Food & Beverage

July 03, 2025
7th Circ. Cuts Chicken Price-Fixing Atty Fees Again

A Seventh Circuit panel reduced a $51.6 million fee award for class counsel who took on alleged price-fixing among the country's biggest producers of broiler chickens to about $47 million Wednesday, saying the district court made one easily-correctable error.
July 03, 2025
EEOC Says Calif. Supermarket Chain Obstructing Bias Probe

A California supermarket chain has refused to turn over applicant and employee data to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, hindering its investigation into whether the retailer discriminated against non-Hispanic workers, the agency told a federal court.
July 03, 2025
Circuit-By-Circuit Recap: Justices Send Message To Outliers

It was a tough term at the U.S. Supreme Court for two very different circuits — one solidly liberal, one solidly conservative — that had their rulings overturned in eye-popping numbers. But it was another impressive year for a relatively moderate circuit that appears increasingly simpatico with the high court.
July 03, 2025
The Moments That Shaped The Universal Injunction Case

The U.S. Supreme Court voted along ideological lines when it hindered the ability of federal district court judges to issue nationwide pauses on presidential policies, but that outcome didn't seem like a foregone conclusion during oral arguments earlier this year. What do the colloquies suggest about the justices' thinking? Here are some moments that may have swayed them.
July 03, 2025
Pacific Seafood Faces CWA Suit For Alleged Permit Violations

The Center for Food Safety and Wild Fish Conservancy hit Pacific Seafood Aquaculture LLC with a Clean Water Act citizen suit alleging it has failed to comply with permit terms for three Columbia River net pen facilities, each producing more than 20,000 pounds of rainbow trout annually.
July 03, 2025
'Whiz Honor' Judge Denies Disrepute From Slinging Steaks

A Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas judge is accusing the state's judicial ethics board of showing "animus" toward him with its investigation of his moonlighting at his wife's cheesesteak restaurant, saying he did not tout his judgeship to promote the business or bring disrepute upon the bench.
July 03, 2025
The Firms That Won Big At The Supreme Court

The number of law firms juggling three or more arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court this past term nearly doubled from the number of firms that could make that claim last term.
July 03, 2025
Residents Urge Judge To Redo Ruling Backing Alaska Casino

A group of Anchorage, Alaska, residents opposed to a plan to build a casino urged a federal judge to reconsider a ruling finding the Native Village of Eklutna has sovereign immunity and can't face a lawsuit seeking to block the development plan.
July 03, 2025
Breaking Down The Vote: The High Court Term In Review

The U.S. Supreme Court once again waited until the term's closing weeks — and even hours — to issue some of its most anticipated and divided decisions.
July 02, 2025
Tree Top's Apple Juices Aren't Really '100% Juice,' Suit Says

Tree Top Inc. deceptively labels some of its apple juices as made with "100% apple juice" or made from "100% USA apples," despite the addition of ascorbic acid, a synthetic preservative, to the beverages, according to a proposed false advertising class action filed Tuesday in California federal court.
July 02, 2025
Teamsters Say Kroger Must Arbitrate Health Insurance Dispute

A Teamsters local sought to nix Kroger's attempt to dismiss allegations that the grocery giant won't arbitrate a grievance about health insurance coverage for a worker's family members, telling a Kansas federal judge the company can't raise claims about arbitrability at this point in the proceeding.
July 02, 2025
Tyson Wins $55M In Del. After Poultry Rendering Plants Trial

A Delaware judge awarded $55 million in damages Wednesday to Tyson Foods Inc. arising from its $866 million acquisition of poultry rendering plants in Georgia and Alabama, finding after trial that American Proteins Inc. concealed past recycling of slaughter wastewater sludge and fraudulently induced the deal.
July 02, 2025
Unions Say Halt Of Parole Is Spreading Chaos In Workplaces

A coalition of labor unions has told the First Circuit that the abrupt termination of Biden-era humanitarian parole programs is generating "chaos in American workplaces," as workers lose their work authorization and employers are left in the lurch.
July 02, 2025
Ill. Judge Asks Deere Rivals To Stop Pestering Court Staff

