Commercial Contracts

  • February 07, 2025

    Amazon Beats 'Flawed' Suit Over Prime Video Ads, For Now

    A Washington federal judge Friday tossed a putative class action over Amazon's recent introduction of commercials on its Prime Video streaming service, saying the lawsuit rests on a "flawed premise" that subscribers ever purchased an ad-free viewing package.

  • February 07, 2025

    Kroger Chain Says Strike Is Bid To Force 'Multi-Union' Talks

    The Kroger-owned grocery chain King Soopers sued the union representing Colorado workers on Friday in federal court, alleging strikes at King Soopers stores in the state are a pressure tactic to "force multi-union bargaining" on the company and other employers.

  • February 07, 2025

    Maxeon Investors Push To Keep Exchange Act Suit Alive

    The lead plaintiff in a proposed class action against Maxeon Solar Technologies Ltd. urged a California federal judge to reject the company's bid to escape the suit as well as its "fanciful" explanations for a two-day stock plunge that harmed shareholders.

  • February 07, 2025

    Fla. Atty Couple Can't Escape Verdict Over Abandoning House

    A Florida state appeals court has reinstated the original verdict against an attorney husband and wife team for breaching a lease agreement on a rental house and leaving it in disrepair, ruling that a reasonable jury could find that the landlord performed his expressly authorized duties to preserve the property.

  • February 07, 2025

    Pa. Medical Pot Co. Beats Consultant's IP Breach Claims

    A Pennsylvania federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by a consultant claiming that his methods for growing plant tissue samples was stolen by a medical cannabis company he worked with, ruling that the consultant's system was not a protected trade secret.

  • February 07, 2025

    Appellate Court OKs Trim Of Goldman Family Portfolio Battle

    A New York state appellate court affirmed a trial court's toss of several claims brought against the late Sol Goldman's real estate empire by inheritors who allege his daughter squeezed them out of the family business and manipulated an appraisal when they sought to cash out on their stake.

  • February 07, 2025

    Judge Sides With Ga. Railroad In Eminent Domain Battle

    A Georgia state court judge sided Thursday with a railroad company in an eminent domain fight with residents opposing the construction of a rail spur through their property, upholding a Georgia Public Service Commission ruling that gave the green light to the condemnation.

  • February 07, 2025

    Auctioneer Of 'Unknown' Van Gogh Wins $215 Bidder's Fight

    An auction service was within its rights to halt in-progress bidding for what one woman claims could be a "previously unknown" Vincent van Gogh painting because Connecticut law presumes auctions can be shut down before the hammer falls unless other terms are stated, a state court judge has ruled.

  • February 07, 2025

    Conn. Trial Firm Partner Seeks Sanctions In Heated Split-Up

    Connecticut Trial Firm LLC former co-owner Andrew Garza has asked a Connecticut Superior Court judge to issue sanctions against his former 50-50 partner, Ryan McKeen, accusing McKeen of "misconduct presenting a threat to the administration of justice" in heated litigation over the firm's split.

  • February 07, 2025

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen Investec Bank PLC sue two diamond tycoons, London florist Nikki Tibbles file a claim against an "imitator company," a direct descendant of the Cartier family launch a claim, and a Coronation Street actor hit footballer Joe Bunney with a defamation claim. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • February 06, 2025

    Kraken Co-Founder Accuses 'Elite' SF Condo Of Political Bias

    Crypto-exchange Kraken co-founder Jesse Powell sued the owner of a landmark condominium — dubbed "Susie's Building" — in California state court Wednesday, claiming the property's allegedly "elite" Democratic shareholders discriminated against him by blocking his efforts to buy a condo due to his conservative views and role in the crypto industry.

  • February 06, 2025

    Sony Blocked From Axing CBS Deals Amid Game Show Battle

    A California state judge has issued a temporary restraining order blocking Sony Pictures Television from terminating its distribution agreements for popular game shows "Jeopardy!" and "Wheel of Fortune" with CBS while the pair dukes it out in Los Angeles County Superior Court, according to a minute order.

