Food & Beverage

  • June 23, 2026

    DOJ Says USDA's 'Socially Disadvantaged' Waivers Unlawful

    The U.S. Department of Justice has determined that some of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's programs that waive fees for "socially disadvantaged" farmers unconstitutionally discriminate based on race and sex, according to an opinion released Monday.

  • June 23, 2026

    USDA Lacked Authority To Ban SNAP For Soda, Judge Says

    A D.C. federal judge has vacated U.S. Department of Agriculture approvals of waivers in five states that restrict purchases of sugary foods and drinks using food stamps, saying a section of law the USDA leaned on did not give the department authority to approve the efforts.

  • June 23, 2026

    Green Group Wants Records Behind Trump's Weed Killer Order

    An environmental organization on Monday sued the U.S. Department of Agriculture in D.C. federal court, seeking records behind President Donald Trump's executive order to hike the production of glyphosate, the active ingredient in the weed killer Roundup, an allegedly carcinogenic pesticide at the center of an imminent U.S. Supreme Court decision.

  • June 23, 2026

    Fla. Judge OKs Ch. 11 Sale Of Popeyes Restaurants For $16M

    A Florida bankruptcy judge on Tuesday approved a Popeyes franchisee's Chapter 11 sale, allowing a roughly $16 million sale of nearly 100 restaurants to five purchasers who secured winning bids at an auction earlier this month.

  • June 23, 2026

    Ga. Panel Keeps $1.8M Fall Verdict Against QuikTrip Intact

    The Georgia Court of Appeals upheld a $1.8 million jury award against QuikTrip Corp. in a slip-and-fall case, finding Tuesday the trial court rightly refused to cap damages at $75,000 or set aside the verdict as excessive.

  • June 23, 2026

    Peanut Butter M&M Allergy Suit Survives Despite Label

    Mars Inc. can't escape a woman's lawsuit claiming the candy company sold unreasonably dangerous peanut butter M&M's Minis that caused her to suffer a life-threatening allergic reaction, a Connecticut state judge ruled in a Monday order, saying her allegations are legally sufficient to survive in this stage.

  • June 23, 2026

    Chicken Buyers Say Costco Can't Ditch False Ad Suit

    A proposed class of consumers is urging a California federal court not to throw out their claims that Costco Wholesale Corp. falsely advertised its rotisserie chickens as having no preservatives, saying consumer expectation, not federal regulations, is what matters in the case.

  • June 23, 2026

    US Blocks WTO Appellate Body Selection Process Again

    The World Trade Organization failed again to begin the process of selecting members to the appellate body designed to settle disputes over WTO decisions, marking the 98th time that the initiative has been blocked by U.S.-led efforts, according to a news release Tuesday.

  • June 23, 2026

    EU Parliament Panels Advance Mexico Trade Agreement

    Two European Parliament committees signed off Tuesday on a reworked trade deal with Mexico that would remove nearly all tariffs on European agricultural goods imported into the country, setting up a full vote by Parliament.

  • June 22, 2026

    FTC Reaches 'Agreement In Principle' With Southern Glazer's

    A California federal judge hit pause Monday on the Federal Trade Commission's price discrimination lawsuit against Southern Glazer's Wine and Spirits LLC so the parties can hash out a tentative deal resolving the FTC's first, and now only, Robinson-Patman Act case in decades.

  • June 22, 2026

    17 States Sue Over Calif. Regulation Of Plastic Packaging

    Seventeen states and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors sued Golden State recycling regulators in California federal court Monday seeking to block a new state law regulating plastic packaging, slamming the law as California's "blatant and unprecedented attempt to impose its own policy preferences on the entire nation."

  • June 22, 2026

    No Trial For Splenda Maker, Scientist In Defamation Suit

    Splenda maker TC Heartland LLC and the scientist whom it accused of defamation were sent packing from North Carolina federal court Monday, after a judge found neither had offered evidence to overcome the other's First Amendment right to talk about scientific research.

