Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
Retail & E-Commerce
-
April 08, 2024
FTC Defends In-House Judges' Role In H&R Block Case
H&R Block wrongly claimed that the Federal Trade Commission's administrative law judges should be disqualified from overseeing an administrative proceeding accusing the tax preparation company of deceptive advertising, FTC lawyers told the agency, arguing the judges don't have illegal job protections.
-
April 08, 2024
New Balance, Golden Goose Agree To End 'Dad Shoe' IP Row
New Balance and rival shoe brand Golden Goose have settled a trademark infringement dispute over a style of chunky "Dad" sneakers sold by the two companies, according to a court filing.
-
April 08, 2024
99 Cents Only Files Ch. 11 With Plans To Close All Stores
Discount store 99 Cents Only and five affiliates filed for bankruptcy in Delaware on Monday, listing over $1 billion in debt, days after it announced plans to wind down operations and close its 371 stores in California, Texas, Arizona and Nevada.
-
April 05, 2024
'Take The Win,' Judge Tells Texas In HHS Abortion Pill Suit
Texas' lawsuit challenging the Biden administration's guidance to require pharmacies to dispense abortion medication is moot following revised U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidance clarifying that access to the drug isn't for abortion purposes, a federal judge ruled Friday, saying the state "should take the win."
-
April 05, 2024
COVID App Takes Another Shot At Apple With Justices
App developers are again seeking U.S. Supreme Court intervention against the Ninth Circuit's refusal to revive antitrust allegations over Apple's rejection of COVID-19-tracking and bitcoin apps, decrying "fundamental error" lower courts made misreading pleading requirements, proffered market definition and more.
-
April 05, 2024
Trade Court Backs Commerce's Dates For Turkish Rebar Sales
The U.S. Court of International Trade rebuffed Turkish rebar producers seeking to unwind tariffs on their products based on the U.S. Department of Commerce's designated date of sale for their U.S. imports, holding that evidence backed the agency.
-
April 05, 2024
Texas Justices Reinstate Defense Verdict In Store Fall Suit
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday reversed a lower appellate court's decision to reinstate a slip-and-fall suit against an Albertsons LLC grocery store, saying that although certain instructions may have been erroneously given to the jury, the effect was harmless and not unfair.
-
April 05, 2024
Starbucks Tells Judge Union Dealings Aren't 'Mission Critical'
Starbucks denied Friday that complying with federal labor law was "mission critical" to its business as it urged a Washington state judge to dismiss a shareholder suit accusing company leaders of union busting, which they say tanked Starbucks' reputation.
-
April 05, 2024
Insurer Denies Coverage In Pet Store BIPA Class Action
An insurer told a Michigan federal court Friday that it didn't have to cover a pet store in an underlying employee proposed class action alleging the store violated Illinois' Biometric Information Privacy Act because the claims were precluded by the policy and a state statute of limitations.
-
April 05, 2024
Home Depot Accused Of Using Fake Discounts Online
Home Depot has been hit with a class action in Georgia federal court, alleging it tricks buyers into purchasing items online by advertising false original prices and corresponding discounts that create the "illusion of short-lived bargains."
-
April 05, 2024
Gunmakers Denied Stay In Mexico Lawsuit
Gunmakers hoping to get the U.S. Supreme Court to take up their effort to end a lawsuit by the Mexican government seeking to hold them liable for arming drug cartels can't make an end run around the First Circuit to pause the case while they wait, a Massachusetts district judge said on Friday.
-
April 05, 2024
Beverage Giant Sued Under Illinois Genetic Privacy Law
Reyes Holdings, the largest beer distributor in the United States, has been sued in Illinois state court by a proposed class of job applicants who claim their genetic privacy rights were violated when they were required to submit to physical exams and inquiries about their family medical history as a condition of employment at the beverage distributor or its subsidiaries.
-
April 05, 2024
Microsoft, Others Can Weigh In On Epic, Apple App Store Row
A California federal judge allowed Microsoft, X Corp., Meta Platforms, Spotify and other major app developers to file amicus briefs in Epic Games' effort to convince the court that Apple is not complying with an order barring it from using anti-steering rules in its App Store.
-
April 05, 2024
Walmart's Self-Checkout Patents Survive BJ's PTAB Attacks
Retail chain BJ's Wholesale Club was unable to persuade judges on an administrative patent board to knock out any claims from a pair of patents covering a self-checkout app that Walmart's Sam's Club brand is suing the rival over in Florida federal court.
