In a significant development, Penn State University has been embroiled in a lawsuit, unsealed on September 1, 2023, brought under the qui tam provision of the False Claims Act (“FCA”). The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is presiding over the case, which was initially filed on October 5, 2022. The lawsuit…
A California-based bong manufacturer engaged in numerous trademark lawsuits has recently defended its legal strategy before a Colorado federal magistrate judge. The company, which has lodged more than 800 near-identical trademark suits nationwide, argues that its extensive litigation is an earnest effort to combat widespread trademark infringement, a factor it claims is posing a substantial…
In a fascinating development in the use of the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) and the common law right of access, the case of Zezza v. Evesham Twp. Bd. of Educ., A-0537-21 (June 29, 2023) compelled a school district to produce video surveillance in response to a citizen request. A citizen, identified as the plaintiff…
In a recent legal development, Stone Brewing Co.’s $56 million trademark victory over MillerCoors remained steadfast, having been upheld by a California federal judge. The ruling, handed down on Monday, corroborated that there was ample evidence buttressing the jury’s findings and subsequent damages award. The lawsuit, one of significant consequence in the brewing industry, pits…
John Yoo, former Bush administration attorney and current University of California, Berkeley law school professor, was a notable witness in the recent disbarment trial of John Eastman. During his testimony, Yoo advocated for Eastman’s assertions concerning the significant influence of the vice president during the tallying of electoral votes. Yoo’s defense leveraged the historical precedents…
In a recent turn of events, a Massachusetts federal judge has overturned a significant $176.5 million migraine drug patent infringement verdict favoring Teva Pharmaceuticals against Eli Lilly & Co. This revocation comes after the judge’s decision on Tuesday, asserting that the trio of patents concerning Teva’s product, Ajovy, are invalid. This ruling provides a sharp…
In an interesting turn of events, a patent lawsuit over an innovative eyelid-cleaning device continues as a California federal judge disregards arguments that this device offers nothing groundbreaking in terms of eyecare. The suit, lodged against San Diego-based NuLids LLC, had been challenged on grounds of the device’s originality, a claim the court seemed unimpressed…
In an ongoing intellectual property (IP) dispute, a luxury furniture manufacturer has seen significant victory against its rival, Alan Mizrahi and his lighting wholesale company. A New York federal judge ruled that Mizrahi had deliberately used the manufacturer’s copyrighted images to market products bearing its trademarks. The court also found that Mizrahi had been withholding…
In an existing case involving an Amazon series, “The Rings of Power,” a fan-fiction writer defended his copyright claims argued against the defendants’ bid for over $153,000 in solicitors’ fees. This case, dating back to April, in which Amazon and the heirs of J.R.R Tolkien were sued, was based on allegations that Amazon replicated his…
More than 20 Asian corporations have submitted applications for initial public offerings in New York since June. This emerging trend appears to favor boutique firms over big name players in the legal industry. A shift in representation can be noted as instead of Big Law giants like Kirkland and Davis Polk, firms such as Hunter…
A California federal jury convicted a man on Tuesday for his role in the fatal 2020 shooting of a federal courthouse security guard. The man was found guilty of aiding and abetting both the murder and attempted murder of courthouse officers after he drove the getaway vehicle during the crime. This verdict marks a critical…
In an era where legal professionals are increasingly utilizing social media to build networks and connect with colleagues, crafting a meaningful comment on LinkedIn can go a long way to enhancing visibility and establishing thought leadership in respective fields. According to a recent piece on JDSupra by Stefanie Marrone Consulting, understanding the significance of a…
Top Mexican corporate law firm, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez is implementing a succession plan, designed to rejuvenate the company’s leadership. Leaders at the firm, including the longstanding senior partner, Carlos Aiza, plan to refocus on client work full-time in order to facilitate the emergence of fresh leadership perspectives. Aiza, age 55, who has led…
A recent legal development sees a Georgia-based entertainment company seeking the refusal of a federal judge to Davis Shapiro Lewit & Grabel LLP’s plea for relief from allegations. Specifically, the New York firm is accused of deceitfully aiding a Fugees band member in the sale of music catalog assets, which had been used as collateral…
In an era where technology continues to evolve at unparalleled rates and systems are growing more complex and interconnected than ever before, blockchain technology presents imminent challenges around the aspect of national security. As vital stakeholders in this evolving environment, it is imperative that legal professionals, particularly those in corporate environments and law firms, pay…
On Monday, the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court sentenced Ronson Chan, the head of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, to five days in jail. Chan was found guilty of obstructing a police officer. Reports from the Hong Kong Free Press reveal Chan refused to present his identity card to a plainclothes officer while reporting in Mong…
In a recent development, tech titans Amazon and Google have come forth and elucidated their strategies to U.S. patent officials on the measures they take to tackle and counteract the pirating and counterfeiting of products in the marketplace. This move was a response to the U.S. government’s growing concerns about how these types of unauthorized…
The Constitutional Court of South Korea has overturned the North Korea Leaflet Ban Act, a law prohibiting the distribution of leaflets in North Korea. The court’s decision was released via a press statement, bringing to culmination the efforts of South Korean organizations and North Korean defectors who filed a constitutional petition in December 2020 claiming…
In exciting news for accountability advocates, Justice Elena Kagan has voiced her opinion that the Supreme Court should not be exempt from adhering to rules. This perspective took direct aim at contemporaries within the Court, most notably Chief Justice Roberts. Her stance on this somewhat controversial issue has been acknowledged with fervor in legal circles….
In recent years, the legal profession has observed a heightened focus on mental health. While entering big law firms often comes with an intense workload and high expectations, it’s equally important to maintain one’s mental wellbeing. The issue of mental health concerns among newcomers is indeed unsettling, yet increasingly vital in today’s high-stakes corporate environments….
In recent times, understanding the progress of diversity within the legal profession has become of paramount importance. In a recent webinar, Leopard Solutions, a renowned data provider, presented its latest interpretation of diversity trends in the legal industry. The findings were based on both a broad review of existing data and a comprehensive survey specifically…
In a notable case that could have far-reaching implications, the First District Appellate Court of Illinois ruled that a man who was permanently injured while attending a party at an Airbnb property is not obligated to an arbitration agreement stipulated by Airbnb. The court held that the arbitration agreement doesn’t apply because the man didn’t…
In a significant landmark for intellectual property law, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued its 1 millionth design patent. The recipient of this milestone patent is a licensed cosmetologist. The granting of the one millionth design patent marks a high point in what seems to be an escalating interest in design patent…
Anyone interested in open records law – and in particular corporate legal professionals navigating this complex field, would do well to listen to some inspiring words from Terry Mutchler, Chair of Transparency Law and Public Data Practice at Obermayer. In a recent episode of On Record PR, Gina Rubel interviews Mutchler and delves deep into…
As the application of generative AI continues to rise in the legal profession, the question of how lawyers can harness this technology responsibly and effectively is coming into sharp focus. This past summer, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, one of the world’s largest law firms, took a significant stride in addressing this challenge. Orrick, in collaboration…