Food & Beverage

  • July 25, 2025

    4th Circ. Revives Kraft Heinz Suit Over Safety Complaints

    The Fourth Circuit on Friday overturned a win for Kraft Heinz Inc. in a suit by a former worker at a meatpacking plant who alleged that he'd been fired for reporting safety issues, saying the district court wrongly concluded that a separate disciplinary investigation was the sole reason he was terminated.

  • July 25, 2025

    Calif. Air Board Faces New Suit Over Carbon Fuel Standard

    Environmental and public interest groups hit the California Air Resources Board with another lawsuit in Golden State court Friday, alleging that the state's recent amendments to the Low Carbon Fuel Standard will have the perverse effect of incentivizing large-scale factory farms, which pose significant environmental and public health risks.

  • July 25, 2025

    9th Circ.: Gila River Tribe-Farmer Water Fight Not Over

    The Ninth Circuit has ruled a federal judge prematurely sided with the Gila River Indian Community in a water rights dispute, finding future fact-finding is needed before ordering Arizona farmers to shut off wells that allegedly draw water from the river.

  • July 25, 2025

    Fluoride Fans Tell 9th Circ. To Preserve Drinking Water Use

    A pro-fluoride group is supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's fight to overturn a California federal judge's ruling that current limits on the chemical in drinking water aren't protective enough.

  • July 25, 2025

    3rd Circ. Won't Review $3.2M Wawa Breach Fee Award

    The Third Circuit on Thursday won't revisit its prior decision upholding $3.2 million in fees to plaintiffs' counsel in a case that secured a $12 million deal for Wawa shoppers affected by a data breach after attorney Ted Frank argued the fees were disproportionate to the class' recovery.

  • July 25, 2025

    Minnesota Regulators Sue Retailer Over Cannabinoid Wares

    Minnesota's cannabis regulator has brought a state court action seeking an order compelling a retailer to destroy hemp-derived cannabinoid products that are allegedly noncompliant under the state's laws.

  • July 25, 2025

    Texas Farmer Not Owed For Border Wall Costs, 5th Circ. Says

    A Texas farmer isn't owed compensation for a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border wall that the government built on her land in 2008, the Fifth Circuit ruled Thursday.

  • July 25, 2025

    Jurisdiction Issue Leads To USAID Shutdown Suit's Dismissal

    A Washington, D.C., federal judge dismissed a suit Friday by a union and other groups seeking to stop the dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development and denied a contractor association an order blocking the same, saying their claims belong before expert agencies rather than a district court.

  • July 25, 2025

    Wash. Judge Tosses Costco Customer's Online Upcharge Suit

    A Washington state judge has thrown out a consumer's proposed class action accusing Costco of hidden markups on online purchases, saying Friday that the warehouse retailer's website is "extremely clear" that grocery prices are higher than they are in-store to cover packing and fulfillment costs.

  • July 25, 2025

    Ex-Whataburger Worker Drops 5th Circ. Appeal In 401(k) Suit

    A former employee of Whataburger dropped his Fifth Circuit bid to revive a proposed class action alleging mismanagement of an employee 401(k) plan Friday following a Texas federal court's decision tossing the case in November.

  • July 25, 2025

    Historic Conn. Soda Co., Ex-President Settle Unfair Lease Suit

    The former president of a century-old Connecticut soft drink company has agreed to settle a lawsuit he filed in state court after he became a minority owner in the company following purchases of company stock by family members.

  • July 24, 2025

    Tyson's $55M Delaware Win Won't Aid Ga. Suit, Rival Says

    Poultry rendering company American Proteins Inc. told a Georgia federal judge Wednesday that a Delaware court's award of $55 million to Tyson Foods for overpaying to acquire the company has no bearing on their antitrust suit over whether Tyson forced the buyout through strong-arm tactics.

  • July 24, 2025

    Logan Paul's Co. Can't Depose Messi In Drink TM Row

    Logan Paul's sports drink company has lost its bid to depose soccer star Lionel Messi in a trademark dispute after a New York federal judge found the deposition request to be "vexatious and improper," and pointed out that Messi attested he lacks unique knowledge about the issues in the case.

