Hospitality

  • December 05, 2024

    Dunkin' Fruit-Named Drinks Have No Fruit, False Ad Suit Says

    Dunkin' falsely markets its "Refresher" line of caffeinated beverages with names of specific fruits despite not containing any of the fruits, cheating consumers out of the "premium" fruit ingredients and their health benefits, alleges a new proposed false advertising class action filed Wednesday in New York federal court.

  • December 05, 2024

    Airbnb Customers Drop 'Assistance Fee' Suit Against Insurers

    A proposed class of Airbnb customers permanently dropped a suit accusing two of the company's insurance providers of violating Washington state law by charging an "assistance fee" when selling travel coverage.

  • December 05, 2024

    Worker Claims Four Seasons Cheated Employees On Wages

    A former Four Seasons employee said the hotel chain cheated Los Angeles employees out of wages, telling a California state court that employees weren't paid for all hours worked.

  • December 04, 2024

    Mich. Justices Doubt Shareholder Agreement Bars Debt

    A chorus of Michigan Supreme Court justices on Wednesday appeared skeptical that a sister could claim her brother's ski resort company breached an agreement for shareholder redemption by taking out debt that altered her share redemption price, pressing her attorney as to how the contract prevented the company from doing so.

  • December 04, 2024

    Starbucks Brass Face Derivative Suit Over 'Reinvention' Flop

    Officers and directors of coffee chain Starbucks are facing shareholder derivative claims over the company's so-called Triple Shot Reinvention strategy after the company disappointed the markets in April with updates about the plan.

  • December 03, 2024

    Hyatt's Appeal Of $177M Sex Assault Verdict Fails

    A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday affirmed a $177 million verdict in a suit alleging that Hyatt Corp. caused a female guest's in-room sexual assault by a hotel security guard, saying the jury's $149 million punitive damages award was supported by the hotel's "conscious disregard" for its guests' rights.

  • December 03, 2024

    Sanctions Stick Against Colorado Gear Seller And Its Attys

    A Washington appellate court has upheld about $500,000 in sanctions against an equipment manufacturer and its former counsel, Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska LLP, for failing to disclose information in a dispute over a rock climber's fall at a Seattle gym — including a defense attorney's 38 visits to the accident site.

  • December 03, 2024

    California Tribe Says Feds Didn't Consult On Casino Project

    A California tribe is looking to block the U.S. Department of Interior from approving a casino project on its historic homelands, arguing that the federal government failed to consult it on the endeavor that will irreparably harm its sovereignty and its rights over sacred objects located on the site.

  • December 03, 2024

    Timeshare Co. Argues Jury Never Should've Seen Fraud Suit

    A company selling timeshares in Atlantic City, New Jersey, told a state appeals court Tuesday that a consumer fraud suit never should have reached a jury, arguing that an evidence rule bars the claims.

  • December 02, 2024

    McDonalds Can't Nix $10B Bias Suit Despite 'Close Call'

    A California federal judge has refused to hand a summary judgment win to either party in Byron Allen's $10 billion lawsuit alleging that McDonald's Corp. discriminates against Black-owned media companies, finding that the discrimination allegations are a "close call" involving factual disputes that must be decided at trial.

  • December 02, 2024

    FIFA Says Saudi Arabia A Promising World Cup Host

    FIFA has released a report saying Saudi Arabia's bid to host the men's 2034 World Cup is a "very strong" proposition with only "medium" human rights risks, moving the Middle Eastern country and single bidder closer to becoming the designee.

  • December 02, 2024

    Ark. Governor Wants Out Of Cherokee Casino License Row

    Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is asking a federal district court to be removed as a defendant and for an overall dismissal of a challenge to a state amendment that revoked a Cherokee Nation business' casino license, arguing the Oklahoma tribe doesn't have any property interest in the case.

  • November 27, 2024

    Ex-Disney Cruise Line Employee's Claim Sent To London

    A Florida federal judge has ordered a former Disney Cruise Line employee to arbitrate in London his claim that the company wrongly fired him after he twice tested positive for marijuana, disagreeing with the man that Disney had waited too long to file its bid for arbitration.

