Retail & E-Commerce

  • January 17, 2025

    NYC Mall Lenders, Developer Want Foreign Investor Suit Nixed

    Financial backers of a Staten Island mall project are asking a federal judge to toss a suit by foreign investors seeking damages, arguing that the investors are just trying to "claw back" whatever they can from others who lost even more money.

  • January 17, 2025

    Judge Scolds Dormify For Founder Not Appearing In Court

    A Delaware bankruptcy judge sharply criticized Dormify Inc. after its founder didn't appear at a hearing Friday, ordering a hearing on whether to dismiss the dorm-room decorating retailer's Chapter 11 case or convert it to a Chapter 7 liquidation.

  • January 17, 2025

    Users' Google Suit Can Advance With Pared Search Claims

    Winnowed consumer antitrust claims against Google can move forward after a California federal judge said Thursday that while users failed to resurrect claims of an agreement keeping Apple out of online search, they've now adequately accused Google of stifling would-be rivals with fewer ads or more privacy.

  • January 17, 2025

    EBay Can't Appeal Punitive Damages Ruling In Stalking Case

    A Massachusetts federal judge has denied a request by eBay Inc. to ask the First Circuit whether it should have to face the possibility of punitive damages in a civil suit brought by a Bay State couple who say the e-commerce company waged a stalking and intimidation campaign against them.

  • January 17, 2025

    FTC Accuses Pepsi Of Giving Advantage To Favored Retailer

    The Federal Trade Commission on Friday accused Pepsi of giving a big box retailer better terms and promotional payments, putting smaller competitors at a disadvantage.

  • January 16, 2025

    IP Forecast: Mass. Court To Hear Inequitable Conduct Fight

    A federal judge in Massachusetts will hear arguments that a CEO’s “intentional misrepresentations, omissions and half-truths” at the patent office should sink his company’s infringement case over tamper-resistant plastic containers. Here's a spotlight on where that case stands — plus all the other major intellectual property matters on deck in the coming week.

  • January 16, 2025

    SEC Hit With Atty Fee Request Over Rare In-House Loss

    A Michigan-based company that convinced the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to retroactively lift a trading suspension is now arguing that the agency should have to pay the company's attorneys because enforcement staff "lied and misled" in order to obtain the suspension.

  • January 16, 2025

    2nd Circ. Revives Wonderful Pistachios' Trade Dress Case

    The Second Circuit revived a trademark infringement complaint from The Wonderful Co. LLC and Cal Pure Produce against pistachio-selling rival Nut Cravings Inc., saying Thursday that the plaintiffs plausibly alleged a likelihood of confusion in how each company's products are packaged, contrary to what a Manhattan federal judge concluded in dismissing the case.

  • January 16, 2025

    Joann Can Fund Speedy Ch. 11 Sale Plans With Cash On Hand

    Joann Inc. is racing to find a going concern buyer before mid-February, or it will take an offer from a firm that plans to liquidate the 80-year-old national craft supply retailer, attorneys told a Delaware bankruptcy judge Thursday, laying out the tight timeline proposed in its second Chapter 11 in less than a year.

  • January 16, 2025

    Google, Kove Settle Cloud Storage Patent Case

    Google and Kove IO Inc. have settled claims that the technology behemoth infringed three of the Chicago software company's patents covering cloud storage technologies, the parties told an Illinois federal court, concluding a dispute similar to another involving Amazon where Kove won a $673 million jury award, plus interest.

  • January 16, 2025

    Gov't Wants Time During Epic, Google's 9th Circ. Face-Off

    When Epic Games and Google face off next month at the Ninth Circuit, the federal government is hoping it will get a few minutes to state its case for why the appellate court shouldn't overturn an order forcing Google to allow alternative app stores on its platform, the government said in a recent motion.

  • January 16, 2025

    EpiPen Direct Buyers, Mylan Ink $75M Antitrust Deal

    Mylan Pharmaceuticals has agreed to pay $73.5 million to resolve claims it worked with Pfizer to inflate the price of the latter's popular auto-injecting emergency allergy medication EpiPen, a proposed class of direct purchasers told a Kansas federal judge Wednesday, bringing the total settlement to $123.5 million.

  • January 16, 2025

    Former NY Cannabis Regulator Backs Embattled Program

    The former leader of New York's cannabis regulator and an architect of the state's marijuana legalization law on Thursday defended the integrity of the agency before a roomful of cannabis attorneys, some of whom have litigated against its core policies.

