Food & Beverage

  • June 03, 2026

    The Plaintiffs Atty Now 5-0 At High Court With No Dissents

    It's true that Jennifer Bennett is undefeated at the U.S. Supreme Court, but it's also an understatement. Bennett's five wins, including two recent ones, were all unanimous decisions. They showed that the plaintiffs bar can still persuade a conservative supermajority. And they turned the tide after a spree of decisions keeping workers and consumers out of court.

  • June 03, 2026

    Insurer Says E-Cig Co.'s Lies Bar Warehouse Fire Coverage

    An insurer said it shouldn't have to pay out an electronic cigarette product wholesaler's $5 million claim for a warehouse fire, telling an Illinois federal court that the company misrepresented important facts about its business in its application for coverage that warrant rescission of the policy.

  • June 03, 2026

    Sysco Reveals Deal Probe, Promises 'Gov't Will See Benefits'

    Sysco's CEO has disclosed that U.S. antitrust enforcers launched an in-depth probe into the wholesale restaurant food distributor's plan to acquire Jetro Restaurant Depot at a total enterprise value of approximately $29.1 billion, while expressing confidence that officials will find no issues with the transaction.

  • June 03, 2026

    AGs Defend $10M Fee Bid In Kroger-Albertsons Merger Case

    Attorneys general from Illinois, California, the District of Columbia and six other states have pushed back on Kroger and Albertsons' challenge to them receiving nearly $10 million in attorney fees for a "minimal role" in blocking the grocery giants' proposed $24.6 billion merger, arguing that while the states may have worked in the background, they achieved "a tremendous result."

  • June 03, 2026

    6th Circ. Probes $450K Award In Farmworker Trafficking Case

    A Sixth Circuit panel on Wednesday examined whether a $450,000 punitive damages award in a farmworker trafficking case can stand when the jury awarded only economic damages, and whether a trial judge properly handled an unusual incident involving a spectator whose presence allegedly affected a plaintiff's testimony.

  • June 03, 2026

    USTR Floats Double-Digit Tariffs On Basis Of Forced Labor

    Sixty economies are facing added tariffs of either 10% or 12.5% on their exports to the U.S. following investigations by the U.S. Trade Representative's Office into countries' protections against the importing of goods produced with forced labor.

  • June 02, 2026

    Costco Wants Sanctions Over Missing Devices In Pixel Suit

    Costco has asked a federal judge in Seattle to sanction a group of customers leading a proposed class action that accuses it of disclosing their personal health information by installing Meta Pixel and other Facebook web analytics tools on its pharmacy website.

  • June 02, 2026

    Publix Says Snack Co.'s Insurers Owe Slip-Fall Coverage

    Publix has urged a Florida federal judge to find that insurers for salty snack food maker Snyder's-Lance Inc. should have covered the supermarket chain's defense in a $3 million slip-and-fall case under an agreement to indemnify the retailer for injuries involving the snack maker's agents.

  • June 02, 2026

    Fed. Circ. Won't Save Farm Patents, But Reopens Fee Issue

    The Federal Circuit on Tuesday revived a company's bid for attorney fees after defeating an infringement case by AGI Suretrack over agricultural data patents, saying a lower court correctly deemed those patents invalid, but failed to explain why it didn't find the case exceptional for fee purposes.

  • June 02, 2026

    FTC Sues Supplement Co. Over Mental Health, Income Claims

    The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday sued dietary supplement brand Amare Global Holdings Inc. in California federal court, alleging it misleads buyers by falsely claiming its products can treat mental health issues, while also misleading prospective "brand partners" about how much they are likely to make under Amare's program.

  • June 02, 2026

    ITC To Review Drink Sellers' Imports After Monster Claims

    The U.S. International Trade Commission said Tuesday it would review imports from 13 companies for potential violations after energy drink giant Monster Energy Co. claimed they were importing versions of its products that were intended to be sold abroad only.

  • June 02, 2026

    Texas AG Investigates Bayer, PepsiCo For Glyphosate Residue

    The Texas attorney general on Tuesday announced an investigation into glyphosate residue in food from major pesticide and food companies such as Bayer and PepsiCo, claiming some are sourcing food from foreign countries that may be contaminated with the substance.

  • June 02, 2026

    11th Circ. May Lower Bar For Getting ERISA Claims To Court

    Several Eleventh Circuit judges voiced support during en banc arguments Tuesday for overturning precedent backing the appellate court's exhaustion requirement for federal benefits claims, signaling the potential reinstatement of a proposed class action alleging mismanagement of a seafood company's employee stock ownership plan.

  • June 02, 2026

    Trump Lowers Metals Tariff For Farm Equipment, HVAC

    President Donald Trump announced that he is cutting the tariffs on certain metal derivatives, such as agricultural equipment and some heating, ventilation and air conditioning products, to 15% from 25% following recommendations from the commerce secretary.

  • June 02, 2026

    Insurer Denies Coverage For Alleged Rodeo Horse Poisoning

    An insurer for a seller of alfalfa and grass hay told a Texas federal court Monday that it does not owe coverage for a lawsuit alleging the business sold animal feed contaminated with toxic compounds from invasive weeds that led to the death and hospitalization of rodeo horses.

  • June 01, 2026

    7-Eleven Sued After Data Breach Exposes 600,000 Records

    A data breach victim hit 7-Eleven Inc. with a putative class action on Monday, following a cyberattack by the notorious hacking group known as ShinyHunters, saying 7-Eleven's negligence led to the leak of personal data.

