Appellate

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.
May 01, 2025
Worker Can't Ring Own Class's 'Death Knell,' Calif. Panel Says

A former construction company employee can't appeal an order denying his class certification motion in a putative wage and hour class action, a California state appeals court has ruled, finding it does not qualify under the so-called death knell doctrine because Private Attorneys General Act claims remained active when he appealed.
May 01, 2025
DC Circ. Doubts Venezuelan State Oil Co. In Asset Seizure Suit

The D.C. Circuit was having a hard time Thursday with a Venezuelan state-owned oil company's arguments that it should be allowed out of a nearly 14-year-old suit brought by an Oklahoma-based petroleum drilling company that claims its drilling rigs were illegally seized by the state.
May 01, 2025
Unlockd Tells 9th Circ. Google Harms Ad Market Competition

A defunct advertising app that alleged Google's decision to boot it from the Google Play Store harmed market competition for digital advertising asked the Ninth Circuit to reinstate its claims, arguing Wednesday the lower court wrongly concluded that eliminating a "nascent competitor" in a large market didn't rise to antitrust injury.
May 01, 2025
Fla. Condo Wins Noise Dispute With Autistic Man's Family

A Florida appellate panel ruled in favor of a condominium association in a lawsuit over a noise dispute between a family caring for their autistic son and a neighbor, finding no evidence that the family faced discrimination in violation of housing laws.
May 01, 2025
Fla. Panel Reverses Default Judgment In Prized Horses Suit

A Florida appeals court Wednesday reversed a default judgment against a show horse owner in a dispute with investors, ruling that the court jumped the gun on the judgment after learning the owner faked brain cancer treatment to get preferred hearing dates.
May 01, 2025
'Fingers Crossed' At FCC As Court's Subsidy Ruling Closes In

There's plenty of hand-wringing at the Federal Communications Commission as a U.S. Supreme Court decision draws near over the legality of the revenue-raising scheme used to pay for more than $9 billion in broadband and phone service subsidies.
May 01, 2025
NY School District Appeals Mascot Ban While Feds Investigate

A Long Island, New York, school district is appealing a decision that denied its bid to block a ban on the use of Indigenous mascots and names in public schools, while the federal government investigates the state's education department and board of regents alleging Civil Rights Act violations.
May 01, 2025
Fla. Appeals Court Puts Condo Damage Suit To Bed

A Florida state appeals court upheld the dismissal of a condo's Hurricane Irma damage lawsuit against a Florida entity created to handle the claims for insolvent insurers, finding it was time-barred.
May 01, 2025
5 Fed. Circ. Clashes To Watch This Month

The Federal Circuit's argument calendar for May includes appeals of two nine-figure patent verdicts — one against Apple and one against Medtronic — and Roku's bid to revive its remote control patent suit at the U.S. International Trade Commission after a loss tied to the commission's domestic industry requirement.
May 01, 2025
States, Green Groups Look To Vacate NEPA Ruling

States that had asked the Eighth Circuit to revive vacated National Environmental Policy Act regulations are now abandoning their appeal because the White House has eliminated the standards — but they're still asking that a lower court's decision striking down the regulations be overturned.
May 01, 2025
GOP Seeks To Stop 'Frivolous Lawsuits' With Reconciliation

The House Judiciary Committee approved along party lines a proposal they say will prevent "frivolous lawsuits" by barring courts from enforcing contempt citations for failure to comply with injunctions if the plaintiff has not posted a bond for litigation costs.
May 01, 2025
DHS Urges Justices To Let Venezuelan Protections Be Undone

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security turned to the nation's highest court on Thursday, asking the justices to pause a nationwide injunction blocking the agency from undoing the Biden administration's extension of temporary protected status for Venezuela during its appeal.
May 01, 2025
Wash. Justices Take Up Meta's $35M Political Ad Penalty

The Washington State Supreme Court has agreed to review a $35 million judgment for penalties and legal fees against Facebook parent company Meta for repeatedly running afoul of the state's political advertising transparency law.
May 01, 2025
Couple's J&J Pelvic Mesh Claims Too Late, 11th Circ. Affirms

The Eleventh Circuit held Thursday that a couple's lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson over injuries allegedly caused by a pelvic mesh device made by the company's med-tech unit was filed too late despite evidence that the woman's doctors had expressed uncertainty for years about whether the mesh was causing her pain.
May 01, 2025
PepsiCo Owes $2.1M In Tax Penalties, Illinois Panel Affirms

PepsiCo was correctly assessed $2.1 million in penalties for categorizing Frito-Lay expatriates' compensation as foreign payroll that would allow the company's profits to be excluded from state income tax calculations, according to an Illinois Appellate Court panel.
May 01, 2025
3rd Circ. Backs Charter School In Black Worker's Bias Suit

The Third Circuit upheld the dismissal of a Black cafeteria manager's suit claiming she was fired for complaining that her bosses at a charter school system mistreated her due to her race, ruling the suit falls flat because she was employed by an outside food service company.
May 01, 2025
High Court Urged To Skip $272M Hertz 'Solvent Debtor' Appeal

Wells Fargo has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Hertz's appeal of a Third Circuit ruling that the car rental giant owes $272 million in make-whole payments and interest to noteholders following a Chapter 11 case it launched in 2020.
May 01, 2025
PBMs Tell 6th Circ. Ohio's Pricing Case Belongs In Fed Court

Express Scripts and Prime Therapeutics urged the Sixth Circuit to undo a district court order returning a lawsuit from Ohio's attorney general alleging they drove up prescription drug prices to state court, arguing Wednesday an after-the-fact disclaimer of federal program-based claims isn't enough to sever a federal law connection.
May 01, 2025
3rd Circ. Unsure Defunct NJ Law Blocked ICE Detentions

The Third Circuit appeared skeptical of prison operator CoreCivic Inc.'s argument Thursday that a defunct New Jersey law barring detention centers from contracting with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is unconstitutional, questioning whether the statute actually blocked the federal government from detaining migrants.
May 01, 2025
Uber Needed To Collect Tax Pre-Wayfair, Ga. Panel Affirms

Uber was required to collect and remit millions in sales taxes on behalf of drivers and customers who used its app before the Wayfair decision, a Georgia appellate panel held Thursday, ruling against the ride-hailing company and upholding a trial court decision.

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.
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.
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.
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.