OBLIC news, events and updates.

OBLIC commonly receives questions about law firm name requirements and restrictions. In Ohio, law firm naming conventions have been regulated through the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 7.5: Firm Names and Letterheads.   Changes in the Rule This Rule was amended effective June 17, 2020 to remove the prior prohibition of practicing under a […]

If you diligently read these OBLICAlerts, you may be incredulous that we are sending yet another warning about third-party initiated cyber and wire fraud scams. OBLIC has sent out alerts on this topic several times this year as well as multiple times a year over the past several years. Despite these alerts, we are seeing […]

The annual review of the Rules of Civil Procedure and other rules of court by the Supreme Court Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure led to significant amendments to the Ohio Rules of Civil Procedure, which took effect on July 1, 2020. These amendments were recommended to the Ohio Supreme Court last fall […]

Ohio Revised Code 2305.113 establishes the statute of limitations for filing medical malpractice claims, requiring a claimant to commence an action within one year after the cause of action accrued. The statute also contains a statute of repose, stating that a claim is barred if not commenced within four years of the event giving rise […]

With many lawyers working remotely and from home, it is important to understand the coverage available through the OBLIC Data Breach Endorsement. OBLIC provides the Data Breach Endorsement coverage at no additional cost for all Lawyers Professional Liability policies. Coverage under the OBLIC Data Breach Endorsement is limited to factual scenarios where the law firm […]

“Dabbling” in unfamiliar areas of practice is a risk which is not unexpected following economic downturns. Since our most recent OBLIC Alert warning about the dangers of dabbling, we have received inquiries and heard from several attorneys interested in entering bankruptcy practice. Bankruptcy is a prime example of an area of law in which you […]

As an OBLIC insured you have probably read our occasional articles emphasizing the need for regular, effective client communication, including references to various forms that can be put to use in your practice (see our most recent example, OBLIC Malpractice Alert of Fall 2019). However, whether you practice as a solo or in a firm, […]

Conflicts of interest are frequent questions to the OBLIC Hotline. Lawyers must carefully evaluate potential conflicts under the applicable Rules of Professional Conduct. Conflicts are very fact-specific, which can make the conflict of interest evaluation difficult. Perform conflict checks for all new clients and all new matters: Maintain firm data that can be searched thoroughly […]

In the few past months, we’ve often found ourselves navigating unfamiliar situations.  While this may be necessary to deal with the pandemic, working in the unfamiliar should not apply to the matters you handle for your clients.  Undertaking representation outside your area of expertise can often lead to malpractice claims or disciplinary complaints. During difficult […]

Reservation of Rights (“ROR”) letters are used throughout the insurance industry to provide notice to the insured that the claim, or portions of the claim, may not be covered. A common misconception is that ROR letters are flat denials of coverage, which is not their intended purpose. ROR letters are instrumental in alerting you to […]