Commercial Contracts

  • May 28, 2024

    Wells Fargo Seeks To Send Account Offsets Suit To Arbitration

    Wells Fargo has asked a California federal judge to send a class action lawsuit alleging it unlawfully dipped into customers' deposit accounts to repay itself for credit owed card debt to arbitration since the plaintiff signed a deposit account agreement containing a binding arbitration provision.

  • May 28, 2024

    Exxon Investor Broadens Promise To Nix Climate Proxy Bid

    An activist investor sued by Exxon Mobil Corp. over a now-withdrawn shareholder proposal concerning climate change has again called on the oil giant to withdraw its suit after broadening its previous promise not to resubmit the proposal in the future.

  • May 28, 2024

    No Coverage For IT Co.'s 'Collusive' Settlement, Insurer Says

    Chubb unit ACE American Insurance Co. told a Colorado federal court it owes no coverage to an IT company found liable by a jury for making fraudulent misrepresentations and breaching its cybersecurity agreement with an investment company, arguing the parties' post-verdict settlement was merely a workaround to "create insurance coverage."

  • May 28, 2024

    $3.1B Satellite Deal Needs Justices' Review, Co. Says

    A broker accusing Lockheed Martin and Airbus of cutting it from a $3.1 billion military satellite deal opposed the Biden administration's contention that a U.S. Supreme Court review isn't needed, saying the administration incorrectly focused on an underlying F-35 deal.

  • May 28, 2024

    NC Pot Distributor Must Arbitrate Spat With 'Amazon Of Hemp'

    A cannabis distribution company has to arbitrate its case against an online retailer over a distribution agreement that went south, the North Carolina Business Court has ruled, finding the contract contained an "expansive" arbitration clause that includes the claims at issue.

  • May 28, 2024

    Ex-Florida Atty Accused Of Failing To Deliver Condo Proceeds

    A disbarred attorney was sued in Florida state court by a client who alleged fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in a Miami Beach condominium foreclosure action, saying he misappropriated more than $68,000 in proceeds.

  • May 28, 2024

    Heavyweight Champ Lobs New Suit At Don King, Promoters

    Legendary promoter Don King and champion heavyweight boxer Mahmoud Charr have entered the ring for another round of legal sparring over a new contract dispute in which the fighter accuses the defendants of canceling a planned fight that cost him a $1 million payout.

  • May 28, 2024

    Tech Co. Says Houston Court Set Trial Despite Atty Vacations

    A Kansas-based technology company has asked a Texas appellate court to push back a June trial date in Houston, writing that a trial court judge scheduled the proceeding despite being notified of vacation conflicts by multiple attorneys.

  • May 24, 2024

    HNTB's Liability Capped In Seattle Tunnel Delay Claim

    A contract clause caps engineering firm HNTB Corp.'s potential liability over a long-delayed Seattle highway tunnel project, a Washington state court judge ruled Friday, likely dashing a joint venture's bid to recover more than $700 million.

  • May 24, 2024

    BofA Inks $21M Deal With Over 1M Customers Over Wire Fees

    Bank of America customers on Friday urged a North Carolina federal judge to preliminarily approve their $21 million settlement to resolve claims the financial institution tacked $15 "junk fees" onto incoming wire transfers, saying the deal constitutes significant relief for over a million class members.

  • May 24, 2024

    Enbridge Says Oil Transport Monopoly Claims Lack Merit

    Enbridge Inc. fired back at an antitrust suit accusing it of intentionally killing a pipeline terminal project that would have resulted in the company losing its monopoly power over crude oil transportation in the Chicago area, calling for an Illinois federal judge to dismiss the claims.

  • May 24, 2024

    Ousted Publishing CEO Not Satisfied With Say In Potential Sale

    The ousted CEO of the publisher behind the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Toledo Blade isn't dropping his case against his family's newspaper empire just because he won his bid to weigh in on the company's potential sale, his attorney told an Ohio state court judge Friday, who compared the conflict to a messy divorce.

  • May 24, 2024

    Walgreens Must Face $200M Cooler Screen Contract Claims

    A technology company's $200 million contract suit against Walgreens remained intact Friday, as an Illinois state judge rejected the pharmacy retailer's bid to dodge accusations that it breached a contract to install "smart coolers" at thousands of stores simply because its latest CEO didn't like how they look.

