Food & Beverage

  • April 15, 2026

    Ocean Spray Settles OT Suit After Most Claims Fall Away

    A proposed wage lawsuit settlement against juice manufacturer Ocean Spray would compensate only a small portion of the workers in the case after their lawyers determined the company correctly calculated overtime and the claims of the other workers likely wouldn't succeed, according to a filing in Massachusetts federal court.

  • April 15, 2026

    Target Says Workers' Walking Time Not Compensable

    Target urged a Washington federal judge to dismiss a proposed class action alleging workers were not paid for time spent walking inside a distribution center before and after their shifts, arguing the activity is part of a normal commute and not compensable work under state law.

  • April 14, 2026

    Turkey Cos. Denied Response To DOJ Price-Fix Intervention

    An Illinois federal judge refused Friday to let Agri Stats, Tyson Foods and other turkey producers respond to the Justice Department statement of interest weighing in on private price-fixing litigation against them, finding "no need" when the court is already obligated to consider the legal precedent the agency raised.

  • April 14, 2026

    Kansas Cops Say Hemp Laws Too 'Complex' For Raid Liability

    Kansas state law enforcement officials are looking to escape litigation accusing them of confiscating tens of thousands of dollars worth of legal hemp products during allegedly illegal raids on two vape shops, telling a federal court that state hemp laws are too "complex" for officers to know what is and isn't illicit.

  • April 14, 2026

    Judge Says Army Override For Kitchen Support Was Justified

    A Court of Federal Claims judge affirmed the U.S. Army's decision to forge ahead with a short-term task order to shore up kitchen staffing gaps at West Point and override a stay triggered when a company protested the deal.

  • April 14, 2026

    Agri Stats' Price-Fix Settlement Receives Chicken Judge's OK

    An Illinois federal judge overseeing broiler chicken price-fixing litigation gave his early blessing Tuesday to a settlement that end users struck with Agri Stats Inc. that calls for the data service to either cease or substantially change the reports it compiles for protein industry subscribers.

  • April 14, 2026

    Feds Say USDA Can Tie State Funding To Gender Policies

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture defended its move to condition grant funding on compliance with Trump administration policies on gender, women's sports, diversity and immigration, telling a Massachusetts federal judge that states can forgo the funding if they don't want to comply.

  • April 14, 2026

    Keurig Accused Of Falsely Labeling K-Cups Recyclable

    Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. is facing a proposed class action alleging it violated New York consumer protection statutes by deceptively labeling its popular K-Cup pods as recyclable.

  • April 14, 2026

    Colo. Supplement Co. Sent Unwanted Texts, Suit Says

    A Colorado dietary supplement company violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by bombarding consumers with unsolicited telemarketing text messages despite their numbers being listed on the national Do Not Call Registry, according to a proposed class action filed Tuesday in Colorado federal court.

  • April 14, 2026

    Automation Co. Wants Ruling It Didn't Infringe Ocado Patents

    Warehouse robotics company Brightpick wants a Virginia federal judge to find that its artificial intelligence automation robot, Gridpicker, doesn't infringe a series of patents owned by a unit of the British grocery technology business Ocado Group.

  • April 14, 2026

    General Mills Urges Coverage For Ultraprocessed Food Suits

    General Mills said it is entitled to defense and indemnity for a series of suits claiming it injured consumers through the distribution of ultraprocessed foods, telling a Pennsylvania federal court that its Liberty Mutual and Chubb insurers lack legitimate grounds to contest their coverage obligations.

  • April 13, 2026

    Legislative Update: Cannabis And Psychedelics Bill Roundup

    Massachusetts legislators sent a bill making numerous changes to the state's cannabis regulatory scheme to the governor, Oregon and Louisiana advanced legislation to expand medical marijuana access to seriously ill patients in healthcare facilities, and Virginia's governor approved legislation paving the way for medical psilocybin if the drug's federal status should change. Here are the major moves in cannabis and psychedelics legislation from the past week.

  • April 13, 2026

    Jack In The Box Wants 38 Washington Stores Kept Open

    Jack in the Box Inc. urged a Washington state judge to temporarily bar two franchisees from closing dozens of locations across the state, claiming that they owe nearly $1.4 million in unpaid marketing fees and that unilaterally shuttering the stores would violate their franchise agreements.

  • April 13, 2026

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    The Delaware Chancery Court's docket this past week featured a mix of high-stakes settlements, fast-moving deal litigation, governance disputes and a notable post-trial ruling involving fraud-tainted loans.

  • April 13, 2026

    Restaurants, DOL Ink $750K Deal To End Pay, Child Labor Suit

    A group of Washington state restaurants will pay $750,000 to resolve a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit alleging unpaid wages, child labor violations and retaliation, according to a consent judgment entered in federal court.

