In last week’s roundup of stories that generated the most interest on Law360, several law firms, expert analyses and compelling narratives were highlighted as influential movers within the legal arena. While this recap serves to spark interest amongst legal professionals anew, it also provides a firm grasp on some of the most impactful legal discourse…
Retired D.C. Circuit Court Judge and former California Supreme Court Justice, Janice Rogers Brown, took the stand as a character witness for attorney John Eastman during his recent disbarment trial. This marks an unusual involvement of senior judicial figures in disbarment proceedings, giving the event national attention. Brown’s primary role seemed to be vouching for…
In a reversal that underlines the unpredictability of patent protection, a novel web-based point of sale system patent has been declared worthless by the U.S. patent board, following a petition by a Canadian e-commerce company. The case garnered substantial interest in the legal community because the said patent played a key role in supporting a…
The Cleveland Museum of Art and the office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg find themselves at odds over the possession of an ancient statue. The museum initiated legal action against Bragg after the artwork was seized, with the intention of returning it to its supposed original place – Turkey. Both institutions have previously been…
Senior US District Judge Roger T. Benitez recently declared California’s assault weapon ban unconstitutional, claiming it infringes the right to bear arms as outlined in the Second Amendment of the US Constitution. The prohibitive California law stipulates a felony for those who manufacture, distribute, import, or keep assault weapons such as AR-15s for sale or…
The Mississippi-based casino games maker, Mao Inc., has initiated a legal battle in a Colorado federal court against a firm that operates a casino west of Denver. Mao Inc. alleges that, for two years, this firm has been infringing its trademarks on a popular blackjack game. Notably, the casino had already paid licensing fees for…
In recent legal news, a ruling by the Federal Circuit has cast fresh light on what can be a seemingly overlooked aspect of trademark declaration. This relates, specifically, to when a declaration attains ‘incontestability’. The significance of this topic roots back to longstanding U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) practices. For close to half a…
The Comptroller’s Office is taking significant measures to maintain a workplace environment that is free from any promoting of hate speech and extremist ideologies. This move comes after an incident in which an attorney lost his job due to a hate-fueled rant. Not much detail regarding the specific event has been made public. The decision…
In a recent turn of events, tech giant Intel has successfully swayed the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The crux of the argument rested upon the combination of several old patents from the previous century, which seemingly invalidated a patent held by a German inventor. This inventor asserted he had independently crafted what is…
In this week’s edition of Off the Bench, the Toronto Raptors have taken a decisive stand against allegations of corporate espionage by the New York Knicks, according to Law360. The escalating battle in the world of basketball is not the only headline-grabbing legal dispute in sports this week. In a turn of events, the Major…
In recent legal developments, prominent video game company Zynga Inc. was absolved of allegations by a Texas federal jury stating that it infringed a mobile gaming device patent. The verdict arrived following thorough consideration of the tech giant’s various gaming applications, ultimately leading the jury to conclude these apps did not violate the mentioned patent…
On Wednesday, a synagogue in Berlin, Germany fell victim to a firebomb attack, while rioters in Tunisia razed the historic El Hamma synagogue. These incidents arrive as tensions surrounding Hamas’ October 7 assault on Israel, followed by Israel’s Gaza siege, reach boiling point. The molotov cocktail attack on the Kahal Adass Jisroel synagogue in Berlin’s…
In a sequence of events that might be mistaken for an episode of a legal drama series, an ensconced discussion that took place in the isolation of a courtroom is stirring controversies. Raising ethical concerns are a judge, his court clerk, and an attorney within the local region. These concerns are significant enough that they…
Two weeks ago, Donald Trump found himself in hot water after posting an unfounded screenshot on his Truth Social platform. He falsely identified a law clerk for the New York Supreme Court Justice Engoron as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s “girlfriend.” (Above The Law) Justice Engoron immediately took action and issued a gag order preventing…
An emerging trend of shock and concern has been escalating among law students globally due to the high cost associated with law school textbooks. This factor, though vital for the law degree acquisition, is adding a significant financial burden to the already heavy load of tuition fees, resulting in economic strain amongst these future legal…
New York Justice Arthur F. Engoron has imposed a fine on former US president Donald Trump for violating a court-issued gag order. The violation occurred when Trump failed to remove a social media post that disparaged the judge’s law clerk. Whilst Trump contended that the violation was inadvertent and a first-time occurrence, Justice Engoron was…
Carvana, the used car online platform, recently managed to sidestep a prospective class action lawsuit brought forth by used car dealerships. The dealerships were alleging that the resale powerhouse was using misleading trade strategies to distract and draw away their client base. Nevertheless, a federal judge in North Carolina concluded that some of the claims…
An intellectual property firm has launched a series of lawsuits against major telecommunications companies AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. The firm is alleging intentional infringement of two patents related to wireless communications systems that provide 4G and 5G services. The accused parties – AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon – are part of the leading group in the…
“A cheese by any other name would smell as sweet”, or so The Briefing might have us believe in their latest podcast episode, “When Parmesan isn’t Parmesan – Cheese Consortium Attempts to Fight Off Counterfeit Cheese”. The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, guardians of one of Italy’s most famed culinary treasures, find themselves embroiled at the forefront…
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a proposed rule that could introduce new minimum staffing standards for all long-term care facilities reimbursed by Medicare or Medicaid, often abbreviated as LTC facilities. Full details on this development were published by Ballard Spahr LLP and can be accessed by anyone interested. While the…
In an interesting turn of events, the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois rejected the certification of a supposed class action alleging that TransUnion violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA). The charges brought against the credit reporting agency involved allegedly misleading consumers concerning the…
Last month, the Queen City played host to the FFFinance Forum, an event that brings together the financial and legal minds from across the globe. One of the most anticipated segments of the event were the welcome remarks delivered by Wes Misson, the Co-Chair of the Finance Group at Cadwalader. As a man renowned for…
A businessman, who last year found himself on the wrong side of a $35.7 million judgement made in Massachusetts in favor of his former employer, has set a new course of action. The businessman has extended his legal feud into Delaware, launching a lawsuit against the same company. His suit is geared towards the recovery…
On February 19, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final rule setting out the manner in which civil monetary penalties will be calculated and imposed on Responsible Reporting Entities (RREs) who do not fulfil their Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Section 111 reporting obligations. This comes in response to provisions of…
On October 10, 2023, a formal opinion known as “Formal Opinion No. 243” was released by the New York State Education Department Office of Counsel. This opinion thoroughly examined the requisite hours of instruction owed to students who are serving out-of-school suspension periods. Formal Opinion No. 243 was issued in the aftermath of recent regulatory…