  • February 06, 2025

    6th Circ. Uncertain If Health Plan Administrator Is A Fiduciary

    A yacht-maker urged the Sixth Circuit on Thursday to revive its lawsuit accusing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan of overpaying employee health plan claims so it could profit off of savings recovered later, but faced tough questions about whether plan administrator BCBSM was a fiduciary under federal benefits law.

  • February 06, 2025

    Dealers Sue VW Unit Over Deposits For New Trucks, SUVs

    More than two dozen Audi and Volkswagen dealers in Florida have sued a Volkswagen unit, claiming it is violating a state law barring automakers from selling vehicles directly to the public by accepting $100 deposits for electric trucks and SUVs scheduled for release in 2027.

  • February 06, 2025

    Judge Questions Firm's Candor In Apple, Amazon Docs Row

    A Washington federal judge said on Thursday there was "troubling shifting" around Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP's explanation of texts and emails with a client who disappeared from a proposed class action targeting Amazon and Apple, while also saying it might not matter because the firm found substitute plaintiffs.

  • February 06, 2025

    SEC 'Exposes Lunacy' Through Its Dueling Suits, PE Firm Says

    A South Carolina private equity fund said Thursday the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is trying to gut it through a Florida lawsuit, telling a Texas judge the commission made "out of touch statements" on how the litigation will harm its business.

  • February 06, 2025

    Jeld-Wen Appealing Forced Factory Sale To 4th Circ., Again

    Jeld-Wen Inc. is taking another trip to the Fourth Circuit to fight an order forcing it to sell a door skin factory, filing a notice of appeal Thursday after a Virginia federal judge said a $115 million price is fair.

  • February 06, 2025

    Earthlink Investors' Attys Score $28M In Merger Suit

    The attorneys who helped Earthlink investors score an $85 million settlement with the company after they said they were tricked into approving a $1.1 billion merger with a failing telecommunications company will be walking away with almost $28 million for their trouble.

  • February 06, 2025

    ERISA Preempts Banker's $5.5M Deferred Comp, Judge Rules

    The Employee Retirement Income Security Act preempts a former Leerink Partners employee's claims that she was cheated out of about $5.5 million in deferred compensation after the bank hired her under allegedly false pretenses from Goldman Sachs, a Massachusetts federal judge ruled Thursday.

  • February 06, 2025

    Sam Altman Calls Musk's Claim Of Ban On Rivals 'False'

    OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the key claim made in a preliminary injunction request from Elon Musk in their ongoing investment spat is false, saying in a new declaration that he never told OpenAI investors that they wouldn't be able to invest in the company if they also invested in Musk's xAI.

  • February 06, 2025

    Broker Sued In $79M Bezos Deal Has To Replead Defenses

    A Florida judge on Thursday struck most of the defenses put forth by Douglas Elliman LLC against accusations that it misrepresented that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was not the true purchaser of a $79 million Miami property, but told the real estate broker it could assert the defenses again with more facts to support them.

  • February 06, 2025

    Fla. Judge Beats Bias Challenge In Presiding Over CBD Suit

    A Florida federal judge on Thursday rejected an objection by former franchisee for CBD company American Shaman Franchise System LLC to a magistrate judge's decision not to recuse herself from his breach of contract case.

  • February 06, 2025

    Metals Dealer Says Partners Lost $12M In Attys' Tax Scam

    A precious metals dealer and his partners said they were fleeced of $12 million by attorneys who directed them to form a partnership and take illegal tax deductions for intellectual property, according to a complaint filed in Colorado federal court.

  • February 06, 2025

    Filing Claims 'Secret Lockout' Led To Conn. Trial Firm Schism

    One of the 50-50 partners litigating the dramatic breakup of Connecticut Trial Firm LLC, a personal injury firm known for high-dollar verdicts, has accused his onetime partner of having "plotted a secret lockout" to remove him from the firm, according to a revised derivative complaint filed in Connecticut state court.

  • February 06, 2025

    XPO Says Ex-Account Execs Poached Its Customers For Rival

    Logistics company XPO Inc. is accusing two ex-employees of violating their nonsolicitation and confidentiality agreements by poaching its clients after leaving to work for a rival firm, but the workers say the contracts are unenforceable, anyway.

