Tag Archives: law

Interesting from the Lively/Baldoni litigation: defamation and civil extortion allegations

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I am finding the defamation and civil extortion allegations some of the more interesting from a legal perspective, of course while seeing the allegations and the arguments and supposed evidence presented to the public is very interesting and something that we almost never see. Broadly speaking, defamation is: an untrue statement of fact or purported fact (e.g., not opinion) that is published (i.e., said or in print or in writing) to a third party (i.e. not simply to the person about whom the statement or writing is about, but to a third person) that hurts the reputation of the person about whom the statement or writing is about.

In Lively/Baldoni there are allegations that defamatory statements were made by Lively and by Baldoni themselves, and by agents such as PR or crisis firms representing Lively and Baldoni, and by the regular press (NYT). The allegations against the press include allegations that what they wrote was defamatory because of the alleged selective or incomplete nature of the statements and information that were included in the writing – thus allegedly not presenting an accurate writing or statement and alleged defamatory. If you are wondering, yes, a claim of defamation can be alleged on the basis of an alleged selective or incomplete statement or writing. As defamation is not an uncommon possibility, you might also be wondering whether someone possibly has defamed someone else in your circles or activities – slander (i.e., spoken) or libel (i.e., written).

There is a lot of discovery to be done – requests and subpoenas for documents, taking depositions, interrogatories, requests for admissions, experts, and more.

Keep in mind however, that none of what you are seeing is actual evidence that has been rebutted or cross-examined or questioned or even presented and admitted into evidence in Court at trial. I will be providing additional posts pertaining to defamation, and we also have not touched on the claim of civil extortion, or on the allegations of hostile or harassing workplace environment (including in the context of the script, the filming, and Hollywood), or on the efforts to resolve issues during the filming, or on workplace and filming oversight, diligence and compliance by HR, executive and management officers, boards/committees, and others.

Also keep in mind that the allegations, documents and arguments that you are seeing are or will be questions and issues of fact to be applied to the applicable laws and to be determined by the trier of fact (i.e., the jury). No one knows how the claims would be viewed by the selected jury at trial. And I should add that of course the above is just a summary discussion – for example, some statements are privileged or protected, there can be First Amendment freedom of speech issues, there are differing standards of culpability or wrongdoing depending on whether the person to whom the alleged statement applies is a public person or figure, and in California you can have anti-SLAPP issues, in addition to other issues, criteria and elements.

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Thank you for viewing this discussion. Please do pass this blog and blog post and information to other people who would be interested as it is only through collaboration and sharing that great things and success are more quickly achieved. If you are interested in discussing anything that I have said in the discussion above or in either of my two blogs (see blog addresses below), or if you simply want to reach out or are seeking assistance, it is best to reach me by email at dave@tateattorney.com.

David Tate, Esq. (and inactive CPA)

Trust, estate, probate, will, fiduciary and elder abuse disputes, litigation, trials and law – probate, trust, estate, will, power of attorney, elder abuse, real property and conservatorship disputes, conflicts and litigation, challenging and contentious administrations, and personalities, people and relationships, mental and physical health, limitations and capacity, undue influence and fraud; and and mediator services.

Business litigation and internal business and co-ownership disputes, litigation, trials and law, and contentious officer, director, board and audit and governance committee, D&O, conflict of interest, workplace, and governance disputes, conflicts and litigation; and mediator services. Legal authority, duties, rights, conflicts of interest, governance, diligence, compliance, legal risk management, and personalities, people and relationships; and mediator services.

Governance, law, legal risk management processes, compliance and success, audits and auditing, internal controls, executive officers, boards, directors, audit and governance committees, investigations, publicity rights, AI, defamation and First Amendment, legislation, statutes and laws, regulations, and headline news, and issue, people and relationship effective meetings, discussions and deliberations, debates and debating, communications, and wording and use of words.

Real property disputes, litigation, trials and law – primarily co-ownership and joint-ownership disputes, conflicts and litigation, and sales and purchases that go wrong, and mediator services.

