In a recent decision, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) ability to withhold approximately 6 million documents related to Volkswagen’s 2015 emissions cheating scandal. These documents were initially obtained through a grand jury subpoena during an investigation by the law firm Jones Day, highlighting the legal complexities involved…
In a significant development in the case against Luigi Mangione, a New York judge has removed the death penalty from the array of potential sentences. Judge Garnett of the Southern District of New York dismissed crucial counts in the case, which involved charges of murder through the use of a firearm and a related firearms…
Sidley Austin LLP has announced the return of Justin Becker to its Washington, D.C., office as a partner in the firm’s Global Arbitration, Trade & Advocacy practice. Becker, who previously spent nine years at Sidley, rejoins after serving as a partner in Baker McKenzie’s Trade practice and holding a position at the U.S. Department of…
The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concerning its decision to terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelan immigrants. Central to the case was DHS’s alleged overstepping of statutory limits outlined by the TPS statute, as articulated by Judge Kim Wardlaw, who emphasized that the Secretary…
The North Carolina State Bar is advocating for the state’s appellate court to affirm the suspension of a Nash County attorney accused of mismanaging his trust account. The Bar contends that the attorney has acknowledged the misconduct and has not demonstrated that the state’s ethics authority overstepped its discretion. In a recent case, the North…
In a significant legal development, Chiquita Brands International is appealing a ruling from a Florida court that found the company liable for deaths linked to paramilitary groups in Colombia. The case has attracted attention due to its implications for corporate responsibility in conflict zones. Chiquita’s legal team, led by Michael L. Cioffi of Blank Rome,…
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has recently delivered a notable decision, holding that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) cannot terminate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Venezuela and Haiti. The ruling asserts that attempts by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to end these protections were beyond the authority granted…
Legal expenditures have evolved from a concern confined to legal departments to a pivotal business issue influencing financial planning, operational decisions, and risk management. This shift necessitates a collaborative approach among legal, finance, and operations teams, alongside their external legal partners. Effective management of outside counsel is crucial for controlling costs and enhancing service quality….
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will remain a focal point of legal debate this weekend with significant ongoing cases and new readings available for those interested in the judiciary. This January 30th edition of SCOTUStoday comes amidst momentous legal discussions on various fronts. One such discussion involves former Justice Robert H. Jackson,…
Recent decisions by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit are significantly impacting the landscape for creditors seeking equitable treatment in bankruptcy proceedings. These rulings aim to standardize practices and ensure a balanced approach, mitigating previous discrepancies that often favored debtors. The Fifth Circuit’s recent decisions reflect a shift towards harmonizing outcomes…
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals is currently deliberating on whether to grant a California-based T-shirt company a retrial in a trademark dispute concerning its use of the phrase “This We’ll Defend” on its products. The court is examining whether this phrase, traditionally associated with the U.S. Army, is sufficiently distinctive to warrant trademark protection…
The divergence between the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and federal courts on patent eligibility, particularly concerning artificial intelligence (AI) and software, continues to widen. Over the past decade, Section 101 of the Patent Act has been a notable barrier for obtaining and monetizing software patents. As artificial intelligence technology advances, AI-based patents encounter…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld a lower court’s decision, affirming that Hulu LLC did not infringe upon Sound View Innovations LLC’s patent related to streaming technology. This ruling concludes a protracted legal battle over U.S. Patent No. 6,708,213, which describes methods for enhancing the caching of streaming multimedia data…
The District of Columbia Court of Appeals delivered a significant decision regarding a $30 million rent dispute between Crowell & Moring LLP and its Washington, D.C. office landlord, who refused a rent abatement linked to COVID-19 disruptions. The appeals court’s ruling, issued on Thursday, upheld the landlord’s position, marking another chapter in ongoing commercial real…
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has appointed Tyler S. Badgley as its new General Counsel, effective January 28, 2026. Chairman Michael S. Selig highlighted Badgley’s extensive legal expertise, emphasizing his potential to contribute significantly as the Commission develops regulatory frameworks for emerging markets and asserts its authority over derivatives markets. ([cftc.gov](https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9175-26?utm_source=openai)) Badgley transitions to…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit is currently examining an unusual settlement involving Clearview AI, a company known for its controversial use of facial recognition technology. The focus is a settlement agreement that sets a precedent by creating a settlement fund equivalent to a 23% stake in the company. This resolves claims…
A recent legal case before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals highlights the complexities of reciprocal disciplinary actions within the legal profession. A North Carolina attorney, whose license had been suspended due to alleged tax offenses and issues with a trust account, argued against the imposition of similar punitive measures in Virginia. The practitioner maintained…
In a significant ruling, a New York personal injury law firm must now contend with a business tax bill imposed by New York City. This decision was confirmed by the New York City Tax Appeals Tribunal, which upheld an earlier determination that the firm was liable for unincorporated business tax (UBT) assessments. The ruling underscores…
The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals recently heard arguments challenging the NCAA’s restriction on student-athlete eligibility, focusing on a rule that limits participation to four seasons within a five-year period. This challenge originated from four West Virginia University football players who contend that the NCAA’s bylaws unlawfully count junior-college years towards this participation limit, a…
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires has officially appointed Kalyan Deshpande as the chief judge of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), a position pivotal in shaping patent law precedents and guiding the adjudication of patent disputes. Deshpande’s appointment signals a continuation of his influence within the PTAB, recognized for his clear…
In a recent legal maneuver, four major law firms have petitioned the D.C. Circuit to allow for the “partial consolidation” of their cases against executive orders issued by the White House and the Justice Department. These executive orders are alleged to have imposed constraints on the firms due to the nature of the clients they…
The ongoing legal clash between Executive Order-targeted law firms and the Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached a critical juncture as the Trump administration seeks to put appeal proceedings on hold. This request is tied to separate litigation involving attorney Mark Zaid, raising significant procedural and strategic implications for the involved parties. The DOJ’s request…
On this Tuesday, the Supreme Court marked the birthday of Chief Justice John Roberts, who was born in 1955 and has been serving since 2005. As the court’s sessions proceed, several notable decisions and announcements have captured the attention of legal professionals nationwide. This includes the court’s decision to hear arguments in Salazar v. Paramount…
In a significant development for federal oversight and civil protest rights, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit has declined to reinstate a lower court injunction that restricted federal agents’ tactics at protests in Minnesota. The appellate court refused to extend the preliminary injunction that initially prohibited agents from retaliating against individuals engaged…
“`html The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a significant case examining whether the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) covers modern internet privacy issues. This legal scrutiny arises amid concerns about how digital data is used and shared. The core of the dispute is whether Paramount Global, through its site 247Sports.com, violated the…