  • April 13, 2026

    Mars Says Peanut M&M Labeling Sinks Allergy Lawsuit

    Mars Inc. is urging a Connecticut state court to throw out a suit from a woman alleging that she had an allergic reaction after eating M&M's Minis, saying her revised complaint's admission that she bought Peanut Butter M&M's Minis dooms any claims she has for negligence.

  • April 13, 2026

    Coors Says Botched Sulfuric Acid Delivery Led To $2M Damage

    Molson Coors says its Colorado chemical contractor accepted and delivered a shipment of sulfuric acid that was nearly double what the beverage giant had ordered, causing a tank overflow that forced a full plant evacuation and caused $2 million in damages, according to a new lawsuit filed in Colorado state court.

  • April 13, 2026

    Costco Says Its Food Prep Eliminates All Chicken Concerns

    Costco has told a Washington federal judge that its popular rotisserie chickens pose no health risk to customers because the product is fully cooked, in a bid to dismiss a proposed class action claiming the product is processed in a plant contaminated with salmonella.

  • April 13, 2026

    5th Circ. Finds Ban On Home Distilling Unconstitutional

    A federal ban on home distilleries that dates to the early temperance movement violates the U.S. Constitution's limits on congressional taxing power, the Fifth Circuit said in siding with hobbyists, including one who said he wants to experiment with apple-pie vodka recipes in his garage.

  • April 13, 2026

    Gov't Appeal Could Throw Wrench In Tariff Refunds

    U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced its court-ordered tariff refund system will be available for its first entries in a week's time, but practitioners remain concerned that a potential government appeal of the ruling could narrow the amount of imports and companies that can qualify for the relief.

  • April 13, 2026

    Honey Baked Ham Ignores Data-Tracking Opt-Out, Suit Says

    Honey Baked Ham fraudulently assures website visitors they have control over whether their data is tracked or shared, but secretly records and discloses that information to third parties anyway without the visitors' consent, according to a proposed class action filed Friday in Georgia federal court.

  • April 13, 2026

    Robbins Geller To Lead Investor Suit Despite Filing Glitch

    A New York federal judge has appointed Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP as lead counsel in a proposed class action against BellRing Brands, the owner of Premier Protein and other supplement brands, after finding a lead counsel bid that was filed six minutes past the deadline due to a technical glitch was excusable.

  • April 13, 2026

    GAO Denies Protest Of Mess Hall Services Contract Add-On

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office has rejected a protest from a services provider, finding a revision that added food hall staffing for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point did not fall outside the scope of the original contract.

  • April 10, 2026

    SEC Suit Over $200M Water Machine Scheme Put On Ice

    A New York federal judge on Friday paused the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's civil suit against an Indiana man accused of participating in a $200 million Ponzi scheme, ruling that allowing discovery to go forward could interfere with the government's parallel criminal case.

  • April 10, 2026

    Boston Beer Hit With $175.5M Verdict In Aluminum Can Case

    An Illinois federal jury has returned a $175.5 million verdict against a Boston Beer affiliate in a case alleging that the company didn't purchase the agreed-upon amount of beverage cans from Ardagh Metal Packaging USA Corp., according to a disclosure filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Expert Analysis

  • Opinion

    FTC Case Risks Redefining Price Discrimination

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    Federal Trade Commission v. Southern Glazer puts a spotlight on the blurry line between illegal price discrimination and ordinary competition, and could potentially set a precedent that puts nearly any manufacturer at risk of Robinson-Patman Act enforcement, says Jeremy Sandford at Econic Partners.

  • Series

    Ultramarathons Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Completing a 100-mile ultramarathon was tougher, more humbling and more rewarding than I ever imagined, and the experience highlighted how long-distance running has sharpened my ability to adapt to the evolving nature of antitrust law and strengthened my resolve to handle demanding, unforeseen challenges, says Dan Oakes at Axinn.

  • Getting The Most Out Of Learning And Development Programs

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Junior associates can better develop the legal, business and interpersonal skills they need for long-term success by approaching their firms’ learning and development programs armed with five tips for getting the most out of these resources, says Lauren Hakala at Reed Smith.

  • Opinion

    AI Presents A Make-Or-Break Moment For Outside Counsel

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    The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by corporate legal departments is forcing a long-overdue reset of the relationship between inside and outside counsel, and introducing a significant opportunity to shed frustrating inefficiencies and strengthen collaboration for firms willing to embrace the shift, says Intel Chief Legal Officer April Miller Boise.

  • 8 Tariff Refund Questions For Restructuring Professionals

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    For restructuring and turnaround professionals, seeking refunds following the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision invalidating tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act raises several questions about how to capture legitimate recoveries while protecting an enterprise from the consequences of its own history, says Jonny Frank and Laura Greenman at StoneTurn, and Andrew Popescu at Province.

  • Series

    Watching Hallmark Movies Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    I realize you may be judging me for watching, and actually enjoying, Hallmark Channel movies, but the escapism and storylines actually demonstrate qualities and actions that lead to an efficient, productive and positive legal practice, says Karen Ross at Tucker Ellis.

  • 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.

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