Well, it’s almost that time of year again when members of the Web 2.0, Internet, High-Tech, Software, and Mobile industries in the southwest suburbs have a stiff drink and brave the final frontier: human contact. So don’t just sit there reading this post; sign up to be part of the action at the second official Silicon Prairie Social on Thursday, January 24 at Mullen’s Bar & Grill (directions via Google maps).

BONUS: If you kicked yourself for missing the slamming good time I blogged about in this post then this is your chance to relive those glory days. Plus, mention M. Hedayat + Associates, P.C. (we’re a sponsor this time) to get it free! Or don’t and get in free anyway. It’s really your call.

RSVP here. The event is free and an RSVP is required, so sign up now – space is limited.

SEATTLE, WA–(Marketwire – December 18, 2007) – In this opinion the U.S. District Court in Seattle, WA dismissed the class action complaint filed in June 2007 against nascent attorney-portal and rating site Avvo with prejudice. This blog has been following Avvo, and the Brown lawsuit, since its inception. Ironically, the suit probably drew more attention to Avvo than the site would have otherwise attracted. Take that Counselor.

In its motion to dismiss Avvo argued that its publication of attorney disciplinary information and the opinions of clients and colleagues, as well as its own numerical rating, constituted protected speech. The Court agreed, stating that all of the foregoing “are absolutely protected by the First Amendment and cannot serve as the basis for liability under state law.” In short, lawyers now have to take it as well as they give it out.

Avvo CEO Mark Britton, a lawyer himself, says Attorneys in the jurisdictions in which Avvo operates (currently Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington) had “better not pout, better not cry, better not shout I’m telling you why – Avvo-Clause is coming to  town … to eat your lunch if you don’t come clean with clients.” Ed. Note. That quote may not have actually been from Mark Britton.

See other Avvo articles on the pm blog

In Illinois, as well as a growing number of other states, you can no longer just leave used electronics on the curb or in a dumpster. The issue is liability for environmental contamination. Then there is data disposal, and as we all know by now computer hard drives must be permanently and intentionally relieved of their data lest it fall into the wrong hands – a malpractice nightmare.

In case you did not receive an email notice or just didn’t hear, November 15^th was America Recycles Day – a prime opportunity for individuals, firms, and businesses to go green and find out how to dispose of electronic equipment, computers, monitors, printers, routers, phones, PDA’s, etc. Of course the question of the hour is always ‘what is all this going to cost me/my firm/my client?’ As a matter of fact recycling unwanted electronics often costs nothing – on the contrary, it can yield a tax break or even some money in your pocket. 

Well this is your lucky day because the pm blog is bringing the action to you; send us a list of your configured units, printers, monitors, routers, etc. or call 630-388-7057 to find out more about how the pm blog can help you stop procrastinating and put your assets in motion.

Ed. Note: I sense a great disturbance in the force … a million lawyers asking ‘what the hell does that mean?’
Google has shown us the future, and it is in moblogging, I mean microblogging, I mean smart phones … whatever. The search giant bought teeny weeny Twitter competitor Jaiku this week. What is Twitter? What is Jaiku? What the hell am I talking about? First take a look at this post, then read the breaking news on Twittown. Then take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning, because you’ve officially been outrun by technology used primarily by 12 year olds. Yeah … it’s like that.

DuPage County Bar Association 2007 Induction of Officers and Directors

The DuPage County Bar Association will install officers and directors on Thursday June 7 at Maggiano’s Little Italy in Oak Brook at 6:00 pm. The Honorable Kenneth L. Popejoy will provide the keynote address; Chief Judge Ann Jorgensen will preside; and Justice Robert E. Byrne will provide the invocation. Those being installed include:

• Alfred A. Spitzzeri, President
• Thomas A. Else, President Elect
• Kent A. Gaertner, 2nd Vice President
• Steven M. Ruffalo, 3rd Vice President
• John A. Pleviak, Secretary Treasurer
• Michael J. Scalzo, Assistant Treasurer
• James F. McCluskey, General Counsel
• Courtney A. Bobosky, Associate General Counsel
• Stephen A. Brundage, Director
• Brenda Carroll, Director
• Dion U. Davi, Director
• Patrick Hurley, Director
• Cecilia Najera, Director
• John J. Pcolinski, Jr., Director

Register with Executive Director Glenda Sharp by calling 630/653.7779 or via e-mail at gsharp@dcba.org. You may also send your request by fax to 630/653.7870.