  • June 22, 2026

    Sodexo Can't Wipe Out Worker's Nicotine Fee Suit

    A California federal judge refused to toss a Sodexo worker's proposed class action alleging the global food services company wrongly charged nicotine-using employees $1,200 more a year for health insurance, opening discovery on allegations that a wellness program implementing the surcharge didn't meet all federal requirements.

  • June 22, 2026

    Coffee Chain's New Openings Guzzled Revenue, Investor Says

    Arizona-based coffee chain Black Rock Coffee, its executives and initial public offering underwriters were hit with a proposed shareholder class action alleging they failed to disclose ahead of the offering that the company's rapid expansion was negatively impacting sales at existing stores.

  • June 22, 2026

    Boston Beer Settles With 2 Ex-Workers Over Noncompete

    Two former Boston Beer Co. sales representatives who sued the company over noncompete agreements have reached a settlement with the Sam Adams brewer, according to a Monday order.

  • June 22, 2026

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    The Delaware Chancery Court this past week handled disputes involving executive compensation, take-private transactions, books and records demands, tender offers and alleged insider misconduct.

  • June 22, 2026

    Stop & Shop Accused Of Flouting Mass. Pay Rule

    A former Stop & Shop employee says the supermarket chain is violating the Massachusetts Wage Act by failing to give terminated workers all owed pay on their final day of employment, according to a proposed class action filed in state court.

  • June 22, 2026

    Justices Decline Appeal Over Monster's $272M False Ad Win

    The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to review former Vital Pharmaceuticals CEO and Bang Energy founder Jack Owoc's pro se bid to undo Monster Energy Co.'s roughly $272 million false advertising win over claims that Bang drinks contained super creatine.

  • June 18, 2026

    Popeyes Franchisee Nears Restaurants Sale In Fla. Ch. 11

    A Popeyes franchisee inched closer to selling dozens of restaurants in its Florida Chapter 11 following last-minute tweaks to a proposed order after objections from several companies raised questions on whether a sale would result in negative proceeds for the debtor. 

  • June 18, 2026

    Starbucks Hit With Claims Of Forced Labor In Brazil Again

    Starbucks knowingly profits from an "entrenched system" of human trafficking, child labor and slaverylike working conditions among coffee suppliers in Brazil, alleges eight workers' proposed class action filed Thursday in Washington federal court.

  • June 18, 2026

    'Mortified' Atty Takes Blame For Fake Quotes In Taco TM Fight

    A Connecticut attorney facing possible sanctions over fake case quotations in a taco restaurant trademark fight told a federal judge that he takes "full and unqualified responsibility" for the flawed filings, saying he is "mortified" and acknowledging that his verification process for AI-assisted legal work fell far short.

  • June 18, 2026

    Judge Extends Block On Wis. Tribe Nonmember Fishing Ban

    A Wisconsin judge says the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians' decision to block nonmember fishing in 19 lakes within its reservation goes against a status quo held for generations, and allowing a last-minute disruption will confuse the public during this year's fishing season.

  • June 18, 2026

    DHS Says Dairy Farmers Can Access H-2A Visas

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has clarified that dairy-related positions may qualify for the H-2A temporary visa program for agricultural workers based on whether an employer needs temporary labor.

  • June 18, 2026

    Pennsylvania Skill Games Ruling Ups Ante For New Rules

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court's recent ruling that skill games are subject to the same oversight as slot machines is a catalyst for lawmakers to craft a taxation and regulation framework and fuel a revenue boost Gov. Josh Shapiro has envisioned for years, experts tell Law360.

  • June 18, 2026

    Costco Seeks Coverage For Chicken Drippings Slip-And-Fall

    A Liberty Mutual unit must defend and indemnify Costco against an underlying suit filed by a California man who said he was injured when he slipped on rotisserie chicken drippings, the bulk retailer said in a suit removed to Washington federal court.

Expert Analysis

  • Del. Dispatch: Workplace Sexual Misconduct Liability In Flux

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    Following the Delaware Court of Chancery's recent contradictory rulings in sexual misconduct cases involving eXp World, Credit Glory and McDonald's, it's now unclear when directors' or officers' fiduciary duties may be implicated in cases of their own or others' sexual misconduct against employees, say attorneys at Fried Frank.

