with Nationalism in the USSR; Will the Non‑Russians Rebel? State, Ethnicity, and Stability in the USSR; The Turn to the Right: The Ideological Origins and Development of Ukrainian Nationalism, 1919–1929; and the editor of more than ten volumes, including The Encyclopedia of Nationalism. Motyl’s novels include Whiskey Priest; Who Killed Andrei Warhol; Flippancy; The Jew Who Was Ukrainian; and a work in progress, My Orchidia. His poems have appeared in Counterexample Poetics, Istanbul Literary Review, and New York Quarterly (forthcoming). He has done performances of his fiction at the Cornelia Street Café, the Bowery Poetry Club, and the Ukrainian Museum in New York. Motyl’s artwork has been shown in solo and group shows in New York, Philadelphia, and Toronto; his art is represented by The Tori Collection. Prof. Motyl is also a contributor to the World Affairs Journal and the posts regularly to his blog Ukraine's Orange Blues.

Ukraine: blame Germany for Tymoshenko jail term

In an interview with Italian paper Corriere della Sera published on Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko said Germany and other European states had pressured Tymoshenko into signing the gas deal with Russia in 2009 that led to her conviction for abuse of office last year. The minister said that was the only reason why German Chancellor Angela Merkel was now supporting the imprisoned opposition leader. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych also condemned western criticism of Tymoshenko's punishment, which several European Union leaders have slammed as politically motivated. Rebecca Harms, head of the Green Party's faction in the European Parliament, did not rule out imposing sanctions on Ukraine in response to Tymoshenko's imprisonment. The

Summary Reversal Could Be Used in Citizens United Sequel; Is It Appropriate?

The question in a Citizens United sequel is not whether the U.S. Supreme Court will accept the case but how the justices will reverse the Montana Supreme Court. That’s the assessment of a New York Times Sidebar column, which says it’s “pretty much a sure thing” that the Supreme Court will grant cert after the Montana Supreme Court rejected Citizens United. The justices are considering the cert petition on Thursday. The Montana Supreme Court said it wasn’t bound by Citizens United, partly because of the state’s unique history of political corruption. Its ruling upheld a state ban on independent campaign spending by corporations. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

U.S. urges narrowing human rights claims

The Obama Administration urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to close the U.S. courts to most lawsuits involving claims that a foreign corporation helped a foreign government engage in human rights abuses in that country. While arguing that the door to American courts should be left somewhat ajar to allow some abuse claims, the options that would remain would appear to be quite narrow, with a variety of legal hurdles to overcome. The government’s new reaction to lawsuits under the Alien Tort Statute, first enacted in 1789, was expressed in a brief filed in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum. That specific lawsuit, the brief argued, should not be permitted. In particular, when the link to the U.S. “is slight,” the filing contended, “a U.S. court applying U.S. law should be a forum of last resort, if available at all.” Lyle Denniston, SCOTUSblog Детальніше-Read More

EU-Ukraine: from fatigue to irritation

Ukraine’s favorite foreign policy game is called ‘multi-vectorness’ – a constant process of ‘eschewing choice’ as this recent study explained. For years Ukraine sought to extract concessions and be treated nicely by both Russia and the EU or US not because it was sticking to its promises, but because it played sometimes skilfully and sometimes brazenly on contradictions between external actors. A simplified version of the rule of rules of the game, in its Ukrainian version, looks the following way: 1. Promise both Russia and the EU everything they might want to hear (usually integration into some Russian- or EU-led initiative);
2. Ask for something in exchange (market access, lower gas prices, financial assistance, opportunities for lucrative but opaque deals etc).

3. Get what you asked and drag your feet on delivering on your promises.4. If either the EU or Russia is upset for not getting what they were promised – threaten that you will intensify cooperation with the other external partner. Euobserver.com Детальніше-Read More

Former Dewey Partner’s Suit Compares Firm Leaders’ Lateral Partner Recruitment to ‘Ponzi Scheme’

A former partner of Dewey & LeBoeuf has filed suit against leaders of the now-bankrupt law firm, contending that they engaged in a multiple acts of deceit after the 2007 merger that created the firm and misrepresented its revenue in an effort to persuade incoming lateral partners to contribute the funds to keep it running. At the same time, says plaintiff Henry Bunsow, the defendants knew the firm was in financial trouble that would likely mean lateral partners would not be able to get their capital back as promised if they left the firm. The alleged pattern of deceit by the defendants, which Bunsow says in the suit amounted to "running a Ponzi scheme in order to enrich themselves and select partners of the firm," amounted to a "conspiracy and scheme to deprive partners of their capital investment in Dewey," the suit alleges. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

Should Law Grads Be Billed as Associates Before Passing Bar? Issue Raised in Ogletree Suit

Maricopa County has taken a new tack in its billing dispute with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart. A counterclaim filed by the county is a would-be class action filed on behalf of any public sector clients that have been overbilled by the firm. According to the countersuit, the county has identified 36 instances in which Ogletree classified nonattorney law grads as associates for billing purposes. The counterclaim also accuses Ogletree of funneling some of its legal work to 10 subcontractor law firms that sometimes billed at rates surpassing the amounts allowed in Ogletree's contract with the county. The class action claims fraud and breach of contract. Maricopa County also alleges breach of fiduciary duty in a portion of the countersuit dealing with its own claims. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

Court hearing of Oksana Makar case to be open

A court has taken a decision on an open court hearing of the case of rape and murder victim Oksana Makar, apart from the court sessions at which secret evidence will be examined, the media liaisons department of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine has reported. After returning from the deliberation room, the judges announced their decision on the petitions lodged by prosecutors and defense lawyers on the holding of a public hearing on the Makar case. Judges satisfied the prosecutor's petition to hold a public court heating, except for some court sessions at which secret evidence will be studied. Kyiv Post Детальніше-Read More

Overview of Recent Legislative Changes in Ukrainian Aviation Industry

I. Ratification of the Cape Town Convention

On 6 June 2012 Ukrainian Parliament ratified the Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and the Protocol thereto on Matters Specific to Aircraft Equipment, both dated 16 November 2001 (together the "Cape Town Convention").

The Cape Town Convention introduces internationally recognized collateral system in aviation financing that enables security interest to be created over the aircraft and related equipment, upon registration with an electronic international aircraft registry in order to guarantee the priority of creditors' claims against other parties. In this manner, the creditors are better protected against any debtor's default and insolvency risks, including ability to request removal of an aircraft from the national civil aircraft register and export it, as the existence and effectiveness of their collateral is assured by the registry system.

Consequently, entities involved in the aircraft financing will have more confidence in transactions and the resulting reduction in risk will permit discounted finance costs. Debtors are in turn protected from unwarranted seizure of the assets by creditors, provided they have properly maintained their financial obligations.

Despite its obvious advantages, the ratification of the Cape Town Convention may not have an instant tangible impact on Ukraine's aviation market as it does not apply retrospectively. In other words, the existing financing agreements would have to be amended in order to benefit from the international aircraft registry.

Ukraine has made a reservation not to apply provisions of the Cape Town Convention to the internal transactions with respect to all types of aircraft objects.

The law ratifying the Cape Town Convention must be signed by the President of Ukraine and officially published to become effective. The Cape Town Convention will enter into force in Ukraine on the first day of the month following the expiration of three months period after the date of deposit of the ratification instrument.

II. Introduction of the Interest Rebate Subsidy

On 5 June 2012 Ukrainian Parliament adopted amendments the Law of Ukraine "On Development of Aircraft Construction Industry" (the "Amendments") enhancing state support of the national aircraft manufacturers.

Pursuant to the Amendments, Ukrainian aircraft operators are entitled to receive partial reimbursement of interest payments on bank loans attracted for procurement of domestically-manufactured aircraft and spare parts. Subsidy is introduced from 1 January 2013 till 1 January 2017 under the loans extended in national currency. Interest will be refunded at the level of Ukrainian National Bank's discount rate, which is currently equal to 7.5%.

To become effective the Amendments must be signed by the President of Ukraine and officially published.

III. Deregulation of Ukrainian Aviation Industry

On 8 June 2012 amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On the List of Licensing Documents in the Commercial Activity Sphere", adopted by Ukrainian Parliament on 17 May 2012 and abolishing (a) permit for irregular international flights; (b) permit for performing aviation works by foreign operators, joint ventures and enterprises wholly owned by foreign investors; and (c) permit for conducting construction works and other activities on the aerodrome area entered into force. The amendments are apparently directed at liberalization of state control in Ukraine's aviation market.

Asters Law Firm Newsletter

Liability for Violation of Personal Data Protection Law

Recently adopted Law on Personal Data Liability (Law of Ukraine No. 3454-VI of 2 June 2011 "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine as to Increase of Liability for Violation of the Personal Data Protection Law") comes into force on 1 July 2012. The said law provides for administrative and criminal liability of individuals, executives of legal entities as well as private entrepreneurs for violations in the sphere of personal data processing, namely for illegal and non-authorized disclosure. Also the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences and the Criminal Code of Ukraine are amended accordingly.

In particular, the statutory penalties will apply for the infringements of a personal data owner's rights which relate to personal data protection, untimely registration of personal databases, violations of data protection procedures, etc.

The incompliance with the requirements of the personal data protection law may result in administrative fines up to UAH 17,000. Further, both individuals and executives may face criminal liability for failure to comply with the rules on collection, storage, use, rectification, erasure, and disclosure of personal data. In the worst case scenario guilty persons may be imprisoned for up to 3 years.

