Food & Beverage

  • December 20, 2024

    Amazon Touted Efforts To Curb Price-Gouging, Shoppers Say

    A group of online shoppers said Thursday that Amazon can't dodge litigation alleging price-gouging during the pandemic, arguing that the retail giant's efforts to toss the case are contradicted by earlier public statements "trumpeting" the company's work with Washington's attorney general to enforce the state's consumer protection law against price-gougers.

  • December 20, 2024

    Senate Passes 3-Month Funding Bill, Avoiding Shutdown

    The U.S. Senate on Saturday passed a three-month temporary government funding deal after the removal of a contentious proposal to suspend  the federal debt ceiling, staving off a government shutdown.

  • December 20, 2024

    Trade Panel Strikes Down Mexico's Curbs On Biotech Corn

    Mexico's 2023 restrictions on the use of genetically modified corn to make tortillas and animal feed violated the country's trade accord with the U.S., a dispute settlement panel ruled Friday, finding that the policy was not based on sound science. 

  • December 20, 2024

    Top Product Liability Cases Of 2024

    Some of the top cases for product liability for 2024 include an Ohio Supreme Court ruling on opioids and public nuisance, baby formula trials and an appellate decision in Fosamax litigation. 

  • December 20, 2024

    FDA Updates Definition Of 'Healthy' Claims On Food Labels

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued a final rule to update the definition of "healthy" claims on food labels, saying there is an epidemic of diseases in the country that are related to diet.

  • December 20, 2024

    DOL Sues Over New York BBQ Co.'s $99M Stock Plan Deal

    The U.S. Department of Labor sued Argent Trust Co. and several New York City restaurant operators in federal court, alleging they violated federal benefits law by causing a barbecue company's employee stock ownership plan to pay $99 million for overvalued company stock in a leveraged transaction.

  • December 20, 2024

    Unionized Starbucks Workers Launch 5-Day Strike

    Starbucks baristas in unionized stores in Los Angeles, Seattle and Chicago have gone on strike, Starbucks Workers United has announced, saying the union plans to spread the strike to other markets across the country between now and Christmas Eve.

  • December 20, 2024

    7th Circ. Upholds $900K Punitive Damages Award In TM Case

    The Seventh Circuit has affirmed $900,000 in punitive damages against a nutritional company and its owners for infringing the "Diesel Test" trademark of a testosterone-boosting product from a former competitive body builder, saying the defendant's conduct merited the award.

  • December 19, 2024

    Uber Sues Seattle Over Courier Account Deactivation Law

    A Seattle ordinance aimed at preventing app-based workers from being unfairly deactivated from apps they use poses "grave constitutional problems," Uber alleged in a suit filed Wednesday in Washington federal court, saying the local law forces the transportation company to express views inconsistent with how it approaches privacy and safety.

  • December 19, 2024

    Juice Co. Pres. Supplied Tainted Drink To Low-Income Students

    A Washington-based fruit juice company executive pled guilty to charges related to selling tainted juice — some of which found its way into free or low cost lunches provided to students from low-income households — federal prosecutors announced on Thursday along with her nearly $750,000 penalty.

  • December 19, 2024

    House Rejects 3-Month Funding Bill Despite Trump Support

    The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a three-month temporary funding deal that would have staved off a government shutdown and had been hastily introduced after President-elect Donald Trump criticized an earlier proposed continuing resolution.

  • December 19, 2024

    2nd Circ. Affirms PepsiCo Win In TM Fight Over Energy Drink

    The Second Circuit on Thursday affirmed a lower court's dismissal of a trademark suit against PepsiCo, saying in a summary order that the beverage company's "Mtn Dew Rise Energy" did not infringe the mark of nitro-brewed canned coffee drinks called "Rise."

  • December 19, 2024

    Michigan's Biggest Decisions Of 2024

    This year, the Michigan Supreme Court instituted sweeping changes to the state's wage and paid leave laws, took some damages off the table for wrongful death plaintiffs, and recognized third-party retaliation claims.

  • December 19, 2024

    Chicken Soup Settles $3.1M Pet Food Feud Wth Alphia

    Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Inc. has settled a Connecticut lawsuit that accused it of breaching a deal with a manufacturer to buy more than 1.3 million pounds of pet food every month between October 2023 and September 2024, state court records show.