  • Opinion

    SNAP Rule Confusion Risks A Compliance Crisis

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    Recent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food restriction waivers pose a compliance crisis for legal practitioners advising food retailers, amid higher costs and lack of a coherent national standard, says Tyson-Lord Gray at Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

  • Series

    Trivia Competition Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Playing trivia taught me to quickly absorb information and recognize when I've learned what I'm expected to know, training me in the crucial skills needed to be a good attorney, and reminding me to be gracious in defeat, says Jonah Knobler at Patterson Belknap.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: What Cross-Selling Truly Takes

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    Early-career attorneys may struggle to introduce clients to practitioners in other specialties, but cross-selling becomes easier once they know why it’s vital to their first years of practice, which mistakes to avoid and how to anticipate clients' needs, say attorneys at Moses & Singer.

  • Ariz. Uber Verdict Has Implications Beyond Ride-Hailing Cos.

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    When an Arizona federal jury in Jaylyn Dean v. Uber Technologies recently ordered Uber to pay $8.5 million to a woman who said she was sexually assaulted by her driver, their most important finding — that the driver was Uber's agent — could have huge consequences for future litigation involving platform-based businesses, says Michael Epstein at The Epstein Law Firm.

  • Series

    Judges On AI: Practical Use Cases In Chambers

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    U.S. Magistrate Judge Allison Goddard in the Southern District of California discusses how she uses generative artificial intelligence tools in chambers to make work more efficient and effective — from editing jury instructions for clarity to summarizing key documents.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: February Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy discusses four recent rulings from November and December, and identifies practice tips from cases involving the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act and Missouri unjust enrichment claims, the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, the Class Action Fairness Act, and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

  • Series

    Trail Running Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Navigating the muddy, root-filled path of trail marathons and ultramarathons provides fertile training ground for my high-stakes fractional general counsel work, teaching me to slow down my mind when the terrain shifts, sharpen my focus and trust my training, says Eric Proos at Next Era Legal.

  • Opinion

    Justices' Monsanto Decision May Fix A Preemption Mistake

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    In Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, the U.S. Supreme Court will address whether federal law preempts states' label-based failure-to-warn claims when federal regulators have not required a warning — and its decision could correct a long-standing misinterpretation of a prior high court ruling, thus ending myriad meritless state law personal injury claims, says Lawrence Ebner at Capital Appellate.

  • What Rescheduling Means For Cannabis Labels, Marketing

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    The proposed reclassification of cannabis is expected to bring heightened scrutiny of labeling, advertising and marketing from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission, but the brands that tighten evidence, standardize operations and professionalize marketing controls now will see fewer surprises and better outcomes, say attorneys at Wilson Elser.

  • Malpractice Claim Assignability Continues To Divide Courts

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    Recent decisions from courts across the country demonstrate how different jurisdictions balance competing policy interests in determining whether legal malpractice claims can be assigned, providing a framework to identify when and how to challenge any attempted assignment, says Christopher Blazejewski at Sherin & Lodgen.

  • Series

    Teaching Logic Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Teaching middle and high school students the skills to untangle complicated arguments and identify faulty reasoning has made me reacquaint myself with the defined structure of thought, reminding me why logic should remain foundational in the practice of law, says Tom Barrow at Woods Rogers.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Practicing Resilience

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    Resilience is a skill acquired through daily practices that focus on learning from missteps, recovering quickly without internalizing defeat and moving forward with intention, says Nicholas Meza at Quarles & Brady.

  • Takeaways From The DOJ Fraud Section's 2025 Year In Review

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    Former acting Principal Deputy Chief Sean Tonolli of the U.S. Department of Justice's Fraud Section, now at Cahill Gordon, analyzes key findings from the section’s annual report — including the changes implemented to adapt to the new administration’s priorities — and lays out what to watch for this year.

  • New State Regs On PFAS In Products Complicate Compliance

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    The new year brought new bans and reporting requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in half a dozen states — in many cases, targeting specific consumer product categories — so manufacturers, distributors and retailers must not only monitor their own supply chains, but also coordinate to ensure compliance, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

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