Asters Law Firm Newsletter

Only 65 Percent of 2011 Law Grads Have Jobs Requiring Bar Passage, a Record Low

The overall employment rate nine months after graduation was 85.6 percent, the lowest it has been since 1994, according to a NALP - The Association for Legal Career Professionals press release. Among law grads whose employment status was known, only 65.4 percent were in jobs requiring bar passage, the lowest percentage ever measured by NALP. Only 60 percent were working full-time as lawyers in jobs that required bar passage. The percentage of grads holding part-time jobs stands at nearly 12 percent, up from about 11 percent in 2010 and 2009 and from 6.5 percent in 2008. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

Divisive battle ahead over language issue

The controversial draft language law that was rushed through a first reading on June 5 could halt the gradual spread of the Ukrainian language, which has started to take root in the nation’s 20 years of independence. The bill provides the national framework for local councils to establish any language used by more than 10 percent of the local population as a regional language. Experts say this could result in Russian becoming a regional language in as much as half the country. The Venice Commission noted that it could pose a threat to Ukrainian and “diminish the integrative force of the Ukrainian language and endanger the role that this language has to play as the sole state language.” Experts also say that the bill is full of irregularities and contradictions, as well as spelling and punctuation mistakes. Kyiv Post Детальніше-Read More

Magnitsky Bill Clears First Hurdle in US Congress

On Thursday morning, by a unanimous voice vote, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs approved a bill that offers a rare example of congressional bipartisanship. The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, cosponsored by leading Republicans and Democrats in both houses of Congress, deals with human rights violations in Russia. Sergei Magnitsky was a Moscow lawyer who died in custody in 2009 after reportedly being tortured and denied access to medical care. The Magnitsky Act, which now advances to the House floor, proposes a targeted visa ban and asset freeze against individuals “responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky,” as well as for any “extrajudicial killings, torture, or other gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” in Russia. World Affairs Детальніше-Read More

Tax Stimulus for IT-Industry

Recently, the Ukrainian parliament adopted new legislation introducing certain amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine and other laws and regulations. The draft laws ("Laws") are specifically aimed to support Ukrainian IT-industry, granting certain tax benefits to IT-companies. If the Laws are finally adopted, the tax benefits shall become effective from 1 January 2013 and remain valid for a 10-year period.

The Laws grant preferential tax regime to IT companies involved in software development, database and software designing, data-center services, management and administration of computer systems, IT consulting, etc.

Although, the Laws have yet to be signed by Ukrainian President to become effective, the chances of being ultimately approved seem to be very high.

TAX BENEFITS

Corporate Profit Tax

The Laws reduce the general corporate profit tax ("CPT") rate from 21% down to 5%. To enjoy this special CPT benefit, the company should, inter alia, obtain a relevant conclusion of the State Agency for Science, Innovation and Informatization, evidencing that the company's business meets the statutory criteria (e.g., good tax standing, proper value of the company's assets, etc.)

Value Added Tax

A 10-year VAT exemption applies to domestic supply (i.e., software sale to Ukrainian customers) of software developed by eligible IT companies. Currently, the domestic supply of software is taxable at 20% tax rate in Ukraine.

Personal Income Tax

Employees of eligible IT companies may enjoy a reduced 5% personal income tax rate (the tax rate is currently 15/17%). The reduced tax rate applies to salary and other similar payments, received from the employer. However, the list of job positions eligible for the reduced personal income tax rate shall be further developed and approved by the Ukrainian government.

Social Tax

The Laws also stipulate certain benefits regarding social tax. In particular, the lawmakers left the tax rate unchanged (i.e., 36.76% payable by the employer and 3.6% payable by the employee), but reduced the amount of taxable cap, i.e., in contrast to general cap (which is UAH 18,598 (approx. USD 2,325)), the Laws envisage maximum taxable base for unified social tax of UAH 2,188 (approx. USD 274). This means that amounts of salary exceeding the latter amount will to not be subject to 36.76% and 3.6% social tax respectively. Asters Law Firm Newsletter

UABA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Deadline for applying for the Fall, 2012
internship position is Sept. 21, 2012

Click Here to View Resumes or Job Availabilities posted by UABA Members or Law Students

New on the UABA website The website now has a gadget known as Google Translate. It is on the left-hand upper corner of each page and uses the Google translation engine to translate English pages to Ukrainian and vice versa. Although the translations are not perfect by any means they at least give non-Ukrainian readers the ability to obtain the general gist of what is being said. This also works in reverse, non-English readers can read pages in Ukrainian.
NOTE: All UABA news blogs have RSS feeds; these feeds deliver all new posts to the blogs immediately to your computer. You can easily subscribe to these RSS feeds in your Web Browser such as Windows Internet Explorer or in your email manager, such as Outlook.
If you have any questions, please feel free email myroslaw@smorodsky.com

Check out the new UABA website; WWW.UABA.ORG and become a member!

June 7, 2012 UABA News Update

Thu, 07 Jun 2012 23:29:25 GMT

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Mass. Bar Task Force: Legal Education Could Take a Page from Medical Education’s Book

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The Massachusetts Bar Association's Task Force on the Law, the Economy and Underemployment released a report last week exploring the causes of and solutions for underemployment of law school graduates. The first section of the report compared how law school admissions rates and total numbers of graduates compare with those of medical schools and dental schools. "What can law schools learn from this comparison?" the report asks. The third year of law school should focus more on practical training, the report said. “The task force recommends that the MBA encourage Bay State law schools to reinvent the third year so as to provide greater opportunities for law students to gain practical legal experience and expand opportunities to hone their legal writing skills, beyond that offered through traditional first-year legal writing programs.” The report also recommends the creation of a legal residency program. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

Retired Justice Stevens Hits ‘Misleading’ Parts of Bush v. Gore, Suggests Extension of Rationale

Retired Justice John Paul Stevens took aim at Bush v. Gore, criticizing parts of the controversial opinion as misleading and its reliance of the equal protection clause as lacking a “coherent rationale.” Stevens dissented in Bush v. Gore, arguing that there was no need to intervene in the Florida recount. The majority’s per curiam decision found that a Florida ballot recount violated the equal protection clause because the state supreme court failed to articulate precise standards governing how election officials should determine voter intent based on hanging and dimpled chads; Stevens argued there was no constitutional violation. He said the per curiam majority was “misleading” in its description of changing vote recount standards in Palm Beach County and in its “implicit suggestion” that failing to order a recount of overvotes in the state was error. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

What Risks Do Lawyers Face When Clients Keep Some Legal Tasks In-House Or Assign to Outside Vendors?

As the breakdown of complicated legal tasks among both expanded in-house departments and outside non-firm vendors becomes the new normal, law firms are at greater risk for malpractice and mismanagement claims. ABA Journal business of law reporter Rachel M. Zahorsky discusses with Beazley’s Brant Weidner and solo practitioner and legal ethics professor John Steele the challenges of this trend for outside law firms and what lawyers can do to protect themselves and their clients when faced with the increased disaggregation of legal work. Детальніше-Read More

Ukraine to Conduct Two Tenders for Exploration and Production of Oil & Gas at Foros and Skifska fields of the Black Sea under Production Sharing Agreements

On 23 May 2012 the Ukrainian Government approved terms for 2 tenders on execution of production sharing agreements for production of oil and gas at deep water parts of the Black Sea by Resolutions No. 454 (the "Foros Resolution") and 455 (the "Skifska Resolution"). Resolutions become effective on 30 May 2012. The main tender terms and conditions provided by the Foros and Skifska Resolutions are as follows:

•· The winner of each tender is obliged to pay a signature bonus no less than USD 300 mln. Amount of the bonus suggested by each tender participant will be one the most important criteria for choosing the tender winner.
•· The minimum size of investments in the scope of the 1st stage of exploration cannot be less than USD 200 mln. Size of investments for the 2nd stage of exploration, including pilot production, and the overall investments in the project, including commercial production, will be determined based on the results of each tender.
•· The maximum share of the investor in compensation cost is 70 percent and the minimum share of the State in the profit cost is 20 percent.
•· Price of the tender documentation package, which includes geological information, is USD 1,250,000 for Foros subsoil section and USD 1,500,000 for Skifska and the tender participation fee for each tender is USD 125,000.
•· Acreage of the Foros field is 13,614.9 km2 and 16,698.2 km2 for the Skifska field.
•· The term of PSA is 50 years.

The official announcement of tenders on execution of production sharing agreements for Foros and Skifska fields will take place 2 weeks after the Foros and Skifska Resolutions become effective. Tender applications are accepted within 2 months since the official announcement of tenders and the winners will be announced 1 month after the deadline for submission of tender applications.

The list of persons eligible for submitting a tender application includes, inter alia: citizens of Ukraine, foreign natural persons, Ukrainian and foreign legal entities, an association of legal entities. Asters Law Firm Newsletter

Futures contract will lead to boost in grain exports

Despite its position as a top exporter, the Black Sea has been, until recently, the only wheat producing area in the world without its own futures contract. That’s why CME Group, the world's largest futures exchange, announced the launch of the Black Sea wheat futures contract at the Black Sea Grain Conference held in Kyiv in April. The contract will begin trading June 6. The contract was created with a variety of market participants from the Black Sea region in mind, including farmers, processors, millers, exporters, end users, traders and investors. Up to now, these participants have mostly had to negotiate a price for deliverable wheat and trust that their counter-party will not back out of the deal in favor of a better one. With an exchange-traded futures contract, both parties can safely transfer their risk with the added benefit of central clearing. Kyiv Post Детальніше-Read More

Teixeira: EU does not need pause for signing Association Agreement with Ukraine

As reported, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said at a meeting with Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti on May 11 that the pause in relations between Ukraine and the European Union would be useful for both sides. The European Union does not intend to take a pause before signing the Association Agreement with Ukraine, Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jose Manuel Pinto Teixeira has said. "As I see it, Mr. Yanukovych made this statement because he understands that the EU currently is not ready to sign the agreement if this issue is raised. But this does not mean that we want to delay anything. Why should we need a pause? However, there are certain people in Ukraine who will not benefit from this agreement. They really have nothing to lose if there is a pause". Kyiv Post Детальніше-Read more