Mediator and mediator and dispute resolution services (evaluative and facilitative).

  • Trust, estate, probate, conservatorship, elder and dependent abuse, etc.
  • Business, breach of contract/commercial, owner, shareholder, investor, etc.
  • D&O, board, audit and governance committee, accountant and CPA related.
  • Other: workplace and employment, environmental, trade secret.
  • Law and legal issues relating to authority, duties, rights, conflicts of interest, governance, diligence, compliance, risk management, disputes, evidence, liability, litigation, and mediation and resolution services.

Remember, every case and situation is different. It is important to obtain and evaluate all of the evidence that is available, and to apply that evidence to the applicable standards and laws. You do need to consult with an attorney and other professionals about your particular situation. This post is not a solicitation for legal or other services inside of or outside of California, and, of course, this post only is a summary of information that changes from time to time, and does not apply to any particular situation or to your specific situation. So . . . you cannot rely on this post for your situation or as legal or other professional advice or representation, or as or for my opinions and views on the subject matter.

Also note – sometimes I include links to or comments about materials from other organizations or people – if I do so, it is because I believe that the materials are worthwhile reading or viewing; however, that does not mean that I do not or that I might not have a different view about some or even all of the subject matter or materials, or that I necessarily agree with, or agree with everything about or relating to, that organization or person, or those materials or the subject matter.

Please also subscribe to this blog and my other blog (see below), and connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter.

My two blogs are:

http://tateattorney.com – business, D&O, audit committee, governance, compliance, etc. – previously at http://auditcommitteeupdate.com

Trust, estate, conservatorship, elder and elder abuse, etc. litigation and contentious administrations http://californiaestatetrust.com

David Tate, Esq. (and inactive California CPA) – practicing only as an attorney in California.

I have consolidated blogs – future posts on this topic will be made at http://tateattorney.com – thank you. David Tate, Esq.

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I have consolidated blogs – future posts on this topic will be made to http://tateattorney.com. Please click on http://tateattorney.com

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Thank you for viewing this discussion. Please do pass this blog and blog post and information to other people who would be interested as it is only through collaboration and sharing that great things and success are more quickly achieved. If you are interested in discussing anything that I have said in the discussion above or in either of my two blogs (see blog addresses below), or if you simply want to reach out or are seeking assistance, it is best to reach me by email at dave@tateattorney.com.

David Tate, Esq. (and inactive CPA)

Trust, estate, probate, will, fiduciary and elder abuse disputes, litigation, trials and law – probate, trust, estate, will, power of attorney, elder abuse, real property and conservatorship disputes, conflicts and litigation, challenging and contentious administrations, and personalities, people and relationships, mental and physical health, limitations and capacity, undue influence and fraud; and and mediator services.

Business litigation and internal business and co-ownership disputes, litigation, trials and law, and contentious officer, director, board and audit and governance committee, D&O, conflict of interest, workplace, and governance disputes, conflicts and litigation; and mediator services. Legal authority, duties, rights, conflicts of interest, governance, diligence, compliance, legal risk management, and personalities, people and relationships; and mediator services.

Governance, law, legal risk management processes, compliance and success, audits and auditing, internal controls, executive officers, boards, directors, audit and governance committees, investigations, publicity rights, AI, defamation and First Amendment, legislation, statutes and laws, regulations, and headline news, and issue, people and relationship effective meetings, discussions and deliberations, debates and debating, communications, and wording and use of words.

Real property disputes, litigation, trials and law – primarily co-ownership and joint-ownership disputes, conflicts and litigation, and sales and purchases that go wrong, and mediator services.

Mediator and mediator and dispute resolution services (evaluative and facilitative).

  • Trust, estate, probate, conservatorship, elder and dependent abuse, etc.
  • Business, breach of contract/commercial, owner, shareholder, investor, etc.
  • D&O, board, audit and governance committee, accountant and CPA related.
  • Other: workplace and employment, environmental, trade secret.
  • Law and legal issues relating to authority, duties, rights, conflicts of interest, governance, diligence, compliance, risk management, disputes, evidence, liability, litigation, and mediation and resolution services.