  • July 24, 2025

    Wash. AG Sues Contractor To Keep Benefits Data From Feds

    Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown launched a lawsuit in Evergreen State court on Thursday seeking to block a fintech contractor from providing the federal government with the private details of food assistance benefit recipients, saying the Trump administration intends to use the data for its "mass deportation project."

  • July 24, 2025

    JBS S.A. Sued In Del. Over Pilgrim's Pride Control Moves

    Pension fund stockholders of poultry industry giant Pilgrim's Pride Corp. have sued Brazil-based meat giant JBS S.A., its affiliates and its Pilgrim's board appointees in Delaware's Court of Chancery, alleging actions that unfairly increased JBS' clout and access to dividends and tax benefits at minority shareholder expense.

  • July 24, 2025

    Conn. Water Cos. Want Judge To Toss Customer PFAS Cases

    The Connecticut Water Co. and Aquarion Water Co. on Thursday asked a Connecticut Superior Court judge to dismiss two consumer proposed class actions seeking cash damages for tap water allegedly contaminated with PFAS "forever chemicals," arguing the case should have been first considered by a state regulatory agency.

  • July 24, 2025

    Texas Hemp Group Blasts New Legislative Proposal

    A Texas hemp industry advocate has slammed a second effort by the state Senate to ban all consumable products containing THC, saying residents want "smart, responsible regulation," not "prohibition."

  • July 24, 2025

    Kraft Must Face Claims It Stole Overseas Distributor Database

    The Kraft Heinz Co. cannot escape a lawsuit accusing it of stealing confidential information from a business that helps U.S.-based consumer goods brands expand their markets internationally by identifying foreign distributors, an Atlanta federal judge has ruled.

  • July 24, 2025

    Miami Van Gogh Cafe, Museum Exhibitor Settle TM Suit

    A company that runs an immersive Vincent van Gogh-themed exhibit has reached a deal to settle trademark infringement claims it brought against Miami's Van Gogh Cafe.

  • July 23, 2025

    Fed. Circ. Deems 'Kist' And 'Sunkist' Marks Confusingly Alike

    The Federal Circuit on Wednesday reversed a trademark tribunal's conclusion that "Kist" and "Sunkist" soft drink marks were not confusingly similar, saying the board was wrong to distinguish the goods by focusing on images of red lips and the sun in marketing materials for the products.

  • July 23, 2025

    Split Conn. High Court OKs Eyewitness ID In Armed Robbery

    Connecticut's Supreme Court has narrowly ruled that in the case of a masked armed robbery at a Smashburger, though a victim may have been scared, high, not wearing glasses and directed toward a suspect, her identification of the perpetrator was reliable.

  • July 23, 2025

    NLRB Precedent Shifts Still Far Away Despite Nominees

    The freeze that has gripped the National Labor Relations Board during the first six months of the year showed signs of thawing last week as nominees took key steps forward, but experts said there are still major hurdles they must clear before the board can return to normal function.

  • July 23, 2025

    Tort Report: Panera Settles Last Of 'Charged Lemonade' Suits

    The final resolution of a handful of injury suits over Panera Bread's caffeinated lemonade drink and the U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of a medical malpractice case lead Law360's Tort Report, which compiles recent personal injury and medical malpractice news that may have flown under the radar.

  • July 23, 2025

    8th Circ. Denies Bar Owner Coverage For Ex-Husband's Arson

    An insurer for a Minnesota bar has no duty to cover a nearly $2 million fire intentionally caused by one of the owners, the Eighth Circuit ruled, rejecting the other co-owner's argument that the "innocent co-insured doctrine" extended to the bar's corresponding corporate entities.

  • July 22, 2025

    Brandt's Fruit Trees Says Farm Misuses 'Pink Lady' Apple TM

    Brandt's Fruit Trees filed a trademark infringement suit in Washington federal court Monday accusing a Yakima Valley farm of illegally using its Pink Lady apple trademark in connection with approximately 55,000 unlicensed trees that produce Lady in Red apples, in violation of their grower licensing agreement.  

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Volunteering At Schools Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Speaking to elementary school students about the importance of college and other opportunities after high school — especially students who may not see those paths reflected in their daily lives — not only taught me the importance of giving back, but also helped to sharpen several skills essential to a successful legal practice, says Guillermo Escobedo at Constangy.

