Appellate

May 02, 2025
11th Circ. Urged To Revive Fla. Suit Over Car Co. Buybacks

An investor urged the Eleventh Circuit on Friday to revive his claim that the CEO of a Florida company that develops navigation technology for self-driving cars improperly made nearly $24 million from share buybacks, saying his "indirect pecuniary" interest in the transaction precludes him from profits under federal law.
May 02, 2025
DOGE Takes Social Security Data Access Fight To High Court

The Social Security Administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday to lift a Maryland federal judge's order that limits the Department of Government Efficiency's access to millions of Americans' data, in the first high court case involving the supposed fraud-busting actions of Elon Musk's group.
May 02, 2025
Nevada Takes Another Step Toward Business Court Stand-Up

Nevada's Assembly has made another move to position state courts to handle corporate and commercial law disputes, with the first-step passage of a bill that would make judges, rather than juries, the triers of fact for fiduciary duty breaches or suits brought in a company name, among other matters.
May 02, 2025
Ex-Travelers Employee Can't Yet Appeal Arbitration Ruling

The Connecticut Appellate Court ruled Friday that a trial court's refusal to vacate a woman's arbitration loss in an age discrimination case against Travelers Indemnity Co., her former employer, wasn't a final order that could be appealed.
May 02, 2025
Miami Rental Property Sellers Want $1.5M Award Reversed

The sellers of a Miami rental property asked the Eleventh Circuit to reverse a $1.5 million judgment against them over the breakdown of a $5.45 million sale of the property, arguing that the buyer failed to prove that it had the money to pay for the property.
May 02, 2025
DC Circ. Allows Feds To Halt Funding To Int'l Media Outlets

A D.C. Circuit panel has paused a lower court order that restored federal grant funding to international broadcasters while leaving intact other aspects of a ruling preserving the agency that oversees Voice of America.
May 02, 2025
A Look At Trump's Pick For The 6th Circuit

President Donald Trump's first judicial nominee, Whitney Hermandorfer, who's been tapped for a seat Democrats tried to fill while Joe Biden was in the White House, has been part of litigation on several politically charged issues due to her job with the Tennessee Attorney General's office.
May 02, 2025
With Lowell's New Firm, San Juan Bank Appeals NY Fed Loss

Abbe Lowell — the high-profile litigator who on Friday announced he will launch a boutique firm aiming to aid with "politicized investigations" after exiting the partnership of Winston & Strawn LLP — will help handle a Puerto Rico bank's appeal of an order affirming the closure of its Federal Reserve master account by federal regulators.
May 02, 2025
Fed. Circ. Gives MSN Short Pause For Entresto Appeal

The Federal Circuit told a Delaware federal judge on Friday to hold off entering final judgment in litigation that would delay MSN Pharmaceuticals Inc. from launching a generic version of Novartis' blockbuster heart medication Entresto.
May 02, 2025
Pro Golfer Urges 11th Circ. To Revive Media Defamation Suits

A professional golfer urged the Eleventh Circuit on Friday to revive two defamation lawsuits against various news and media publications, saying he was wrongly targeted as the "villain" or "bad boy" of golf due to false accusations of cheating and reports over his defection from the PGA Tour.
May 02, 2025
NJ Panel Affirms $2.6M Coverage Payout In Cleanup Case

A New Jersey appeals court on Friday upheld a lower court's decision finding that under Massachusetts law an insurer owed a BASF entity only $2.6 million in coverage for underlying environmental remediation costs after the lower court found a prior, larger coverage calculation it had adopted was "palpably incorrect."
May 02, 2025
Trump Media Makes Move To Fla. With Del. Action Pending

Trump Media & Technology Group Corp., the parent company of President Donald Trump's social media platform, has wrapped up its "redomestication" from Delaware to Florida, joining other businesses that have taken what's become known as a "DExit" to other states.
May 02, 2025
3 Argument Sessions Benefits Attys Should Watch In May

