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Washington
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November 22, 2024
Real Estate Recap: AI, NY Rent Control, NEPA
Catch up on this past week's key developments by state from Law360 Real Estate Authority — including one BigLaw partner's view of local governments leveraging artificial intelligence for land use, how landlords may challenge New York's rent laws following the latest High Court cert denial, and what a recent D.C. Circuit ruling could mean for National Environmental Policy Act interpretation.
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November 22, 2024
MultiCare $2M Deal Ends Fed's ADA Missing Interpreter Probe
MultiCare Health Systems of Washington will set aside $2 million in compensation to end a federal civil rights investigation into complaints the hospital operator failed to provide interpreters for deaf-blind patients before and after surgery.
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November 22, 2024
Retirement Contributions Found Not Disposable In Ch. 13
A split Ninth Circuit on Friday held that voluntary contributions to employer-managed retirement plans are not disposable income under Chapter 13 bankruptcy, reversing a lower court's decision that required a debtor to include $484 in monthly retirement contributions in her disposable income.
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November 22, 2024
Insurer Says Property Co. On Hook For $250K Cyber Theft
An insurer for a Washington condominium association told a federal court that a property management services company must reimburse the carrier for nearly $250,000 its insured lost after cybercriminals allegedly hacked into the management company's computer system and made payment requests from the condo association's bank account.
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November 22, 2024
Detainees Ask To Show Jury Inside Of Colo. ICE Facility
Immigrant detainees have asked a Colorado federal judge to allow them to show jurors the inside of a detention facility near Denver run by private prison company Geo Group, arguing that a tour is the best way for jurors to understand key issues in a human trafficking class action involving $1-a-day wages.
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November 22, 2024
FTC Can't Block Amazon's Misconduct Defense In Prime Suit
The Federal Trade Commission can't bar some of Amazon's defenses in an enforcement suit alleging consumers were duped into signing up for Prime delivery service, a Washington federal judge has ruled, allowing the e-commerce giant to argue the regulatory agency engaged in misconduct related to the litigation.
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November 22, 2024
Washington Tribe Says City Can't Block Emergency Shelter
A Washington tribe is asking a federal district court judge to block the city of Toppenish from preventing it from opening a 24-hour emergency cold weather shelter, arguing that the attempt violates its inherent sovereign authority and treaty-reserved rights to govern its lands and people.
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November 22, 2024
Insurer Owes $4.5M For Water Damage, Wash. HOA Says
A Washington state homeowners association told a federal court that its insurer owes over $4.5 million in coverage to repair hidden water damage at its condominium community, arguing that no exclusions, conditions or limitations bar coverage under its policy.
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November 22, 2024
DLA Piper Adds China-Focused Patent Attorney In Seattle
DLA Piper announced the addition of an experienced patent attorney, who most recently co-led Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP's China intellectual property practice, as a partner based out of Seattle.
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November 21, 2024
9th Circ. Revives Removal Relief Bid Over Due Process Issue
The Ninth Circuit on Thursday revived a Mexican citizen's bid for deportation relief based on his fear a police officer in Mexico would kill him, saying the Board of Immigration Appeals wrongly concluded an alleged due process violation did not prejudice him.
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November 21, 2024
9th Circ. Told $500K To Huizar Not Intended As Bribe
A real estate developer convicted of bribing former Los Angeles City Councilor José Huizar with $500,000 for help overcoming challenges to a downtown project asked the Ninth Circuit for a new trial, arguing Thursday the lower court erroneously excluded evidence showing the developer didn't know the money would be used as a bribe.
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November 21, 2024
Wash. Justices Unsure CARES Act Protects Violent Tenants
Two Washington Supreme Court justices on Thursday seemed to doubt whether the CARES Act blocked landlords from quickly evicting violent tenants, as opposed to just those behind on rent, a question that resulted in opposing opinions from two lower appellate panels.
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November 21, 2024
IP Atty Fights To Revive Allergan FCA Suit At 9th Circ.
A patent attorney urged the Ninth Circuit on Thursday to revive False Claims Act allegations against Allergan over dementia drug patents, arguing his client used his expertise to discover the patents were fraudulently issued to block generics and that these are the kinds of FCA cases the government welcomes from experts.
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November 21, 2024
EzCater Fostered Discriminatory Workplace, Ex-Workers Say
Four former employees of Boston-based ezCater are suing the online catering service, alleging that it engaged in discrimination based on their gender, race and pregnancy, then retaliated when they complained.
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November 21, 2024
Howmet Accuses Wash. DOL Of Muscling Into Worker's Suit
Howmet Aerospace slammed the Washington state labor department on Thursday for "interjecting" into a dispute with a former smelter employee who claims he developed cancer from asbestos exposure, urging the state's highest court not to relax the standard for workers to sue over job-related illnesses.