Google GC Sees Message in Verdict Rejecting Oracle Patent Claims

San Francisco jurors ruled for Google in the latest phase of an infringement trial involving smart phone technology. Jurors rejected all of Oracle Corp.’s patent claims over Google’s use of Java technology in Android smart phone software. The Recorder summarizes the result this way: “Oracle, which once touted the whole case as worth $6 billion or more, could walk away with nothing but legal bills.” Google general counsel Kent Walker commented in an interview with the Wall Street Journal. "I think you've seen a lot of patent cases filed lately, and most of them have not resulted in successful outcomes for plaintiffs," he said. "That may send a message to those who might want to do these things in the future." ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

Ukraine faces fresh EU condemnation over Tymoshenko

Pressure has mounted on Kiev in recent days after it emerged that Tymoshenko may now face a murder charge and that the country's chief prosecutor has been given direct political orders to pursue the former premier and other government opponents. Senior EU political figures including commission president José Manual Barroso and foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton have said they will boycott the Ukraine leg of the championship. Pressure is mounting for England's football fixtures in the European championship to be switched to venues in Poland in protest over the Ukraine government's "deteriorating" record of political persecution. "The association agreement cannot be signed so long as there are political prisoners. There will be no free elections while key opposition politicians sit in jail." TheParliament.com Детальніше-Read More

More Than 2,000 Exonerations for False Convictions in the US Since 1989, New Report Says

An unprecedented report asserted that more than 2,000 falsely convicted people of serious crimes have been exonerated in the United States in the past 23 years. In the most complete database of exonerations ever compiled, the new national registry closely examines 873 exonerations from 1989 through March 1, 2012 in close detail, of which nearly half were wrongly convicted of murder. Of those, 101 were sentenced to death, the Washington Post reports. The first-ever published report (PDF) of the National Registry of Exonerations, assembled by the University of Michigan Law School and the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law, highlights grave questions about the legitimacy of the legal justice system. In half of the 873 detailed exonerations, 43 percent of the cases involved mistaken eyewitness identification, and 24 percent of the cases involved false or misleading forensic evidence. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

A (Don’t Be) Dewey Dozen: Use This Checklist to Make Sure Your Firm Isn’t Dewey

Here’s a checklist of 12 questions so to make sure you’re not one of them:

1. Does the firm trust its leadership? 2. Is the firm sufficiently liquid? 3. Can everyone articulate the strategy and value proposition? 4. Do mergers and acquisitions advance the strategy? 5. Are clients firm clients or individual-lawyer clients? 6. Does management render unto Caesar? 7. Does compensation make enough sense that it can be defended? ... ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

Vacancy: DIRECTOR - KYIV FULBRIGHT OFFICE

Applications are invited from American citizens for the Kyiv-based position of Director of the Kyiv Fulbright Office. The Director reports to the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the United States Embassy in Ukraine and to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State in Washington. S/he is responsible for both long-term planning and the day-to-day management of the Fulbright Office’s wide range of programs and budget. The Director is expected to monitor the program and make recommendations to PAS and ECA on measures to ensure its growth and development. S/he liaises with Ukrainian government and educational bodies to further develop exchanges with the United States. The position requires travel throughout Ukraine to promote and encourage applications from all regions and all universities in Ukraine for the Fulbright program. The Director must be strongly committed to promoting mutual understanding between the United States of America and Ukraine.

Essential Qualifications:

• A minimum of five years’ experience in the field of international educational exchange or university-level recruitment for firms hiring highly talented students (knowledge of, or experience with, U.S. Government programs an advantage)

• Thorough understanding of American and Ukrainian society, culture and educational systems

• Demonstrated experience in program and fiscal management, academic recruitment, personnel administration and outreach / public relations

• Proven track record of dynamic leadership, strategic planning and organizational innovation

• Ability to interact effectively with American and Ukrainian academics, government officials, NGO and business leaders

• Strong oral, written and interpersonal communication skills; proficiency in English and Ukrainian required.

• Knowledge of Russian (in addition to Ukrainian) a plus.

• Familiarity with modern information systems (Internet, e-mail, other new media)

• Minimum of Masters Degree required

• Demonstrated record of innovation and creativity

The successful candidate will start no later than September, 2012. Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience and qualifications. A letter of application addressing the above qualifications and accompanied by a CV should be sent by e-mail to KyivDirector@state.gov no later than June 08, 2012. Questions about the position may also be submitted to this address. Only applications received by the closing date will be considered.

Information about the Fulbright Program in Ukraine can be found at: www.fulbright.org.ua

New Rules for Arrest of Sea-going Ships Effective in Ukraine

On 16 May 2012 the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to the Arrest of Sea-Going Ships (1952), known as Brussels Convention, and implementing amendments to the procedural legislation entered into force in Ukraine. The provisions of the Convention allow for both foreign and Ukrainian-flagged vessels to be arrested in Ukraine to secure a maritime claim. Notably, the Convention applies only to precautionary arrests and does not apply to a seizure of a ship in the course of judicial execution. There are 17 types of maritime claims giving rise to the right of vessel arrest. An application to arrest vessel as security in a maritime claim can be submitted to the district court of the Ukrainian port where the ship is located or alternatively to the district court of the port of vessel's registration. Ukraine has reserved its right not to apply provisions of the Convention to the warships and other state-owned ships operated for non-commercial purposes. Asters Law Firm Newsletter

UABA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Deadline for applying for the summer, 2012
internship position is June 21, 2012

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May 22, 2012 UABA News Update

Wed, 23 May 2012 14:09:49 GMT

click here to view the latest UABA News Update in PDF format натисніть тут Для перегляду нового UABA News Update у форматі PDF

Woman who sent adopted boy back to Russia must pay child support

Kateryna Bondar Selected as UABA Spring 2012 Intern

Kateryna Bondar is a 2011 LL.M. graduate of Harvard Law School. She obtained Bachelor and Specialist in Law degrees from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. She participated in an exchange program at the University of Warsaw and took part in a number of international summer programs, conferences, and international law moot court competitions. Her professional experiences include internships with the Office of Government Agent before European Court of Human Rights, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, and the Ukrainian Parliamentary Committee on Legislative Support of law Enforcement. She has also worked with two law firms in Ukraine, and most recently was an intern with the United States Court of Federal Claims. Kateryna presently resides in the Washington DC area. Click here to view résumé

All captions have imbedded links to the full articles on the UABA website. To access the article, CLICK on the paragraph caption!

A former Shelbyville woman who adopted a Russian boy and later sent him back to Moscow on a one-way flight has been ordered to pay $150,000 and an additional $1,000 a month in child support until he’s an adult. Adoption advocates hailed the court order as a measure of justice for the boy and said the lawsuit would show there are consequences to abandoning adopted children. The Tennessean Детальніше-Read More

State prosecution in the case of Oksana Makar during the preliminary hearing will ask the Court to hold an open trial

State prosecution in the case of Oksana Makar during the preliminary hearing of a criminal case, scheduled for May 24, 2012, will ask the Court to hold an open trial, because this case became of a fairly wide public resonance, not only in Ukraine, but also at the international level. An open hearing will provide full transparency to the process. Ukranews.com Детальніше-Read More

Ukraine court delays Tymoshenko appeal case

A Ukrainian appeals court has abruptly postponed its review of the abuse-of-office conviction against former premier Yulia Tymoshenko. At a brief hearing on Tuesday, Ukraine's High Specialized Court in Kyiv granted a prosecutors' motion to delay the appeal against the conviction of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on abuse-of-office charges until June 26. That would place the hearing near the end of the Euro 2012 soccer tournament for which some European leaders are considering a boycott in protest at the seven-year jail term imposed on Tymoshenko's last October and allegations that she was ill treated in jail. Deutsche Welle Детальніше-Read More

Ukraine grants gas rights to Shell and Chevron

The Ukrainian government has confirmed that two Western energy companies have been awarded the right to develop two large shale gas fields. The anglo-Dutch company Shell, and Chevron from the United States, have beaten off competition from three other rival bids – including one from Russia. Ukraine has Europe’s third-largest shale gas reserves after France and Norway, according to the US state Energy Information Administration. Euronews Детальніше-Read More

Show Me Your ID: Cops, Courts Re-evaluate Their Use of Eyewitnesses

After more than three decades of laboratory studies, experts have found that a few simple changes in police lineup procedures improve the accuracy of eyewitness identifications. In the past year: • Texas became the 10th state to pass a law requiring police departments to adopt written lineup procedures designed to reduce the risk of faulty identifications. • The New Jersey Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on the use of eyewitness identification evidence at trial. • And the U.S. Supreme Court heard its first case on eyewitness identification evidence in 34 years. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

Stand and Deliver: Tips on Trying Your First Case

Thinking on your feet means being on your feet and doing your prep work, say seasoned litigators. Standing to address the courtroom may feel awkward, but juries feel it shows respect. Hear more trial tips and tricks they shared with ABA Journal. There's a first time for everything and you've got a trial that's going to go to trial. How can you represent your client and yourself to the best of your abilities? ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

The EU’s Plan B for Ukraine

Once having put too much hope in Ukraine, the European Union now finds itself in a rather uncomfortable position. For the past five years, it has negotiated an Association Agreement with the country, the implementation of which would bring Ukraine closer to the union. And in March, the EU initialed the agreement. But today Ukraine seems to be further from the shared values espoused in that document than possibly could have been imagined. Relations between Ukraine and the EU have reached their lowest point yet. And Kyiv is likely to take a number of new steps that could bring these relations to complete deadlock. Waiting for the Ukrainian parliamentary elections in the hopes that they will usher in improvement may not be the best approach. It could be time for the EU to come up with a Plan B. Carnegie Endowment Детальніше-Read More

George Pazuniak, President of the UABA, has represented Devgen in a multi-million euro deal with Switzerland's Syngenta

