Food & Beverage

  • September 09, 2026

    Sugar Buyers Want Paul Weiss DQ'd From Price-Fixing MDL

    Hershey, J.M. Smucker and other food makers urged a Minnesota federal judge Tuesday to disqualify Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP from representing Domino Foods in sugar price-fixing multidistrict litigation, arguing the firm is conflicted out because it saw their confidential sugar-purchasing data when it was being considered as plaintiffs' counsel.

  • September 09, 2026

    Bikini Barista Owner Owes Class $1.8M Over Wage Violations

    The owner of Seattle-area "bikini barista" company Beehive Espresso is on the hook for more than $1.8 million after a Washington state judge found him liable for numerous pay violations, including tip theft, limits on moonlighting, improper sick leave accounting and failure to pay minimum wage.

  • September 09, 2026

    Conn. Farmers Can't Point To Hemp Law Injury, Judge Says

    Connecticut hemp farmers and processors failed to overturn state laws that cracked down on the sale of intoxicating hemp products, after a federal judge ruled that they failed to show how they were concretely harmed by statutes that do not directly regulate cultivation.

  • September 09, 2026

    Judge Denies Validity Redo After $38M Verdict Partly Revived

    Bottler Shibuya Hoppmann and dairy company HP Hood are not entitled to a new trial on the validity of Steuben Foods' bottle sterilization patents after the Federal Circuit partly revived a $38 million infringement verdict against them, a Delaware federal judge said Wednesday.

  • September 09, 2026

    Wine Label Makers Spar Over Injunction In Trade Secret Fight

    A California federal judge on Wednesday weighed whether to grant a wine label company's motion for a preliminary injunction against rivals in a case accusing them of using trade secrets allegedly brought over by a former employee.

  • September 09, 2026

    Latest $1.5M Turkey Price-Fixing Deal Gets Early OK

    An Illinois federal judge Wednesday gave his initial sign-off to a $1.5 million deal Prestage Farms has inked to resolve certain buyers' claims in sprawling turkey price-fixing antitrust litigation.

  • September 09, 2026

    General Mills, Mars Allege Sugar Price-Fixing Scheme

    General Mills, Kellanova, Mars and Little Debbie maker McKee Foods are suing several major U.S. sugar producers in Illinois federal court, accusing them of conspiring to inflate granulated sugar prices for years by secretly sharing sensitive pricing, sales and supply information through an intermediary.

  • September 09, 2026

    Rise Brewing Urges Justices To Let Juries Weigh TM Strength

    RiseandShine Corp. urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to reject what it called the Second Circuit's outlier rule allowing judges to decide the strength of a trademark, arguing in its opening merits brief that the question belongs to juries because it hinges on how ordinary consumers perceive a mark.

  • September 09, 2026

    5-Hour Energy Rival Takes Antitrust Fight To 6th Circ.

    A rival of 5-Hour Energy is taking its beef with the energy shot maker to the Sixth Circuit after a Michigan federal judge refused to revive its claims that the company was keeping competitors out of the market by inking deals that require its products be displayed at checkout counters.

  • September 09, 2026

    Aramark Worker Fights To Keep Parent Company In Wage Suit

    A Seattle concessions supervisor has pushed back against a food services company's bid to exit from a wage and hour lawsuit, arguing in Washington federal court that the company's centralized control over employee handbooks, payroll, human resources and scheduling policies is enough to hold it liable as a joint employer under state wage law.

  • September 09, 2026

    US Bans Canadian Alcohol, Motorcycles After Tariff Retaliation

    President Donald Trump continued the U.S. trade offensive against Canada after its northern neighbor's retaliatory tariffs went into effect, announcing a ban on Canadian imports of certain alcohol, dairy products and motorcycles starting this month.

  • September 08, 2026

    5th Circ. Nixes Bulk Of NLRB Order In Starbucks Threats Case

    The Fifth Circuit has declined to enforce the bulk of a National Labor Relations Board decision finding Starbucks unlawfully threatened workers with reduced store hours and a hiring freeze in response to a unionization campaign but said one manager unlawfully threatened workers' health and leave benefits.

  • September 08, 2026

    Italian Winemaker Wins TM Fight At TTAB

    The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has blocked a Mexican resort's attempt to register a trademark on wine it sold, after finding it would likely be confused with an Italian winery's brand.