Expert Analysis

  • Anticipating Disputes In Small Biz Partnerships And LLCs

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    In light of persistently high failures of small business partnerships and limited liability companies, mediator Frank Burke discusses proactive strategies for protecting and defining business rights and responsibilities, as well as reactive measures for owners.

  • Opinion

    Industry Self-Regulation Will Shine Post-Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's Loper decision will shape the contours of industry self-regulation in the years to come, providing opportunities for this often-misunderstood practice, says Eric Reicin at BBB National Programs.

  • 3 Ways Agencies Will Keep Making Law After Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court clearly thinks it has done something big in overturning the Chevron precedent that had given deference to agencies' statutory interpretations, but regulated parties have to consider how agencies retain significant power to shape the law and its meaning, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • After Chevron

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    Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference standard in June, this Expert Analysis series has featured attorneys discussing the potential impact across 37 different rulemaking and litigation areas.

  • Opinion

    Atty Well-Being Efforts Ignore Root Causes Of The Problem

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    The legal industry is engaged in a critical conversation about lawyers' mental health, but current attorney well-being programs primarily focus on helping lawyers cope with the stress of excessive workloads, instead of examining whether this work culture is even fundamentally compatible with lawyer well-being, says Jonathan Baum at Avenir Guild.

  • Contract Disputes Recap: Addressing Dispositive Motions

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    Stephanie Magnell and Bret Marfut at Seyfarth examine three recent decisions from the U.S. Court of Claims and the U.S. Civilian Board of Contract Appeals that provide interesting takeaways about the nuances of motion practice utilized by the government to dispose of cases brought under the Contract Disputes Act prior to substantive litigation

  • What 2 Rulings On Standing Mean For DEI Litigation

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    Recent federal court decisions in the Fearless Fund and Hello Alice cases shed new light on the ongoing wave of challenges to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, with opposite conclusions on whether the plaintiffs had standing to sue, say attorneys at Moore & Van Allen.

  • Series

    Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: June Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy considers two recent decisions from the Third and Tenth Circuits, and identifies practice tips around class action settlements and standing in securities litigation.

  • Unpacking The Circuit Split Over A Federal Atty Fee Rule

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    Federal circuit courts that have addressed Rule 41(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are split as to whether attorney fees are included as part of the costs of a previously dismissed action, so practitioners aiming to recover or avoid fees should tailor arguments to the appropriate court, says Joseph Myles and Lionel Lavenue at Finnegan.

  • Arbitration Implications Of High Court Coinbase Ruling

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent Coinbase v. Suski ruling not only reaffirmed the long-standing principle that arbitration is a matter of contract, but also established new and more general principles concerning the courts' jurisdiction to decide challenges to delegation clauses and the severability rule, say Tamar Meshel at the University of Alberta.

  • A Look At Calif. Contract Considerations In Fiji Water Ruling

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    A California appellate court's recent decision in Carolina Beverage v. Fiji Water, that a party may not seek contractual recovery on the basis of constructive termination, offers a look at contract construction and other considerations on negotiating distribution agreements, says Michael Laszlo at Clark Hill.

  • After A Brief Hiccup, The 'Rocket Docket' Soars Back To No. 1

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    The Eastern District of Virginia’s precipitous 2022 fall from its storied rocket docket status appears to have been a temporary aberration, as recent statistics reveal that the court is once again back on top as the fastest federal civil trial court in the nation, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • Practical Private Equity Lessons From 2 Delaware Deals

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    A pair of Delaware Chancery Court cases remind private equity sponsors that specificity is crucial through the lens of deal certainty, particularly around closing conditions and agreement sections of acquisition agreements, say Robert Rizzo and Larissa Lucas at Weil Gotshal and William Lafferty at Morris Nichols.

  • Recruitment Trends In Emerging Law Firm Frontiers

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    BigLaw firms are facing local recruitment challenges as they increasingly establish offices in cities outside of the major legal hubs, requiring them to weigh various strategies for attracting talent that present different risks and benefits, says Tom Hanlon at Buchanan Law.

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