Hybrid seed company Devgen has signed a crop protection research pact with Switzerland's Syngenta, the world's largest agrochemicals company, swelling its resources to carry out future seed development. Devgen said it would receive a 22-million-euro ($28.5 million) upfront payment and research funding of 4.8 million euros per year during the partnership, as well as royalties on the sales of any commercialized products. The deal will help pay for five years of development by loss-making Devgen of its specialized strains of rice that are more resistant to heat and drought for use in countries like India. The news sent its shares up as much as 5.4 percent to a five-week high of 5.45 euros, making them one of the strongest risers on the Brussels stock exchange. Reuters Детальніше-Read More

Prison, persecution and football: How Ukraine's Euro 2012 dream turned sour

Next month sees the start of football's European Championships, arguably the toughest competition in world football. Ukraine will co-host the event with Poland, but it has been overshadowed by the treatment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. EU president Herman Van Rompuy has said he won't attend -- as has Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, who less than 12 months ago had met with President Yanukovych and was presented with an official Euro 2012 match ball. The governments of Austria and Belgium have all said they will not be attending... CNN Детальніше-Read More

Court: Any Partnership Between Google and NSA Can Remain Secret

A federal appeals court in Washington said any communication about cybersecurity and encryption between Google Inc. and the National Security Agency can remain secret. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the dismissal of a public records suit that an advocate for online privacy rights, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, filed in Washington's federal trial court. EPIC was exploring any partnership between Google and the NSA following a cyber attack against Google in 2010. Writing for a unanimous three-judge panel, Judge Janice Rogers Brown rejected the argument that any partnership between Google and the NSA should be officially disclosed through a records request because the company and the agency's connection was earlier revealed in news articles. Blog of Legal Times Детальніше-Read More

Chasing the Dream: Sorting Fact and Myth Is Biggest Obstacle to Immigration Reform

Consensus doesn’t seem to have a place in policy discussions about the state of the U.S. immigration system. Complicating the debate is the fact that the immigration system is largely incomprehensible to all but those immersed in it. Such an environment is the perfect incubator for rampant mythmaking. Advocates on different sides of the debate support their positions by insisting that certain beliefs must be true while dismissing evidence that might suggest otherwise. Can the facts about immigration law and policy be easily sorted from the myths? Not necessarily, but in this article the ABA Journal identifies the underlying immigration issues and - relying on documented sources and those with practical and expert knowledge - attempts to pair those issues with factual perspectives. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

ABA Standards Review Committee to Offer Two Alternate Approaches to LSAT Requirement

An ABA committee has tentatively agreed on two alternative approaches to the current requirement in the Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools that all law school applicants must take a valid and reliable admissions test. The first approach would keep a pared-down version of the current requirement in the standards. The second would eliminate the requirement altogether. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More

Presidential Proclamation -- Law Day, U.S.A., 2012

LAW DAY, U.S.A., 2012

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

When President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day in 1958, he proclaimed it "fitting that the people of this Nation should remember with pride and vigilantly guard the great heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under law which our forefathers bequeathed to us." Today, we celebrate that enduring legacy and renew our commitment to a democracy sustained by the rule of law. Детальніше-Read More

СБУ провела обшуки в офісі омбудсмена

Перший омбудсмен України Ніна Карпачова заявляє, що в офіс уповноваженого Верховної Ради з прав людини вчора вранці обшукали представники СБУ.

«Вранці представники СБУ почали обшуки в кабінетах працівників офісу омбудсмена України і такий дозвіл дала безпосередньо пані Лутковська (Валерія Лутковська – новообраний омбудсмен –ред.). Це – безпрецедентна подія», – зазначила Ніна Карпачова.

«Сьогодні Володимир Яценко, який зараз виконує обов’язки керівника секретаріату омбудсмена, повідомив про те, що в його кабінеті були зламані замки. Він намагався приїхати на роботу, щоб отримати якісь пояснення, але люди пані Лутковської сказали, що це була її вказівка і її дозвіл на обшуки в кабінетах, зокрема й керівництва», – розповіла колишній омбудсмен і додала: «Вони намагалися зламати комп’ютери, якусь інформацію вони намагалися отримати в комп’ютерній базі. Проводили якісь обшуки безпосередньо в кабінетах, але працівники офісу при цьому присутні не були».

Вона також зазначила, що кількох колишніх співробітників офісу омбудсмена викликали на допит у прокуратуру. «Останні новини, які я знаю: пана Валерія Тереца, який очолював секретаріат омбудсмена і був звільнений цими днями, разом із його помічником, викликали у слідче управління прокуратури Києва для дачі певних свідчень у справі Юлії Тимошенко, точніше – щодо провадження у справі Тимошенко. Зокрема йшлося про фото колишнього прем’єра, зроблені у колонії», – наголосила Ніна Карпачова.

«Я розумію, що почався страшенний тиск на інституцію омбудсмена в Україні, що саме по собі є неприпустимим, тому я змушена звернутися до всієї світової спільноти. В Україні сьогодні – нова хвиля загрози, цього разу – політичних переслідувань тепер уже безпосередньо представників офісу омбудсмена України», – зазначила колишній омбудсмен. Загалом, на її думку, обшук в офісі уповноваженого Верховної Ради з прав людини «спрямований проти першого омбудсмена» – з огляду на провадження у справах колишніх високопосадовців, зокрема Юлії Тимошенко і Юрія Луценка.

http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/24570943.html

UABA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Deadline for applying for the summer, 2012
internship position is June 21, 2012

Click Here to View Resumes or Job Availabilities posted by UABA Members or Law Students

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April 19, 2012 UABA News Update

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 00:07:26 GMT

click here to view the latest UABA News Update in PDF format натисніть тут Для перегляду нового UABA News Update у форматі PDF

Yushchenko Faces Probe over Role in Tymoshenko Case

Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko faces an investigation over his order to close a criminal case against former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka said on Thursday. Pshonka said that in 2005 Yushchenko told then Prosecutor General Svyatoslav Piskun to drop charges of financial irregularities at Ukraine’s United Energy Systems (UES) on Tymoshenko’s watch. RIANovosti Детальніше-Read More

Two Former Congressmen with Akin Gump Lobbying for Ukrainian Billionaire

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld this week notified Congress that two former U.S. House members are advocating in Washington for a Ukrainian financial and industrial company owned by that country's wealthiest individual. Former Reps. Victor Fazio (D-Calif.) and Bill Paxon (R-N.Y.), senior advisers at the firm, are among the Akin lobbyists representing Rinat Akhmetov's System Capital Management Ltd. (SCM) before the executive branch and Congress on issues related to international trade, energy and U.S.-Ukraine policy, a lobbying registration report shows. Blog of Legal Times Детальніше-Read More

Salans Kyiv Banking and Finance Newsletter, February-March 2012

In this Issue:

1. On the procedure for the formation and use of reserves by banks to reimburse possible losses resulting from active bank operations

2. On amendments to the Rules (provisions) for activities with respect to securities trade

3. On approval of the Regulation for transfer of securities through

Ukraine’s customs border

4. Re: netting settlements related to operations with government securities (DTsP)

5. On amendments to the Regulation on cash transactions by banks in Ukraine Детальніше-Read More

Supreme Court Rules Courts Have a Say-So on Passport Question

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 8-1 that federal courts have the authority to wade into a dispute over a federal law that says Americans born in Jerusalem can list Israel as their birthplace. The political question doctrine doesn’t bar the courts from hearing the case, according to the majority opinion (PDF) by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. But Roberts punted the case back to the lower courts to resolve the constitutional issue: whether the federal law infringes the president’s power. ABA Journal Детальніше-Read More Read the Opinion

Oksana Makar, Ukrainian Rape Victim, Dead From Injuries

KIEV, Ukraine -- An 18-year-old Ukranian woman died Thursday, two weeks after her grisly rape set off protests across the country against corruption and favoritism toward the wealthy. Prosecutors said Oksana Makar was raped by three young men on March 9 in the southern city of Mykolaiv. The men then tried to cover up their crime by strangling her, dumping her naked body at an abandoned construction site and setting her on fire. Huffington Post Детальніше-Read More UABA Statement on this matter

Examining Fans’ Rights to Jeer at Games

At a North Carolina State men’s basketball game last month, the former Wolfpack stars Tom Gugliotta and Chris Corchiani were ejected from the arena at the request of a referee for protesting the officials’ calls. Gugliotta and Corchiani were seated behind the scorer’s table, and officials from both teams and others seated nearby said neither one used vulgarity or threatened the referees. Fans have several ways of making their feelings known. They can shout at players, as Celtics fans did to LeBron James, above, when he was a member of the Cavaliers in 2010. They were complaining, sometimes yelling, and maybe a bit acerbic. But in a game hosted by a public university, the episode raised a rarely asked question: Is a fan’s protest undefined known in some sports law circles as fan speech or cheering speech undefined a form of expression protected by the First Amendment? NY Times Детальніше-Read More

Facebook dead serious about Neb. bill

Facebook pages are set up so you control who can and cannot be your "friend." You control who can access private information on your page. So what happens when you die? A state senator trying to clarify that is finding out it's a much bigger issue than he imagined. Omaha.com Детальніше-Read More

What to Do Now to Strengthen Your Practice for the Future

With an eye toward the future, small firm and sole practitioners will encounter both exciting possibilities and face new challenges. Simply put, times are a-changing; some even predict that this is the end of lawyering as we know it. These changes include a shift in the marketplace and profile of your clients, rapid advancements in technology, and new roles for attorneys. The change in the legal landscape and profession offers opportunities to tap into your entrepreneurial spirit, develop a strategic plan of action, and cultivate your innovative side. Attorneys who anticipate this change in tide and anchor themselves will be able to seize these challenges as new possibilities. Anticipation and preparation are the keys to maintaining a successful legal practice in the future. ABA GPSolo Portfolio Детальніше-Read More

Supreme Court rejects damage claim in HIV privacy case; Cooper v. FAA

Washington (CNN) -- A divided Supreme Court ruled Wednesday against a California pilot who sued after the federal government publicly revealed his HIV status. In a 5-3 ruling, the high court decided Stanmore Cooper's claims of mental and emotional distress are not covered under the Privacy Act. "The Privacy Act does not unequivocally authorize damages for mental or emotional distress and therefore does not waive the government's sovereign immunity for such harms," Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the conservative majority. Three liberal justices dissented, while a fourth -- former Solicitor General Elena Kagan -- did not participate. Детальніше-Read-More Read the Opinion

Суд підтвердив законність указу Ющенка щодо борців за незалежність України

Окружний адміністративний суд міста Києва підтвердив законність указу Президента України Віктора ЮЩЕНКА про визнання воїнів Організації українських націоналістів (ОУН) і Української повстанської армії (УПА) учасниками боротьби за незалежність України.