-
April 05, 2024
Pa. Supreme Court Snapshot: COVID Coverage Starts Spring
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's April lineup will prepare the justices to deliver highly anticipated guidance on whether business losses stemming COVID-19 pandemic orders should be covered by insurance and if Pittsburgh can compel rental-property owners to register and undergo training.
-
April 05, 2024
Nationwide Optometry To Pay $3.4M Over 2021 Data Breach
Nationwide Optometry will pay $3.4 million to a proposed class of approximately 714,000 patients whose personal information was compromised following a ransomware attack in 2021 on network servers belonging to co-defendant U.S. Vision, according to a preliminary approval motion filed in New Jersey federal court.
-
April 05, 2024
5th Circ. Won't Revive Michaels Fall Case After Footage Row
Craft supply store Michaels will not need to face a customer's slip-and-fall lawsuit after a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled Thursday that the customer was unable to prove how long a floor at a Slidell, La., location had been wet before the slip occurred.
-
April 05, 2024
18 Crime Gangs Specialize In VAT Fraud, Europol Says
Eighteen major criminal gangs in the European Union specialize in value-added tax fraud, having end-to-end control over the entire criminal process, the EU's law enforcement agency said Friday.
-
April 04, 2024
Coach Accuses Gap Of IP Theft Over Old Navy 'Coach' Tees
Luxury fashion company Coach Inc. sued The Gap Inc. for alleged trademark infringement in California federal court Tuesday, accusing the global apparel giant of illegally advertising and hawking a line of Old Navy T-shirts that display the word "Coach" in an effort to free ride off Coach's brand and reputation.
-
April 04, 2024
After Voiding 'All Agency Regs' On Pot, NY Judge Backtracks
After a New York state judge voided such a wide swath of rules governing the state's nascent recreational marijuana market that a state senator said the ruling effectively threw "out all agency regulations," the court on Thursday issued a narrower order that nullifies only certain marketing restrictions.
-
April 04, 2024
Arby's, Sonic, Dunkin Settle Mystery Shopper IP Claims
A Texas federal judge has stayed all deadlines in Fall Line Patents LLC's suit that accuses Arby's Restaurant Group Inc., Sonic Franchising LLC and Dunkin Brands Inc. of infringing its mystery shopper patent with their respective mobile applications, after the parties filed a joint bid saying they have settled their claims in principle.
-
April 04, 2024
Steel Talks Absent From Start Of US-EU Trade Ministerial
Conversations on the first day of the EU-U.S. Trade and Technology Council on Thursday focused on sustainability for both the planet and the transatlantic partnership, but noticeably skirted the pair's foundered effort to reshape the global steel market.
-
April 04, 2024
Trade Court Pans Feds' Excuses, Orders Redo Of Steel Duty
The U.S. Court of International Trade was unconvinced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Commerce had corrected an old mistake when it raised a Korean company's steel countervailing duties, calling the purported mistake an excuse to break from old practices.
-
April 04, 2024
Ex-CBP Agent Avoids Prison For Selling King Of Pop Signature
A 75-year-old former border agent who pled guilty to selling a customs declaration form signed by late singer Michael Jackson ducked prison time Thursday when a federal judge in North Carolina instead sentenced him to a year of probation.
-
April 04, 2024
Parents Deny Need For Defect In Amazon Suicide Suit
Families accusing Amazon of negligently selling chemicals teens used in their suicides told the Ninth Circuit Wednesday that their suit should get another chance, arguing they did not have to show the lethal chemical was defective in order to prove Amazon's liability.
Expert Analysis
-
Pro Bono Work Is Powerful Self-Help For Attorneys
Oct. 22-28 is Pro Bono Week, serving as a useful reminder that offering free legal help to the public can help attorneys expand their legal toolbox, forge community relationships and create human connections, despite the challenges of this kind of work, says Orlando Lopez at Culhane Meadows.
-
State Regs Sow Discord Between Cannabis, Hemp Industries
Connecticut, Maryland and Washington are the latest states choosing to require intoxicating hemp products to comply with the states' recreational marijuana laws, resulting in a widening rift between cannabis and hemp as Congress works on crafting new hemp legislation within the upcoming 2023 Farm Bill, say attorneys at Wilson Elser.
