The patent infringement case against biotechnology firm Pacific Biosciences of California Inc. has been moved from a Delaware federal court to California. According to the judgement, there were insufficient reasons to support maintaining the case proceedings in Delaware. Pacific Biosciences of California Inc., commonly known as PacBio, is a biotechnology company that’s profusely involved in…
In a recent opinion piece, renowned legal scholar David Levitt argues that the disclosure of third-party litigation funding should be made mandatory across all cases. This call to action comes on the back of the Appellate Rules Committee’s decision to defer the issue. Third-party litigation funding, wherein a third party unconnected to the lawsuit provides…
In a recent ruling that has sent ripples across the UK’s litigation funding industry, the UK Supreme Court declared that a large number of litigation funding agreements are in fact damages-based agreements (DBAs), and hence, are subject to comply with the relevant regulations. This ruling has caused concern among funders as they scramble to reassess…
In a significant decision made on 26 July 2023, the UK Supreme Court has made its stand clear on Litigation Funding Agreements (LFAs), holding them to be “damages-based agreements” (DBAs) under section 58AA of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. The case, R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) v Competition Appeal…
In a recent development in the financial industry, Mastercard’s warning and track-and-trace lawsuit has been revived. Without revealing further details at this stage, this development indicates potential implications across the board, particularly in the financial services and payment process sectors. Legal professionals and other stakeholders are awaiting further updates with bated breath. This comes amid…
The status quo regarding mandatory disclosure of third-party litigation funding is under scrutiny. Legally vested committees are currently considering whether to make such disclosure obligatory. David Levitt, esteemed legal expert, recently pushed the conversation forward on the matter, advocating for the necessity of this mandate to fortify the even-handed administration of justice across all litigations….
On Thursday, Singaporean authorities carried out the execution of 39-year-old former delivery driver, Mohamed Shalleh Bin Abdul Latiff, for the trafficking of 54.04 grams of diamorphine, a controlled substance. This amount exceeds by four times the threshold required to impose the mandatory death penalty as stated under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act. This marks the…
Harneys, a globally acknowledged offshore law firm, has entered into concrete agreements to dispose of its fiduciary business in an operation supported by Hillhouse, a worldwide private equity firm. The sale, the precise details of which remain confidential, is anticipated to endow Harneys with the capital necessary to stimulate the law firm’s strategic growth. The…
In the dynamic sphere of legal technology, securing company secrets has become increasingly paramount, especially in the unfolding era of generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI). In this context, many firms are turning a spotlight on their employment contracts to ensure stringent protection of their confidential assets. Last month, Kira Systems, an entity that specializes in…
The long-standing Philadelphia law firm, Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, is set to cease operations after almost 90 years. The firm’s litigation partner and generan counsel, Keith Whitson, has confirmed that a dissolution plan is being organized in collaboration with the firm’s stakeholders and bank. The exact timeline for voting and finalizing this plan remains…
In August 2023’s edition of the Probate & Fiduciary Litigation Newsletter, a highlighted case presents a noteworthy argument about the jurisdiction of the Massachusetts Land Court. The case in question is DiNicola v. Ely, et al., No. 23 MISC 000128 (2023). At the heart of the legal issue stands a family trust that holds record…
Envision Healthcare Corp., along with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, has recently filed for voluntary Chapter 11 petitions at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. This information is detailed in the case documented under In re: Envision Healthcare Corp., Docket No. 4:23-bk-90342 (Bankr. S.D. Tex. May 15, 2023). Envision is known for being…
The recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the case of HIP v. Hormel has laid down substantial insights into the domain of joint inventorship. In its decision, the court found that David Howard of HIP was not considered as a joint inventor of a Hormel patent. This case…
In a recent ruling, the Federal Court of Appeal upheld the refusal of the lower court to certify a proposed class action in the high-profile case of Jensen v. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., 2023 FCA 89. The case, centered around allegations that the defendants had breached sections 45 and 46 of the Competition Act, R.S.C….
In the continually evolving arena of patent law, the third week of July 2023 has seen pivotal advancement in patent cases adjudicated by the Federal Circuit. One such central case involved the United Therapeutics Corp. and Liquidia Technologies, Inc. (Nos. 2022-2217, 2023-1021, Fed. Cir. (D. Del.) July 24, 2023). The case merits attention due to…
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, a Philadelphia litigation firm known for its near-century long presence in the industry, has announced its closure. The mid-sized firm, which has been a significant player in the Philadelphia legal field, stated the decision on Thursday. Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP is renowned for having a formidable status…
Arbitration has traditionally served as an alternative to litigation in the field of construction disputes. Many construction agreements incorporate clauses that reference arbitration, with several of these bringing into play particular rules set by designated arbitration providers. Lately, though, procedural issues within this area have been brought to light, particularly pertaining to the state of…
The peculiarities of Rule 30(b)(6) under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have been a hot topic of discussion in legal circles recently. In accordance with Rule 30(b)(6), when a corporation is involved in litigation and a deposition is required, the corporation must designate an individual to testify on its behalf. This individual is tasked…
As the globe continues to navigate an uncertain economic landscape, with challenges such as climbing interest rates, inflation and the looming threat of a potential recession, the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activity landscape is also adjusting. Industry experts suggest that the future may include an increased prevalence of transactions involving distressed targets, particularly within the…
Corporate law saw an intriguing case arise recently when the U.S. District Court for D.C. refused to dismiss a lawsuit implicating an alleged “pump and dump scheme”. This case brought a fresh perspective as it involved contemporary elements like tweets and emojis, effectively casting a new light on the application of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)…
In an unexpected turn of events, The Washington Post uncovered on July 13, 2023, that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a Civil Investigative Demand (CID)—which acts much like a pre-litigation subpoena—directed at OpenAI, LLC. This company is a renowned developer of technologies like ChatGPT and DALL-E. This surprising news has reverberated throughout the…
In a recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, it has been determined that a claim to a treatment method for pulmonary hypertension cannot be invalidated for lacking enablement or written description. The case at hand is United Therapeutics Corporation v. Liquidia Technologies, Inc. The court declared that the claims,…
Section 220 of the Delaware General Corporation Law sets a precedent that any stockholder in a corporation has a right to inspect the books and records of that corporation. Utilized as a legal tool, a books and records request allows stockholders to gather necessary information ahead of filing a derivative lawsuit against officers and directors….
The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming various industries worldwide, and the sports sector is no exception to this technological revolution. Since the inception of the “Moneyball” theory, which heavily relied on technology to influence sports consumption and analysis by fans and experts, the sports industry has seen substantial developments in the use of…
The sphere of defamation law is set to have its landscape altered with the breaking news that partners Clare Locke, who were instrumental in securing the $787 million settlement in the Fox News-Dominion case, are setting up their own defamation boutique. This shift comes at a time when the market for defamation lawyers is growing….