  • November 27, 2024

    Biden Administration Adds 65K Additional H-2B Work Visas

    The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it has created a temporary rule to add 64,716 additional temporary H-2B work visas for the third year in a row to be doled out to businesses struggling with staffing issues. 

  • November 27, 2024

    Burger King Franchisee Can Tap AIG For BIPA Suit, Eventually

    An Illinois federal judge ruled Tuesday that an AIG subsidiary has a duty to defend a Burger King franchisee in a suit brought by employees claiming its timekeeping practices violated Illinois' biometric privacy law, but only after the limits of all other insurance have been exhausted.

  • November 26, 2024

    Ukrainian Man Admits To $25M Staffing, Tax Scheme

    A Ukrainian man who was recently extradited to the U.S. to face charges that he helped illegally employ immigrants in Florida hotels pled guilty to tax crimes that prosecutors say caused $25 million in tax losses, according to Florida federal court filings.

  • November 26, 2024

    Surgeon Acquitted Of Wire Fraud In Case Over $60M Fla. Hotel

    A Florida federal jury has acquitted a Colombian surgeon of wire fraud conspiracy following a trial over the government's allegations that he defrauded investors through a Ponzi-like scheme involving a $60 million luxury hotel project in one of Miami-Dade County's high-end neighborhoods.

  • November 25, 2024

    Judge Bemoans 'Chaotic' Contracts In Jack Nicklaus IP Case

    The New York state judge presiding over golf legend Jack Nicklaus' intellectual property lawsuit on Monday signaled he may not be able to untangle a set of contradictory contracts, which could lead to a trial over who can use the "Golden Bear's" name and likeness.

  • November 25, 2024

    9th Circ. Upholds Nixing Convention Center's Coverage Suit

    The Ninth Circuit backed the dismissal of a Seattle convention center operator's suit seeking coverage for pandemic-related losses, saying Monday that COVID-19 and resulting government shutdown orders did not cause the requisite physical loss or damage to the center to trigger coverage.

  • November 25, 2024

    Topgolf Cuts Deal To Settle Server's Wage Suit

    Topgolf agreed to pay about $13,000 to settle a former food service worker's suit in Alabama federal court claiming it failed to pay her the full minimum wage for non-tip-generating work.

  • November 21, 2024

    Cherokee Look To Block Voter Group In Casino Mandate Row

    Two Cherokee Nation businesses suing Arkansas over a constitutional amendment revoking one of the tribal entities' casino gambling licenses want a federal judge to deny a bid to intervene in their suit by the group responsible for placing a ballot question before voters that repealed the license.

  • November 21, 2024

    9th Circ. Told $500K To Huizar Not Intended As Bribe

    A real estate developer convicted of bribing former Los Angeles City Councilor José Huizar with $500,000 for help overcoming challenges to a downtown project asked the Ninth Circuit for a new trial, arguing Thursday the lower court erroneously excluded evidence showing the developer didn't know the money would be used as a bribe.

  • November 21, 2024

    Oklahoma Tribe Asks DC Circ. To Revive Creek Land Lawsuit

    An Oklahoma tribe is asking the D.C. Court of Appeals to revive its challenge to a U.S. Department of the Interior decision that rejected the tribe's proposed liquor ordinance in a dispute over shared jurisdiction with the Muscogee Creek Nation, arguing federally recognized Indigenous nations should stand on equal footing.

  • November 21, 2024

    In Tight Vote, Senate Panel OKs Bill To Set New PTAB Limits

    The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday narrowly voted to advance a bill that would impose new restrictions on Patent Trial and Appeal Board challenges, with several members expressing concern that it could drive up the cost of prescription drugs.

  • November 21, 2024

    EzCater Fostered Discriminatory Workplace, Ex-Workers Say

    Four former employees of Boston-based ezCater are suing the online catering service, alleging that it engaged in discrimination based on their gender, race and pregnancy, then retaliated when they complained.

Expert Analysis

  • Opinion

    AI May Limit Key Learning Opportunities For Young Attorneys

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    The thing that’s so powerful about artificial intelligence is also what’s most scary about it — its ability to detect patterns may curtail young attorneys’ chance to practice the lower-level work of managing cases, preventing them from ever honing the pattern recognition skills that undergird creative lawyering, says Sarah Murray at Trialcraft.