Про це УНІАН повідомили у прес-службі партії «Наша Україна» з посиланням на представника В.ЮЩЕНКА у суді В’ячеслава МАРТИНЮКА.

До Замоскворецького суду Москви подано позов до патріарха Московського і всієї Русі Кирила про незаконне збагачення

За інформацією порталу «Фонтанка.ру», позивачем виступив колишній міністр охорони здоров`я, а нині священик Юрій Шевченко. Відповідачами заявлені патріарх Кирило (Володимир Гундяєв) і Лідія Леонова, яку предстоятель назвав своєю троюрідною сестрою. http://www.expres.ua/world/2012/04/18/64569

Єфремов не бачить криміналу в «кнопкодавстві»

Лідер фракції Партії регіонів Олександр Єфремов не бачить жодного порушення в тому, що депутати голосували за 4-5 своїх колег сьогодні вночі при ухваленні нового Кримінального процесуального кодексу. Про це О.Єфремов заявив сьогодні журналістам, відповідаючи на запитання кореспондента УНІАН, наскільки законним є ухвалення такого документа, враховуючи, що в сесійній залі на той момент було не більше 60 депутатів. «Ми не порушили жодної букви регламенту і жодного закону нашої держави», - сказав О.Єфремов. Він наголосив, що депутати обговорювали кожну поправку і витратили достатньо часу для того, щоб обговорити всі питання, пов’язані з КПК. http://www.unian.ua/print/497826

Голова ЦВК вважає, що рішення КС може призвести до визнання виборів нелегітимними

Голова Центральної виборчої комісії Володимир Шаповал закликає уповноважених посадових осіб забезпечити можливість повної реалізації виборчого права українців за кордоном. Про це повідомила прес-служба ЦВК.

http://tyzhden.ua/News/47421

Конституційний Суд України заборонив одночасне балотування у парламент за списками і в округах

Одна й та сама особа не може одночасно балотуватися у загальнодержавному багатомандатному і одномандатному виборчих округах на виборах до Верховної Ради. Про це йдеться в оприлюдненому сьогодні рішенні Конституційного Суду України, прийнятому 5 квітня.

http://www.unian.ua/news/497054-ks-zaboroniv-odnochasne-balotuvannya-u-parlament-za-spiskami-i-v-okrugah.html

Члени ЦВК вважають, що рішення КС суперечить Конституції

Двоє членів Центральної виборчої комісії вважають, що сьогоднішнє рішення Конституційного Суду суперечить Конституції і ускладнює голосування у закордонному виборчому окрузі взагалі.

Як передає кореспондент УНІАН, зокрема, перший заступник голови ЦВК Андрій Магера у коментарі журналістам вказав, що сьогоднішнє рішення КС суперечить ст. 24 Конституції, яка визначає рівність громадян України, в тому числі і щодо реалізації ними виборчого права. Він зауважив, що КС сьогодні поставив у різні умови громадян України. Оскільки ті, хто проживає на території України, матимуть два голоси – в багатомандатному і одномандатному виборчому окрузі. А ті, хто проживає за кордоном, тільки у багатомандатному окрузі.

http://www.unian.ua/print/496403

Австрійський композитор у 2013-му році презентує симфонію, присвячену Голодомору

Aвстрійський композитор Штефан Марія Карл написав симфонію, присвячену пам’яті жертв Голодомору. Презентувати її він планує у Києві восени 2013-го, до 80-х роковин геноциду.

UABA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Deadline for applying for the summer, 2012
internship position is June 21, 2012

Click Here to View Resumes or Job Availabilities posted by UABA Members or Law Students

Check out the new UABA website; WWW.UABA.ORG and become a member!

March 28, 2012 UABA News Update

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 17:17:53 GMT

click here to view the March 28 UABA News Update in PDF format
натисніть тут Для перегляду нового UABA News Update у форматі PDF

Click Here to read the
STATEMENT
of the Ukrainian American Bar Association
on the tragic rape of Oksana Makar
in Mykolaiv, Ukraine

ЗАЯВА
Асоціації Українських Правників Америки
щодо трагічного випадку зґвалтування Оксани Макар
у м. Миколаїв, Україна

Click here to read the
RESOLUTION
of the Board of Governors of the
Ukrainian American Bar Association
Regarding Petro Melnyk

Постанова Ради Керуючих
Асоціації Українських Правників Америки
Що стосується Петра Мельника

Judge Futey's decision in Turner Construction Co. v. United States upheld by Appellate Court

In Turner Construction Co., Inc. v United States, 645 F.3d 1377 (Fed. Cir. 2011) ("Turner II"), the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed the Court of Federal Claims' ("COFC") decision in Turner Construction Co., Inc. v. United States, 94 Fed.Cl. 561 (2010) ("Turner I") that a GAO bid protest recommendation was irrational. The COFC held that the GAO's recommendation that Turner Construction Co. ("Turner") be disqualified as the awardee on the basis of organizational conflicts of interest ("OCI") under an Army hospital renovation contract was unreasonable. Construction and Infrastructure Law Blog; Harvard Law Review

US Federal Court refuses to reopen Lutsenko Lawsuit

The Federal Court of the District of Columbia has refused to reopen the complaint of former Ukrainian Interior Minister in which he has sued his Ukrainian prosecutors alleging violation of his basic human rights and further claiming that the Court has jurisdiction under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The Court had previously dismissed the case for his lawyer's failure to timely file a court ordered status report. Read Court Order and Memorandum

10 Law Schools That Lead to the Most Debt

In a tough job market for newly minted lawyers, and with the rising costs of earning a J.D., many students are graduating from law school with six-figure debts and no means to repay them. Some students may combat this by specializing in areas where jobs are more plentiful, such as healthcare or intellectual property. Others may seek to negotiate a suitable financial aid package that will allow them to manage their debt more responsibly after graduation. But for students who have their sights set on a specific school, regardless of any potential financial burdens, the debt come graduation may top more than $150,000 per student........
Among 195 ranked law schools surveyed annually by U.S. News, 191 reported the average indebtedness of graduating students in 2011, the most recent figures available. Overall, law students graduated with an average of $100,584 in debt, though at some of the schools with the most heavily debt-laden students, graduates faced an average debt of more than $50,000 higher. US News and World Report Детальніше-Read More

Dissenting in Two Decisions, Scalia Hits New ‘Constitutional Right to Effective Plea Bargainers’

Defendants who reject or pass up plea bargains because their lawyers provided ineffective assistance of counsel may have their subsequent, harsher sentences overturned, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in two cases. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote both opinions for a five-justice majority. One case involved a lawyer who never communicated a plea offer to his client, and the other involved a lawyer who advised the client to reject a favorable plea based on an incorrect interpretation of the law.
Justice Antonin Scalia read aloud from his dissents, in which he criticized the new “constitutional right to effective plea-bargainers” and the majority’s “quite absurd” remedies. The court “opens a whole new boutique of constitutional jurisprudence (‘plea-bargaining law’) without even specifying the remedies the boutique offers,” he complained. ABA Law Journal Детальніше-Read More

Durbin targets private student loan defaults

A top Senate Democrat took aim at the private student-loan industry Tuesday, calling for new rules that would allow educational debts to be wiped away during bankruptcy. Washington Post Детальніше-Read More

Judge Tosses Lawsuit against Law School over Employment Stats

A New York judge on Wednesday threw out one of the first of more than a dozen lawsuits around the country that accuse law schools of advertising misleading post-graduate employment statistics. Wall Street Journal Law Blog Детальніше-Read More Read the Decision

Ukrainian Parliament Ratified the Customs Code

On 13 March 2012, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine passed the new Customs Code of Ukraine. Presumably, its enactment will bring more clarity to the customs clearance procedures resulting in acceleration of the circulation of goods as demanded by the business. In particular, the Customs Code amends the procedure for determination and adjustment of customs value of goods and extends applicant's rights during the resolution of controversial issues with the customs authorities to that effect Asters Law Firm Newsletter Детальніше-Read More

Supreme Court rules on right to counsel: Martinez v. Ryan

Holding: Where, under state law, ineffective-assistance-of-trial-counsel claims must be raised in an initial-review collateral proceeding, a procedural default will not bar a federal habeas court from hearing those claims if, in the initial-review collateral proceeding, there was no counsel or counsel in that proceeding was ineffective.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 7-2, in an opinion by Justice Kennedy on March 20, 2012. Justice Scalia filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justice Thomas. ScotusBlog

'Little guy' wins high court fight over property rights

(CNN) -- The Supreme Court gave an Idaho couple another chance Wednesday to challenge a government ruling barring construction of their "dream house," an important property rights defeat for the Obama administration. The justices unanimously ruled Chantell and Mike Sackett can appeal a compliance order that said wetlands on their residential lot were improperly filled with rocks and dirt. A building permit was then revoked. Детальніше-Read More Read the Opinion

Ukraine WTO Trademark Dispute vs. Australia Tests Public Health Measures

Ukraine yesterday filed a World Trade Organization dispute settlement case against Australia for its 2011 law requiring plain packaging on tobacco in an effort to address the severe public health problem related to its use. The case could represent an important measure of the power of trade interests versus public health decisions by governments. Ukraine argues that Australia’s law violates the 1994 WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), as well as the Technical Barriers to Trade agreement and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which generally covers trade in goods. The dispute is number DS434 and it is expected to be available soon on the WTO website. Intellectual Property Watch Детальніше-Read More