The judge overseeing the FTC's antitrust enforcement action against farm machinery maker Deere & Co. has penned a light-hearted order calling out another judge and asking equipment manufacturers to stop calling his staff to ask for advice.
July 02, 2025
Top Product Liability News In H1 2025

There was no shortage of big rulings, verdicts and happenings in the product liability sphere in the first half of 2025. Here, Law360 looks at the most significant news cross-referenced with the articles that garnered the most page views.
July 02, 2025
Inspire Brands Sued For Firing Director After Bias Complaint

The company that owns and franchises restaurant chains like Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin' and Jimmy John's has been sued in Georgia federal court by an ex-employee who alleges she was fired after threatening to report a manager for discrimination.
July 02, 2025
Toys R Us Seeks Default Judgment In 'Vape R Us' Dilution Suit

Tru Kids Inc., the parent of retailer Toys R Us, has asked a Connecticut federal judge to issue a default liability judgment and a permanent injunction against a New Haven e-cigarette and cannabis store accused of tarnishing its registered trademarks that date back to 1970.
July 02, 2025
The Funniest Moments Of The Supreme Court's Term

After justices and oral advocates spent much of an argument pummeling a lower court's writing talents, one attorney suggested it might be time to move on — only to be told the drubbing had barely begun. Here, Law360 showcases the standout jests and wisecracks from the 2024-25 U.S. Supreme Court term.
July 02, 2025
9th Circ. Limits Cracker Barrel Collective To In-State Workers

A nationwide collective of Cracker Barrel servers in a wage and hour case is too vast, the Ninth Circuit ruled, saying members who worked for the restaurant chain outside Arizona, where the suit was launched, should not have been permitted to join.
July 02, 2025
Canned Food Group Del Monte Hits Ch. 11 With $1.2B Debt

Packaged foods giant Del Monte is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey with plans for a sale after a liability management transaction last year failed to sufficiently reduce borrowing costs from its $1.23 billion of secured debt.
July 01, 2025
Turkey Cos. Must Face Price-Fix Suit From Litigation Funder

An Illinois federal judge rejected a summary judgment bid from major turkey processors fighting a price-fixing antitrust suit, ruling that a litigation funding company can continue to pursue claims against the poultry processors as a stand-in for wholesale food distributor plaintiffs.
July 01, 2025
The Sharpest Dissents From The Supreme Court Term

The term's sharpest dissents often looked beyond perceived flaws in majority reasoning to raise existential concerns about the role and future of the court, with the justices accusing one another of rewarding executive branch lawlessness, harming faith in the judiciary and threatening democracy, sometimes on an emergency basis with little briefing or explanation.
July 01, 2025
Investors Sue Petco Over Premium Pet Food Business Model

Petco and several current and former executives misled the public about the sustainability of its premium pet food business model and oversold the company's growth prospects while hiding the impact of shifting consumer behavior post-COVID-19, a new lawsuit has alleged.
July 01, 2025
Justices Face Busy Summer After Nixing Universal Injunctions

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to limit nationwide injunctions was one of its biggest rulings of the term — a finding the court is likely going to be dealing with all summer. Here, Law360 takes a look at the decision, how it and other cases on the emergency docket overshadowed much of the court's other work, and what it all means for the months to come.
July 01, 2025
Monthly Merger Review Snapshot

The U.S. Department of Justice reached the agency's first three merger settlements of the second Trump administration, clearing deals in the technology and aerospace sectors after divestitures, while the Federal Trade Commission put conditions on an advertising merger. Here, Law360 looks at the major merger review developments from June.

