Analysis

End Of De Minimis Duty Breaks May Snag Supply Chains

By Dylan Moroses

As the duty exemption for low-value imports ends Friday in accordance with President Donald Trump's executive order, lawyers say they expect cost increases for importers and customers and administrative burdens that could snarl supply chains, especially for consumer goods.

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CBP, ITC Say Masimo Suit Over Apple Watch Ruling Misplaced

By Theresa Schliep

The U.S. International Trade Commission and U.S. Customs and Border Protection balked at Masimo's request that a D.C. federal court temporarily block a ruling allowing imports of redesigned Apple Watches despite the companies' patent dispute, saying it's seeking relief in the wrong places.

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Australia Aims To Cut 500 Nuisance Tariffs

By Kevin Pinner

The Australian government wants to eliminate around 500 of what are known as nuisance tariffs on goods like televisions, air conditioners, tires, glassware and various foods, expecting to save businesses AU$127 million ($83 million) annually in compliance costs, the Treasury said Thursday.

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Unicoin Says SEC's $100M Fraud Suit 'Twists' Its Disclosures

By Aislinn Keely

Crypto firm Unicoin told a New York federal judge that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's claim that it ran a $100 million fraud is based on "cherry-picked" statements taken out of context and "ignores" the firm's warnings to investors within its own disclosures with the agency.

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Judge Rejects Reed Smith's Sanctions Bid In Doc Feud

By Joyce Hanson

A New York federal judge has ordered the new owner of international shipping company Eletson to turn over documents requested by competitor Levona as the latter company looks to vacate an allegedly fraudulent $102 million arbitral award, while also ruling that Reed Smith LLP's threat of sanctions is unfounded.

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UK Plastic Packaging Tax Revenue Dips As Exemptions Rise

By Kevin Pinner

The U.K. has collected slightly less revenue from its tax on plastic packaging over the past year as manufacturers have begun using more recycled materials to qualify for exemptions from the levy and imports have declined, HM Revenue & Customs said Thursday.

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Hawaii Transient Tax Is Unconstitutional, Cruise Cos. Say

By Jaqueline McCool

The extension of Hawaii's 11% transient accommodation tax to cruise ship passengers under a new law violates the U.S. Constitution, a group of cruise companies told a U.S. district court.

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CFTC Clears Registration Path For Offshore Crypto Cos.

By Aislinn Keely

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Thursday made clear that certain offshore cryptocurrency entities can use its foreign board of trade registration framework to serve U.S. customers.

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How 9th Circ. Customs Ruling Is Affecting FCA Litigation

The Ninth Circuit’s recent Island Industries decision holding that the U.S. Court of International Trade doesn’t have exclusive jurisdiction over whistleblower suits involving import duties has set the stage for the False Claims Act to be a key weapon on the customs enforcement battlefield, say attorneys at Haynes Boone.

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2nd Circ. Ruling Gives Banks Shield From Terrorism Liability

A recent Second Circuit dismissal strengthens the position of international banks facing claims they indirectly helped terrorist organizations and provides clearer guidance on the boundaries of secondary liability, but doesn't provide absolute immunity, say attorneys at Freshfields.

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Series

Coaching Cheerleading Makes Me A Better Lawyer

At first glance, cheerleading and litigation may seem like worlds apart, but both require precision, adaptability, leadership and the ability to stay composed under pressure — all of which have sharpened how I approach my work in the emotionally complex world of mass torts and personal injury, says Rashanda Bruce at Robins Kaplan.

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Chancery Says Docket For 'Routine' Matters Shows Success

By Rose Krebs

As it continues to pursue ways to streamline its docket and ease burnout concerns for its judges, Delaware's Chancery Court announced this week that a new procedure for handling "routine matters" is already showing success.

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First Chief PTAB Judge Remembered As Industrious Leader

By Theresa Schliep

Colleagues and loved ones of James Donald Smith — the first chief judge of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board who died this spring — remembered him as a superb leader, talented violist and dear friend at a memorial service on Saturday that featured a reading of a letter from former President Barack Obama.

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Wash. Sen. Opposes Full-Term Role For State's New US Atty

By Courtney Bublé

The newly installed interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Washington at this juncture has not been nominated for the full-term role, but one of the state's Democratic senators is already vowing to prevent his confirmation.

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Ex-Katten Partner's $67M Age Bias Suit Stayed For Arbitration

By Lauren Berg

A Manhattan federal judge stayed a $67 million discrimination lawsuit brought by a former Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP partner alleging the firm pushed him out of the aircraft-finance practice group, pressured him to resign and then fired him because of his age, saying there is an arbitration agreement at play.

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Healthcare Cos. Want Akerman's 'Indefensible' Fee Suit Nixed

By Madison Arnold

Rennova Health Inc. and others asked a Florida state judge to dismiss Akerman LLP's unpaid fees case against the company, calling it "facially time-barred, factually flawed and legally indefensible."

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LA Atty Convicted Of Laundering $2.1M From Swiss Oil Co.

By Craig Clough

A Los Angeles federal jury on Thursday found a divorce and immigration attorney guilty of money laundering, tax evasion and obstruction of justice related to a $2.1 million payment he received from a Swiss oil company while working in a government position in Nigeria that prosecutors allege was a bribe.

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Email Excluded From Harassment Suit Against Paxton Deputies

By Spencer Brewer

A Texas federal judge on Thursday struck an email from a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against the founders of a law firm founded by former top attorneys in the Texas attorney general's office, but said the plaintiff could conduct discovery regarding the email.

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Ga. Atty Sues Former Firm For Failing To Pay Final Wages

By Kelcey Caulder

A Georgia attorney has filed suit against her former employer, John Foy and Associates PC, over "threatening emails" she said she received after she was fired and a final paycheck that she reportedly never got.

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