The Go-Nowhere Generation

Americans are supposed to be mobile and even pushy. Saul Bellow’s Augie March declares, “I am an American ... first to knock, first admitted.” In “The Grapes of Wrath,” young Tom Joad loads up his jalopy with pork snacks and relatives, and the family flees the Oklahoma dust bowl for sun-kissed California. Along the way, Granma dies, but the Joads keep going. But sometime in the past 30 years, someone has hit the brakes and Americans, particularly young Americans, have become risk-averse and sedentary. The timing is terrible. With an 8.3 percent unemployment rate and a foreclosure rate that would grab the attention of the Joads, young Americans are less inclined to pack up and move to sunnier economic climes. NY Times Детальніше-Read More

Student loans seen as potential ‘next debt bomb’ for U.S. economy

Bankruptcy lawyers have a frightening message for America: They’re seeing the telltale signs of a student loan debt bubble that is placing increased financial pressure on families struggling with their children’s mounting debt. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, more than 80 percent of bankruptcy lawyers have seen a substantial increase in the number of clients seeking relief from student loans in recent years. In most cases, those clients could not meet the federal hardship standards that are necessary to discharge a student loan through bankruptcy proceedings. Instead, many of these parents or guardians who co-signed the student loans face the prospect of losing their life savings, cars or homes to collection agencies for aggressive private lenders. Washington Post Детальніше-Read More

Ukraine At The Crossroads: New Election Law And The 2012 Parliamentary Elections

University of Ottawa, Canada, March 7-8, 2012 Comments by Judge Bohdan A. Futey

This is the fourth time that the election law is undergoing change in Ukraine since its independence in 1991. At first the law provided for election of Deputies to Parliament by district (Majoritarian); then mixed one-half majoritarian and one-half by party lists (proportional). Then party lists only, and now back to a mixed system of elections. The new law was adopted November 17, 2011 and signed by the President in December of 2011. It provides for 450 members in parliament: 225 elected by party lists and 225 in single mandate districts. The vote in Parliament on this law was 366 voted for the law, 6 against, and 5 abstained. Детальніше-Read More

Law Students from National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Taras Shechenko National University will again represent Ukraine in Washington DC

Five students of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy School of Law were again chosen as winners of the Ukraine National Jessup Moot Court Competition and qualified to represent Ukraine at the International Rounds of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition that will take place in Washington D.C. on March 25-31, 2012.
......This year Ukraine will also be represented by another winning team from Ukraine, students of the Kyiv National Taras Shevchenko University Institute of International Relations. These two teams are colleagues representing Ukraine in the world’s largest moot court competition for law students. Детальніше-Read More

ВРЮ просять звільнити суддів, які судили депутата-вбивцю

Вища рада юстиції перевірить дії суддів, які звільнили в залі суду екс-депутата Софіївського району Дніпропетровської області Олександра Тарана, який в 2010 році вбив чоловіка у його власному будинку з вогнепальної зброї. Про це повідомив народний депутат Дмитро Шпенов, який написав відповідне звернення до ВРЮ. «Голова Вищої ради юстиції Володимир Колесниченко доручив перевірити відомості, вказані в моєму депутатському зверненні, в якому я прошу звільнити суддів Довгінцевського суду Кривого Рогу за порушення присяги», - розповів Шпенов.

http://www.unian.net/ukr/print/494393

Янукович призначив Порошенка міністром економіки

Відповідний указ опублікований на офіційному сайті президента. http://president.gov.ua/documents/14615.html Про призначення Порошенка міністром економічного розвитку і торгівлі 23 лютого повідомив лідер фракції Партії регіонів Олександр Єфремов. Пізніше народний депутат Андрій Шкіль ("БЮТ-Батьківщина") заявив, що Порошенко відмовився від посади міністра економічного розвитку і торгівлі. Президент України Віктор Янукович 12 березня заявив, що хоче, щоб Порошенко працював в уряді на посаді міністра економічного розвитку і торгівлі.

http://tsn.ua/politika/yanukovich-taki-ulamav-poroshenka-stati-ministrom-ekonomiki.html

UABA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
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internship position is June 21, 2012

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March 16, 2012 UABA News Update

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 01:04:42 GMT

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Click here for details on the
UABA INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

For Ukrainian American law students, recent law graduates and young attorneys interested in the UABA
and its mission statement.

Deadline for applying for the spring, 2012
internship position is March 21, 2012

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Premarital Agreement Issues Checklist

There are many details to think about when you’re planning your wedding; however, a prenuptial agreement (also known as a premarital agreement) shouldn’t be left to the last minute. Here’s a list of issues to think about before you speak to your fiancé and your lawyer regarding a premarital agreement. If often helps to know your own feelings about these issues before decide to talk to your fiancé about them. ABA GPSolo Report;Aarticle by Diana Mercer Детальніше-Read More

Ugandan Gay Rights Group Sues U.S. Evangelist

A Ugandan gay rights group filed suit against an American evangelist, Scott Lively, in federal court in Massachusetts on Wednesday, accusing him of violating international law by inciting the persecution of gay men and lesbians in Uganda. The lawsuit maintains that beginning in 2002, Mr. Lively conspired with religious and political leaders in Uganda to whip up anti-gay hysteria with warnings that gay people would sodomize African children and corrupt their culture. NY Times Детальніше-Read More

Supreme Court Seen Influenced by Politics in Health-Care Ruling

Three-quarters of Americans say the U.S. Supreme Court will be influenced by politics when it rules on the constitutionality of a health-care law signed by President Barack Obama two years ago. The sentiment crosses party lines and is especially held by independents, 80 percent of whom say the court will not base its ruling solely on legal merits, according to a Bloomberg National Poll. More Republicans than Democrats, by 74 percent to 67 percent, say politics will play a role in the court’s health-care decision.
Bloomberg Businessweek Детальніше-Read More

Court House Humor: Disorder in the American Courts: Cross-Examination of a Pathologist

These quotations are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?

WITNESS: No.

ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?

WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.

ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?

WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law. Police Link Website

Top BigLaw Feeder Schools Named; Penn Is Ranked No. 1

The University of Pennsylvania’s law school is ranked seventh by U.S. News & World Report, but it tops a list of the institutions that send the highest percentages of graduates to the nation’s top 250 law firms. The National Law Journal compiled the rankings, and TaxProf Blog added the U.S. News ranking. For 2011, the top five were: ABA Law Journal Детальніше-Read More

Facing the Alternative: How Does a Flat Fee System Really Work?

While every law firm is culturally unique, often the same fears and concerns namely diminished profit margins and budget difficulties plague outside counsel when it comes to changing billing practices. For many, creative fee schemes seem to create more nightmares than profits. But a few outside firms and their business clients have found a way to make it all work. The secret is in trust, sharing and statistics. In 2004 global industrial conglomerate Tyco International Ltd. issued an open request for proposals for law firms to craft new and different models for its litigation work. Eager to achieve greater predictability of cost and legal spending, the company was also willing, for the first time, to place its entire product liability docket (the company’s largest program) with a single firm, what it calls the convergence model. More than 20 firms responded, some of which had been longtime service providers to the company. ABA Law Journal Детальніше-Read More

Stolen Valor Act: A Business Decision?

Late last month the Supreme Court heard arguments over the constitutionality of a 2006 law undefined the Stolen Valor Act undefined that makes lying about receiving military honors a federal offense. It’s an interesting First Amendment issue that does not, on its face, appear to have much to do with corporations. But former Solicitor General Paul Clement, speaking to a group of corporate counsel Friday, said companies should pay close attention when the court issues a ruling in the case. Why? WSJ Law Blog Детальніше-Read More

Supreme Court Expands Corporate Human Rights Case, Avoids Corporate Liability Question

The Supreme Court on Monday afternoon took the unusual action of ordering reargument in the case heard last week that has been brought against a multinational oil corporation for aiding and abetting human rights violations in Nigeria. The case, Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, originally asked whether corporations can ever be held liable under a founding-era law, known as the Alien Tort Statute, that allows foreign nationals to bring civil suits in federal courts "for a tort only, committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States." At oral argument last week , the Court's conservatives appeared ready to hold corporations immune from suit under the Alien Tort Statute despite the law's silence over the identity of potential defendants. Monday's order, however, pushes aside the question of corporate liability to address a less politically explosive, but much more consequential question: whether any entity -- individual, state, corporation -- can be brought to justice in U.S. courts for abuses committed abroad. Huffington Post Детальніше-Read More

USDC Judge: Graphic Cigarette Labels Violate First Amendment

A federal rule that requires tobacco companies to display pictures of diseased lungs or other graphic images on cigarette packs is unconstitutional, a judge in Washington ruled Wednesday. Regulations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration would have required tobacco companies to display the images on the top half of cigarette packs, front and back. It was scheduled to take effect in September. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said the Obama administration failed “to convey any factual information supported by evidence about the actual health consequences of smoking through its use of these graphic images.” The rule, he said, violates companies’ First Amendment protections against government-compelled speech. WSJ Law Blog Детальніше-Read More

Justices Skeptical of Bringing Torture Cases to U.S. Courts

Torture victims faced skepticism at the Supreme Court Tuesday, where justices questioned whether foreign organizations, including the oil giant Royal Dutch Shell PLC and the Palestinian Authority, could be sued for violating international law under U.S. statutes dating to the 18^th century. The Alien Tort Statute, adopted by the First Congress in 1789, permits foreigners to sue in federal court for violations of treaties or the “law of nations,” which today is understood to prohibit torture, genocide and crimes against humanity. More than two centuries later, President George H.W. Bush signed the Torture Victim Protection Act, authorizing U.S. citizens and aliens alike to sue perpetrators of torture and “extrajudicial killing” overseas. Wall Street Journal LawBlog Детальніше-Read More

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February 29, 2012 UABA News Update

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:26:06 GMT

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The Board of Governors of the

Ukrainian American Bar Association

Is pleased to announce the creation of a

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

For Ukrainian American law students, recent law graduates and young attorneys interested in the UABA
and its mission statement.