  • Series

    Round-Canopy Parachuting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Similar to the practice of law, jumping from an in-flight airplane with nothing but training and a few yards of parachute silk is a demanding and stressful endeavor, and the experience has bolstered my legal practice by enhancing my focus, teamwork skills and sense of perspective, says Thomas Salerno at Stinson.

  • Why Now Is The Time For Law Firms To Hire Lateral Partners

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    Partner and associate mobility data from the second quarter of this year suggest that there's never been a better time in recent years for law firms to hire lateral candidates, particularly experienced partners — though this necessitates an understanding of potential red flags, say Julie Henson and Greg Hamman at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

  • Considering Possible PR Risks Of Certain Legal Tactics

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    Disney and American Airlines recently abandoned certain litigation tactics in two lawsuits after fierce public backlash, illustrating why corporate counsel should consider the reputational implications of any legal strategy and partner with their communications teams to preempt public relations concerns, says Chris Gidez at G7 Reputation Advisory.

  • It's No Longer Enough For Firms To Be Trusted Advisers

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    Amid fierce competition for business, the transactional “trusted adviser” paradigm from which most firms operate is no longer sufficient — they should instead aim to become trusted partners with their most valuable clients, says Stuart Maister at Strategic Narrative.

  • Expect More Restaurant Ch. 11s As COVID Debt Comes Due

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    The wave of restaurant bankruptcies is likely to continue in the coming months as companies face the looming repayment of COVID-19 pandemic-era government loans, an uncertain economy and increased interest rates, says Isaac Marcushamer at DGIM Law.

  • Complying With FTC's Final Rule On Sham Online Reviews

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    The Federal Trade Commission's final rule on deceptive acts and practices in online reviews and testimonials is effective Oct. 21, and some practice tips can help businesses avert noncompliance risks, say Airina Rodrigues and Jonathan Sandler at Brownstein Hyatt.

  • Assessing Algorithmic Versus Generative AI Pricing Tools

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    A comparison of traditional algorithmic pricing models and those powered by generative artificial intelligence can help regulators and practitioners weigh the pros and cons of relying on large language models to price products or services, say Maxime Cohen at McGill University, and Tim Spittle and Jimmy Royer at Analysis Group.

  • A Preview Of AI Priorities Under The Next President

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    For the first time in a presidential election, both of the leading candidates and their parties have been vocal about artificial intelligence policy, offering clues on the future of regulation as AI continues to advance and congressional action continues to stall, say attorneys at Mintz.

  • How Companies Are Approaching Insider Trading Policies

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    An analysis of insider trading policies recently disclosed by 49 S&P 500 companies under a new U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rule reveals that while specific provisions vary from company to company, certain common themes are emerging, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

  • How Methods Are Evolving In Textualist Interpretations

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    Textualists at the U.S. Supreme Court are increasingly considering new methods such as corpus linguistics and surveys to evaluate what a statute's text communicates to an ordinary reader, while lower courts even mull large language models like ChatGPT as supplements, says Kevin Tobia at Georgetown Law.

  • Why Attorneys Should Consider Community Leadership Roles

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    Volunteering and nonprofit board service are complementary to, but distinct from, traditional pro bono work, and taking on these community leadership roles can produce dividends for lawyers, their firms and the nonprofit causes they support, says Katie Beacham at Kilpatrick.

  • Firms Must Offer A Trifecta Of Services In Post-Chevron World

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    After the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision overturning Chevron deference, law firms will need to integrate litigation, lobbying and communications functions to keep up with the ramifications of the ruling and provide adequate counsel quickly, says Neil Hare at Dentons.

  • 5 Tips To Succeed In A Master Of Laws Program And Beyond

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    As lawyers and recent law school graduates begin their Master of Laws coursework across the country, they should keep a few pointers in mind to get the most out of their programs and kick-start successful careers in their practice areas, says Kelley Miller at Reed Smith.

  • Series

    Being An Opera Singer Made Me A Better Lawyer

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    My journey from the stage to the courtroom has shown that the skills I honed as an opera singer – punctuality, memorization, creativity and more – have all played a vital role in my success as an attorney, says Gerard D'Emilio at GableGotwals.

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