  • September 08, 2026

    5th Circ. Partially Backs NLRB Ruling In Starbucks Union Fight

    The Fifth Circuit backed most of a National Labor Relations Board decision finding that Starbucks engaged in a host of federal labor law violations to suppress a union campaign in upstate New York, ruling that the board's findings are supported by "substantial evidence" presented in the case.

  • September 08, 2026

    Buc-ee's Says Its TM Suits Aren't A 'Bullying' Campaign

    Travel center chain Buc-ee's is pushing back on allegations of trademark bullying from Teddy's Market in a Georgia federal lawsuit that Buc-ee's filed against the convenience store rival, asking a judge to throw out six counterclaims challenging its trademark enforcement and registrations.

  • September 08, 2026

    Hemp Cos. Win Block Of New Ohio THC Regulations

    An Ohio federal judge has agreed to block enforcement of a new state law classifying any product with more than 0.3% THC as cannabis, finding the hemp companies have sufficiently shown that the law violates the dormant commerce clause by unfairly discriminating against out-of-state actors.

  • September 04, 2026

    Recall Recap: Boston Scientific Pacemakers, Baby Formula

    While the iceberg lettuce cyclospora outbreak and subsequent litigation targeting supplier Taylor Farms Inc. and Taco Bell was the chief news this summer in product recalls, Law360 takes a look back at some of the other suits filed in recent months over recalls that may have slipped under readers' radars.

  • September 04, 2026

    Divided 5th Circ. Backs Toss Of Jackson Water Suit

    A split en banc Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit Jackson, Mississippi, residents filed over lead in city drinking water, with the majority holding that the residents asserted rights to uncontaminated water and accurate information from public officials that the U.S. Constitution doesn't grant.

  • September 04, 2026

    Dog Owners Say 'Taste Of The Wild' Food Causes Heart Risks

    Two New York pet owners are suing the manufacturer of Taste of the Wild dog food, claiming its grain-free products caused their dogs to develop a fatal heart condition with one dog dying at age 5 and another suffering severe health issues, according to a federal lawsuit.

  • September 04, 2026

    Injury Law Roundup: Meta's Social Media Addiction Deal

    A $17.1 billion social media addiction settlement between Meta and 29 states and Johnson & Johnson's $5.5 billion ovarian cancer deal over its talc products lead Law360's Injury Law Roundup.

  • September 04, 2026

    Court Slams 'Half-Hearted Compliance' In Crab Price-Fix Suit

    A California federal magistrate judge has given a seafood company until Sept. 11 to meet the discovery obligations it has repeatedly fallen short of in a proposed class action accusing it of fixing prices for Dungeness crabs.

  • September 04, 2026

    Hospital Group Wants To Weigh In On $32M Yale Death Verdict

    The Connecticut Hospital Association urged a state appeals court to let it weigh in on a challenge to a nearly $32 million judgment entered against a Yale University-affiliated hospital over a premature baby's death, arguing the case presents important issues surrounding wrongful death damages.

  • September 04, 2026

    Dunkin' Donuts Operator Misclassified Managers, Suit Says

    A Dunkin' Donuts franchisee misclassified store managers as exempt from overtime and failed to pay them for work exceeding 40 hours per week, a former employee claimed in a proposed class and collective action filed Friday in Virginia federal court.

  • September 04, 2026

    NC Judge Says Insurer Must Cover COVID Biz Losses

    A North Carolina federal judge has ruled that four Durham restaurants are entitled to coverage for losses they experienced during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, while calling out their insurer for its "superficial" and "perfunctory" attempts to argue it did not owe coverage.

  • September 04, 2026

    Exclusion Extinguishes PPE Maker's PFAS Coverage Bid

    A commercial general liability insurer owes no coverage to a personal protective equipment manufacturer sued by firefighters who said the company's gear exposed them to forever chemicals, an Ohio federal court ruled, finding that the claimed injuries fall under an occupational disease exclusion.

Expert Analysis

  • When Trade Secret Litigation And Criminal Law Collide

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    An increasing convergence of trade secret litigation and white collar defense, especially with several recent criminal prosecutions from the Justice Department, should prompt businesses and counsel to adapt within the overlapping landscapes, says Kenneth Notter at MoloLamken.