Expert Analysis

UPS Penalty Demonstrates Goodwill Impairment Red Flags

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent $45 million penalty against UPS for withholding reports of goodwill impairment should warn investors to watch for the telltale signs of companies inflating their worth by delaying tests that would reveal similar declines in the value of intangible assets, say attorneys at Labaton Keller.
Series

Coaching Little League Makes Me A Better Lawyer

While coaching poorly played Little League Baseball early in the morning doesn't sound like a good time, I love it — and the experience has taught me valuable lessons about imperfection, compassion and acceptance that have helped me grow as a person and as a lawyer, says Alex Barnett at DiCello Levitt.
7 Employment Contracts Issues Facing DOL Scrutiny

A growing trend of U.S. Department of Labor enforcement against employment practices that limit workers' rights and avoid legal responsibility shines a light on seven unique contractual provisions that violate federal labor laws, and face agressive litigation from the labor solicitor, says Thomas Starks at Freeman Mathis.
5 Litigation Funding Trends To Note In 2025

Lawyers and their clients must be prepared to navigate an evolving litigation funding market in 2025, made more complicated by a new administration and the increasing overall cost of litigation, says Jeffery Lula at GLS Capital.
The Fed. Circ. In 2024: 5 Major Rulings To Know

In 2024, the Federal Circuit provided a number of important clarifications to distinct areas of patent law – including design patent obviousness, expert testimony admissions and patent term adjustments – all of which are poised to have an influence going forward, say attorneys at Knobbe Martens.
Rethinking Litigation Risk And What It Really Means To Win

Attorneys have a tendency to overestimate litigation risk before summary judgment and underestimate risk after it, but an eight-stage litigation framework can clarify risk at different points and help litigators reassess what true success looks like in any particular case, says Joshua Libling at Arcadia Finance.
How DOGE's Bite Can Live Up To Its Bark

All signs suggest that the Department of Government Efficiency will be an important part of the new Trump administration, with ample tools at its disposal to effectuate change, particularly with an attentive Republican-controlled Congress, say attorneys at K&L Gates.
Series

Playing Rugby Makes Me A Better Lawyer

My experience playing rugby, including a near-fatal accident, has influenced my legal practice on a professional, organizational and personal level by showing me the importance of maintaining empathy, fostering team empowerment and embracing the art of preparation, says James Gillenwater at Greenberg Traurig.
Looking Back At 2024's Noteworthy State AG Litigation

State attorneys general across the U.S. took bold steps in 2024 to address unlawful activities by corporations in several areas, including privacy and data security, financial transparency, children's internet safety, and other overall consumer protection claims, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.
Opinion

No, Litigation Funders Are Not 'Fleeing' The District Of Del.

A recent study claimed that litigation funders have “fled” Delaware federal court due to a standing order requiring disclosure of third-party financing, but responsible funders have no problem litigating in this jurisdiction, and many other factors could explain the decline in filings, say Will Freeman and Sarah Tsou at Omni Bridgeway.
5 Advertising Law Trends To Watch In 2025

Although advertisers are encouraged by the incoming Trump administration's focus on deregulation, this year could feel like wading through uncharted waters, and decreased federal government regulation may mean increased state regulation, say attorneys at Reed Smith.
5 E-Discovery Predictions For 2025 And Beyond

In the year to come, e-discovery will be shaped by new and emerging trends, from the adoption of artificial intelligence provisions in protective orders, to the proliferation of emojis as a source of evidence in contemporary litigation, say attorneys at Littler.
NY Plastic Pollution Verdict May Not Bode Well For Other Suits

The dismissal of New York state's public nuisance complaint against PepsiCo over pollution of the Buffalo River with the company's single use plastic bottles may not augur well for similar lawsuits filed by Baltimore and Los Angeles County, although tort law varies from state to state, say attorneys at Winston & Strawn.
2024 Was A Banner Year For Shareholder Activism

Shareholder activism campaigns in 2024 continued at an elevated pace globally, with activist investors exploiting valuation gaps and pushing aggressively for corporate governance reforms, including the ouster of many companies' chief executives, a trend that could continue once President-elect Donald Trump takes office, say attorneys at Sidley.
7 Ways 2nd Trump Administration May Affect Partner Hiring

President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House will likely have a number of downstream effects on partner hiring in the legal industry, from accelerated hiring timelines to increased vetting of prospective employees, say recruiters at Macrae.