Texas AG Says Sony, Other TV-Makers 'Watching You Back'

By Rae Ann Varona

The Texas attorney general Monday sued five television manufacturers, including Sony, Samsung and LG, claiming in new lawsuits filed in Texas state court that the companies "are watching you back" and unlawfully harvesting and selling viewers' data.

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Social Media MDL Judge Warns Attys Against Flooding Docket

By Bonnie Eslinger

A California federal judge overseeing multidistrict litigation over claims that social media is addictive warned counsel for the plaintiffs Monday that she'd sanction them if their 17,000 pages of exhibits they plan to submit in response to defendants' summary judgment motions "[litter] the docket with irrelevant documents."

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

FTC Joined By 21 States In Accusing Uber Of Deception

By Rae Ann Varona

Twenty-one states joined the Federal Trade Commission on Monday in a California federal lawsuit accusing Uber of enrolling consumers into its paid subscription service without consent and keeping them in a "loop" of obstacles that deter or prevent cancellations.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Coalition Slams SSA For Feeding Data Into DHS Database

By Allison Grande

More than a dozen consumer advocacy groups are calling on the Social Security Administration to immediately halt its sharing of personal information with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for citizenship and immigration verification, arguing that the agency can't seek "retroactive authority" for its allegedly "sweeping violation of privacy and voting rights."

Comments attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Md. Residents, Advocates Fight DOJ's Bid For Voters' Data

By Allison Grande

Three Maryland voters and a pair of civil rights watchdog groups are the latest to push to participate in the U.S. Department of Justice's lawsuit seeking to force the state to hand over voters' sensitive personal information, arguing the request threatens residents' privacy and could enable voter disenfranchisement. 

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Integrating Practice Groups

Enacting unified leadership and consistent client service standards ensures law firm practice groups connect and collaborate around shared goals, turning a law firm merger into a platform for growth rather than a period of disruption, says Brian Catlett at Fennemore Craig.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Former DLA Piper Associate Alleges Ex-Partner Raped Her

By Lynn LaRowe

A former Boston-based DLA Piper associate on Monday launched a state lawsuit alleging she was raped at the firm's Delaware office by a former partner purportedly known for heavy drinking and inappropriate workplace conduct toward female subordinates.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Bonus Spotlight

Elsberg Baker Exceeds, Cohen Ziffer Matches Atty Bonuses

By Tracey Read

Trial boutique Elsberg Baker & Maruri PLLC announced Monday that its associates will earn up to $226,250 in extra cash this year.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

'Hardworking' 9th Circ. Senior Judge Sandra Ikuta Dies At 71

By Hailey Konnath

Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta of the Ninth Circuit, who has been semi-retired since early November, died on Dec. 7 at the age of 71, exactly one month after assuming senior status, according to the Federal Judicial Center.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

ABA Flags AI Fears: Making Attys 'Worse At Their Jobs'

By Steven Lerner

The erosion of skills for junior associates, deepfakes as evidence in court and the lack of technical knowledge in law firms were among the top fears and challenges listed by the American Bar Association in a new report about artificial intelligence in the legal profession.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Ex-US Attys Say Pardons, Loyalty Demands Hurt Rule Of Law

By Adrian Cruz

A bipartisan group of former U.S. attorneys spoke publicly Monday on their concerns regarding the direction the U.S. justice system has taken since the start of the second Trump administration and the potential risks that may pose to the rule of law.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Arbitration Ruling Stands In Morgan & Morgan Class Action

By Chart Riggall

A Georgia federal judge said Monday she won't backtrack on her decision to send a malpractice lawsuit from a former client of Morgan & Morgan PA to arbitration, once again rejecting his arguments that his proposed class claims were exempt from an agreement to arbitrate disputes.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Atty Seeks To Block Law Banning Fee-Sharing With ABS Firms

By Emily Sawicki

The attorney challenging a California law that blocks fee-sharing with out-of-state law firms owned by nonlawyers has petitioned for enforcement of the law to be suspended before it is set to go into effect on Jan. 1.

Motion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Judge Won't Boot Bondi-Appointed Prosecutor In LA

By Emily Sawicki

A federal judge has refused to reconsider his ruling disqualifying Bill Essayli from holding the role of U.S. attorney but allowing him to serve as the first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, finding that Essayli's appointment by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi is valid.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Judge Willing To Take 'Heat' For Blocking ICE Arrest, Jury Told

By Nate Beck

A Wisconsin judge was willing to "take the heat" for using a staff hallway to usher an unauthorized immigrant out of her courtroom, a federal jury heard Monday, as a defense attorney argued she can't be found guilty by association just because someone in her courtroom tried to flee immigration agents.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

By Jeff Montgomery

Litigation in Delaware's Court of Chancery sprawled from a dispute over control of banana plantations along Africa's Congo River to a fight over the late musician Prince's estate last week. Along the way, a court ruling rejected a motion for a quick decision favoring Blue Bell Creameries director and officer calls for liability releases in a tainted ice cream saga that dates to 2015.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »