The latest ruling from the Supreme Court regarding securities fraud has caught the attention of legal professionals, suggesting potential financial opportunities within the realm of corporate law. Detailed coverage of the decision can be found here. This judgement is particularly significant as it may alter the landscape of securities litigation, influencing both defense strategies and…
Legal department spending saw a significant increase in 2023, driven by the expanding scope of duties that these departments are now tasked with handling. Legal teams are becoming increasingly specialized, a necessity as they take on key roles involving complex topics such as AI and compliance. The trend indicates a response to broader operational roles…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decision, ruling that claims in a United Therapeutics Corp. patent for a high blood pressure drug were invalid on the grounds of obviousness. The challenge was brought forth by Liquidia Technologies, despite the petition containing an expert…
States and fossil fuel industry associations welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent decision to temporarily halt the implementation of the federal “Good Neighbor” plan. Advocacy groups criticize the decision, stating it cuts back essential ozone protections. The plan’s contested provisions aimed to enforce new ozone limits by rejecting inadequate state air plans and substituting a federal…
The US Supreme Court’s recent decision to strike down the liability shield for the Sackler family, the owners of Purdue Pharma LP, is poised to have significant ramifications throughout the bankruptcy sphere, affecting corporate restructurings far beyond the pharmaceutical giant. By overturning the shield that was part of Purdue’s bankruptcy plan and its $6 billion…
The debate over whether pro bono work serves as a potential rainmaker or a nemesis to billable hours remains heated. One attorney illustrated the compelling impact of pro bono work by recounting a moment when a client, for the first time throughout an entire meeting, leaned forward and said, “Tell me more.” This instance underscores…
French pharmaceutical giant Servier is back on the hook for all but €2.4 million ($2.57 million) of a more than €300 million European Union antitrust fine after the European Court of Justice upended a lower court decision that had reduced the penalty by over €100 million. The recent ruling reinstates the bulk of the original…
GoodPop, known for its popsicles made from natural ingredients, has initiated legal action against Jonny Pops LLC. The company alleges that Jonny Pops’ marketing claims, stating their products are made with “100% real fruit” and “simple ingredients,” are misleading. According to the complaint, Jonny Pops’ products primarily consist of water and added sugar, which raises…
In a recent decision, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) issued mixed rulings in a series of patent challenges initiated by Intuit, the company behind TurboTax. The challenges were directed at a small software company that asserts it pioneered the concept of “co-browsing.” While Intuit succeeded in invalidating two out of the three patents…
Attorneys practicing in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina will soon navigate new courtroom protocols concerning the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Judges in this jurisdiction have mandated a new standing order that requires lawyers to submit a certification with every brief, affirming that AI did not assist in…
Rec Sports Co., a recreational sports club accused of obtaining confidential customer information from a competitor, has challenged the validity of the allegations. In a statement to a New Jersey federal judge, the company expressed confusion over the claims, requesting that the accuser present substantive evidence to support the accusations. The sports club described the…
Thanks To Our Awesome Advertisers In a recent post by Above the Law, the publication took a moment to express gratitude towards its advertisers for their crucial support. The meta description aptly summarizes the sentiment: “We love working with you.” Above the Law has had a longstanding history of providing insightful commentary and news coverage…
The deliberations within the United States Supreme Court seem to be stretching well into the summer, highlighting the Court’s growing complexity and the profoundly impactful nature of its decisions. According to reports, this term may likely extend into July, a rare scheduling circumstance for the high court which tends to adjourn by late June. Notably,…
Legal News Coverage A Colorado federal magistrate judge has expressed growing disillusionment with the use of informal discovery proceedings. Speaking to a group of lawyers, the judge noted that during her first year on the bench, she has found that written briefings and formal rulings tend to serve the court and cases more effectively. This…
The Law Firm Disrupted: Rising Billing Rates, Rising Partner Compensation For buyers of legal services, the simultaneous rise in billing rates and partner compensation is sending mixed signals about the cost and value dynamics within the legal industry. While clients are feeling the pinch from increased billing rates, law firms are seeing an upward trend…
A Colorado attorney who is also known as a conservative radio personality is currently facing breach of contract claims in state court. The lawsuit alleges that he wired a client’s $375,000 divorce settlement to an investment account in Hong Kong, despite what the plaintiff, a garden center worker earning $14.77 per hour, described as clear…
In a sharply divided decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cannot seek fines through its in-house administrative proceedings. The decision marks a substantial shift in the agency’s enforcement capabilities, which have long relied on internal adjudication for efficiency and speed. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing in dissent, highlighted…
AstraZeneca has launched a lawsuit against the Mississippi Attorney General, marking a significant moment in the escalating confrontations between large pharmaceutical companies and state governments. The lawsuit delves into the utilization of the federal 340B drug pricing program, which is designed to help low-income patients by mandating that drug manufacturers provide outpatient drugs to eligible…
Brown v. Board of Education is often regarded as one of the most pivotal decisions in the history of the United States Supreme Court. Handed down in 1954, the ruling declared that segregated education was inherently unequal, thereby overturning the ‘separate but equal’ doctrine established by Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896. The decision sought to…
In a highly charged session, the U.S. Supreme Court has witnessed a series of notable events, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson delivering oral dissents from the bench. On June 27, 2024, Chief Justice John Roberts presided over the courtroom, with all justices present. Justice Neil Gorsuch delivered the court’s opinions in…
The Supreme Court issued a ruling on Thursday that blocks the proposed multi-billion-dollar bankruptcy plan for Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of the opioid OxyContin. The plan aimed to shield members of the Sackler family, the company’s principal owners, from liability for opioid-related claims without their declaring bankruptcy. The court’s decision, which was a narrow 5-4…
Attorneys representing Antonin Scalia Law School professor Joshua Wright have criticized Congresswoman Virginia Foxx’s request for more information regarding George Mason University’s Title IX investigation as “deeply troubling” and based on “misleading slander.” Foxx, a Republican from North Carolina and chairwoman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, had asked for details concerning allegations…
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has invalidated three Nike patents pertaining to fitness tracking technology. The challenge was brought by Lululemon Athletica Inc., marking another setback for Nike at the PTAB, following similar rulings in May. Legal professionals monitoring the dynamics of patent law and intellectual property rights can follow the evolving story…
In a pivotal 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court has ruled that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) must bring cases seeking civil penalties for securities fraud to a jury trial. This ruling, delivered by the conservative majority, eliminates the practice of SEC using administrative law judges for such matters, raising questions about the future efficacy…
Five individuals have been charged following a thwarted attempt to bribe a juror with $120,000 in cash, according to recent reports. The incident, which has garnered significant attention, involved three defendants who were previously accused of attempting to defraud the government. Their strategy to sway the jury’s decision included tracking a 23-year-old juror and leaving…