The maker of Bible index tabs has taken legal action against a Chinese company, alleging that the company sold counterfeit versions of their product on Amazon. The lawsuit claims that these knock-offs replicate the brand’s “expressive, ornamental and distinctive floral designs,” infringing on their intellectual property. For more details on the legal proceedings, visit Law360.
J.M. Smucker Co. has initiated legal action against a Los Angeles-based online snack retailer, accusing the company of defaming its well-known Uncrustables sandwiches through social media posts. In the complaint filed on Monday in an Ohio federal court, Smucker alleges that the rival has been disseminating false claims about its products being nutritionally superior. According…
On Tuesday, Senator Lisa Murkowski disclosed that the U.S. Department of Justice is currently conducting an investigation into the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Anchorage. This probe follows the resignation of a federal judge in Alaska, who is reported to have maintained an “inappropriately sexualized relationship” with a law clerk, continuing even after the clerk joined…
The Second Circuit on Tuesday ruled that American Girl LLC could proceed with its New York federal lawsuit against a China-based company accused of selling counterfeit versions of its dolls. The court found that American Girl successfully demonstrated that the defendant had transacted business within the state. This decision allows the well-known doll manufacturer to…
Holland & Knight LLP has petitioned a Pennsylvania federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit that it described as “scattershot and vague.” The lawsuit alleges that a former partner of the firm wrongfully accessed confidential client documents to obtain an advantage in a contentious divorce proceeding. The full details of the case are outlined in an…
The Senate has confirmed Mary Kathleen Costello as a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with a vote of 52-41. This appointment comes amid criticism from the Senate’s leading Republican, who chastised judiciary policymakers for supporting what he characterized as Democrat-initiated changes affecting the federal judiciary. For further details on this development,…
News Article In a recent legal development that could have far-reaching implications for workplace discrimination policies, Jaime Black, a former manager at the Nevada Gaming Control Board, has leveled serious allegations of race-based bias and subsequent retaliation against board member Brittnie Watkins. The complaint, filed on Monday with the US District Court for the District…
Ford Barred From Using InterMotive Mark After $13M Verdict A Michigan federal judge has permanently barred Ford Motor Co. from using the name of InterMotive, a California tech company’s vehicle control module. This decision follows a jury verdict last year that awarded more than $13 million to InterMotive for infringement by Ford. The ruling marks…
Singer Miley Cyrus faces allegations of heavily borrowing from Bruno Mars’ widely known song “When I Was Your Man” in the creation of her chart-topping single “Flowers.” The copyright infringement lawsuit filed in a California federal court also implicates major corporations such as Sony, Apple, and Disney, among others. For further details on the case,…
Judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, including Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan, scrutinized the legality of a federal mandate under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The law demands TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to either divest its stake in the social media platform within 270 days or…
Trans-Atlantic firm Eversheds Sutherland has chosen new leadership for its U.S. and U.K. offices. Austin, Texas-based Lino Mendiola and London-based Keith Froud will take on the roles of Co-CEOs starting in spring 2025. Mendiola will succeed Mark Wasserman, who has served in leadership roles since 2005. These appointments follow the significant 2017 merger that created…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s seldom-litigated Rule 42.73(d)(3), which addresses PTAB estoppel, was recently highlighted in the Federal Circuit’s SoftView LLC v. Apple Inc. decision. This ruling underscores uncertainties surrounding patent owner estoppel in inter partes review proceedings. Legal experts David Haars and Richard Crudo at Sterne Kessler provide analysis on the implications of…
In a recent statement, Gupta Wessler principal Matt Wessler emphasized the firm’s dedication to representing the families affected by the tragic bridge collapse in Baltimore. “Our role in this litigation,” Wessler noted, “is about holding those responsible to account for their actions in the tragedy.” This latest case adds to Gupta Wessler’s portfolio of high-profile…
A team from Willkie Farr & Gallagher has filed a copyright infringement complaint against the songwriters, publishers, and distributors of “Flowers,” a 2023 pop hit by Miley Cyrus. The complaint, which can be viewed here, was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Western Division. It names Cyrus, as well…
Trans-Atlantic firm Eversheds Sutherland has announced the election of two new firm leaders, Lino Mendiola and Keith Froud, to be its co-CEOs starting in the spring of 2025. The decision reflects the firm’s strategic leadership transition both in the U.S. and the U.K. Lino Mendiola, based in Austin, Texas, was chosen as the CEO-elect of…
A New York-based litigator is set to become the new managing partner of Pryor Cashman LLP starting next year. This appointment marks a significant milestone in a nearly 30-year career at the firm, which began as an associate. For more details, you can read the announcement here.
AT&T has consented to a $13 million fine following an incident where it provided customer billing information to a vendor for the creation of personalized videos and subsequently failed to ensure the data’s destruction. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) disclosed this agreement on Monday, revealing that the vendor’s breach exposed the information of 8.9 million…
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, under the leadership of Attorney Breon Peace, has announced the launch of a new whistleblower pilot program aimed at uncovering cases of federal and state corruption. This initiative will offer nonprosecution agreements in exchange for substantive new information on a variety of crimes. By…
Doug Emhoff Headlines Harris Fundraisers With Big Law Leaders Doug Emhoff, the spouse of Vice President Kamala Harris, is set to take a prominent role in forthcoming fundraising events aimed at bolstering support for Harris. Prominent leaders and partners from influential law firms, including DLA Piper, Paul Weiss, Sidley Austin, and Quinn Emanuel, are expected…
California has introduced new legislation to fortify the rights of actors and musical artists over their digital likenesses. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill on Tuesday, known as AB 2602, which aims to provide enhanced contractual protections for performers when studios and other entertainment entities use digital replicas of their voices and likenesses. The move…
With the Federal Reserve widely expected to cut interest rates soon, corporate lawyers are anticipating a resurgence in large cap M&A activity. The current year has seen a notable decline in M&A deals, with volumes down 25%, as reported by Pitchbook. While some transactional practices have managed to pivot towards middle market deals to mitigate…
The Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office on Tuesday announced an initiative designed to reward corporate whistleblowers with non-prosecution agreements. This measure is part of a larger effort by federal prosecutors to promote the voluntary disclosure of criminal activities within corporations. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to ethical corporate behavior by offering significant incentives for whistleblowers…
Sidley Austin LLP has announced that a co-head of its M&A and private equity practice will ascend to the role of chair for the firm’s executive committee. This appointment places a seasoned attorney, who has dedicated over three decades to the firm, at the helm of its strategic decision-making body. For further details, visit the…
Three Republican U.S. senators—Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, John Thune of South Dakota, and John Cornyn of Texas—have voiced their opposition to a proposed rule by the federal judiciary that would mandate more extensive disclosure of financial relationships for amicus filers. The senators argue this regulation would infringe on First Amendment rights by compelling the disclosure…
Cigna subsidiary Express Scripts has initiated legal action against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) following a controversial interim report released by the FTC in July. The report alleges that middlemen, such as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), have contributed to the rise in prescription drug costs and have adversely affected independent pharmacies. Express Scripts asserts that…