Out There
Fake ‘Lawyer’ Faces Prison, Fines
A man hired by a Buffalo, N.Y., law firm, who used a fake resumé and billed clients $22,000, has been charged with the unauthorized practice of law and grand larceny in the third degree.
According to a criminal complaint, Andrew Schnorr, age 39, falsely claimed that he had a J.D. and an MBA, and graduated summa cum laude from the New York University School of Law. Schnorr also falsely claimed that he’d passed the New York and California bar exams.
The firm hired Schnorr in July 2019 and fired him in August 2019 after discovering that he was not a lawyer. While at the firm, Schnorr represented nine clients and appeared at depositions and scheduling conferences.
The law firm refunded the fees to clients that Schnorr billed.
If convicted, Schnorr faces a sentence of between two and one-third to seven years in prison.
Source: ABA Journal
Did You Know?
Partnership for Corporate Water Stewardship
Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership (WMEP) and its affiliate Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council (WSBC) have reaffirmed their environmental partnership with The Water Council, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit dedicated to solving critical global water challenges by driving freshwater innovation and advancing water stewardship.
The three entities, which began the partnership in 2016, will develop training programs to help companies engage in certified water stewardship. They will also work to make Wisconsin manufacturers more aware of the value of water stewardship.
“While we live and work in what is considered a water-abundant state, our companies are not immune from the climate challenges that are directly impacting their operations or supply chains,” said Dean Amhaus, president and CEO of The Water Council, in a press release. “An enterprise water stewardship program is essential today and in the future.”
Supply disruptions, climate change, and stakeholder calls for action are among the factors pushing companies to address water challenges.
Got a Nugget to Share?
Send your ideas for interesting facts, trends, tips, or other bits and bytes to wislawmag@wisbar.org, or comment below.
By the Numbers
9%
– The amount of tax the city of Chicago imposes on streaming services.
The tax, which was imposed by a ruling issued by the city’s tax authority in 2015, is the subject of a lawsuit filed by Apple Inc.
Last month, a Cook County Circuit Court judge dismissed the lawsuit without prejudice for failure to state a claim. In his ruling, the judge gave Apple 35 days to file a second amended complaint.
Apple filed the lawsuit in 2018, claiming that the tax violates the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act and the Commerce and Due Process Clauses of the U.S Constitution.
The lawsuit was delayed for two years while the city battled Netflix Inc., Hulu LLC, and Spotify over the tax. The city won that battle in 2020, when the Illinois Supreme Court let stand an appeals court ruling in the city’s favor.
Source: Bloomberg Law
Good Idea?
Volunteer to Help Afghan Refugees
The State Bar of Wisconsin is sponsoring an effort to train volunteer lawyers to help Afghan refugees with their asylum claims.
As part of the sponsorship, the State Bar will provide professional liability insurance for volunteers and reimburse them for expenses.
To learn more, go to https://app.joinpaladin.com/probonowi/opportunities/pro-bono-asylum-for-afghan-evacuees/.
Tech Tip
Popular App: Brush Your Teeth Better
At the recent ABA Techshow in Chicago, many audience members were excited to hear about a smart toothbrush that pairs with an app to help you brush your teeth better.
Hum by Colgate is a smart toothbrush that links to your smartphone via Bluetooth.
The app tracks your brushing frequency, coverage, and duration. You can earn points for good brushing habits and redeem those points in the app.
There’s an app for kids, which one of the audience members said helped the kids have fun and acquire better brushing habits.
You can also link the toothbrush to your Apple Watch and receive notifications while you are traveling.
The smart toothbrush sells for $25 at popular retailers. The toothbrush may be used without the app.
For advice on legal technology, contact Practice411™ for a confidential consultation, at (800) 957-4670.
Source: Christopher C. Shattuck, Practice Management Advisor (Practice411™), State Bar of Wisconsin.
Quotable
“I have a special practice. I handle one client.”
– Robert Duvall as lawyer Tom Hagen, The Godfather
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the release of The Godfather, the Francis Ford Coppola film based on the bestselling novel by Mario Puzo.
The Godfather was the highest grossing film of 1972. It took home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Duvall gave a breakout performance as Mafia boss Don Corleone’s consigliere. The performance earned him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. It was the first of seven Oscar nominations for Duvall (he won Best Actor in 1984 for Tender Mercies).
“Few characters in film history have displayed the cunning, charm and utter moral ambiguity as that of Tom Hagen,” wrote filmmaker Alex Simon for HuffPost in 2017.
The American Film Institute has ranked The Godfather as the second-greatest film in American history, behind Citizen Kane.
