Fortifying a Law Firm\u27s Ethical Infrastructure: Avoiding Legal Malpractice Claims Based on Conflicts of Interest

This article addresses the prevailing problem of malpractice claims based on conflicts of interest. Part I of this article introduces the topic by underscoring the seriousness of all conflicts of interest and recommending preventative action. Part II describes measures that law firms can take to detect and manage conflicts and analyzes the effect of the firm’s ability to avoid conflicts claims on a firm’s ethical infrastructure. Part III focuses on some of the most common conflicts situations that result in malpractice claims and sanctions. The discussion includes selected conflicts cases that illustrate problems and patterns. Part IV concludes by urging firm manages to reassess the efficiency and long-term benefits of devoting time and resources to conflicts avoidance management

Fortifying a Law Firm\u27s Ethical Infrastructure: Avoiding Legal Malpractice Claims Based on Conflicts of Interest

This article addresses the prevailing problem of malpractice claims based on conflicts of interest. Part I of this article introduces the topic by underscoring the seriousness of all conflicts of interest and recommending preventative action. Part II describes measures that law firms can take to detect and manage conflicts and analyzes the effect of the firm’s ability to avoid conflicts claims on a firm’s ethical infrastructure. Part III focuses on some of the most common conflicts situations that result in malpractice claims and sanctions. The discussion includes selected conflicts cases that illustrate problems and patterns. Part IV concludes by urging firm manages to reassess the efficiency and long-term benefits of devoting time and resources to conflicts avoidance management

Utilization of Soft-rot Cavity Orientation for the Determination of Microfibril Angle. Part I

These studies utilize the decay cavities formed by the soft-rot fungus, Phialocephala dimorphospora, to determine the orientation of the cellulose fibrils in the cell wall. In this study, the microfibril angle was determined utilizing three methods: X-ray diffraction (T method), iodine staining, and orientation of the soft-rot cavities. The results demonstrate good agreement between the three techniques and verify that the decay cavities are formed in a direction parallel to the cellulose microfibrils and therefore can be used to determine the orientation of the cellulose microfibrils. One advantage of the soft-rot method over the X-ray method is the ability to measure angles of any size, including those of juvenile wood

Variation of Microfibril Angle Within Individual Tracheids

Utilizing the orientation of soft-rot cavities, microfibril angles were measured in individual tracheids (pulped fibers) and thin sections of southern pine in order to determine the extent of variation. Within individual tracheids of southern pine, microfibril angles were consistent along the length of a tracheid and when measured between bordered pits. Microfibril angles were highly variable on the radial walls containing bordered pits. Microfibril angles approached 90° around bordered pits, but the angles on the walls opposite the bordered pits were consistent with the average angle along the length of the tracheid. Variation (standard deviation) was less in latewood tracheids than in earlywood tracheids. Within individual tracheids, there was no correlation between microfibril angle and tracheid width. Across an annual ring of southern pine, microfibril angle gradually decreased through the earlywood and became much smaller in the latewood

Integrating Fishing Communities into Fishery Management: The Influential Economics of Organization

Fishing communities have always had an obvious economic interest in fishery management as it affects their short-run and long-run prosperity. Many fishing communities are now interested in a more active role in the form of co-management, community-based management, or community property rights. The primary research focus in communities and fishery management has been on developing small-scale fisheries. But there is growing interest on the part of fishing communities in developed large-scale fisheries in being better integrated into management. How will this work? What is the economic role of community in fully developed fisheries? The design question centers on how to integrate fishing communities into fishery management in ways that address structural inertia, avoid incentive problems and minimize transactions costs. This paper addressed the design question within the framework of the economics of organization. It described institutional origins of the community role in management and the changes in community interests over time. Focusing on the U.S. context, it discusses management objectives specific to fishing communities and some of the challenges facing better integration of communities in management. It identifies design issues arising from incentives and transactions costs. These transactions costs are tied to scale, management capital, power ambiguity, failure to make credible commitments, low-intensive incentives, opportunism, and bounded rationality