Remember, every case and situation is different. It is important to obtain and evaluate all of the evidence that is available, and to apply that evidence to the applicable standards and laws. You do need to consult with an attorney and other professionals about your particular situation. This post is not a solicitation for legal or other services inside of or outside of California, and, of course, this post only is a summary of information that changes from time to time, and does not apply to any particular situation or to your specific situation. So . . . you cannot rely on this post for your situation or as legal or other professional advice or representation, or as or for my opinions and views on the subject matter.

Also note – sometimes I include links to or comments about materials from other organizations or people – if I do so, it is because I believe that the materials are worthwhile reading or viewing; however, that does not mean that I do not or that I might not have a different view about some or even all of the subject matter or materials, or that I necessarily agree with, or agree with everything about or relating to, that organization or person, or those materials or the subject matter.

Please also subscribe to this blog and my other blog (see below), and connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter.

My two blogs are:

http://tateattorney.com – business, D&O, audit committee, governance, compliance, etc. – previously at http://auditcommitteeupdate.com

Trust, estate, conservatorship, elder and elder abuse, etc. litigation and contentious administrations http://californiaestatetrust.com

David Tate, Esq. (and inactive California CPA) – practicing only as an attorney in California.

WHAT ARE BRACKETS – USING BRACKETS IN MEDIATIONS AND SETTLEMENT EFFORTS, AND POSSIBLY IN OTHER NEGOTIATIONS

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Brackets can be used in mediation and settlement efforts, and might be used in other negotiations. What are brackets? Say the parties in a mediation are going back and forth, inch by inch, counteroffer followed by counteroffer, getting closer to a mutual dollar settlement amount, but are still far apart and are unlikely to reach settlement under that traditional approach.  

Using brackets the parties propose ranges within which they agree to negotiate further. For example, plaintiff says plaintiff will move to $___ if defendant will move to $___; and defendant says that defendant will move to $___ if plaintiff will move to $___. Thus, each party provides a range within which that party says that it will continue to negotiate. But plaintiff does not represent where within plaintiff’s range plaintiff is willing to settle, and defendant also does not represent where within defendant’s range defendant is willing to settle. Brackets can be used to at least reduce the settlement gap. Sometimes, or eventually after multiple back and forth bracket counteroffers, the bracket ranges may in part cross each other; however, again, a bracket communicated by a party is not a representation of the specific amount within the range that that party is willing to settle. Also, of course, in the context of litigation, no settlement is binding unless it is in writing, signed by the parties, or put on the record in Court.

One caveat: attorneys and parties can have differing views or beliefs about how brackets work. If brackets are going to be used, there needs to be a mutual understanding about how the brackets are going to be used and what the bracketed amounts will represent. For example, based on experience, or based on what they have been told, some people might have the belief or understanding that it is implied that a party will be willing to settle at the halfway, mid-point number or amount within the bracket range that they have communicated. Before agreeing to proceed with brackets, the parties need to discuss and agree upon how the brackets will be used. In my view or practice, such a halfway or mid-point belief or understanding is not implied and should not be implied, unless, of course, the parties have previously agreed.

Keep brackets in mind as one technique to help parties reach resolution and settlement.

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Thank you for viewing this discussion. Please do pass this blog and blog post and information to other people who would be interested as it is only through collaboration and sharing that great things and success are more quickly achieved. If you are interested in discussing anything that I have said in the discussion above or in either of my two blogs (see blog addresses below), or if you simply want to reach out or are seeking assistance, it is best to reach me by email at dave@tateattorney.com.

David Tate, Esq. (and inactive CPA)

Probate Court and administration related disputes and litigation – probate, trust, estate, will, power of attorney, elder abuse, real property and conservatorship disputes, conflicts and litigation, and challenging and contentious administrations, and personalities and relationships; and mediator services.