  • December 19, 2024

    In-House Vet Helps Norton Rose Grow In Denver

    An experienced in-house attorney who most recently served as general counsel of real estate developer MDC Holdings has joined Norton Rose Fulbright's Denver office as senior counsel in its corporate, mergers and acquisitions, and securities practice.

  • December 18, 2024

    Pilgrim's Pride Gets Chicken Exit OK Under Contested Deal

    Pilgrim's Pride is able to formally duck Sysco chicken price-fixing claims picked up by a Burford Capital LLC unit after an Illinois federal judge once again ruled that the companies are bound by a settlement between Pilgrim's Pride and Sysco that the litigation funding giant contested as too small.

  • December 18, 2024

    Solar Co. Wants Colo. Hemp Growers' $200M Suit Tossed

    Energy company AES Corp. wants out of a $200 million lawsuit brought by Colorado hemp growers over broken irrigation lines, saying the farmers are "feign[ing] ignorance" in hopes of keeping the suit in Colorado federal court.

  • December 18, 2024

    KFC Ends Suit Against Church's Over 'Original Recipe' TM

    KFC has agreed to end its lawsuit launched just last month that had sought to stop Church's Texas Chicken from using the term "original recipe" to promote its fried chicken.

  • December 18, 2024

    Judge Wants To Know If Colo. Kroger Merger Fight Is Moot

    A Colorado state judge wants to know whether two recent decisions blocking the proposed $24.6 billion merger of The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Cos. Inc. has mooted Attorney General Phillip J. Weiser's challenge to the transaction, according to a briefing plan approved Tuesday. 

  • December 18, 2024

    Medical Center Escapes COVID Outbreak Blame-Trading Suit

    A Michigan state appeals panel nixed a wedding venue's defamation suit alleging it was falsely blamed after several guests at a reception contracted COVID-19, handing a win to a healthcare provider the venue pointed to as the source of the outbreak. 

  • December 17, 2024

    Union Says DOL's H2-A Contracts Defy Court Order

    A farmworkers union told a Washington federal judge Monday that the U.S. Department of Labor is violating a court injunction by greenlighting H-2A contracts that do not include 2020 prevailing wage rates for the upcoming cherry and apple harvests.

  • December 17, 2024

    Corteva Rips Inari's 'Shrill' Claim Of Sham Seed Patent Suit

    Corteva Agriscience LLC has fired back at Inari Agriculture Inc.'s claim that a suit alleging Inari infringes Corteva's seed patents amounts to "objectively baseless" sham litigation, saying its rival is making "shrill assertions" that "cannot be squared" with an earlier ruling in the case.

  • December 17, 2024

    Little Caesar's Arbitration Clause Should Be Axed, Judge Told

    An ex-Little Caesars worker seeking to represent the pizza chain's California employees in a putative wage-and-hour class action urged a Golden State federal judge Tuesday to invalidate the restaurant's new arbitration agreement banning workers from participating in the litigation, saying the company didn't make it clear the clause was voluntary.

  • December 17, 2024

    TM Group Weighs In On Preclusion In 2nd Circ. Winery Fight

    A trademark group has said a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decision upheld by a New York federal court in an Italian winemaker's fight against a Napa Valley, California, rival over similarly named wines is at odds with a separate board decision in a dispute that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

  • December 17, 2024

    Alcohol Co. Sued Over Biz Hangover After COVID Lockdowns

    Alcoholic beverage manufacturer MGP Ingredients Inc. has been hit with a proposed investor class action alleging the company misled the public about the continued success of its business following its exponential growth during the COVID-19 pandemic and related lockdowns.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • Legislation Most Likely To Pass In Lame Duck Session

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    As Congress begins its five-week post-election lame duck session, attorneys at Greenberg Traurig break down the legislative priorities and which proposals can be expected to pass.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers

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    In addition to being fun, ultimate Frisbee has improved our legal careers by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, teamwork, perseverance, enthusiasm and vulnerability, say Arunabha Bhoumik and Adam Bernstein at Regeneron. 

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Metadata

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    Several recent rulings reflect the competing considerations that arise when parties dispute the form of production for electronically stored information, underscoring that counsel must carefully consider how to produce and request reasonably usable data, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • The 3rd-Party Bankruptcy Release Landscape After Purdue

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    In its Purdue Pharma ruling prohibiting nonconsensual third-party releases, the U.S. Supreme Court did not comment on criteria to render a third-party release consensual, opening a debate in the bankruptcy courts on the permissibility of opt-out versus opt-in releases, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

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