An attorney for Nolo Press of Berkeley, California, appeared before the Texas Supreme Court October 21 to ask that it hand over certain information regarding charges that the publisher of legal self-help books and software is violating prohibitions against the unauthorized practice of law.
During the 45-minute hearing, Pete Kennedy (of the Austin law firm of George, Donalson, and Ford) argued that Nolo has the right to know the nature of the complaint and to obtain the agenda and minutes, as well as the names of the members, of the committee and subcommittees that are doing the investigating.
The publisher maintains that the secrecy under which the investigation is being conducted leaves the procedure open to charges of possible conflict of interest. Nolo officials believe that until the court decides whether or not it will honor the publisher's requests, it is unlikely that the investigating committees will take any further action against Nolo.
Posted November 9, 1998.