Business litigation and internal business and co-ownership disputes, and contentious officer, director, board and audit and governance committee, D&O, conflict of interest, workplace, and governance disputes, conflicts and litigation; and mediator services. Legal authority, duties, rights, conflicts of interest, governance, diligence, compliance, and risk Management.

Real property disputes and litigation – primarily co-ownership and joint-ownership disputes, conflicts and litigation, and sales and purchases that go wrong; and mediator services.

Mediator services and dispute resolution (evaluative and facilitative).

Trust, estate, probate, conservatorship, elder and dependent abuse, etc.

Business, breach of contract/commercial, owner, shareholder, investor, etc.

D&O, board, audit and governance committee, accountant and CPA related.

Other: workplace and employment, environmental, trade secret.

Law and legal issues relating to authority, duties, rights, conflicts of interest, governance, diligence, compliance, risk management, disputes, liability, litigation, and mediation and resolution services.

Remember, every case and situation is different. It is important to obtain and evaluate all of the evidence that is available, and to apply that evidence to the applicable standards and laws. You do need to consult with an attorney and other professionals about your particular situation. This post is not a solicitation for legal or other services inside of or outside of California, and, of course, this post only is a summary of information that changes from time to time, and does not apply to any particular situation or to your specific situation. So . . . you cannot rely on this post for your situation or as legal or other professional advice or representation, or as or for my opinions and views on the subject matter.

Also note – sometimes I include links to or comments about materials from other organizations or people – if I do so, it is because I believe that the materials are worthwhile reading or viewing; however, that does not mean that I do not or that I might not have a different view about some or even all of the subject matter or materials, or that I necessarily agree with, or agree with everything about or relating to, that organization or person, or those materials or the subject matter.

Please also subscribe to this blog and my other blog (see below), and connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter.

My two blogs are:

http://tateattorney.com – business, D&O, audit committee, governance, compliance, etc. – previously at http://auditcommitteeupdate.com

Trust, estate, conservatorship, elder and elder abuse, etc. litigation and contentious administrations http://californiaestatetrust.com

David Tate, Esq. (and inactive California CPA) – practicing only as an attorney in California.

HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE ESG AT YOUR LAW FIRM OR SERVICE PROVIDER BUSINESS OR ORGANIZATION – MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUSIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY?

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While at least some of the public company investment world is focused on or interested in ESG, the fact is that ESG criteria can be applied to every business (public and private), governmental entity, nonprofit, and other organization, and also to every industry and profession. I have written previously, for example, that governmental entities, education (schools), medical/medicine, and some nonprofits would be well-positioned to apply and report ESG criteria as a means of demonstrating how other public and private businesses might go about doing the same, while perhaps at the same time raise community and public awareness and expectations and reducing the need or push for legislation. In the end, unless ESG becomes overly or too expensive and starts to not insignificantly negatively impact jobs, I expect that we will have both additional mandated legislation and regulations, and increasing community and public awareness.   

The discussion in this blog post is about law firm ESG, applying ESG to law firms, and rating the ESG at your law firm. For reference and a useful discussion about ESG criteria, I have copied and pasted below my December 29, 2020 blog post titled ESG and the “E” and the “S” and the “G” – ESG + Sustainability + Climate Action.

With respect to law firms, and for that matter also for other service and professional service businesses, governmental entities, nonprofits and other organizations (including, for example, education/schools and medical/medicine, I would view the “S” and the “G” and “Sustainability” to be the most challenging and important. That is not to suggest that the “E” and the “Climate Action” are unimportant, but merely to recognize that in service and professional service type organizations, such as law firms, people, governance, services and related risk management lift the organization and keep it operating, sustainable and perhaps growing.