  • May 24, 2024

    Cannabis Company Fights Sanctions Bid In $10M Contract Suit

    A cannabis company has opposed a sanctions request in a dispute surrounding its merger with Connecticut marijuana business Theraplant LLC, saying it met document production deadlines despite an opposing attorney's claim that he couldn't open a link emailed at 11:53 p.m. via a password that followed at 11:59 p.m.

  • May 24, 2024

    Petition Watch: Forum Shopping, Monopolies & Gun Safety

    Law360 looks at four U.S. Supreme Court petitions filed in the past two weeks, including the FDA's request that the justices curb an increase in forum shopping at the Fifth Circuit, and two veterinarians who want the justices to allow plaintiffs to pursue antitrust claims for actions allegedly leading to the creation of a monopoly.

  • May 24, 2024

    Atty Says Loss Of BP Spill Claim Was Client's Fault, Not Firm's

    Texas attorney Brent W. Coon has told a Houston court that his firm's alleged botching of a former client's lawsuit stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill was actually the client's fault, as he failed to provide the firm with a sworn statement to attach to his complaint per a court's order.

  • May 24, 2024

    Chinese Reinsurer Seeks Exit From Reimbursement Suit

    A Chinese reinsurance company urged an Iowa federal court Friday to toss an insurer's suit seeking reimbursement for property insurance coverage claims it paid out, saying the court lacks jurisdiction because the company was not properly served.

  • May 24, 2024

    Biden's Judicial Impact And What's Left On The Wish List

    President Joe Biden secured confirmation of his 200th federal judge Wednesday and has transformed the judiciary by picking more women and people of color than any other president. But the upcoming election season could derail his hopes of confirming many more judges.

  • May 24, 2024

    DC Circ. Says Bainbridge Can't Have Argentina's Building

    The D.C. Circuit on Friday denied an appeal from Bainbridge Fund Ltd. in a property dispute with Argentina, saying the company can't take possession of the property in an effort to satisfy a $95 million judgment over defaulted bonds.

  • May 24, 2024

    ERISA Arbitration Backers See Hope In 2nd Circ. Dissent

    A split Second Circuit panel backed workers — and joined three other circuits — when it rejected an attempt to force a proposed class action Employee Retirement Income Security Act lawsuit into individual arbitration, but employers are seizing on a dissent from the recent ruling to try to turn the tide.

  • May 24, 2024

    Colo. Judge Hints Regulator May Face Oil Biz Contract Claims

    A Colorado state judge seemed inclined to agree with an oil company's argument that a settlement with state regulators to resolve alleged violations was close enough to a contract to take to trial the company's claims that regulators later broke the deal.

  • May 24, 2024

    Court Upholds Limit To Award In Ecopetrol, Texas Co. Dispute

    An arbitration tribunal was within its authority to limit the number of years and the amount that a Houston-based oil company had to reimburse Colombia's state-owned entity, Ecopetrol, for the value-added tax liability of a subsidiary while owned by the company, a New York federal judge determined.

  • May 24, 2024

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    This past week in London has seen an IT engineer seek permission to search a landfill hiding a hard drive supposedly storing millions of pounds in bitcoin, Glencore take on legal action by American Century Investments, gold payment app Glint bring a breach of duty claim against FRP Advisory, and an ongoing dispute between a solicitor and the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

  • May 24, 2024

    DraftKings' Noncompete Win Shuns Calif. Law, 1st Circ. Told

    A former DraftKings Inc. executive who was blocked from taking a job in Los Angeles at rival sportsbook Fanatics told the First Circuit that a Massachusetts federal judge should have applied a worker-friendly California law to the trade secrets spat.

  • May 24, 2024

    DLA Piper Adds Corporate Ace From Goodwin In Calif.

    A finance lawyer with deep expertise has joined DLA Piper from Goodwin Procter LLP in its Palo Alto shop, strengthening its offerings in the Golden State.