The Eleventh Circuit will hear arguments from former seafood company workers who say they were overcharged when they purchased their employer’s stock, while the Sixth Circuit tackles appeals from Kellogg and FedEx retirees who say they were shorted on benefits because of outdated mortality data. Here’s three arguments to keep an eye on in May.
May 02, 2025
Connecticut Firm Can't Reargue Ruling In Lawsuit Over Scam

Connecticut law firm Mancini Provenzano & Futtner LLC may not reargue an attorney fee and prejudgment interest awarded to a former client who was tricked by a fraudster into wiring $90,586 to an incorrect account due to the firm's lax security, a state superior court judge has ruled.
May 02, 2025
Houston Atty Can't Beat Sanctions In Hospital Firing Suit

A Texas state appellate court has said a Houston attorney is on the hook for more than $11,000 in fees for ignoring an area hospital's discovery requests and failing to appear in court in a wrongful termination lawsuit the attorney filed on behalf of a podiatrist.
May 02, 2025
DC Circ. Seems Unconvinced That Proxy Firms 'Solicit'

An industry group's bid to revive a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule regulating proxy advisory firms seemed to meet a skeptical D.C. Circuit panel on Friday, as the judges questioned whether those firms "solicit" proxy votes.
May 02, 2025
Off The Bench: DC Stadium, BetMGM Victory, Transfer Rules

In this week's Off The Bench, the Washington Commanders strike a deal to build a new stadium in D.C., BetMGM fends off a consumer fraud suit targeting its gambling promotion efforts and a Rutgers University football player scores another win against the NCAA's transfer rules.
May 02, 2025
3rd Circ. Says County Judges Need Notice To Pull Probation

The Third Circuit on Friday partly revived claims from criminal defendants who said they were jailed for alleged probation violations too hastily and too long by Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Judges Jill Rangos, Anthony Mariani and Kelly Bigley, but the split panel declined to require more than "probable cause" for someone to be returned to jail.
May 02, 2025
NC Farmers Say Fight With Crop Insurer Must Stay In Court

A suit by six tobacco farmers lodging tort claims against their crop insurer should proceed in state court, they told a North Carolina appeals court, arguing that an arbitration provision in their policy applies only to disputes over a coverage determination.
May 02, 2025
Community Groups Accept Pause In CTA Litigation

A group of community associations has told the Fourth Circuit they aren't opposed to a government motion to pause litigation over the Corporate Transparency Act, even as they maintained the information disclosure law aimed at small businesses still carries constitutional flaws.
May 02, 2025
DC US Atty Pick Vows To Take On Judicial Threats

Ed Martin, nominee to be U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia who is currently serving in the role on an interim basis, has told federal judges in D.C. he is concerned about the increase in threats to judges and pledged to work together to stop it.
May 02, 2025
Trump Announces First Judicial Nominee Of 2nd Term

President Donald Trump announced his first judicial nominee of his second administration late Thursday night.
May 01, 2025
New Bill Holds Judges Accountable Even After They Retire

A Georgia Congressman on Thursday introduced legislation that would ensure misconduct complaints against judges would still be investigated, even if the judge has resigned, retired or even died.
May 01, 2025
2nd Circ. Won't Revive Privacy Suit Over Video Data Sharing

The Second Circuit on Thursday upheld the toss of a proposed class action accusing digital streaming provider Flipps Media Inc. of unlawfully sharing video-viewing information with Meta Platforms Inc., finding that the disclosed data didn't fall within the scope of the federal Video Privacy Protection Act.
May 01, 2025
Troops Urge High Court To Keep Transgender Ban On Ice

Several transgender service members and recruits told the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to reject the Trump administration's bid to lift a federal judge's order prohibiting implementation of the Pentagon's ban on transgender military service, claiming the policy is so deeply rooted in animosity that it won't survive judicial inspection.