-
What To Watch As The FCC Leans Into National Security
Information and communications technology and services operators and investors should keep a close eye on the Federal Communications Commission's increasing activity in national security matters, which could slow transactions and subject providers to additional oversight, say David Plotinsky and Patricia Cave at Morgan Lewis.
-
Series
Playing In A Rock Cover Band Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Performing in a classic rock cover band has driven me to hone several skills — including focus, organization and networking — that have benefited my professional development, demonstrating that taking time to follow your muse outside of work can be a boon to your career, says Michael Gambro at Cadwalader.
-
How To Advertise Carbon Reductions Under New Calif. Law
As more companies advertise their efforts to reach the status of carbon neutral or net zero, California's recently enacted Voluntary Carbon Market Disclosures Act aims to force companies to more clearly disclose the basis for such claims — and there's not a lot of time to comply, say Gonzalo Mon and Katie Rogers at Kelley Drye.
-
How Cos. Can Prioritize Accessibility Amid Increase In Suits
The U.S. Department of Justice's notice of proposed rulemaking on digital accessibility and recent legal proceedings regarding tester plaintiff standing in accessibility cases show websites and mobile apps are a growing focus, so businesses must proactively ensure digital content complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, say attorneys at Hinckley Allen.
-
5 Ways Maritime Cos. Can Enhance Sanctions Compliance
With economic sanctions evasion in maritime shipping at an all-time high, companies must do more than merely search for parties on sanctions lists to limit the serious legal and commercial risks they may face if compliance efforts fall short, say Jeffrey Orenstein and Catherine Johnson at K&L Gates.
-
Series
The Pop Culture Docket: Judge Espinosa On 'Lincoln Lawyer'
The murder trials in Netflix’s “The Lincoln Lawyer” illustrate the stark contrast between the ethical high ground that fosters and maintains the criminal justice system's integrity, and the ethical abyss that can undermine it, with an important reminder for all legal practitioners, say Judge Adam Espinosa and Andrew Howard at the Colorado 2nd Judicial District Court.
-
Calif. GHG Disclosure Law Will Affect Companies Worldwide
California's Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, which will require comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions disclosures from large companies operating in the state, will mean compliance challenges for a wide range of industries, nationally and globally, as the law's requirements will ultimately trickle out and down, say attorneys at Brownstein Hyatt.
-
What Retail Landlords Must Know About Permitted Transfers
As trying economic times require tenants to create options to cease their operations by transferring their lease obligations to other parties, retail landlords must give significant thought to how permitted transfers are drafted, and how parties are to be protected in the present and the future, says Scott Grossfeld at Cox Castle.
-
Balancing Justice And Accountability In Opioid Bankruptcies
As Rite Aid joins other pharmaceutical companies in pursuing bankruptcy following the onslaught of state and federal litigation related to the opioid epidemic, courts and the country will have to reconcile the ideals of economic justice and accountability against the U.S. Constitution’s promise of a fresh start through bankruptcy, says Monique Hayes at DGIM Law.
-
Opinion
Newman Suspension Shows Need For Judicial Reform
The recent suspension of U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman following her alleged refusal to participate in a disability inquiry reveals the need for judicial misconduct reforms to ensure that judges step down when they can no longer serve effectively, says Aliza Shatzman at The Legal Accountability Project.
-
Consumer Finance Cos. Must Seriously Consider Complaints
In light of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's recent action against alternative finance company Tempoe for failing to act on consumer complaints, other businesses that offer financial products or services should implement robust complaint response functions to mitigate or avoid similar encounters with the bureau, says Josh Burlingham at Goodwin.
-
Landmark Ark. Ruling Is Welcome News For Hemp Industry
An Arkansas federal court's recent ruling in Bio Gen v. Sanders creates a road map for plaintiffs to attack state laws that restrict hemp, making it one of the most important cases to date addressing the 2018 Farm Bill and state laws regarding hemp, says Rod Kight at Kight Law.
-
How And Why Your Firm Should Implement Fixed-Fee Billing
Amid rising burnout in the legal industry and client efforts to curtail spending, pivoting to a fixed-fee billing model may improve client-attorney relationships and offer lawyers financial, logistical and stress relief — while still maintaining profit margins, say Kevin Henderson and Eric Pacifici at SMB Law Group.