Food & Beverage

  • March 17, 2025

    Hershey Customer Agrees To End Metals-In-Chocolate Suit

    A Hershey customer has agreed to permanently end her suit accusing the confectionery giant of selling dark chocolate products containing dangerous levels of heavy metals, but left open the opportunity for absent proposed class members to pursue claims, according to a notice filed Monday in California federal court.

  • March 17, 2025

    Gorilla Mind Accuses Rival Of Infringing TM For Energy Drinks

    A company that sells energy drinks and dietary supplements called "Gorilla Mind" and "Gorilla Mode" has sued a rival for launching competing products in December with "Gorilla" in the name, alleging it has caused confusion in the energy drink market.

  • March 17, 2025

    Co. Mislabeled Migrant Workers To Skirt Higher Pay, Suit Says

    A Colorado company called over 200 migrant workers "agricultural equipment operators" instead of truck drivers to pay them lower wages, even though their job was to haul product across state lines in trucks, not operate agricultural equipment in fields, a new proposed class action in Colorado federal court alleges.

  • March 17, 2025

    Wash. AG Seeks $32M In Legal Fees In Kroger Merger Case

    Washington's attorney general said the state is entitled to recover $32.4 million in legal fees for prevailing in its lawsuit opposing Kroger's $24.6 billion bid to buy Albertsons, including nearly $10 million for Munger Tolles & Olson LLP's assistance in the state court case.

  • March 17, 2025

    Ex-Freshpet Seller Wins Breakup Fee But May Still Owe $8M

    Pet food maker Freshpet is liable for $5 million for aborting a distribution agreement it had with an animal food distributor, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Monday, reasoning that there was no dispute that the contract had been breached.

  • March 17, 2025

    Asylum-Seeker Says Biz Owner Forced Him Into 'Servitude'

    A Colorado business owner forced a Venezuelan migrant into working 100 hours a week without any pay and dangled the potential deportation of him and his family over his head so he wouldn't quit, a lawsuit filed in federal court said.

  • March 17, 2025

    PepsiCo Buying Poppi Prebiotic Soda Brand In $1.65B Deal

    PepsiCo Inc. said Monday it has agreed to pay $1.65 billion for the "better-for-you" prebiotic soda brand Poppi, as the beverage giant looks to capitalize on growing consumer interest in health and wellness.

  • March 14, 2025

    Dunkin' Nears End To ADA Suit Over Milk Alternative Charges

    A California federal judge indicated Friday that she's ready to toss a proposed class action claiming doughnut chain Dunkin' violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by charging extra for beverages with nondairy milk after noting that the chain announced it would no longer charge extra for nonlactose alternatives.

  • March 14, 2025

    Chocolate-Makers Can't Keep Child Labor Suit In Fed. Court

    Mars Inc. and other chocolate-makers have lost their bid to keep in federal court a suit claiming they falsely advertised their products as being made without child slave labor, with a federal judge finding the alleged damages weren't high enough to trigger federal jurisdiction.

  • March 14, 2025

    Md. Judge Joins Calif. In Reversing Federal Workers' Firing

    A Maryland federal judge has ordered the reinstatement of thousands of probationary employees who were abruptly fired from 18 federal agencies, saying the Trump administration's lack of required notice left states "scrambling" to pick up the pieces.

  • March 14, 2025

    Texas Restaurant Offered Worker $1K, Seeks To End Tip Suit

    A Houston-area restaurant told a Texas court Friday that it offered $1,000 to a former server who claimed it failed to inform her that she would have to pay for her uniforms, saying the worker's proposed collective action should be tossed.

  • March 14, 2025

    LA Lands Deal With Airline Caterer To End Wage Law Dispute

    An airline caterer accused of violating a Los Angeles city ordinance through its pay practices told a California federal court it resolved its dispute with the city, which had launched an investigation, after the caterer settled claims with a class of employees, according to City Council meeting records.

  • March 14, 2025

    Judge Vacates Baby Formula Trial Win For Abbott, Mead

    A Missouri judge on Thursday threw out a jury verdict that cleared Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson of liability in a joint trial over claims their baby formula causes a serious condition in preterm infants, saying a new trial is necessary because the defense "intentionally violated the court's orders and rulings by improperly introducing the inadmissible evidence to the jury, time after time."

  • March 14, 2025

    Starbucks Ordered To Pay $50M In Burn Injury Case

    A California state jury in Los Angeles awarded $50 million Friday to a delivery driver burned by hot water at a Starbucks drive-through window, roughly splitting the difference between the parties' suggested damages.

  • March 14, 2025

    6th Circ. Rejects Tribe's Appeal Of Great Lakes Fishing Pact

    A Sixth Circuit panel upheld a 2023 decree governing fishery management in the Great Lakes on Thursday, finding that a Michigan federal judge had the prerogative to enter the decree over the objections of a Native American tribe. 

  • March 14, 2025

    Hemp Farm's Fees Bid 'Excessive,' Colo. Judge Finds

    A Colorado magistrate judge has found that a hemp farm can collect reasonable attorney fees and costs from a business partner that breached a memorandum of understanding related to a mid-litigation audit, but scolded the farm for its "excessive" calculation, which includes hours billed long before the memorandum was even signed.

  • March 13, 2025

    Starbucks Burn Victim Deserves Up To $125M, Jury Told

    Lawyers for a man burned by hot water at Starbucks made their final appeal Thursday in California state court for an award of up to $125 million for "injury and damage to every facet of his life," as the corporation insisted it wasn't clear all the injury stemmed from the spill.

  • March 13, 2025

    Grubhub Can't Force Arbitration, But Uber Can At 2nd Circ.

