Food & Beverage

  • August 31, 2026

    Trump Opening 1st Round Of Tariff-Free Ground Beef Tuesday

    The first 100,000 of a total 300,000 metric tons of ground beef that can be imported into the U.S. without an added tariff can enter into the country starting Sept. 1, according to a proclamation published Monday.

  • August 31, 2026

    Mead Johnson Prevails In 1st Infant Formula MDL Trial

    An Illinois federal jury sided with Mead Johnson on Monday in a lawsuit claiming its infant formula caused a premature baby boy to develop a fatal intestinal disease, rejecting his mother's claims that the company should be held liable for making a defective product and failing to adequately warn doctors of the risks associated with it.

  • August 31, 2026

    6th Circ. Backs $450K Punitive Award For Mich. Farmworkers

    A Sixth Circuit panel has upheld a $450,000 punitive damages award for five Guatemalan farmworkers who accused a West Michigan agricultural labor contractor and its owners of trafficking-related and wage law abuses, ruling that the award was constitutionally permissible despite the jury awarding only economic compensatory damages.

  • August 28, 2026

    Mead Johnson, Mom Clash On Formula Risks In Trial Closing

    An Illinois federal jury is set to begin deliberating Monday on a mother's claims that Mead Johnson is liable for her infant son's death, with attorneys making closing remarks Friday in the first test case to be tried among more than 800 consolidated lawsuits linking a deadly bowel condition to premature baby formula.

  • August 28, 2026

    Trader Joe's Must Face Smucker's TM Suit Over Uncrustables

    Trader Joe's will have to face Smucker's trademark infringement suit accusing the retailer of swiping its intellectual property to market its own copycat version of crustless PB&J sandwiches, after an Ohio federal judge ruled Friday the plaintiff "sufficiently pled fame to survive a motion to dismiss." 

  • August 28, 2026

    Mass. Coke Bottler Misclassified Worker To Save OT, Suit Says

    A regional Coca-Cola bottler misclassified a worker as an exempt employee to avoid paying overtime, a new lawsuit in Massachusetts state court alleges.

  • August 28, 2026

    Airline Caterer Let Harassment Go Unchecked, EEOC Says

    A global airline catering company failed to take action after a female employee complained that her male mentor regularly made sexual comments about her body, according to a suit filed Friday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

  • August 28, 2026

    Uber Cars Not Enough To Establish Venue, Judge Says

    A Texas federal magistrate judge has recommended tossing patent infringement claims against Uber Technologies Inc., saying ride-hailing drivers' homes and cars being based in the district was not enough to establish jurisdiction over the company.

  • August 28, 2026

    Boston Eyes Liquor License Sold By Celebrity Chef

    The city of Boston asked a judge on Friday to block the anticipated transfer of a liquor license once held by celebrity chef Barbara Lynch, contending that Lynch's original sale of the license to its current holder was a fraudulent effort at evading what ultimately became a nearly $1 million judgment over unpaid property taxes.

  • August 28, 2026

    DOL Scraps 1980s Farmworker Protection Coordination Rule

    The U.S. Department of Labor is repealing longtime regulations that required federal agencies to coordinate protections for migrant and seasonal workers, saying they are obsolete and have not been used for decades.

  • August 27, 2026

    Albertsons Loses Bid For Midtrial Win In Wash. Opioid Case

    Albertsons can't escape the state of Washington's lawsuit accusing the pharmacy chain and its Safeway subsidiary of contributing to the state's opioid crisis, a state judge ruled Thursday in denying the company's bid to dismiss the case midtrial.

  • August 27, 2026

    Peeps TM Suit Hops Along But Rival's Candy Can't Be Blocked

    A New Jersey federal judge has rejected a bid to toss Peeps maker's trademark infringement suit against a rival candy maker, but he also refused to block the rival from selling bunny-shaped marshmallows, finding that it's unlikely consumers would be confused by the candies' different packaging.

  • August 27, 2026

    Food Processor Says Tribe's Request Would Hinder Its Ops

    A Michigan produce processor fired back at a tribe's request that it stop releasing water into local wetlands, telling a federal judge Wednesday that even though it may have dumped untreated wastewater in the past, it's no longer in violation and that any restrictions would hurt its business.