  • January 16, 2025

    Swedish Match Wants 'Copycat' Sham Patent Suit Nixed

    Swedish Match urged a Virginia federal judge to toss a proposed class action it said largely parrots a since-settled antitrust suit from which consumers can draw no basis for claims the tobacco company used litigation to drive a nicotine pouch rival out of the market.

  • January 16, 2025

    Colo. AG Wants Ruling In Case Grocers' Merger Is Resurrected

    The Colorado attorney general on Wednesday urged a Denver judge to rule on the state's challenge to Kroger Co. and Albertsons' merger despite the grocers' claims they've abandoned the deal, arguing the fact that the companies dispute each other's termination of the merger suggests it "may still be operative."

  • January 16, 2025

    Amazon Shoppers' 'Buy Box' Suit Tossed For Good

    A Washington federal judge has rejected two consumers' attempt to rectify their proposed class action against Amazon, concluding the plaintiffs cannot show a reasonable customer would be duped into believing the "Buy Box" on the marketplace website shows the lowest priced offer for any item.

  • January 16, 2025

    FTC Fights Southern Glazer's Bid To Seal Pricing Allegations

    The Federal Trade Commission is opposing a bid from Southern Glazer's to permanently seal parts of the complaint in the commission's price discrimination case, including percentages allegedly showing how much more small retailers pay for wine and spirits than large chains.

  • January 16, 2025

    HP's $4M 'Strike-Through' Prices Deal Nears Initial OK

    A California federal judge indicated Thursday he's open to preliminarily approving HP's $4 million deal to resolve a proposed class action alleging the company misled consumers with fictitious "strike-through" prices of products sold online, but expressed skepticism about a provision that barred consumers from litigating while the deal is pending approval.

  • January 16, 2025

    S&C-Led Symbotic Buys Walmart's AI-Based Robotics Biz

    Artificial intelligence-enabled robotics technology company Symbotic Inc., advised by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, on Thursday announced plans to acquire Walmart's Advanced Systems and Robotics, and the two will enter into a multiyear partnership under which Walmart will buy and deploy robotic systems to be used for 400 pickup and deliver centers at Walmart locations.

  • January 16, 2025

    Cleveland-Cliffs Sets Sights On US Steel, And More Rumors

    Cleveland-Cliffs has re-emerged as a potential suitor to purchase U.S. Steel after President Joe Biden blocked Nippon's planned purchase, TikTok could be sold to Elon Musk, and Prada is among potential suitors eyeing Versace. Here, Law360 breaks down these and other notable deal rumors from the past week.

  • January 16, 2025

    Fed. Circ. Says German Paper Co. Can't Nix $194M Duties Suit

    The Federal Circuit on Thursday refused to throw a lifeline to a German paper manufacturer accused of skirting nearly $194 million worth of duties, finding no issue with the U.S. government's service of process to the foreign company.

  • January 15, 2025

    Microsoft Accused Of Stealing Online Marketer Commissions

    An affiliate marketing company whose software aims to help online shoppers support or avoid certain businesses hauled Microsoft into Washington federal court on Tuesday, alleging in a proposed class action that the technology giant steals referral fees and sales commissions by replacing online marketers' affiliate marketing cookies with its own.

  • January 15, 2025

    Amazon, FedEx, Anthem Blast Guo Ch. 11 Clawbacks

    Amazon, Anthem and FedEx on Wednesday asked a Connecticut bankruptcy judge to toss millions in clawback claims against nearly 40 entities by Chinese exile Miles Guo's Chapter 11 trustee, saying during oral arguments that the trustee is misusing prior rulings that Guo's shell companies were his alter egos.

  • January 15, 2025

    Abbott's Toddler Nutrition Drinks Aren't Healthy, Parents Claim

    A trio of parents filed a proposed false advertising class action in Illinois federal court Tuesday alleging Abbott Laboratories touts its toddler drinks sold under the Similac brand as nutritionally proper for children ages 12 months to 36 months, even though the products contain added sugar which is harmful to health.

  • January 15, 2025

    FTC Defends Authority To Bring Amazon Antitrust Case

    The Federal Trade Commission is pushing back on Amazon's claims that the commission can't bring an antitrust case in federal court without first launching an administrative complaint, telling the Washington federal judge overseeing its case against the e-commerce giant that the Ninth Circuit has already cleared such a move.

Expert Analysis

  • Comparing Antitrust Outlooks Amid Google Remedy Review

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    As the U.S. Justice Department mulls potential structural remedies after winning its recent case against Google, increased global scrutiny of Big Tech leaves ex post and ex ante antitrust approaches ripe for evaluation, say Nishant Chadha at the Indian School of Business and Manisha Goel at Pomona College.