Let’s look at “S” for a law firm. Some law firms and partners or owners are satisfied to operate their own practices and have a reduced interest in associate and mid-level experience attorneys, other than to the extent that those worker type attorneys support the partners or owners. Typically that type of firm also will not provide much in the way of mentorship, development, guidance, allowing involvement, or at some point upward mobility opportunities (including little dissemination of information that would help provide direction in those areas). Whether and to what extent to provide “S” to associates and mid-level experienced attorneys is a partner and owner choice. Without much “S” the firm and its partners and owners still can do well, but in my view not as well as they could by providing “S.” “S” also relates to community involvement – again, without community involvement the firm and its partners and owners still can do well, but in my view not as well as they could. See below from my December 29, 2020, blog post examples of some possible “S” criteria. In the context of law firms and the atmosphere and opportunities that are present two words that come to mind are mental health and inclusiveness, both of which are related to both “S” and “G” criteria. You might be aware that there has been a general increased focus on mental health in the legal profession and at firms, and this increased focus started pre-COVID. The following is a link to a post on the California Lawyers Association page discussing a new, recent study about attorney mental health and wellbeing (including the extent of stress, anxiety, drinking and depression) https://calawyers.org/california-lawyers-association/california-lawyers-association-and-the-d-c-bar-announce-results-of-groundbreaking-study-on-attorney-mental-health-and-well-being/.

Let’s look at “G” for a law firm. Some of these topic areas also relate to the firm atmosphere and environment for associate and mid-level experience attorneys, including, for example, whether and the extent to which they are allowed and encouraged to be involved in the governance or growth or marketing of the firm. Importantly, “G” also relates to the relationships and interactions of and between the partners and owners, and to other “S” criteria. Lack of governance, or inadequate or improper governance, and definitely bad governance can or will negatively impact the entire firm and its longevity, whereas “good” governance will have a positive impact. See below from my December 29, 2020, blog post examples of some possible “G” criteria.

Finally, for the purpose of this post “sustainability.” Law firms come and go, grow, or shrink or stagnate, but they and the legal profession and market are always changing. Laws change. The demand for legal services change. The competition changes. The people with or at the firm change. The abilities of the firm change. Sustainability involves “S” and “G,” the experiences, abilities, strengths, weaknesses, personalities, and hard work of the attorneys and other people at the firm, services and practice areas that are and that can be offered, the ability to personally reach and communicate with clients and prospective clients, and collaboration and working together.

I have not covered “E” or Climate Action – those can be topics for another post, and with comments and suggestions by other people relating to law firms and service and professional service businesses and organizations. As, for example, you may have seen recent articles discussing “E” as it pertains to cryptocurrencies, certainty law firm “E” extends beyond the use of paper and ink, office energy use, waste, and recycling.

Obviously the above discussion is not intended to be a treatise – certainly many attorneys and other people who work or who have worked at law firms, and at other service and professional service organizations, could add considerably more discussions.  Immediately below is the copy and paste of my December 29, 2020, blog post.

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December 29, 2020, blog post

ESG and the “E” and the “S” and the “G” – ESG + Sustainability + Climate Action

ESG criteria refers to an organization’s environmental, social and governance policies, practices and processes, some of which depend upon whether the organization is a public corporation or business, private corporation or business, nonprofit, not for profit or NGO, governmental organization or entity, or a hybrid or mixed organization or entity. ESG criteria will also vary depending on the size of the organization or entity, its industry, and whether it primarily provides a service, a product or manufacturing, or a combination of both.

The following criteria can be used for reference; indeed, however, whereas applicable criteria have been set in some circumstances or for some situations, applicable criteria otherwise often remain in a state of change, discretion, suggestion or proposal, and choice. The various services that evaluate and rate ESG also each individually decide which criteria they will use. Indeed, the below listed possible criteria are intended to be fairly encompassing so as to promote thought and consideration, but are not necessarily in the whole a list of required criteria. Each organization and entity must evaluate its own requirements and circumstances.

Environmental criteria broadly refer to some or all of the following:

Resource materials and energy evaluation, selection, use, and discharge, management and conservation;

Environmental risks and management;

Waste;

Emissions;

Pollution;

Hazardous and toxic wastes and emissions;

Ownership and management of contaminated materials and land;

Treatment of animals; and

Compliance with laws and regulations.