Expert Analysis

Lessons Learned From 2024's Top FMLA Decisions

Last year's major litigation related to the Family and Medical Leave Act underscores why it is critical for employers to understand the basics of when leave and accommodations are required, say attorneys at Dechert.
5th Circ.'s Nasdaq Ruling Another Piece In DEI Policy Puzzle

The Fifth Circuit's recent en banc opinion vacating Nasdaq's board diversity listing rule wades into the hotly debated topic of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at a time when many public companies are navigating the attention that DEI commitments are drawing from activists and shareholders, say attorneys at Debevoise.
Lessons Learned From 2024's Top ADA Decisions

Last year's major litigation related to the Americans with Disabilities Act highlights that when dealing with accommodation requests, employers must communicate clearly, appreciate context and remain flexible in addressing needs, say attorneys at Dechert.
Series

Playing Esports Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Competing in a global esports tournament at Wimbledon last year not only fulfilled my childhood dream, but also sharpened skills that are essential to my day job, including strategic thinking, confidence and networking, says AJ Schuyler at Jackson Lewis.
The 6 Most Significant FCRA Litigation Developments Of 2024

From a key sovereign immunity decision at the U.S. Supreme Court to a ruling on creditworthiness out of the Seventh Circuit, several important Fair Credit Reporting Act cases wound their way through the courts in 2024, each offering takeaways for both plaintiffs and defendants, say attorneys at Shipkevich.
Fed. Circ. In December: A Patent Prosecution History Lesson

Despite relying on two rock-solid principles of patent law, DDR lost its Federal Circuit case against Priceline.com, highlighting how a change in the scope of the invention from the provisional to the nonprovisional application can affect the court's analysis of how a skilled artisan would understand claim terms after reading the prosecution history, say attorneys at Knobbe Martens.
The Securities Litigation Trends That Will Matter Most In 2025

2025 is shaping up to be a significant year for securities litigation, as plaintiffs and defendants alike navigate shifting standards for omission theories of liability, class certification, risk disclosure claims and more, say attorneys at Willkie.
An Associate's Guide To Career Development In 2025

As the new year begins, associates at all levels should consider establishing career metrics, fostering key relationships and employing other specific strategies to help move through the complexities of the legal profession with confidence and emerge as trailblazers, say EJ Stern and Amanda George at Fractional Law Firm.
What To Watch For In The 2025 Benefits Landscape

While planning for 2025, retirement plan sponsors and service providers should set their focus on phased implementation deadlines under both Secure 1.0 and 2.0, an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and the fate of several U.S. Department of Labor regulations, says Allie Itami at Lathrop GPM.
Reviewing 2024's Crucial Patent Law Developments

As 2024 draws to a close, significant rulings and policies aimed at modernizing long-standing legal practices or addressing emerging challenges have reached patent law, says Michael Ellenberger at Rothwell Figg.
Contract Disputes Recap: Adjustments, Preclusion, Waivers

Ken Kanzawa at Seyfarth examines three recent decisions from the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals that examine distinctions between requests for equitable adjustments and claims, forum selection and res judicata, and the waiver of penalties for expressly unallowable costs.
The Justices' Securities Rulings, Dismissals That Defined '24

The U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 securities rulings led to increased success for defendants' price impact arguments, but the justices' decisions not to weigh in on important issues relating to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act's pleading requirements may be just as significant, say attorneys at Skadden.
10 Noteworthy CFPB Developments From 2024

In a banner year for consumer finance regulation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau made significant strides in its efforts to rein in Big Tech and nonbank financial firms, including via rules regarding open banking, credit card late fees, and buy now, pay later products, say attorneys at Wiley.
Series

Fixing Up Cars Makes Me A Better Lawyer

From problem-solving to patience and adaptability to organization, the skills developed working under the hood of a car directly translate to being a more effective lawyer, says Christopher Mdeway at Kaufman Dolowich.
2024 Has Been A Momentous Year For ESG

Significant developments in the environmental, social and governance landscape this year include new legislation, evolving global frameworks, continued litigation and enforcement actions, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision that has already affected how lower courts have viewed some ESG challenges, say attorneys at Katten.