  • June 01, 2026

    H-2A Farmworker Seeks To Block NY Union Contract

    A farmworker has asked a New York federal judge to block the state from imposing a union contract on him and his co-workers, saying the contract adopted under a state agricultural labor law violates his constitutional rights and is preempted by federal immigration law.

  • June 01, 2026

    Royo Is Healthwashing Keto-Friendly Baked Goods, Suit Says

    Health-forward baked goods company Royo Bread has been hit with a proposed false advertising class action in New York federal court, accusing it of "health-washing" its line of keto-friendly, low-calorie bread, rolls and bagel products by claiming they contain fewer calories than they actually do. 

  • June 01, 2026

    Ill. Swipe-Fee Law Blocked For Most Banks, Slated For Delay

    A Chicago federal judge ruled Monday that Illinois cannot enforce its landmark ban on tax-and-tip swipe fees against most banks, handing the banking industry a major legal win the same day that state lawmakers voted separately to delay the ban altogether until next year.

  • June 01, 2026

    Fat Brands Clears Hurdle To Pitch Post-Sale Ch. 11 Plan

    A Texas bankruptcy judge granted conditional approval for the disclosure statement of Fat Brands' Chapter 11 plan, allowing the chain restaurant operator to seek creditor votes on its post-sale liquidation plan.

  • June 01, 2026

    Tipped Brewery Workers Get Green Light To Sue Collectively

    A North Carolina federal judge has cleared the way for servers and bussers at a craft brewing company to pursue their wage claims as a group, finding that tipped workers across the company's taprooms shared a common grievance over how they were paid.

  • June 01, 2026

    Conn. Alters Pot Tax, Gives Cities Aid To Cut Property Taxes

    Connecticut will change its cannabis tax structure, provide funding to local governments for property tax reductions and make other tax changes under a 2027 budget bill signed by the governor.

  • June 01, 2026

    Pet Food Co. Says 'Copy-And-Paste' False Ad Suit Fails

    The maker of Instinct Pet Foods is urging a California federal court to throw out a false advertising suit over alleged artificial preservatives in its products, saying the "serial lawsuit filer" behind the suit failed to properly allege standing or any falsity with "copy-and-paste" claims.

  • June 01, 2026

    5th Circ. Judge Asks Starbucks Why Co. Doesn't Want Unions

    A Fifth Circuit judge probed Starbucks' labor philosophy Monday in its appeal of a National Labor Relations Board ruling that it stifled workers' rights in a smothering response to an organizing explosion in upstate New York five years ago, asking the company's attorney why it doesn't want unions.

  • May 29, 2026

    Akin Gump Owes Fees For Winebow's 'Self-Indulgent' Appeal

    The Ninth Circuit on Thursday ordered an importer's Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP attorneys to pay a European winemaker fees for having to defend against the importer's "spurious objections" to the winemaker's valid arbitral award, ruling that the importer's "self-indulgent" appeal warrants sanctions in the form of fees.

Expert Analysis

  • What New Animal Welfare Enforcement Push Means For Cos.

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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.

  • Recent Rulings Show DEI Isn't On Courts' Chopping Block

    Author Photo

    Contrary to recent narratives that workplace diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are on the verge of legal collapse, courts are applying familiar guardrails for litigating DEI-adjacent cases — requiring the right plaintiff, the right challenge and the right proof — rather than rewriting the rules on DEI, say attorneys at Krevolin Horst.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: In Court, It's About Storytelling

    Author Photo

    Law school provides doctrine, cases and hypotheticals, but when lawyers step into the courtroom, they must learn the importance of clarity, credibility, memorability and preparation — in other words, how to tell simple, effective stories, say Nicholas Steverson and Danielle Trujillo at Wheeler Trigg, and Lisa DeCaro at Courtroom Performance.

  • Aligning Microsoft Tools With NYC Bar AI Recording Guidance

    Author Photo

    The New York City Bar Association’s recently issued formal opinion, providing ethical guidance on artificial intelligence-assisted recording, transcription and summarization, raises immediate questions about data governance and e-discovery for companies that use Microsoft 365 and Copilot, say Staci Kaliner, Martin Tully and John Collins at Redgrave.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: March Lessons

    Author Photo

    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy discusses four recent rulings from January and identifies practice tips from cases involving allegations of violations of consumer fraud regulations, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, employment law and breach of contract statutes.

  • Navigating Exclusion Decisions After SEC's No-Action Change

    Author Photo

    Following the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's November changes to the Rule 14a-8 no-action letter process, shareholder proponents have turned to litigation if companies excluded their proposals under the new framework, with three recent cases offering useful lessons for companies navigating exclusion decisions this proxy season, say attorneys at Cleary.

  • 5 Different AI Systems Raise Distinct Privilege Issues

    Author Photo

    A New York federal court’s recent U.S. v. Heppner decision, holding that a defendant’s use of Claude was not privileged, only addressed one narrow artificial intelligence system, but lawyers must recognize that the spectrum of AI tools raises different confidentiality and privilege questions, says Heidi Nadel at HP.

  • After Learning Resources: A Practical Guide For US Importers

    Author Photo

    Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Feb. 20 decision in Learning Resources v. Trump, U.S. importers and consumers on whom tariffs were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act can seek relief through existing administrative procedures or a yet-to-be-determined bespoke refund mechanism, and should plan for more changes in the tariff landscape, say attorneys at Baker Botts.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Food & Beverage archive.