Deadline for applying for the spring, 2012
internship position is March 21, 2012

U.S. Lawsuit By Ukrainian Ex-Minister Lutsenko Against Prosecutor Dismissed

A U.S. court has dismissed a law suit filed by the former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko against Ukrainian Prosecutor General Victor Pshonka. Lutsenko has accused Pshonka and his subordinates of violating his human rights and parliamentary immunity, and of arbitrary arrest and unlawful imprisonment. Lutsenko is in prison in Ukraine, accused of abuse of power while in office. A verdict is expected in that case on February 27. The suit was registered in court in the District of Columbia in December. The plaintiff was instructed by the court to serve the defendant and file a status report with the court on February 8. When no report was filed or extension sought on February 8, the court extended the term until February 24. As no status report was filed or cause shown why the action should not be dismissed, the court threw out the suit. RFL/RL Read Court Order

ED NOTE: on February 24, 2012, Lutsenko's Counsel filed a motion to reopen case stating that failure to file status report was due to excusable inadvertence. Read Motion Papers

Юрія Луценка засудили до чотирьох років позбавлення волі з конфіскацією майна

Екс-міністра внутрішніх справ Юрія ЛУЦЕНКА засуджено до чотирьох років позбавлення волі з конфіскацією особистого майна.

Як передає кореспондент УНІАН, відповідне рішення сьогодні, після 10-хвилинної перерви, пов’язаної з необхідністю колегії суддів повернутися до нарадчої кімнати, оголосив головуючий у судовому процесі суддя Сергій ВОВК. Також суд своїм рішенням позбавив Ю.ЛУЦЕНКА першого рангу державного службовця та заборонив обіймати посади, пов’язані з організаційно-розпорядчими та організаційно-виконавчими функціями підприємств, організацій та установ усіх форм власності, протягом двох років.

Крім того, суд визнав винним у скоєнні злочину колишнього водія Ю.ЛУЦЕНКА Леоніда ПРИСТУПЛЮКА і призначив йому міру покарання у вигляді трьох років позбавлення волі з відтермінуванням на два роки, а також позбавив спеціального звання майор міліції та права обіймати впродовж трьох років посади, пов’язані з організаційно-розпорядчими та організаційно-виконавчими функціями підприємств, організацій та установ усіх форм власності.

Також суд постановив стягнути з Л.ПРИСТУПЛЮКА на користь Головного управління Пенсійного фонду у Києві понад 243 тис. грн. Запобіжний захід Л.ПРИСТУПЛЮКУ на час відбування покарання залишити у вигляді підписки про невиїзд. UNIAN News Service http://www.unian.net/ukr/news/488411-lutsenku-dali-4-roki-z-konfiskatsieyu.html

Making the Most of Google Places

There’s little question that being easily found via the Internet is important for solos, particularly those practicing in highly consumer-facing areas like criminal defense, family law, and bankruptcy. And when it comes to Internet searches, Google reigns supreme, commanding two-thirds of the search market. Although building out a website and related online presences is critical to being found online, Google also offers a sweet little gift to your practice: a free Google Places profile. What’s Google Places? It’s the series of listings (typically 3 or 7) that appear at or near the top of the page when users search for local business related terms like “Chicago plumber” or “Miami DUI lawyer.” ABA GPSolo Report Детальніше-Read More

How to Remove Your Google Search History Before Google's New Privacy Policy Takes Effect

On March 1st, Google will implement its new, unified privacy policy , which will affect data Google has collected on you prior to March 1st as well as data it collects on you in the future. Until now, your Google Web History (your Google searches and sites visited) was cordoned off from Google's other products. This protection was especially important because search data can reveal particularly sensitive information about you, including facts about your location, interests, age, sexual orientation, religion, health concerns, and more. If you want to keep Google from combining your Web History with the data they have gathered about you in their other products, such as YouTube or Google Plus, you may want to remove all items from your Web History and stop your Web History from being recorded in the future. Electronic Frontier Foundation Детальніше-Read More

Supreme Court: Miranda Warning Not Required for Inmate Questioned About Second Crime in Prison

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against a Michigan inmate who contended he should have received a Miranda warning before being interrogated in a prison conference room about sexual conduct with a 12-year-old boy. The court ruled in a 6-3 opinion (PDF) against inmate Randall Lee Fields, who confessed to molestation while incarcerated on a disorderly misconduct charge. The dissenters were Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen G. Breyer. ABA Law Journal Детальніше-Read More

Prominent Calif. lawyer sentenced in baby selling scam spanning 2 continents

A California lawyer who was a respected reproductive law specialist was sentenced Friday to five months in prison and nine months of home confinement for her role in what prosecutors say was a baby-selling scheme, Washington Post Детальніше-Read More

iPad Apps to Boost Productivity at Your Law Practice

Law firms are also starting to embrace the iPad, despite what The New York Times describes as a general reluctance on the part of firms to adopt personal technology. The Times reports that Prosekaeur Rose, one of the nation's largest law firms, is making the iPad available to its 700 lawyers, most of whom prefer the iPad to a laptop computer. A number of other national, regional, and local firms are also distributing iPads to their attorneys. Lawyers, it seems, are shedding their heavy trial bags in favor of something lighter and certainly hipper. With Apple's introduction of enterprise apps and, earlier this year, Business to Business (B2B) apps, the iPad is becoming more and more a standard piece of equipment for lawyers. Law Technology News Детальніше-Read More

Pa. Judge Rules Spousal Privilege Does Not Apply to Text Messages

In what he admitted was a "novel holding" in an apparent case of first impression that required him to "apply an ancient legal doctrine to modern technology," a Franklin County, Pa., trial judge has allowed into evidence text messages between a husband and wife, ruling that the spousal communications privilege does not apply in criminal cases involving child abuse. Law Technology News Детальніше-Read More

Zero Tolerance for Political Persecution in Ukraine; Open Appeal to the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych email link to endose and sign the appeal

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February 14, 2012 UABA News Update

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

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US Constitution Loses Appeal With People Around the World

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Europe and Eurasia, Field-based Internship Opportunity (Unpaid) in Ukraine

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) is currently seeking a candidate for its International Volunteer Internship Program in the Europe and Eurasia Division to work primarily on its program in Ukraine. The Ukraine internship is well suited for recent graduates or students currently enrolled in master’s or law programs. Candidates should have a proven background and interest in the region and international affairs and have excellent written and cross-cultural communication skills. Click Here to View Details

In 1987, on the Constitution’s bicentennial, Time magazine calculated that “of the 170 countries that exist today, more than 160 have written charters modeled directly or indirectly on the U.S. version.” A quarter-century later, the picture looks very different. “The U.S. Constitution appears to be losing its appeal as a model for constitutional drafters elsewhere,” according to a new study by David S. Law of Washington University in St. Louis and Mila Versteeg of the University of Virginia. NY Times Детальніше-Read More

New Jersey Supreme Court Panel Recommends Allowing 'Virtual' Offices for Lawyers

Lawyers may soon be allowed to practice in New Jersey using "virtual" law offices instead of having to keep up bricks-and-mortar locations. A state Supreme Court committee is recommending an loosening of the bona fide office rule, R. 1:21-1(a).. No longer would a physical plant be required, as long as the lawyer is reachable by clients, other lawyers and the courts for official business, including service of process. The proposed amendment would overturn a joint opinion by two other Court committees that found the virtual office insufficient to meet the rule. NJ Law Journal Детальніше-Read More

12 More Law Schools Sued Over Reporting of Law Grad Employment and Salary Stats

In a gathering storm that apparently may not yet have reached its full strength, lawsuits have been or will be filed today against another 12 law schools over the way they report employment data for their graduates, according to counsel for the plaintiffs. They say in a press release (PDF) that new litigation is being brought against law schools in California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois and New York, concerning allegations that a number engaged in subterfuges such as hiring their own graduates for temporary jobs and counting law grads working in nonlegal jobs as employed. Links to some of the complaints can be found at plaintiffs lawyer David Anziska's website . Plaintiffs contend that they were misled by the statistics into taking on a heavy debt burden in pursuit of employment as attorneys that was much harder to find than the job stats provided by the law schools suggested. They also allege that salary figures may have been compiled from a small sample of law grads with fatter-than-average paychecks. ABA Law Journal Детальніше-Read More

BigLaw Still Hiring Fewer Newbies; Second-Tier Grads Don’t Have a Prayer, Hiring Partner Says

Hiring and pay for new associates remain in the doldrums at many large law firms. Firms that trimmed new associate classes by as much as half since 2008 are taking a cautious approach to hiring and holding the line on associate pay and bonuses, the Wall Street Journal reports. And those who do get hired have to work as many as 10 years before getting a chance at partnership. Law firms hiring in this environment can afford to be picky. Bill Dantzler, a hiring partner at White & Case, told the newspaper that solid candidates who once had a chance of working in BigLaw will no longer make the cut. Those with lower class rankings or who come from lower-tier schools “wouldn’t have a prayer of getting in now,” he said. ABA Law Journal Детальніше-Read More

Ukrainian Constitutional Court approves of secrecy
Ukraine’s Constitutional Court has passed a real gem of a judgment – an invaluable one for corrupt officials precisely because the value of their family wealth can no longer be disclosed to the public. The ruling, which was made on Jan. 20 and published a few days later, effectively bans disclosure of any information about public figures, officials and politicians, as well as their families, about their financialcircumstances, without their consent. Halya Coynash in the Kyiv Post; Read more

Woman who returned Russian adopted boy faces lawsuit over child support, March trial scheduled

NASHVILLE, Tenn. An American woman who sent her adopted Russian son back to Moscow alone on a plane with a note saying she didn’t want him anymore is facing a lawsuit for child support, which is scheduled for trial in March. Torry Hansen refused to cooperate with investigators after the boy, then 7, reached Russia in April 2010 with a note stating he had psychological problems. She was never charged criminally, but her adoption agency filed a lawsuit in Tennessee, where she was then living, seeking child support. Read More Washington Post ; Times Gazette

Supreme Court Upholds Recopyright Law

The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a 1994 recopyright law that removed thousands of foreign artistic works from the public domain and gave them copyright protection. The law, passed to help the United States comply with international treaties, does not violate the First Amendment rights of musicians, publishers, orchestra conductors and others who wanted to access the works, the court ruled in an 6-2 decision . (PDF) Nor does the law violate the Constitution’s copyright and patent clause, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for the majority. ABA Law Journal Детальніше-Read More

Yuriy Lutsenko sues his Ukrainian Prosecutors in DC Court

Former Ukrainian Interior Minister, presently incarcerated and on trial in Ukraine has sued is prosecutors in the Federal Court of the District of Columbia alleging violation of his basic human rights and that the Court has jurisdiction under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Read the Complaint

ЗАЯВА Голови Верховної Ради України В.М.Литвина

Ганебний характер оприлюдненої інформації про начебто оборудки у стінах Верховної Ради, пов´язані з перекупкою депутатів, лягають незмивною плямою не лише на Верховну Раду, а й на Україну, виставляють її на посміховище серед світу.

