Cultural fit. Human resource experts throw those words around casually, even gleefully. Hire for cultural fit and your business will be more likely to function efficiently with happier employees who are well-suited to management and your workplace environment.

After more than three years of telling the world that it did nothing wrong and that it will defend itself case by case for as long as it takes, Merck did a 180-degree turn when it announced Nov. 9 that it had settled most of its Vioxx litigation after only a dozen or so jury trials.

Judges have robes for a variety of reasons, one of which is to present an image of unity. Sports teams wear uniforms; so do the salespeople at Best Buy. The robe uniform makes judges seem like a team. This appearance is reflected in much of the language surrounding court decisions as well: the court decides, the court holds, the court grants, the court denies.

Without a doubt one of the most impactful decisions in recent memory from the United States Supreme Court was its 2006 public-employee, free-speech decision in Garcetti v. Ceballos (2006). In this decision, the Court dramatically reduced the level of employee First Amendment claims by creating a categorical exclusion for official, job-duty employee speech.

It used to be that an isolated “bad word” might simply get your mouth washed out with soap. But after U2 lead singer Bono referred to an award as “fucking brilliant” in 2003, ripples from the case made it all the way to the Supreme Court this week.

Until last week, the state of Florida had never clearly decided whether to recognize a cause of action called “false light invasion of privacy.” For potential defendants like newspapers, false light had become a stalking horse of sorts, a threat that hummed in the background.

In June, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a church is not liable for injuries its members inflicted while performing an exorcism. The Court misapplied the law and, in doing so, set a dangerous precedent.

Pharmaceutical company Merck & Co. has negotiated a multibillion-dollar settlement to resolve the outstanding Vioxx product liability claims in the U.S., though some plaintiffs’ attorneys are concerned about participating in the settlement.

When Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf states, it caused more than $44 billion worth of property damage. Torrential downpours and high winds caused the levees to break in New Orleans, engulfing more than 80 percent of the city in standing water.

It is no exaggeration to suggest that obesity is a growing problem in America. As Americans grow more overweight, weight-based discrimination likewise increases. State and federal governments as well as private employers have enacted measures that penalize and arguably disadvantage the obese.

It sounds like an abstract question, but it became a reality after the latest twist in the bitter battle between Mattel, which makes the iconic Barbie doll, and rival MGA, which makes the popular Bratz doll. Mattel and MGA have been locked in litigation since 2004, after Mattel sued former employee Carter Bryant.

Teens sending risqué photos of themselves to friends using cell phones, called "sexting," has parents and school officials up in arms over the growing trend. The seemingly innocent, but potentially dangerous, practice has resulted in a handful of cases nationwide of teens being charged with child pornography and placed on sex offender lists.

Broden & Mickelsen is exclusively dedicated to providing aggressive and ethical representation to individuals charged with criminal offenses.

Broden and Mickelsen, Criminal Defense Attorneys in Dallas, are on SlideShare.

In Houston it can be extremely hard to find a good Lawyer or Attorney. Just the thought of not knowing if you will get raked over the coals!

Like every other profession, there are numerous attorneys who are dedicated to charging fair fees and zealously representing their clients.