Ackley Law Group Represents Man Wrongly Identified By News as "Alleged Groping Cabbie"

See full story by Sydney Smith at iMediaEthics.org.

Andrew Ackley Named Rising Star by Super Lawyers for Second Year in a Row

Andrew Ackley has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Stars for the second year in a row. He has been profiled in Super Lawyers magazine and Seattle Met magazine this summer. No more than 2.5% of lawyers in the state are named to the list.

Lawsuit Filed By Ackley Law Group Against Nightclub Prompts Immediate Action by City Attorney, Possible Policy Change by City

Prompted by a lawsuit filed by Ackley Law Group against a Seattle nightclub for negligence resulting in the stabbing of two individuals, King 5's Linda Byron investigated "chronic nuisance" nightclubs in the City and elicited swift action from the Seattle City Attorney, and a possible policy change in  standards for and enforcement of Seattle's nightclub license laws.  

Washington Enacts Social Media Password Protection Law, Does It Right

Washington has become the fifth state this year to enact legislation protecting social media passwords of job applicants and employees.  The law prohibits employers and potential employers from demanding online social media passwords from employees, and bars employers from demanding that employees Friend management personnel so that their profile is viewable.

The new legislation does allow employers to request "content" (not passwords) during internal investigations (e.g. leaked trade secrets).  This marks the first official position on the issue taken by any branch of Washington government.  

Washington's courts of appeals have yet to weigh in directly on the discoverability online social media in civil litigation (employment-related or otherwise).  Trial courts will likely continue to evaluate requests for social media on a case-by-case basis under the principles of the discovery rules.  That being said, it is unlikely courts will order litigants to give passwords or Friend adverse parties' attorneys.  While the recent legislation has no direct legal impact on discoverability in civil litigation, it does announce (or substantiate, depending on your perspective) the public policy and privacy interests in protecting social media, or at least the scope and type of disclosures (requested targeted to specific content, rather than access to everything).

The new law also draws a clear distinction between social media content and social media access.  This is the same line I have been proposing, and interpreting in review of national case law on social media discovery, in lecturing and writing about the discoverability of online social media. 

So, kudos to Washington for getting on it, and also for doing it right.

Andrew Ackley Chairing and Speaking At "Anatomy and Physiology 101 For Attorneys"

To my peers, National Business Institute is putting on a CLE May 16 at the Convention Center entitled "Anatomy and Physiology 101 For Attorneys."  I am chairing and speaking at it.  This is a really good primer for the medical aspects of legal practice that are not typically covered in legal research resources.  I invite you to take advantage of the opportunity and sign up at the link above.

Ackley Law Group Files Class Action For Security Life's Unlawfully Sold Dental Plans

Ackley Law Group, along with the Bierlein Law Office, has filed a class action lawsuit against Security Life Insurance Company of America.  The lawsuit alleges that Security Life sold dental plans in Washington that were unlawful and were never properly approved by the Office of Insurance Commissioner, that Security Life failed to expeditiously bring the plans into compliance, and that these actions resulted in unilateral termination of the plans by Security Life.  

One of the unlawful components of the plans was overly lengthy waiting periods for dental services.  The lawsuit alleges that paying full price into an insurance system during the unlawfully lengthy periods to earn full coverage, combined with the unilateral cancellation and loss of benefits accrued in those waiting periods, forced consumers to pay for services they could never use.

If you have been affected by early termination of a Security Life dental plan, please contact Courtney K. Ackley at Ackley Law Group by email at courtney@ackleylawgroup.com.

Andrew Ackley Named Rising Star by Super Lawyers

Andrew Ackley has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2013.  He will be profiled in Super Lawyers magazine and Seattle Met magazine this summer.  No more than 2.5% of lawyers in the state are named to the list.