  • 5 Tips For Navigating Your Firm's All-Attorney Summit

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Law firm retreats should be approached strategically, as they present valuable opportunities to advance both the firm's objectives and attorneys' professional development through meaningful participation, building and strengthening internal relationships, and proactive follow-up, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Series

    Coaching Soccer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Coaching youth soccer for my 7-year-old son's team has sharpened how I communicate with clients, prepare witnesses, work within teams and think about leadership, making me a more thoughtful and effective lawyer in many ways, says Joshua Holt at Smith Currie.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: The Human Element

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    Law school teaches you to quickly apply intellect and logic when handling a legal issue, but every fact pattern also involves a person, making the ability to balance expertise with empathy critical to the growth of relationships with clients, colleagues and adversaries, says Rachel Adcox at Adcox Strategies.

  • Opinion

    High Court's Hain Ruling Undermines Diversity Jurisdiction

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's most recent decision on the limits of federal jurisdiction, Hain Celestial Group v. Palmquist, further legitimizes the plaintiffs bar's long practice of intentionally pleading around diversity jurisdiction — and could have far-reaching implications for how future product liability and consumer fraud cases are litigated, say attorneys at Patterson Belknap.

  • The Benefits Of Choosing A Niche Practice In The AI Age

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    As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly accessible, lawyers with a niche practice may stand out as clients seek specialized judgment that automation cannot replicate, but it is important to choose a niche that is durable, engaging and a good personal fit, says Daniel Borneman at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Section 122 Tariffs Show Shift In Strategy, Not Trade Policy

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    By imposing temporary tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act as a stopgap measure while it pivots to less transitory statutory authorities, the Trump administration sent a clear message that the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Learning Resources v. Trump, invalidating duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, will not precipitate a change in policy direction, say attorneys at Snell & Wilmer.

  • What New Animal Welfare Enforcement Push Means For Cos.

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    The Trump administration's recently announced multiagency focus on violations of the Animal Welfare Act and related laws will likely lead to broader enforcement actions across industries, heightened scrutiny of compliance standards and a need for businesses to adopt effective risk management practices, says Shennie Patel at Crowell & Moring.

  • In Hain, Justices Increase Stakes For Jurisdictional Errors

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Hain Celestial Group v. Palmquist, addressing the consequences of a district court's erroneous dismissal of a nondiverse party before final judgment, has amplified the risk that a mistaken jurisdictional ruling in district court will render moot everything that comes after, says Steven Boranian at Reed Smith.

  • Series

    Podcasting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Podcasting has changed how I ask questions and connect with people, sharpening my ability to listen without interrupting or prejudging, and bringing me closer to what law is meant to be: a human profession grounded in understanding, judgment and trust, says Donna DiMaggio Berger at Becker.

  • Lessons From Justices' Split On Major Questions Doctrine

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    The justices' varied opinions in Learning Resources v. Trump, which held the International Emergency Economy Powers Act did not confer the power to impose tariffs, offer a meaningful window into the U.S. Supreme Court's perspective on the major questions doctrine that will likely shape lower courts' approach to executive action challenges, say attorneys at Venable.

  • How The New Tariff Landscape May Unfold

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    To replace tariffs formerly imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the administration will rely on a patchwork of statutes, potentially leading to procedural challenges and a complex tariff landscape with varying levels, durations and applicability, says Joseph Grossman-Trawick at King & Spalding.

  • Weighing Confusion Claims In Shoes-NFL Steakhouse TM Suit

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    A recent New York federal infringement complaint by 1587 Sneakers against Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce's Kansas City steakhouse 1587 Prime confronts the thorny question of how much operating in different industries should factor into likelihood-of-confusion analysis and why consumer perception can matter most in trademark fights, says Nate Garhart at Spencer West.

  • Series

    Volunteering With Scouts Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving as an assistant scoutmaster for my son’s troop reaffirmed several skills and principles crucial to lawyering — from the importance of disconnecting to the value of morality, says Michael Warren at McManis Faulkner.

  • Compliance Takeaways Amid Subscription Practices Scrutiny

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    The Federal Trade Commission's prioritization of enforcement regarding deceptive billing and cancellation practices in recurring subscriptions, and new click-to-cancel rulemaking expected on the horizon, carry key takeaways for companies using recurring subscriptions to sell products or services, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

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