  • August 27, 2026

    Importer Duped NJ Distributor To Steal Grocery Biz, Suit Says

    An importer of Korean food products purposefully mischaracterized why it was ending a relationship with its longtime distributor to gain direct access to a popular grocery chain, a New Jersey business told a federal court, asking a judge to rescind the resulting deals.

  • August 27, 2026

    Mead Johnson Nutrition Head Defends Formula In MDL Trial

    Mead Johnson's head of nutrition testified Thursday in a trial over whether its preterm infant formula led to a newborn's serious and ultimately fatal gut illness, saying she had no reasons to worry about the product's safety but acknowledging it carries a higher risk for the disease than human breast milk.

  • August 27, 2026

    Krispy Kreme Must Face Claims Over McDonald's Rollout

    A North Carolina federal judge has denied part of Krispy Kreme's motion to dismiss a securities class action alleging it overhyped its partnership with McDonald's, allowing several claims to proceed that were made after the company may have known the collaboration would not be as successful as previously stated.

  • August 27, 2026

    Health Co. Gets Partial Win In Suit Over $8.5M Food Tech Deal

    A Florida federal judge handed a partial win to a health information technologies services company and its board Thursday, tossing some claims that they cheated a Canadian business out of $8.5 million in equity after fraudulently inducing the sale of a subsidiary specializing in plant-based extrusion technology.

  • August 27, 2026

    Salad Chain Gets OK For Lease Auction, New Ch. 11 Loan

    A Texas bankruptcy judge on Thursday gave drive-thru chain Salad and Go permission to take out replacement Chapter 11 financing on new terms and put about 130 leases up for auction, including 65 originally slated for a $105 million private sale.

  • August 27, 2026

    Grocers' Microcaptive Valid For Tax Benefits, 7th Circ. Told

    Chicagoland grocery chain owners' in-house insurance arrangement is a valid insurance transaction "and should be respected as such," they told the Seventh Circuit, saying their business should be allowed to claim microcaptive tax benefits to reduce its taxable income.

  • August 27, 2026

    Dems Want DOJ, FTC To Look At Sysco's $29B Jetro Buy

    Two Democratic lawmakers called on the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday to closely inspect Sysco Corp.'s plans to buy competitor Restaurant Depot LLC aka Jetro Restaurant Depot at a total enterprise value of $29.1 billion, warning in a letter the transaction could hurt independent restaurants, farmers and Americans who "are already facing an affordability crisis."

  • August 27, 2026

    Kratom Group Says DEA Order Could Snare Natural Wares

    A kratom trade group has asked a D.C. federal judge to find that a recent U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration rule change targeting certain kratom-derived compounds should not apply when those compounds naturally occur in the kratom leaf.

  • August 27, 2026

    Mexico Growers Say US Erred In Not Revoking Tomato Duty

    The U.S. International Trade Commission based its determination not to revoke an antidumping duty on Mexican fresh tomatoes on faulty reasoning, a group of Mexican farm associations told the U.S. Court of International Trade, seeking a redo.

  • August 27, 2026

    Faegre Drinker And Investor Trade Blame Over Depo Delays

    Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP this week pressed its bid to strike expert witnesses proffered by a real estate investor claiming the firm gave bad advice about a deal to buy an A&P shopping center, saying it made nine unsuccessful bids over the last three months to schedule two witnesses.

  • August 26, 2026

    Eton's Galzin TM And False Ad Suit Survives Dismissal Bid

    Eton Pharmaceuticals can proceed with trademark infringement and false advertising claims accusing Extreme V of marketing a dietary supplement as a Wilson disease treatment, with a Michigan federal judge finding that Extreme V's defenses and factual challenges could not dispose of the case at the pleading stage.

  • August 26, 2026

    Ill. Judge OKs Direct Buyers' Last Turkey Deals, Striking Trial

    An Illinois federal judge struck an October turkey price-fixing trial on Wednesday as he gave his early blessing to the last two settlements resolving direct purchasers' claims in the consolidated litigation.

Expert Analysis

  • USDA, Treasury Moves May Widen Agricultural Deal Scrutiny

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    Two agency actions that identify weaknesses in the government’s foreign investment screening architecture signal a broadening of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’ jurisdiction over agricultural real estate transactions, more demanding beneficial-ownership resolutions and the coming integration of agency disclosure systems, says researcher Robert Green.