Expert Analysis

  • Weisselberg's Perjury At Trial Spotlights Atty Ethics Issues

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    Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg’s recent guilty plea for perjury in the New York attorney general's civil fraud trial should serve as a reminder to attorneys of their ethical duties when they know a client has lied or plans to lie in court, and the potential penalties for not fulfilling those obligations, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.

  • Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease

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    This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.

  • Series

    Playing Hockey Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Nearly a lifetime of playing hockey taught me the importance of avoiding burnout in all aspects of life, and the game ultimately ended up providing me with the balance I needed to maintain success in my legal career, says John Riccione at Taft.

  • A Snapshot Of The Evolving Restrictive Covenant Landscape

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    Rachael Martinez and Brooke Bahlinger at Foley highlight recent trends in the hotly contested regulation and enforcement of noncompetition and related nonsolicitation covenants, and provide guidance on drafting such provisions within the context of stand-alone employment agreements and merger or acquisition transactions.

  • For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill

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    A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.

  • Handling Customer Complaints In Bank-Fintech Partnerships

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    As regulators mine consumer complaint databases for their next investigative targets, it is critical that fintech and bank partners adopt a well-defined and monitored process for ensuring proper complaint handling, including by demonstrating proficiency and following interagency guidance, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Trump's NY Civil Fraud Trial Spotlights Long-Criticized Law

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    A New York court’s recent decision holding former President Donald Trump liable for fraud brought old criticisms of the state law used against him back into the limelight — including its strikingly broad scope and its major departures from the traditional elements of common law fraud, say Mark Kelley and Lois Ahn at MoloLamken.

  • What NAR Settlement Means For Agent Commission Rates

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    If approved, a joint settlement agreement between the National Association of Realtors and a class of home sellers will likely take the onus off home sellers to compensate buyers' agents, affecting considerations for all parties to real estate transactions, say attorneys at Jones Foster.

  • Opinion

    Requiring Leave To File Amicus Briefs Is A Bad Idea

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    A proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that would require parties to get court permission before filing federal amicus briefs would eliminate the long-standing practice of consent filing and thereby make the process less open and democratic, says Lawrence Ebner at the Atlantic Legal Foundation and DRI Center.

  • 4 Ways To Motivate Junior Attorneys To Bring Their Best

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    As Gen Z and younger millennial attorneys increasingly express dissatisfaction with their work and head for the exits, the lawyers who manage them must understand and attend to their needs and priorities to boost engagement and increase retention, says Stacey Schwartz at Katten.

  • How 3 Unfolding Cases Could Affect The Energy Industry

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    Three judicial decisions now in the pipeline — Texas' challenge to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's methane regulations, Delaware's climate suit against big energy companies, and a case before the Supreme Court of Texas on royalty lease interpretation — could have important implications for the energy industry, say Michelle Scheffler and Rachael Cox at Skadden.

  • Flexibility Is Key In Hybrid Capital Investment Strategies

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    Flexible or hybrid capital funds have become a solution for some owners adverse to private debt or requiring short-term capital support not otherwise available in the market, but the complexity and possible range of structures available means that principals need to consider how they may work in different scenarios and outcomes, says Daniel Mathias at Cohen Gresser.

  • Contract Negotiation Prep Checklist For In-House Ad Lawyers

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    Barriers for in-house lawyers and procurement professionals persist in media and ad tech contract negotiations — but a pre-negotiation checklist can help counsel navigate nuances and other industry issues that need to be considered before landing a deal, including supplier services, business use cases and data retrieval, says Keri Bruce at Reed Smith.

  • Calif. Ruling Shows Limits Of Exculpatory Lease Clauses

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    A California court's recent decision in Epochal Enterprises v. LF Encinitas Properties, finding a landlord liable for failing to disclose the presence of asbestos on the subject property, underscores the limits of exculpatory clauses' ability to safeguard landlords from liability where known hazards are present, say Fawaz Bham and Javier De Luna at Hunton.

  • Series

    Serving As A Sheriff's Deputy Made Me A Better Lawyer

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    Skills developed during my work as a reserve deputy — where there was a need to always be prepared, decisive and articulate — transferred to my practice as an intellectual property litigator, and my experience taught me that clients often appreciate and relate to the desire to participate in extracurricular activities, says Michael Friedland at Friedland Cianfrani.

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