Food & Beverage

  • April 24, 2026

    Waffle House Accused Of Pregnancy Bias, Leave Interference

    Waffle House was sued in Georgia federal court by a former unit manager who alleged that the restaurant chain depleted her medical leave without authorization, denied her reasonable accommodations and twice demoted her due to her pregnancy.

  • April 24, 2026

    DOJ's Agri Stats Trial Delayed For Deal Talks

    A Minnesota federal judge Friday pushed back a looming trial in the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust case against Agri Stats, after the sides told the court they're close to working out a deal.

  • April 24, 2026

    DOL Says H-2A Penalty Case Belongs Before Agency Judge

    The U.S. Department of Labor has urged a Kentucky federal judge to toss a tobacco farm’s constitutional challenge to its H-2A enforcement system, arguing that hiring foreign workers is a government-granted privilege rather than a private right.

  • April 24, 2026

    Ex-City Official To Pay $1.4M In Plea Deal Over Labor Scheme

    A former Sacramento City Council member has reached a plea deal regarding charges that he directed unauthorized immigrants employed at his grocery stores to lie to U.S. Department of Labor investigators, agreeing to pay over $1.4 million in restitution.

  • April 24, 2026

    Restaurant Operators Hit With Wage, Break Suit

    Two restaurant operators required workers to perform unpaid off-the-clock duties, denied legally required meal and rest breaks and manipulated time records, according to a proposed class action filed in Washington state court.

  • April 23, 2026

    Colo. Court Mulls JBS' Bid To Toss Haitian Workers' Bias Suit

    A Colorado federal judge declined Thursday to rule on meatpacking giant JBS USA Food Co.'s bids to dismiss a suit and strike class allegations that Haitian workers suffered race-based discrimination and labor violations while working at the facility.  

  • April 23, 2026

    Expert Must Speak To Ruined Phone Claims In Antitrust Case

    A Washington federal judge said Wednesday that a digital forensics expert who was hired by a former Pilgrim's Pride employee facing bid-rigging allegations must testify in long-running civil antitrust litigation accusing poultry producers of price-fixing, finding the expert may be able to speak to claims that the worker destroyed evidence.

  • April 23, 2026

    Solar Co. Again Seeks To Toss Colo. Hemp Growers' Suit

    A solar company claims that Colorado's economic loss rule bars a negligence claim from a pair of hemp growers that claim a broken irrigation line caused nearly $200 million in damages to their hemp farm, according to a motion to dismiss filed in Colorado federal court Thursday.

  • April 23, 2026

    Meta, 4 Food Banks Have Upper Hand In Privacy Suit, For Now

    A California federal judge indicated on Thursday she will dismiss a proposed class action against Meta Platforms Inc. and four California food banks alleging the tech giant collected personal information about visitors to food assistance websites, but said she would let the plaintiffs amend the suit and try again.

  • April 23, 2026

    8th Circ. Ends 1st Amend. Challenge To Iowa 'Ag-Gag' Law

    The Eighth Circuit has rejected an appeal by animal rights groups alleging that Iowa's trespass-surveillance law criminalizing recording on trespassed property is unconstitutional, ruling Thursday that the state can apply the law to forbid the conduct since recording could implicate a substantial government interest to protect its citizens' property and privacy rights.

  • April 23, 2026

    Cinemex Offers $6M For Movie Theater Co. IPic In Ch. 11

    Bankrupt dine-in movie theater chain iPic Theaters LLC has received a $6 million offer for its assets from Cinemex, a competitor aiming to supplant stalking horse bidder Star Grill Cinema Inc.

  • April 23, 2026

    Meijer Escapes Most Claims In Tobacco Fee ERISA Suit

    A Michigan federal judge significantly narrowed a proposed class action that accused Meijer Inc. of charging employees an illegal health plan fee for using tobacco, ruling Thursday that the shopping center company complied with federal benefits law by giving workers a six-month window to dodge the full charge.

  • April 23, 2026

    Cannabis Cos. Use Opponents' Playbook In Latest Ballot Fight

    A campaign to repeal the legalization of retail cannabis in Massachusetts via ballot initiative — the first campaign of its kind in the country — has triggered a legal action from cannabis business owners akin to the sort pushed by legalization opponents for years.