    A partially divided Second Circuit panel said Thursday that Grubhub cannot force into arbitration a proposed class action's price-fixing claims based on rules barring restaurants from selling food more cheaply through other channels, but left the arbitrability question for the same claims against Uber Eats up to the arbitrator.

  • March 13, 2025

    Snack Maker Sued Over No-Preservative Label Claims

    Chip company Late July Snacks LLC has misled consumers into thinking its nachos and other tortilla products are "all natural," when in reality, they contain an artificial preservative, according to a woman's proposed class action removed Wednesday by the company to California federal court.

  • March 13, 2025

    Buehler's Managers Say Grocery Chain Flouts OT Laws

    Grocery chain Buehler's Fresh Foods is accused of failing to pay overtime wages to catering, produce, kitchen and bakery managers who put in more than 40 hours per workweek but were wrongly classified as exempt, according to a proposed collective action filed in Ohio federal court. 

  • March 13, 2025

    Bumble Bee Foods Accused Of Benefiting From Forced Labor

    Four Indonesian villagers who allege they were trapped in abusive and dangerous slave-working conditions for years aboard tuna fishing vessels sued Bumble Bee Foods LLC in California federal court, accusing the seafood giant of knowingly benefiting from forced labor in violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.

  • March 13, 2025

    Home Chef, Staffing Co. Sued Over Harassment Firing

    A staffing agency and Relish Labs LLC, the legal entity behind meal kit delivery service Home Chef, have been sued in Georgia federal court by a former employee who alleged she was fired after reporting sexual harassment she suffered at the hands of a co-worker.

  • March 13, 2025

    ADM Can't Duck Suit Over Nutrition Biz Investigation

    An Illinois federal judge has refused to dismiss an investor suit claiming that the purported growth of Archer Daniels Midland's nutrition segment was based on improper accounting practices, saying the shareholders have made "robust" allegations that company executives made knowingly false statements about its profitability.

  • March 13, 2025

    Chubb Unit Can't Depose Smithfield CLO After 5-Year Lag

    North Carolina's Business Court judge shut down a late deposition motion by a Chubb subsidiary seeking testimony from Smithfield Foods Inc.'s chief legal officer, criticizing the insurer for purportedly trying to open a "back door" to the coverage lawsuit's already-closed discovery process.

  • March 13, 2025

    Trump's EU Threat May Aim To Boost Negotiation Leverage

    President Donald Trump continued his trade tactics Thursday, threatening a 200% tariff on European alcohol imports that is almost certain to be another tool to leverage in future negotiations despite the economic uncertainty it creates.

Expert Analysis

  • How Boards And Officers Should Prep For New Trump Admin

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    In anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and mass deportation campaign, company officers and board members should pursue proactive, comprehensive contingency planning to not only advance the best interests of the companies they serve, but to also properly exercise their fiduciary duty of care, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.

  • California Supreme Court's Year In Review

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    Attorneys at Horvitz & Levy highlight notable decisions on major questions from the California Supreme Court's last term, including voter initiatives, hostile work environment and the economic loss rule.

  • Series

    Flying Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Achieving my childhood dream of flying airplanes made me a better lawyer — and a better person — because it taught me I can conquer difficult goals when I leave my comfort zone, focus on the demands of the moment and commit to honing my skills, says Ivy Cadle at Baker Donelson.

  • NLRB One-Two Punch Curbs Employer Anti-Organizing Tools

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    The National Labor Relations Board’s recent decisions in Siren Retail and Amazon, limiting employer speech about the impact of unionization and outlawing captive audience meetings, severely curtail employers' arsenal of tools to combat an organizing campaign — though this may soon change under a new administration, say attorneys at Benesch.

  • What Trump's Next Term May Mean For Biz Immigration

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    Leonard D'Arrigo at Harris Beach discusses the employment-based immigration policies businesses can potentially expect during President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, based on policies enacted during his first administration, statements made during his campaign and proposals in Project 2025.

  • Defense Insights As PFAS Consumer Product Claims Rise

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    Amid the recent proliferation of lawsuits seeking damages for failure to disclose the presence of PFAS in consumer products, manufacturers, distributors and consumer product companies should follow the science and consider a significant flaw in many of the filings, say attorneys at Farella Braun.

  • Series

    Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.

  • Recent Listeria Outbreaks Hold Key Compliance Lessons

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    Listeria outbreaks in ready-to-eat foods from Boar's Head and other companies, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration responses to these outbreaks, should be closely evaluated from an overall compliance and risk management perspective by food manufacturers, retailers and industry investors, say attorneys at Kirkland.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • What Cos. Can Learn from Water Microplastics Class Actions

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    Class actions against companies whose bottled spring water allegedly contains microplastics, challenging claims such as "natural" and "100% spring water," seem to be drying up — but these cases serve as a good reminder to other businesses to review regulatory standards, and carefully vet plaintiff allegations at the outset, say attorneys at Keller and Heckman.

  • The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule

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    Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.

  • What's Next For The CFTC After The Election

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    While much of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's enforcement actions in line with its traditional priorities will continue as usual in the near term, postelection leadership changes at the CFTC and new congressional priorities may alter the commission's regulatory framework in 2025 and beyond — particularly its oversight of crypto, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Series

    Being A Navy Reservist Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving this country in uniform has not only been one of the greatest honors of my life, but it has also provided me with opportunities to broaden my legal acumen and interpersonal skills in ways that have indelibly contributed to my civilian practice, says Phillip Smith at Weinberg Wheeler.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • Why K-Cup Claims Landed Keurig In Hot Water With SEC

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent settlement with Keurig Dr. Pepper for making incomplete statements regarding the recyclability of K-cup pods highlights the importance of comprehensive corporate disclosures, particularly with respect to ESG matters, say attorneys at BCLP.

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