  • Rhode Island Self-Checkout Law Signals National Trend

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    Rhode Island's law limiting self-checkout in retail stores is the first of its kind, but state and local lawmakers across the country are considering similar bills — and if enacted, they could create a patchwork of compliance requirements around issues including staffing, signage and restricted merchandise, says Hannah Flint at Hunton.

  • Series

    Being A Singer Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Before law school, I spent seven years trying to make it as a professional singer in Los Angeles, and nearly everything I learned about preparation, humility, confidence and more has followed me into my legal practice, says Jessica Caterina at Moses & Singer.

  • USDA Rule Would Broaden Foreign Co. Reporting Burden

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    The U.S. Department of Agriculture's recently proposed overhaul of foreign landholder reporting obligations would expand covered agricultural uses, mandate more detailed online disclosures and toughen penalties, so organizations must proactively reassess U.S. land interests and prepare for a more stringent compliance regime, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • Preparing For Next Congress With Eye On Investigation Risk

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    Rod Rosenstein, Brian Whisler and Bruce Linskens at Baker McKenzie offer advice for organizations seeking to build a proactive response plan to potential congressional oversight as the election looms.

  • How To Brace For A Potential Democratic Oversight Push

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    With the possibility of a shift in congressional control after the November midterm elections, companies and their general counsel should prepare now by mapping oversight exposure, reviewing government interactions, preserving records and developing coordinated communications strategies, say attorneys at Hogan Lovells.

  • Series

    Being A Magician Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I've developed as a lifelong magician have translated directly into tangible benefits in the courtroom because performing magic and trying cases both live at the intersection of psychology, storytelling, timing and disciplined rehearsal, says Mark Dombroff at Fox Rothschild.

  • Opinion

    Shareholder Derivative Litigation Needs A Better Framework

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    Uncoordinated, multiforum shareholder derivative litigation is a growing issue for corporate defendants that have little to no recourse for organizing and consolidating actions, but several commonsense steps should be utilized to preempt such disputes, say attorneys at Sullivan & Cromwell.

  • How Justices' TPS Ruling Affects Workforce Planning

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    The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent holding in Mullin v. Doe that courts lack jurisdiction to review temporary protected status determinations greenlights the end of TPS for thousands of Syrian and Haitian nationals, and means employers must reevaluate TPS-designees' employability while avoiding discriminatory document practices, says attorney Richard Herman.

  • How Cos. Can Prep For Ultra-Processed Food Legal Risks

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    A wave of litigation and government scrutiny directed against ultra-processed foods is now gaining momentum, following patterns seen previously in other industries — and food companies that recognize those patterns early will be better positioned to manage the increasing risks, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Series

    Bass Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Landing a trophy striped bass and closing a big deal both require cultivating the patience to finesse — not force — your way to desired outcomes, changing course when your old approach isn’t working and learning from the ones that got away, says Jon Ruiss at Alston & Bird.

  • Roundup

    The Most Talked-About Supreme Court Decisions Of 2026

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    This term, 11 U.S. Supreme Court decisions quickly became hot topics among Law360's guest writers.

  • What Ex-CFPB Head's Calif. Role May Foretell For Oversight

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    California Gov. Gavin Newsom's selection of former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Rohit Chopra to lead a new consumer agency signals tougher state financial services oversight, especially for fintechs, as well as heightened enforcement activity and larger penalties, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Immigration Ruling Maps Alternative To Universal Injunctions

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    A Rhode Island federal court's decision in Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island v. USCIS vacating policies that froze key immigration adjudications for nationals of 39 countries, and paused asylum applications altogether, suggests how practitioners might press for the Administrative Procedure Act's bad faith exception to record review and seek vacatur as a viable alternative to universal injunctions, says Kemal Hepsen at Mandamus Lawyers.

  • Lessons From EEOC Suit Over Coca-Cola Women-Only Event

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    The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's recent lawsuit alleging that Coca-Cola Northeast violated federal law by having a professional development retreat for female employees demonstrates that the EEOC is scrutinizing DEI-related practices with unprecedented intensity, so even the most well-intentioned programs may be challenged, say attorneys at Venable.

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