Tekashi 6ix9ine has been directed by a New York federal judge to pay over $73,000 in copyright infringement damages, along with attorney fees, to a Miami rapper. The judge recommended this sum after 6ix9ine willfully failed to engage in the litigation process. The default judgment highlights significant repercussions for refusing to participate in legal proceedings….
Legal News The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has put forth a comprehensive set of recommendations to manage the risks associated with generative artificial intelligence (AI). The guidelines cover critical areas including data privacy, intellectual property, and the environmental footprint of AI technologies. NIST’s detailed approach includes over 200 specific actions designed to…
This past Monday, U.S. District Judge Alan Albright issued a sealed ruling that may bring closure to substantial patent litigation faced by major telecommunications companies Verizon and T-Mobile. The lawsuits, which once carried the potential for damages exceeding $5 billion, had cast a significant shadow over the companies. The ruling represents a key moment in…
A set of barcode scanning patents issued to noted litigator Leigh Rothschild faced judicial scrutiny in Texas, where U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap determined they “recite no more than generic computer operations.” This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over the patentability of software-related inventions. For more details, read the article here.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Kathi Vidal has endorsed sanctions against Longhorn Vaccines & Diagnostics for what she describes as an “egregious abuse” of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) system. This rebuke stems from what Vidal characterized as the patent owner’s “deliberate scheme to hide” evidence detrimental to their case from the…
The bar exam, a critical milestone for aspiring lawyers, has always been a source of anxiety and horror stories. This year is no different, and Above the Law is actively seeking accounts from recent test-takers to shed light on their experiences. Legal professionals and those who have recently sat for the exam are urged to…
In the competitive landscape of corporate law, distinctions between top firms are often drawn based on their specialized practice areas. According to the most recent practice area rankings published by Vault, one Biglaw firm has secured the preeminent position in the tax practice area for the second consecutive year. This firm, which also ranks among…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has reversed a $78.75 million attorney fee award in the T-Mobile data breach litigation, deeming a multiplier of 9.6 times the attorneys’ hourly rate unreasonable. The decision emerged from a $350 million settlement involving T-Mobile, following a data breach affecting approximately 76.6 million individuals. Judge Morris…
In a crucial legal development, TorHoerman Law secured a $495 million verdict against Abbott Laboratories Inc. on July 26. The case centered around Robynn Davis, an infant who deteriorated after being given Similac formula in the neonatal intensive care unit in 2021, according to her mother’s attorney, Jake Plattenberger. As Plattenberger details, jurors were moved…
A California federal judge expressed skepticism on Monday regarding Realtor.com’s parent company’s request for a preliminary injunction against CoStar. The request aims to prevent CoStar from allegedly misappropriating trade secrets and unlawfully accessing Realtor.com’s computers. According to the judge, the purported misconduct seems to involve website content rather than a secret “formula.” For more details,…
In a decisive moment for patent litigation, a Delaware judge recently concluded a long-standing lawsuit against Intel by highlighting the crucial role of precise language. The judge criticized the plaintiff for using contradictory terminology at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, emphasizing that one cannot “have his claim and eat it, too.” This decision brings…
In recent developments, the Ohio Supreme Court has issued a 4-3 majority opinion denying liability claims against a restaurant and its suppliers over an incident involving a chicken wing described as “boneless.” The plaintiff, Michael Berkheimer, experienced significant injuries after ingesting a bone from the supposedly boneless chicken wing. Represented by Cincinnati attorney Robb S….
The integration of artificial intelligence (A.I.) into the legal profession is not a new phenomenon. It promises to revolutionize law practice by enabling attorneys to leverage large language models for more efficient client service delivery. However, the same technology can also facilitate unauthorized practice, raising serious legal and ethical concerns. Recently, South Carolina authorities uncovered…
Graduation ceremonies are not just a means to get a diploma; they symbolize the culmination of immense effort and serve as a moment of celebration for students, family, and faculty alike. Sometimes unforeseen circumstances delay this cherished moment, but as illustrated by the experience of F. Bryand McOmber Jr., the passage of time does not…
The $79 million attorneys’ fee awarded as part of T-Mobile US Inc.’s $350 million settlement in a data breach lawsuit has been overturned by a federal appeals court. The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled that the lower court had abused its discretion by approving such a substantial fee for attorneys, especially…
A recent disclosure has unveiled that a former federal magistrate judge, Kathleen Kay, who presided over a significant contract dispute case in Louisiana, had a previously undisclosed, decades-long friendship with the lead attorney involved. The case resulted in a $120 million award to a Louisiana company, IFG Port Holdings. The revelation was made by Judge…
US President Joe Biden’s recent call for comprehensive changes to the Supreme Court has spotlighted the issue of judicial accountability within the nation’s highest court. Central to Biden’s proposal is the introduction of enforceable rules of conduct specifically tailored for Supreme Court justices. This marks a significant pivot in judicial oversight, especially in light of…
Article A Houston bankruptcy judge has raised concerns over the breadth of questions that a Justice Department arm seeks to ask a former court employee about an ex-bankruptcy judge tied up in an ethics debacle over his once-secret relationship with a local attorney. The questioning is part of efforts by the US Trustee’s office, which…
As the second half of 2024 unfolds, several key trademark cases demand the attention of legal professionals. Notably, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments addressing the disgorgement of profits from corporate affiliates in a trademark infringement context. This case could have significant implications for how profits are reclaimed in intellectual property disputes….
During U.S. District Judge Nancy Maldonado’s brief tenure in Chicago federal court, she tackled several issues without direct precedent, including the intricacies of sound recording copyright protections. Now, after surviving an especially bruising confirmation process, she’ll be in a position to set precedent on the Seventh Circuit. For more on her confirmation journey and potential…
During her brief tenure in the Chicago federal court, U.S. District Judge Nancy Maldonado addressed several complex issues without direct precedent, such as copyright proof standards and the application of American discovery processes in international cases. Despite having faced a particularly challenging confirmation process, Judge Maldonado will now have the opportunity to set precedent on…
The emerging generation of potential judges appears to be growing increasingly disinterested in pursuing positions on state Supreme Courts. Various factors are contributing to this trend, with compensation being a significant one. Jurists serving on the highest state courts typically earn just over $200,000 annually. This figure pales in comparison to what private law firms…
Legal News A California federal court has denied TikTok’s bid to compel Beijing Meishe Network Technology Co. Ltd. to further specify the trade secrets at issue in an ongoing legal dispute. TikTok is accused of misappropriating these trade secrets. In his ruling, the judge opined that the complaint already contains sufficient information for discovery to…
A California federal jury has determined that Western Digital must pay MR Technologies over $262 million in royalties. The verdict, which followed nearly two weeks of trial proceedings, found that Western Digital had infringed on MR Technologies’ patents related to enhancing storage capacity on disk drives. The jury reached its decision after four hours of…
Sanctions against Chicago attorney Caryn Shaw, implicated in an alleged assault on opposing counsel following a “heated” deposition, have been upheld by the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Shaw is now required to pay nearly $12,000 in attorney’s fees. This decision comes after a contentious encounter back in 2017 between Shaw, her…