In a remarkable ruling rendered by a midlevel appeals court in Albany, the creation of a new ethics watchdog by New York lawmakers in July 2022 was declared unconstitutional. Unanimously, the court held that this act had violated the “bedrock” principles of the separation of powers. The claim was brought forward by attorneys on behalf…
From the fields of West Africa to dessert tables across the globe, the journey of a cocoa bean is shrouded in complexity and, tragically, exploitation. Many choose to turn a blind eye to the unseen stages of this process, with child labor being a notable issue. In a dialog that casts a fresh perspective on…
Sullivan & Cromwell, a renowned law firm, has recently taken a formal turn towards advancing their artificial intelligence (AI) practice. Having been involved in AI since 2015, the firm acknowledges the need for a more targeted approach, provided the recent significant progress in AI capabilities. This shift also addresses numerous ethical and political questions that…
Navigating the nuanced dynamics of attorney-outsider relationships can indeed be a challenging task for in-house counsel. These relationships often require delicate management to ensure productive outcomes. With this task in mind, Google’s Senior Associate in Vendor Strategy and Governance Management, Matt Rubbelke, emphasizes the importance of effective problem-solving and clear communication. Addressing a congregation of…
The increasing pervasiveness of deepfakes and ‘cheapfakes’ during election cycles is a concern for countries worldwide, with experts asserting that most countries, including the U.S., are seemingly unprepared for the burgeoning wave of synthetic content. Despite the digital age bolstering new opportunities for communication and information dissemination, these advancements simultaneously profit bad actors who seek…
Despite recent legal challenges by business groups to the Federal Trade Commission’s ban on noncompete agreements, companies will still need to adhere to state laws that prohibit such contractual provisions. Gwendolyn Lindsay Coole, the Assistant Wisconsin Attorney General for Antitrust, emphasized this during her address to the Federalist Society, cautioning companies against any premature relaxation…
Circuit Judge Kent A. Jordan has reportedly revealed his intention to retire in January 2025 from the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Jordan’s forthcoming departure, confirmed by the federal judiciary, is slated for Jan. 15 and precedes a presidential inauguration. More details are available on Law.com. An intriguing aspect of Judge Jordan’s decision…
A $10.25 million settlement has been procured by attorneys general from wireless carriers in 50 jurisdictions, including premier states such as California, Texas, New York, and Florida, among others. This settlement had been derived from three multistate settlements and encompasses major carriers such as AT&T Mobility LLC, Cricket Wireless LLC, T-Mobile USA Inc., Cellco Partnership…
In a recent legal update, Astellas Pharma’s bid to hinder the launch of generic drugs competing with its leading overactive bladder medication has met with defeat. On Thursday, the Federal Circuit ruled against Astellas Pharma, revoking a temporary prohibition the appeals court instituted in April. The Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company had strived extensively to safeguard…
Job search platform Tarta.ai has called upon a California federal judge to dismiss a suit where it stands accused of unlawfully using a rival firm, Jobiak LLC’s automated database for its own job postings. The central argument put forward by Tarta.ai is the notion that Jobiak’s website, being driven by artificial intelligence, is not subject…
The case involving Island Intellectual Property and online stockbroker TD Ameritrade continues to draw attention in the upper echelons of the legal field. The Federal Circuit court on Thursday cast fresh doubt on claims by patent owner Island Intellectual Property, with a judicial remark undercutting its chances of a favorable outcome: “this is all abstract.”…
Attorneys at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP and Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC have filed a request for $102 million in fees. This follows their work on resolving claims from investors against leading banks who purportedly conspired to resist the modernization of the stock loan market. Due to the lengthy and complicated nature…
The Ninth Circuit Court recently brought back to life a roughly 7-year-old case against a California physician alleged to have been selling opioid prescriptions. Furthermore, the court decided the case must be reassigned, after noted defiance from the presiding judge who had gone against the explicit directives of a previous order to recommence the indictment….
David Grief, renowned former CEO of Essex Court Chambers has spearheaded the creation of a new platform, named Nusa Chambers, aimed at independent litigators based in Singapore. The development of the project, in collaboration with Malaysia-headquartered legal business solutions consultancy, Chambers Lab, intends to seamlessly connect independent practitioners with corporates and individuals seeking legal representation…
China recently sought public feedback on draft regulations proposed by its Ministry of Industry and Information Technology aimed at regulating its burgeoning lithium battery industry. The primary intention of these rules is to rein in unchecked expansion and foster sustainable, high-quality growth in the sector. The proposed rules address several critical issues in China’s lithium…
A recent development in the intellectual property lawsuit concerning Nintendo has come to light. A Seattle federal judge has sanctioned that Nintendo is permitted to pause the lawsuit against it, pending an investigation into the disputed patents’ validity. The judge asserted that the plaintiff has no ground to grumble about any resultant delays, particularly since…
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a recent majority opinion, suggested that plaintiffs may be able to recover damages past the three-year statute of limitations in copyright ownership disputes. This interpretation could result in a surge of claims for infringing acts that transpired decades ago. The ruling, however, left several legal professionals grappling with doubt due…
A recent, unsettling development has emerged in the realm of international trade litigation. A Swiss-based oil trading company, which found itself under sanctions from the United Kingdom last year due to purported connections to Russia, initiated legal proceedings against eminent law firm BakerHostetler. Allegations insinuating that a confidence trickster posing as a CIA agent endeavored…
On May 9, 2024, a federal judge from Delaware decidedly opposed to Gilead Sciences’ plea seeking the amendment of her verdict. Previously, she had ruled that two essential HIV prevention drugs, Truvada and Descovy produced by Gilead Sciences, had directly encroached upon invalidated government patents. However, the judge elucidated her ruling, attributing alleged infringement to…
In a recent decision by a state appeals court, a dispute involving a Houston-based law firm and a litigation financier continues to unfold painfully. The litigation financier alleges the firm failed to honour a debt exceeding $2 million. While the court has ruled that the law firm is not obligated to provide financial documents to…
The Houston Police Department revealed on Thursday that it has lodged charges against a man related to the fatal shooting of Jeffrey Limmer, an attorney at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP. It is vital to note, however, that the accused is still on the large. The report from Law360 details this development. The unfortunate…
The former President Donald Trump’s shortlist for Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) nominations has been released. As expected, there are a few familiar names from the 5th Circuit who feature prominently among the nominees. You might have guessed, but now you can confirm which 5th Circuit judges made the cut. On the corporate…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently acknowledged a substantial data mishap, stating that the personal information of approximately 14,000 trademark applicants had been unintentionally disclosed to the public. The agency added that this inadvertent dissemination occurred over a course of eight months. The nature of the leaked information and potential repercussions for the…
In legal developments this week, a Colorado appellate court has decided to partially reverse a ruling from a lower court that initially awarded a Denver law firm approximately $3.1 million for its representation of Elijah McClain’s family. The initial judgment was in association with a $15 million federal litigation settlement. However, upon review, the appellate…
A protracted legal battle surrounding patent and trade dress issues might soon see a resolution as both a Wisconsin-based enterprise and a Hong Kong furniture producer express their intention to wind down their dispute concerning cup holder designs. According to Law360’s report published on May 9, 2024, this announcement follows years spent in the legal…