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November 21, 2024
Fed. Circ. Agrees Tomofun's Pet Camera Didn't Infringe Patent
The Federal Circuit on Thursday affirmed a lower court's finding that pet technology company Tomofun's Furbo pet camera didn't infringe a pet communication patent, agreeing that the product at issue didn't cover key patent language.
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November 20, 2024
9th Circ. Judge Asks How Loper Bright Impacts EPA Fine Case
A Ninth Circuit judge wondered on Wednesday what weight the court should give the Environmental Protection Agency's view in a chemical wholesaler's appeal of an $850,000 fine in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision, suggesting the justices might next end agency deference in regulatory interpretation.
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November 20, 2024
Wash. Judge Questions Startup's Amazon Antitrust Claims
A Washington federal judge on Wednesday suggested that antitrust claims might not survive in a startup's complaint against Amazon Web Services involving a dispute over higher-speed internet connections in the Middle East that allowed the startup to cater to its customer Epic Games.
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November 20, 2024
Microsoft Defeats Eye Contact Feature Patent At PTAB
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board has invalidated claims in a RealD Spark patent it alleged were infringed by Microsoft's eye-contact feature, the latest decision in a broader legal battle.
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November 20, 2024
Former Amazon Worker Says Flagging Bias Cost Him His Job
An Amazon.com unit fired a Black, gay executive assistant for complaining that he was unfairly passed over for promotions and belittled by a hostile supervisor, according to a lawsuit filed in Atlanta federal court.
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November 20, 2024
Amazon Settles Military Leave Bias Suit Ahead Of Trial
Amazon has settled an employee's suit claiming the online retail giant blocked him from promotions because he took leave to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, prompting a Washington federal judge on Wednesday to halt a trial that was set to begin in the case next month.
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November 20, 2024
Washington State, DC District Court Picks Secure Seats
The Senate on Wednesday voted 50-48 to confirm Washington Court of Appeals Judge Rebecca L. Pennell to the Eastern District of Washington and 50-49 to confirm Amir Ali, former president and executive director of the MacArthur Justice Center and co-director of the Criminal Justice Appellate Clinic at Harvard Law School, to the District of Columbia.
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November 20, 2024
Firms For Ohio Funds Aim To Steer ZoomInfo Investor Suit
Two Ohio retirement funds asked a Washington federal judge to name their attorneys from Labaton Keller Sucharow LLP and Byrnes Keller Cromwell LLP as lead counsel and liaison counsel in investor claims brought against ZoomInfo Technologies Inc. over its allegedly misguided attempts to maintain a pandemic-era customer boom.
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November 20, 2024
Healthcare-Focused PE Firm Clinches $2.3B Buyout Fund
Healthcare-dedicated private equity shop Frazier Healthcare Partners on Wednesday announced that it closed its oversubscribed 11th buyout fund after receiving $2.3 billion of investor commitments.
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November 19, 2024
Monsanto's Bid To Pause PCB Trial Again Shot Down
A Washington state appellate commissioner on Friday again refused to undo a trial court's decision not to pause a chemical poisoning tort trial playing out in Seattle, rejecting Monsanto's contention that the court committed "obvious error" in letting the trial proceed while the state's highest court decides a similar case.
Expert Analysis
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Nvidia Supreme Court Case May Not Make Big Splash
The skeptical tenor of the justices' questioning at oral argument in Nvidia v. Ohman Fonder suggests that the case is unlikely to alter the motion to dismiss pleading standard in securities class actions, as some had feared, say attorneys at WilmerHale.
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Series
Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer
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.
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3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less
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.
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The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule
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.
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Expect More State-Level Scrutiny Of Noncompetes Ahead
Despite the nationwide injunction against the Federal Trade Commission’s noncompete ban, and the incoming Republican administration, employers should anticipate that state legislatures will continue to focus on laws that limit or ban noncompetes, including those that target certain salary thresholds or industries, says Benjamin Fryer at FordHarrison.
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Series
Being A Navy Reservist Makes Me A Better Lawyer
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.
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What To Expect From State AGs As Federal Control Changes
Under the next Trump administration, Democratic attorneys general are poised to strengthen enforcement in certain areas as Republican attorneys general continue their efforts with stronger federal support — resulting in a confusing patchwork of policies that create unintended liabilities for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.
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So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?
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.
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Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: November Lessons
In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy discusses six federal court decisions that touch on Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and when individual inquiries are needed to prove economic loss.
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Notable Q3 Updates In Insurance Class Actions
Total loss valuation cases and labor depreciation cases dominated the past quarter of insurance class actions, with courts continuing to reject challenges to condition adjustments in the former, and a pro-insured trend persisting in the latter, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.
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Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals
Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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.
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Series
Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers
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.
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Considering Chevron's End Through A State Tax Lens
States took the lead in encouraging Chevron's demise, turning away from Chevron-type deference in state tax administration ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, a trend likely to accelerate as courts take a more active role in interpreting tax laws, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.
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E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Metadata
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.
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Comparing Antitrust Outlooks Amid Google Remedy Review
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.