A California state judge making national headlines was arrested last week on accusations relating to his wife’s homicide. Despite his arrest, the judge was released shortly after posting a $1 million bail. Furthermore, he has managed to retain the services of a highly reputed criminal defense attorney for his legal proceedings, although he has not…
AstraZeneca’s cancer drug Calquence, has weathered a significant challenge by dodging a review by the Patent and Trial Appeal Board (PTAB). Calquence, a pharmaceutical drug that has accounted for more than $2 billion in sales for AstraZeneca the previous year, is clearly a high-valued asset for the international pharmaceutical company. The legal confrontation had commenced…
Medical testing companies, Natera Inc. and Eurofins Viracor LLC, recently urged the U.S. Supreme Court to refrain from reviewing the invalidation of Stanford University and CareDx patents for their innovatory blood test. The blood test, crucial for detecting organ rejection, had its patents invalidated as they were deemed to cover only natural phenomena. Law360 reported…
Former President Donald Trump has argued that he and his legal team should be able to convene conversations concerning confidential documents within a secure facility located at Mar-a-Lago, his private Florida estateas reported on Law360. The same residence, widely known for hosting Trump and his associated political activities post-presidency, faces scrutiny for charges of improper…
In an intriguing sequence of events, the Eighth Circuit reversed a lower court ruling this week. The initial ruling, issued by a Nebraska court, held that an attorney who represented a financial company in a dispute over an acquisition contract was not required to pay an arbitration award. The basis? The court apparently lacked jurisdiction…
The Federal Circuit has dismissed a petition for rehearing in the case involving WeatherTech. The court had previously invalidated two patents linked to the WeatherTech brand of floor mat. Interestingly, these patents were originally upheld at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The dismissal means that the Federal Circuit’s previous decision to invalidate these patents…
Sony has recently appealed to the Federal Circuit to compel a Texas federal judge to relocate a lawsuit to California. The lawsuit accuses Sony of infringing multiple patents through its PlayStation 4 console. According to Sony, the relocation is justified because the patent owner does not operate in Texas. The case arose from a patent…
The bankruptcy trustee of an unnamed tax software company has filed a legal malpractice complaint, vigorously alleging that the company’s former attorneys mishandled a trade secrets case. The defendant in the original case was reportedly rival firm Avalara Inc. The gist of the malpractice accusation hinges on the attorneys’ evident failure to inform their client…
A Senate bill seeking crucial modifications to the operation of patent challenges at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), has come under fire from a consortium of ten think tanks and consumer groups. Their main concern? They believe the bill will perpetuate the status quo of Americans paying higher prices for prescription drugs than…
In a recent trademark dispute case, the Fourth Circuit Court confirmed that an Atlanta hotel and real estate developer is to pay an engineering firm $48 million. The fine was levied for the inadvertent use of the same name as the engineering firm, ‘Dewberry.’ Despite the affirmation from the Fourth Circuit, moral contention was apparent,…
In a recent development, Widener University Commonwealth Law School has entered into a unique partnership with Slippery Rock University (SRU). The collaboration involves a 3+3 program that would allow the SRU students to complete their undergraduate and law degrees over a span of six years, in lieu of the traditional seven year path. This special…
With increasing debates on attorney’s fees, one judge’s approach, dissecting the relevance of legal terminology is deemed an interesting read. Delving into how crucial wording can be in this profession, the judge’s unique approaches are worthy of your attention. Full story here. In the world of celebrity court cases, Tory Lanez has been sentenced, a…
Donald Trump recently voiced a strikingly vulgar assault on Fulton County Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis. The former President’s comment, delivered in his distinctively controversial style, echoed thinly veiled racist undertones as he levied shocking personal and baseless allegations about DA Willis’s personal life. His unseemly narrative involved a gang member and the District Attorney,…
In recent legal developments, Dentons – a heavyweight in the world of law firms – has ceased operations in China, triggering speculation about how other Western firms might respond to this decision. According to Kent Zimmermann, a U.S.-based principal at Zeughauser Group, Dentons’ withdrawal could herald wider trends as the stringent conditions for the practice…
During his tenure, esteemed former Fourth Circuit judge Michael Luttig supervised 47 law clerks. An impressive number of these clerks carried on to clerk for Supreme Court justices. This testament to Luttig’s guidance and mentorship has significantly contributed to establishing his renowned reputation as a respected ‘feeder judge’ within legal circles.[1] Indeed, the term feeder…
Earning the highly coveted spots in leadership ranks at law firms, several diligent attorneys have recently moved up the ranks, displaying their commitment and excellence in the legal field, according to Law360. Ascension to roles such as partner or practice group chair not only signifies numerous new responsibilities but also brings a great deal of…
Vinson & Elkins LLP is the latest of a growing number of large law firms encouraging their attorneys to return to in-office work for, at least, four days every week. As reported in an internal email made public on August 9, 2023, this move comes amid continued shifts in work policies initially liberalized during the…
In a long-winded patent battle among industry giants Intuitive Surgical and Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Auris, there has finally been a resolution. The two entities have agreed to settle a nearly five-year lawsuit regarding accusations of infringement on various surgical robot patents. The agreement thereby concludes a span of protracted litigation that began back in…
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms and large language models are transforming organizations, altering traditional work norms and increasing productivity. Yet, they also bring complex legal ramifications, challenging in-house counsel to navigate this novel landscape. This issue is particularly significant for firms with an enhanced need to shield their Intellectual Property. This precis aims to underline…
Major law firm Vinson & Elkins have decided to make it mandatory for its workforce to spend a minimum of four days a week in the office. The policy appears to be a widespread movement and is not only limited to the firm’s New York office but is also implemented across its international offices, including…
In the complex world of law, associates can often find themselves responsible for managing a varying number of legal files. In the large law firms – the so-called ‘Biglaw’ – associates usually find themselves working on a handful of large matters, with these significant legal disputes or transactions providing enough work to keep many lawyers…
An employment attorney, who is accused of sexually assaulting a former associate at a New York firm 13 years ago, is attempting to have the majority of the case dismissed, alleging that it’s too late. Additionally, the lawyer has requested that any remaining issues should be settled in a Californian court, given that both the…
In a potentially controversial move, Southwest Airlines has pledged to contest a recent ruling by Judge Brantley Starr of the Northern District of Texas, which mandates that three of the company’s top attorneys undertake a “religious liberty training”. According to law.com, this order was exacted as a penalty against the Dallas-based airline for contravening an…
In Florida, a pediatric therapy clinic has been awarded almost $5.2 million in damages following a noncompete lawsuit. This outcome was the result of a bench trial after the judge found two employees guilty of an intentionally constructed scheme to redirect patients and a massive amount of money to their own businesses. The verdict came…
Southwest Airlines Co. is projecting legal turbulence as they move to appeal what is described by one expert as a potentially precedent-setting court order concerning religious matters. Three of its seasoned in-house attorneys have found themselves at the center of a religious controversy that could potentially shape new precedents in U.S. courtrooms. The legal landscape…