Depending on the processes that are being used sometimes the environmental component of ESG can be the more clear-cut or direct component to identify and measure.

Social criteria broadly refer to some or all of the following:

The organization’s or entity’s internal and external relationships, values and culture and its adherence to and enforcement of values with employees and independent contractors in the workplace and work environment;

Its working relationship employees, independent contractors and in the workplace, with customers, with suppliers, in the community, and with other stakeholders;

Human capital, as it has been called – I don’t particularly like the term “human capital” as to me it sounds a bit faceless or depersonalized – instead I prefer something such as simply the category “People”;

Health and safety;

Well-being;

Diversity;

Opportunities provided, inclusiveness and equality, training, mentorship, advancement and advancement opportunities;

Talent acquisition and retention;

Social engagement and active involvement;

Discrimination;

Organizational openness and communications;

Organizational trust, integrity and reputation; and

Compliance with laws and regulations.

I view the social criteria component of ESG as being the more currently challenging component because of the very large numbers of criteria that people can argue are or should be included, and its sometimes difficulty of measurement or more subjective nature.

Governance criteria broadly refer to some or all of the following:

The organization or entity overall, and to its leaders and their actions and leadership including such criteria as:

Board and management roles, makeup, structure, policies, processes and practices;

Decision making;

Accounting methods and related transparency;

Shareholder engagement and shareholder rights;

Avoidance of unlawful practices, and legally or ethically questionable business practices;

Strong, transparent and enforced governance policies and practices;

Codes of conduct and ethics, and enforcement;

Board, executive officer and senior management diversity;

Measurement of corporate and organization performance;

Corporate and organization values, trust, integrity, and reputation;

Board oversight;

Accountability for actions;

Oversight of internal controls;

Oversight of compliance with laws and regulations;

Compensation;

Avoidance of unlawful conflicts of interest;

Information disclosure;

Corporate and organization sustainability;

Oversight of environmental, social and governance criteria;

The organization’s use of information and private information, and information and cyber security;

Protection of the organization’s assets including intellectual property;

Officer, director, and management openness to appropriate challenges, disagreement, and criticism, and the manner and processes for learning about, addressing, evaluating and debating, decision making, and resolving those ongoing occurrences and situations; and

Board and director structure, agenda setting, demeanor, meeting processes, independence, and adherence to prudent business judgment and diligent, active and proactive business judgment rule practices.

Whereas the above list of possible governance criteria might suggest that the governance component of ESG is more well-defined, I view the governance criteria as currently being perhaps the more challenging component of ESG because a large number of possible criteria can be identified but in practice the criteria that are recognized as being accepted tend to be less numerous, and as a group governance criteria still tend to be more vague, undefined and less agreed upon, and identification, evaluation and measurement of governance criteria also tend to vary more from organization and entity to organization and entity.

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Best to you. David Tate, Esq. (and inactive CPA)

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Remember, every case and situation is different. It is important to obtain and evaluate all of the evidence that is available, and to apply that evidence to the applicable standards and laws. You do need to consult with an attorney and other professionals about your particular situation. This post is not a solicitation for legal or other services inside of or outside of California, and, of course, this post only is a summary of information that changes from time to time, and does not apply to any particular situation or to your specific situation. So . . . you cannot rely on this post for your situation or as legal or other professional advice or representation.

Thank you for reading this post. I ask that you also pass it along to other people who would be interested as it is through collaboration that great things and success occur more quickly. And please also subscribe to this blog and my other blog (see below), and connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter.

My two blogs are:

Business, D&O, audit committee, governance, compliance, etc. http://auditcommitteeupdate.com

Trust, estate, conservatorship, elder and elder abuse, etc. litigation and contentious administrations http://californiaestatetrust.com

Best to you, David Tate, Esq. (and inactive California CPA) – practicing in California only

Litigation, Disputes, Mediator & Governance: Business, Trust/Probate, Real Property, Governance, Elder Abuse, Workplace, Investigations, Other Areas