Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, was quoted as voicing strong concerns about the current state of poverty in the United Kingdom in a recent interview with The Guardian. De Schutter identified that, in his view, the levels of poverty in the UK are “simply not acceptable,” and…
In a recent discussion, Shipt’s Chief Legal Officer, Linda Seal, discussed her strategies and beliefs in empowering people to deliver their best work. The strategies, she believes, revolve around key elements like flexibility and mentorship. Primarily known for its grocery delivery service, Shipt has been a prominent player in the rapidly growing delivery industry. A…
In an interesting development, a California federal judge has disqualified a former Perkins Coie LLP attorney from participating in a patent infringement case, as an in-house counsel for the biotechnology company Pacific Biosciences of California Inc. The judge, however, didn’t proceed to disqualify the entire in-house legal team as was initially requested. The attorney, who…
Recently, a California federal judge has handed down a judgment disqualifying an ex-Perkins Coie LLP attorney, from assisting in a patent infringement case against Pacific Biosciences of California Inc., a renowned biotechnology company. The attorney in question is currently functioning as an in-house counsel at Pacific Biosciences. Despite the aforementioned sanction, the judge has decided…
Despite settling a high profile dispute over sneaker patents back in 2021, Nike seems to be heading back into a litigious battle. The sportswear giant filed lawsuits against Skechers and New Balance this week, alleging patent infringement related to its innovative Flyknit shoe technology. This move marks another chapter in the long-running saga surrounding the…
The Federal Circuit reviewed a significant web patent dispute involving three corporate giants this week, casting doubt on the merit of the case. Dated back to 1994, the web patent in question is considered by Google, Amazon and Walmart as being excessively broad, purportedly covering “anything interactive on the web today”. These companies are also…
A Texas magistrate judge has recently stated that infringement claims levied against tech titan Samsung, the claims being led by a company directed by one of Samsung’s previous premier in-house patent attorneys, are fit to proceed to trial. This comes as a key move in this ongoing legal landscape, where there’s a continued argument of…
Linde North America’s former general counsel is urging the Third Circuit to overturn district court decisions that resulted in him forfeiting over $100,000 in retirement benefits. He argues that the global engineering company should still pay these benefits. The appeal was filed this Monday with the goal of reversing the decisions of the district court….
An age discrimination lawsuit involving Boeing’s intellectual property department made headlines this week as current and former employees testified about an allegedly extremely hostile working atmosphere. This trial, brought forward by a longtime manager in the department, has caught global attention due to the disturbing revelation of an office “crying chair” for distressed members of…
Former star start-up, WeWork Inc. has filed for bankruptcy, marking a new low for this co-working company. It has been grappling with the shocks from the pandemic and the fallout of its 2019 failed initial public offering (IPO). The New York-based firm managed to list both assets and liabilities within the range of $10 billion…
In an unprecedented surge in patent applications in 2022, a striking 46.8% originated from China. This insight was revealed in a recently released report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). As stated by WIPO, this marked the highest ever number of patent applications documented in a single year, highlighting not just a global rise,…
In Miami this week, a United States Federal Judge has granted a publisher’s request to drop a contentious counterclaim against the widow of a renowned Mad Magazine cartoonist. The widow, who has been representing herself in court, was locked in a legal battle following the Eleventh Circuit’s refusal to provide an opinion on her case….
Newmont Corp., the world’s foremost gold producer, is moving ahead with a plan to generate $2 billion in cash. The scheme involves selling mines and divesting projects, following the completion of its largest acquisition in the mining industry so far this year, as per a Bloomberg Law report. The Denver-based corporation finalized its approximately $15…
As the global legal landscape grows ever more complex due to rapid technological advancements and new regulations, legal professionals must stay informed about these changes. A recent series of legislative and regulatory developments regarding telehealth is a perfect example. This post will examine some of the highlights for the week of October 24-31, 2023. The…
In a recent decision by The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), all challenged claims in a point-of-sale (PoS) patent owned by CloudofChange LLC have been declared unpatentable. This patent is involved in a lawsuit, set for a jury trial in Texas, which is slated to commence in the early part of next year. The…
In a landmark judgment, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit put a restraint on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s enforcement agenda by limiting its capacity to seek disgorgement under 15 U.S.C. ยง 78u(d)(5) and (7). As the stipulation in the Securities & Exchange Commission v. Govil, No. 22-1658, 2023 WL…
In a move that underscores the high-stakes nature of trade secret lawsuits, the Ninth Circuit on Monday directed a lower court to reinstate a jury verdict awarding approximately $17 million to a collection of jointly operated businesses. These entities serve as a hub, linking moving companies with individuals who require their services. The Ninth Circuit’s…
In a bid to address the ongoing opioid crisis, a research unit from the University of North Carolina has set its sights on assessing the impact of the state’s drug court system. The primary focus of this study will be to observe potential avenues for the expansion of the system, with an overall objective to…
On October 31, 2023, the US District Court for the District of Colorado handed down a ruling involving the application of the codified economic substance doctrine in Liberty Global, Inc. v. United States. The court’s judgment, delivered summarily, determined that Liberty Global, Inc. (LGI) should acknowledge a taxable gain of approximately $2.4 billion. The tangled…
For business enterprises based in Maine, a new rule by the Maine Retirement Savings Board may soon have considerable implications. As of October 18, 2023, the Board has adopted a final rule, enforcing Maine’s state-operated retirement savings program known as the Maine Retirement Investment Trust or MERIT. Purposefully designed to aid employees who are without…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the year 2024, impacting the benefit and contribution limits applicable to retirement plans. According to the announcement, these adjustments see a modest increase in these limits for 2024, which may have several implications for corporate and law firm employees. The key change lies in…
In a recent notable shift in regulatory approach, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has approved an amendment to the Safeguards Rule. This amendment requires non-banking institutions to report certain data breaches and other security events to the agency. Such a move highlights the increasing focus on securing sensitive consumer data in the financial intent sector….
In recent developments within the United States Congress, prominent figures from the House Ways & Means and House Energy & Commerce committees, along with the Senate Finance Ranking Member, have collectively raised their voices against a significant healthcare policy. Based on a report by JD Supra, the said members have called for the withdrawal of…
In a recent legal development, Massachusetts has augmented the protections surrounding the counseling records of sexual assault survivors. This change, heralded by a ruling of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, impacts how both domestic and foreign courts can access such sensitive records. In the case In the Matter of a Motion to Compel, SJC-13336, the…
Environmental justice – the meaningful and fair involvement of all people in the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental policies, regulations, and laws – has become a key consideration in the corporate world. While many companies have traditionally focused on complying with environmental laws, there is a growing emphasis on also contributing towards environmental justice…