  • 5 Open Questions About FDA's AI-Assisted Review Plans

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently touted the completion of a generative artificial intelligence program for scientific reviewers and plans for agencywide deployment to speed up reviews of premarket applications, but there is considerable uncertainty surrounding the tools' ability to protect trade secrets, avoid bias and more, say attorneys at King & Spalding.

  • Attacks On Judicial Independence Tend To Manifest In 3 Ways

    Author Photo

    Attacks on judicial independence now run the gamut from gross (bald-faced interference) to systemic (structural changes) to insidious (efforts to undermine public trust), so lawyers, judges and the public must recognize the fateful moment in which we live and defend the rule of law every day, says Jim Moliterno at Washington and Lee University.

  • Dissecting House And Senate's Differing No-Tax-On-Tips Bills

    Author Photo

    Employers should understand how the House and Senate versions of no-tax-on-tips bills differ — including in the scope of related deductions and reporting requirements — to meet any new compliance obligations and communicate with their employees, say attorneys at Greenberg Traurig.

  • Compliance Refresher For 'Made In USA' Labeling Claims

    Author Photo

    As tariffs reshape the trade landscape, companies hoping to invoke the powerful consumer appeal of “Made in USA” labels must understand the strict rules for making acceptable claims so they avoid the costly legal ramifications and brand damage possible from misrepresenting products as 100% American, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Appreciating Civil Procedure

    Author Photo

    If you’re like me, law school’s often complex and theoretical approach to teaching civil procedure may have contributed to an early struggle with the topic, but when seen from a practical perspective, new lawyers may find they enjoy mastering these rules, says Chloe Villagomez at Foster Garvey.

  • Appellate Guidance Needed On California Chatbot Litigation

    Author Photo

    There is wide variation in how courts are applying the California Invasion of Privacy Act against website owners that allegedly help third parties spy on visitors via chatbots — and the lack of appellate rulings creates uncertainty, especially as these cases move toward the summary judgment stage, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Calif. Bar Exam Fiasco Shows Why Attys Must Disclose AI Use

    Author Photo

    The recent revelation that a handful of questions from the controversial California bar exam administered in February were drafted using generative artificial intelligence demonstrates the continued importance of disclosure for attorneys who use AI tools, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • In 2nd Place, Va. 'Rocket Docket' Remains Old Reliable

    Author Photo

    The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia was again one of the fastest civil trial courts in the nation last year, and an interview with the court’s newest judge provides insights into why it continues to soar, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • How Attorneys Can Become Change Agents For Racial Equity

    Author Photo

    As the administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and law firms consider pulling back from their programs, lawyers who care about racial equity and justice can employ four strategies to create microspaces of justice, which can then be parlayed into drivers of transformational change, says Susan Sturm at Columbia Law School.

  • Robinson-Patman Enforcement May Fizzle Out After PepsiCo

    Author Photo

    After securing an early Robinson-Patman Act victory against the largest wine and spirits distributor in the U.S., the Federal Trade commission's voluntary dismissal of its own enforcement action against PepsiCo throws into doubt the future of the federal statute that prohibits price discrimination and other anticompetitive practices, say attorneys at V&E.

  • Series

    Running Marathons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    After almost five years of running marathons, I’ve learned that both the race itself and the training process sharpen skills that directly translate to the practice of law, including discipline, dedication, endurance, problem-solving and mental toughness, says Lauren Meadows at Swift Currie.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Supporting A Trial Team

    Author Photo

    While students often practice as lead trial attorneys in law school, such an opportunity likely won’t arise until a few years into practice, so junior associates should focus on honing skills that are essential to supporting a trial team, including organization, adaptability and humility, says Lucy Zelina at Tucker Ellis.

  • Lessons From FTC Action On Dark Patterns In User Interfaces

    Author Photo

    The Federal Trade Commission's recent complaint against Uber for its billing and cancellation practices comes amid other actions addressing consumer confusion and deception, so it is paramount to deploy tools that assess customers' cognitive states of mind to separate lawful marketing from misconduct, says Ceren Canal Aruoba at Berkeley Research Group.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From US Attorney To BigLaw

    Author Photo

    When I transitioned to private practice after government service — most recently as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia — I learned there are more similarities between the two jobs than many realize, with both disciplines requiring resourcefulness, zealous advocacy and foresight, says Zach Terwilliger at V&E.

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.