У зв´язку з цим я доручив Комітету з питань Регламенту, депутатської етики та забезпечення діяльності Верховної Ради України негайно розпочати комітетське розслідування цієї події, терміново провести публічне засідання за участю всіх причетних осіб. Водночас мною направлено Подання Генеральному прокурору України з пропозицією провести всебічне розслідування, дати необхідні оцінки та, у разі встановлення достовірності фактів, вжити вичерпних заходів щодо всіх причетних осіб. Безсоромні розбори між людьми, які пройшли до парламенту в лавах однієї політичної сили і працювали в одній фракції, примусили б Іуду корчитися, червоніти з сорому та заздрощів від атмосфери в українському політикумі.

Напередодні виборів вважаю за необхідне привернути увагу українського суспільства до того, як з часів Іуди виросли ціни та впала мораль, а також застерегти людей від такого «народного» представництва на майбутнє.

http://portal.rada.gov.ua/rada/control/uk/publish/article/news_left?art_id=297873&cat_id=37486

Zero Tolerance for Political Persecution in Ukraine; Open Appeal to the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych email link to endose and sign the appeal

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January 28, 2012 UABA News Update

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:46:47 GMT

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Statement on the political persecution of the Ukrainian writer, Yuri Vynnychuk

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Ukrainian PEN-Center STATEMENT on the political persecution of the Ukrainian writer, Yuri Vynnychuk On January 23, 2012 two policemen approached writer Yuri Vynnychuk at his home in the West Ukrainian city of Lviv and demanded from him a written explanation of a poem he had read a few months ago in Kyiv at the “A Night of Erotic Poetry” festival. The policemen said they were authorized to do so by the prosecutor general after he had received a complaint from the Communist MP, Leonid Hrach, who unabashedly qualified Vynnychuk’s poem as “pornography” and a “call for the violent overthrow of Ukraine’s government.”

Gazprom Has No Claim in Lazarenko Case - U.S. Court of Appeals

A U.S. federal appeals court in Washington has dismissed Russian energy giant Gazprom’s appeal against a lower court’s dismissal of a $140 mln claim against former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavel Lazarenko, court materials obtained by the Russian Legal and Court Information Agency (RAPSI) showed. RIANOVOSTI Детальніше-Read More

Supreme Court: GPS devices equivalent of a search, police must get warrant

In a rare defeat for law enforcement, the Supreme Court unanimously agreed on Monday to bar police from installing GPS technology to track suspects without first getting a judge's approval. The justices made clear it wouldn't be their final word on increasingly advanced high-tech surveillance of Americans. Indicating they will be monitoring the growing use of such technology, five justices said they could see constitutional and privacy problems with police using many kinds of electronic surveillance for long-term tracking of citizens' movements without warrants. Fox News Read more Read Full Court Opinion US v. Jones

Legal Billing: Is time running out on the billable hour?

When Washington lawyers Marc Zwillinger and Christian Genetski left Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal in 2010 to open a four-lawyer firm, they took with them 24 corporate clients, including some big names such as Yahoo, MySpace, Blizzard Entertainment and Cricket Communications. By the end of 2011, the Internet law boutique, ZwillGen, had more than quadrupled its client billings to 100..... Washington Post Детальніше-Read More

Ukrainian Tax law: Royalties decrease in 2012

On 13 January 2012 the Law of Ukraine "On Amending the Tax Code of Ukraine Regarding Review of Certain Tax and Duties Rates"(the "Amendments") became effective. The Amendments change the procedure for calculation of adjustment index used for royalties' calculation. According to the effective law, the royalties for crude oil and gas condensate extracted in Ukraine depends on royalties' rate, which varies depending on the depth of extraction, and on adjustment index, which is directly affected by world market crude oil prices. The royalty payers on a monthly basis shall calculate its amount depending on adjustment index calculated by dividing the average price for Urals oil at London exchange for the end of current accounting period to the benchmark oil price. Before the Amendments the benchmark price for Urals oil had been defined at the level of UAH 560 (app. USD 70) per barrel. By the Amendments the benchmark price for Urals oil in 2012 was raised to USD 100 per barrel (app. UAH 800). As result of these changes the adjustment index has decreased. Consequently, this led to decrease of royalty payments, which, overall, is a positive move for production companies in Ukraine. Asters Law Firm Newsletter

Top Ten Trends for Legal Outsourcing in 2012

An insider’s guide to the changing dynamics set to impact the legal outsourcing in the coming year. Report published by Fronterion.com Детальніше-Read More

Office Tech: PhraseExpress - a text-expansion program

PhraseExpress has the potential to improve your productivity on a computer more than any other utility program. Professionals and other office workers generally do not appreciate how much time an excellent text-expansion program can save.
Essential Functions: PhraseExpress speeds up your typing by letting you enter abbreviations for words and phrases. For example, you can type "iyh" and PhraseExpress will replace "iyh" with "If you have any questions, please let me know." ABA Smart SOLOing Newsletter Детальніше-Read More

Judge Voids Law Firm Contract Provisions That Discourage Clients from Following Exiting Attorney

A New York judge has voided portions of a law firm employment contract that discourage clients from following an attorney to another legal shop. Agreeing with former Cellino & Barnes attorney Paul B. Becker that a provision forbidding a departing lawyer from informing clients of his impending exit is unenforceable, New York Supreme Court Justice John A. Michalek said it violated ethics rules for attorneys, the Buffalo News reports. The judge also voided a contract provision that said Cellino & Barnes could put a 43.56 percent lien on future work done for a former client by a lawyer who had left the firm, calling the provision a penalty, the newspaper reports. He said there was no proof that the lien provision accords with actual costs for the firm, which is known for spending millions on advertising. ABA Law Journal; Детальніше-Read More

Big law firms don't care about your LL.M., recruiter warns

Does a graduate law degree increase a lawyer's value on the legal job market? Not according to Steven John, a managing director at legal recruiting firm Major, Lindsey & Africa. John delivered that unwelcome assessment to a roomful of law school administrators during the annual meeting of the Association of American Law Schools in Washington on Jan. 7. National Law Journal; Детальніше-Read More

Recent US Supreme Court Decisions; December 2011 and January 2012 As reported in the NY Times:

Jan. 11, 2012: In a major religious liberty decision, the court for the first time recognized a “ministerial exception” to employment discrimination laws, ruling unanimously that churches and other religious groups must be free to choose their leaders without government interference. The case was Hosanna-Tabor Church v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, No. 10-553.

Jan. 10, 2012: The court considered whether the government has reason to regulate cursing and nudity on broadcast television. The case is Federal Communications Commission v. Fox Television Stations, No. 10-1293.

Jan. 9, 2012: The court surveyed the available options and looming deadlines in a major voting rights case from Texas that could help decide control of the House. The three cases before the justices were Perry v. Perez, No 11-713, on the Texas House, Perry v. Davis, No. 11-714, on redistricting the State Senate, and Perry v. Perez, No. 11-715, on the House of Representatives.

Also, the court issued an order upholding prohibitions against foreigners making contributions to influence American elections. The decision clamped shut an opening that some thought the court had created in its Citizens United decision, when it relaxed campaign-finance limits on corporations and labor unions. The case is Bluman, et al., v. Federal Election Commission.

Dec. 19, 2011: The court announced that it would devote three days in late March to hearing arguments in challenges to the 2010 health care overhaul law. A decision in the case is expected by the end of June.

Dec. 12, 2011. The court agreed to decide whether Arizona may impose tough anti-immigration measures. Among them, in a law enacted in 2010, is a requirement that police there question people they stop about their immigration status. The case is Arizona v. United States, No. 11-182.

Irish bank foiled in attempt to recoup Ukraina mall for debt
Kyiv’s lucrative Ukraina shopping mall is on the verge of forever falling out of the reach of foreign shareholders following a court ruling on Dec. 23 that could render it bankrupt. An Irish bank’s attempt to collect on debts by taking control of Kyiv’s landmark Ukraina shopping mall is being frustrated at every turn by a mysterious company whose representatives evidently wield strong influence in Ukraine. On Dec. 23, a Kyiv court granted a $45.2 million claim filed by a British Virign Islands-registered firm against the property, putting the shopping mall on the verge of bankruptcy. The ruling was just the latest move in a grueling battle over control of the 45,000 square-meter property. Kyiv Post; Детальніше-Read More

Zero Tolerance for Political Persecution in Ukraine; Open Appeal to the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych email link to endose and sign the appeal