A former attorney at Mayer Brown LLP has alleged in a recent lawsuit that the firm failed to accommodate her breast cancer diagnosis, ultimately retaliating against her and terminating her employment. Filed in New York state court, the suit details claims of both discrimination and wrongful termination. The plaintiff contends that despite informing the firm…
The Tenth Circuit on Wednesday upheld a Kansas federal judge’s decision regarding the allocation of attorney fees to three law firms that represented individual claimants in multidistrict litigation concerning Syngenta’s genetically modified corn. This litigation culminated in a $1.5 billion class settlement. The appellate court found that the law firms’ arguments deviated from the principal…
An investor who put capital into a business aiming to revolutionize the chemical manufacturing industry has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a split Ninth Circuit decision. The ruling in question enforced a $5.7 million arbitration award in favor of the business’ founders. The investor contends that the award should never have been issued….
A man who was severely injured in a gas explosion testified before a Los Angeles federal jury on Wednesday, accusing Tom Girardi of deceiving him for years regarding the details of his civil settlement. According to the testimony, Girardi withheld millions of dollars owed to the plaintiff, only for him to later realize that “something…
The owner of Florida-based CBD and hemp companies White Lab LLC and GS Distribution LLC is pursuing legal action against a relative’s business. The lawsuit alleges that the cousin’s company has defaulted on a distribution agreement and is attempting to appropriate the trademarks of a prominent product line belonging to White Lab. For further details,…
The U.S. Department of Justice has requested that a D.C. federal judge dismiss a lawsuit brought by House Judiciary Committee Republicans, which seeks access to audiotapes of President Joe Biden’s interviews with special counsel Robert Hur. The DOJ argues that the case constitutes an “inter-branch dispute” and is therefore unsuitable for federal court adjudication. Additional…
On Wednesday, a Federal Circuit panel showed openness to Astellas Pharma’s argument for the removal of a Nebraska federal judge from its infringement case concerning the bladder medication, Myrbetriq. The pharmaceutical company contends that the judge has made statements indicating a potential bias against the industry, raising concerns about impartiality. However, the panel also emphasized…
The Sixth Circuit has upheld a 20-year prison sentence for a Chinese spy convicted of attempting to steal trade secrets from General Electric’s GE Aviation unit. The court noted in an opinion unsealed Wednesday that the punishment was appropriate given the spy’s persistent and sophisticated efforts to obtain confidential information over several years. More details…
On Wednesday, Federal Circuit judges maintained the decision of an administrative board regarding a contentious patent allegedly covering a novel feature in the Roomba brand of robotic vacuum cleaners. The ruling invalidated most, but not all, of the patent claims under dispute. For more details, the [Law360 article](https://www.law360.com/articles/1867389/robot-vacuum-cleaner-patent-ruling-remains-undisturbed) provides additional context and information.
Google faced a significant setback on Monday when a D.C. federal court’s antitrust ruling spotlighted its controversial policies regarding the automatic deletion of internal chats. Additionally, the court called attention to Google’s practice of instructing employees to avoid using competition law “buzzwords.” This ruling is anticipated to have broader implications for the company’s conduct and…
Competition advocates are urging the Ninth Circuit to revive a class action lawsuit against the makers of Invisalign, alleging that the company has monopolized the market for clear dental aligners. In a recently filed amicus brief, these advocates argue that the district court’s summary judgment in favor of Align Technology sets a troubling precedent for…
In a recent development in the ongoing legal tussle between PNC Financial Services Group and third-party software broker Plaid Inc., a Pennsylvania federal judge has ruled that the trademark infringement complaint will proceed to trial. On Wednesday, both parties’ motions for summary judgment were denied, indicating that jurors must resolve claims that “could reasonably come…
In a significant development within the pharmaceutical industry, two major pharmaceutical companies have formally requested that the Federal Circuit overturn a prior ruling against Teva Pharmaceuticals. The previous decision determined that Teva’s branded drugmaking operations had misused a key federal patent database. This misuse was seen as an attempt to obstruct the release of competing…
A Washington federal judge suggested Wednesday that the original lead plaintiff in an antitrust suit accusing Amazon and Apple of restricting iPhone and iPad sales may need to testify despite his lawyers wanting to drop him from the case. This suggestion raises questions about the fairness of allowing the plaintiff to continue avoiding long overdue…
MGM Resorts International is pressing forward with its lawsuit against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), arguing that FTC chair Lina Khan should recuse herself from an ongoing investigation into the company’s data security practices. The company contends that Khan is impermissibly conflicted, raising core constitutional issues that merit federal court intervention. The dispute hinges on…
A Texas bankruptcy judge has dismissed a request from JCPenney’s bankruptcy administrator to subpoena the cellphone records of former Judge David R. Jones. This decision was made during a partially sealed hearing held on Wednesday. The request was connected to allegations surrounding Judge Jones’ undisclosed romantic relationship with a former lawyer at Jackson Walker LLP….
A Federal Circuit panel on Wednesday grappled with the circumstances under which admissions in a patent that certain technology was well-known can improperly serve as the foundation for an inter partes review (IPR) validity challenge. This issue is central to an ongoing legal battle between Apple and Qualcomm. The court’s deliberations could have significant implications…
A 1983 championship basketball team’s intellectual property rights and a public feud between Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft LLP and its insurer have emerged as significant legal battles this summer, engaging North Carolina Business Court judges and private practice attorneys throughout the Tar Heel state. For a detailed overview of these ongoing cases and their broader…
Maryland-based independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association have filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Amgen Inc. and its subsidiaries. The plaintiffs allege that Amgen has engaged in unlawful monopolistic practices aimed at inflating the cost of the blockbuster drug Enbrel. These practices, according to the suit, have significantly driven up healthcare expenses…
In a recent turbulent turn of events, the United Kingdom has seen escalating anti-immigrant violence, largely fomented by far-right groups. Following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to cancel planned mass deportations of so-called “illegal immigrants,” tensions have reached a boiling point. In the aftermath of the tragic Southport stabbing—which was erroneously blamed on an asylum-seeker—riots…
In recent years, the landscape of the legal industry in Texas has seen significant changes, marked particularly by the expansion of major law firms within the state. According to Am Law’s 2024 Texas 100, one firm, in particular, stands out for its substantial presence. With a headcount of 460 attorneys across Texas, it has achieved…
An array of legal quirks and hard-hitting decisions highlight the complex world of corporate law in the recent roundup from Above the Law. First on the docket is a Biglaw firm’s decision to reverse its work-from-home (WFH) policy, mandating a return to the office. This shift comes after years of allowing employees the flexibility to…
The Federal Circuit issued an order Wednesday declining to hold a panel rehearing or a full court rehearing on its May decision to revive an electric outlet cover maker’s declaratory judgment action over alleged infringement through Amazon’s patent evaluation program.
Developments in an ethics dispute surrounding the secret relationship between a former bankruptcy judge and a local attorney have been largely kept from public view. Chief Judge Eduardo V. Rodriguez of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas sealed approximately two hours of a hearing on the matter, which is part of…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has overturned a trial court judgment directing Russia to pay over $175 million in accrued sanctions for the alleged theft of religious property. Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, writing for the D.C. Circuit, stated that the nonprofit Chabad religious corporation cannot collect monetary sanctions from…