  • Website Accessibility Ruling Leaves Circuit Split Unresolved

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    A New York federal court's recent decision in Mejia v. High Brew Coffee, holding that stand-alone websites are not "public accommodations" subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act, further complicates a long-running circuit split on this question — even as courts are burdened with thousands of similar lawsuits, say attorneys at Mandelbaum Barrett.

  • Striking A Balance Between AI Use And Attorney Well-Being

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    As the legal industry increasingly adopts generative artificial intelligence tools to boost efficiency, leaders must note the hidden costs of increased productivity, and work to protect attorneys’ well-being while unlocking AI’s full potential, says Ed Sohn at Factor.

  • Empathy In Mediation Offers A Soft Landing For Disputes

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    Experiencing a crash-landing on a recent flight underscored to me how much difference empathy makes in times of crisis or stress, including during mediation, says Eydith Kaufman at Alternative Resolution Centers.

  • Series

    Being An Artist Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My work as an artist has highlighted how using creativity and precision together — qualities that are equally essential in both art and law — not only improves outcomes, but also leads to more innovative and thoughtful work, says Sarah La Pearl at Segal McCambridge.

  • How Judiciary Can Minimize AI Risks In Secondary Sources

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    Because courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence and other safeguards do not address the risk of hallucinations in secondary source materials, the judiciary should consider enlisting legal publishers and database hosts to protect against AI-generated inaccuracies, say attorneys at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

  • False Patent Marking Claims Find New Home In Lanham Act

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    While the Patent Act may have closed the courthouse doors for many false patent marking claims, the Federal Circuit, in its recent decision in Crocs v. Effervescent, may be opening a window to these types of claims under the Lanham Act, says John Cordani at Robinson & Cole.

  • A Look At Calif. Biz Code And The Fight Over Customer Lists

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    To ensure Uniform Trade Secret Act security, California staffing agencies and their attorneys should review Section 16607 of the state Business Code, which prohibits contracts that restrain employees from engaging in other lawful types of business, to understand the process for determining whether a customer list constitutes a trade secret, says Skye Daley at Buchalter.

  • How Attorneys Can Break Free From Career Enmeshment

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    Ambitious attorneys can sometimes experience career enmeshment — when your sense of self-worth becomes unhealthily tangled up in your legal vocation — but taking the time to discover and realign with your core personal values can help you recover your identity, says Janna Koretz at Azimuth Psychological.

  • Where Can Privacy Plaintiffs Sue When Injury Is Online?

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    Website owners need to understand wiretapping laws to understand whether they may be sued for activity tracking in California or Pennsylvania courts, where the statutory damages for violations of half-century-old laws can be substantial — and a recent Third Circuit decision suggests establishing specific jurisdiction is not as easy as 1-2-3, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Short-Seller Implications Of 10th Circ.'s Overstock Decision

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    The Tenth Circuit's Oct. 15 decision in Overstock Securities Litigation provides clarity on the pleading standard for a market manipulation claim under the Exchange Act, and suggests that short sellers might not be able to rely on the fraud-on-the-market presumption typically invoked by securities plaintiffs, say attorneys at Paul Weiss.

  • Lawyers With Disabilities Are Seeking Equity, Not Pity

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    Attorneys living with disabilities face extra challenges — including the need for special accommodations, the fear of stigmatization and the risk of being tokenized — but if given equitable opportunities, they can still rise to the top of their field, says Kate Reder Sheikh, a former attorney and legal recruiter at Major Lindsey & Africa.

  • Opinion

    Judicial Committee Best Venue For Litigation Funding Rules

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    The Advisory Committee on Civil Rules' recent decision to consider developing a rule for litigation funding disclosure is a welcome development, ensuring that the result will be the product of a thorough, inclusive and deliberative process that appropriately balances all interests, says Stewart Ackerly at Statera Capital.

  • The Strategic Advantages Of Appointing A Law Firm CEO

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    The impact on law firms of the recent CrowdStrike outage underscores that the business of law is no longer merely about providing supplemental support for legal practice — and helps explain why some law firms are appointing dedicated, full-time CEOs to navigate the challenges of the modern legal landscape, says Jennifer Johnson at Calibrate Strategies.

  • Planning For Cyber Incident Reporting Requirements In Sports

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    Attorneys at Wiley discuss the proposed rules under the Cybersecurity Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act that would impose extensive reporting requirements on professional and collegiate athletic organizations, universities and sports venues, including defining a covered entity and analyzing the types of events that would trigger reporting.

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