  • April 23, 2026

    Fla. Subpoenas Cos., Green Groups In Plastics Antitrust Probe

    Florida's attorney general has subpoenaed several major corporations, including Unilever, Coca-Cola, Target, Nestle and Mondelez International, and a number of environmental groups as part of an investigation into whether their involvement in organizations aiming to reduce plastic waste might run afoul of antitrust and consumer protection laws.

  • April 23, 2026

    Scotts Miracle-Gro Gets Sales Channel 'Stuffing' Suit Trimmed

    An Ohio federal judge has trimmed claims from a securities class action against Scotts Miracle-Gro and several of its executives claiming they misled investors about the lawn and garden care company's inventory levels, debt covenant compliance and financials.

  • April 22, 2026

    Messner Reeves Accused Of $8.3M Trust Account Fraud

    Colorado law firm Messner Reeves LLP was hit with a lawsuit Tuesday in federal court from five businesses claiming it stole more than $8 million from them in a fraudulent loan scheme involving a now-defunct sports arena and hotel project in Las Vegas.

  • April 22, 2026

    Costco Says '100% Agave' Tequila Suit Belongs In Mexico

    Costco has urged a Washington federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit accusing the retailer of falsely labeling its Kirkland Signature tequila as made from pure agave, arguing that a U.S. court exercising jurisdiction over the case would interfere with Mexico's "exclusive sovereign authority to determine what is and is not 100% agave tequila."

  • April 22, 2026

    Workers' Attys Get $940K As $4.7M Tobacco Deal Approved

    A Virginia federal judge on Wednesday awarded $940,000 in attorney fees to class counsel who secured a $4.7 million settlement with food distributor Performance Food Group over claims that it unlawfully charged tobacco users an extra fee for health benefits.

  • April 22, 2026

    Poland Spring Drinkers Renew Class Cert. Bid In False-Ad Suit

    Purchasers of Poland Spring bottled water have again urged a Connecticut federal judge to certify proposed classes in their lawsuit that claims the former Nestle brand was actually bottling groundwater, setting a proposed class period end date after the judge initially denied their certification request for lacking a date.

  • April 22, 2026

    Fast Food Parent Co. Wants Out Of Workers' Tobacco Fee Suit

    The parent company of Arby's, Dunkin' and other fast-food chains urged a Georgia federal court to toss the remaining claims in a class action alleging employees in its health plan were unlawfully charged more for using tobacco, pointing to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 Loper Bright ruling.

  • April 22, 2026

    Split 6th Circ. Lets Brewer Challenge Tax Code's Distilling Ban

    An Ohio brewery owner has standing to challenge the constitutionality of the federal tax code's ban on distilling whiskey at home, but the ban is necessary for the government to collect taxes on distilled spirits, a split Sixth Circuit panel ruled.

  • April 22, 2026

    Workers Get 'One More Chance' In General Mills Bias Suit

    A Georgia federal judge Wednesday warned General Mills plant workers claiming they were subjected to racist harassment that they've got one last chance to bring their proposed class action up to his standard before he tosses it for good.

  • April 22, 2026

    CIT Backs Expanded Scope For Chinese Cabinet Duties

    Certain wooden cabinets and vanities completed in Vietnam and Malaysia with components manufactured in China were correctly found to be in-scope of duty orders on such products from China, the U.S. Court of International Trade said Wednesday, sustaining two U.S. Department of Commerce determinations.

  • April 22, 2026

    USTR Seeking 'Outcomes' On DSTs, Stronger USMCA Rules

    U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told a U.S. House of Representatives panel Wednesday that efforts to eliminate digital service taxes implemented by jurisdictions across the world continue to be prioritized by President Donald Trump's administration, and potential tariff actions are ready in waiting.

  • April 22, 2026

    Yelp Stiffed Calif. Workers On Boot-Up Time, Suit Says

    Yelp failed to pay hourly workers for the minutes they spent waiting for their work computers to boot up before they could clock in for each shift, a former worker alleged in a proposed class action in California state court.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • Series

    Podcasting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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

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    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.

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