3rd Circ. Sides With Nuclear Plant Co. In Union Benefits Fight

By Kellie Mejdrich

The Third Circuit on Monday sided with a nuclear power company in a dispute with an electrical workers union over contributions to employee healthcare premiums, holding that the union couldn't force issues out of court because their disagreement was outside the scope of the collective bargaining agreement's arbitration provision.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Progressive Escapes Workers' Tobacco, Vaccine Fee Suit

By Kellie Mejdrich

Allegations that Progressive Corp. wrongly charged higher health premiums from workers who used tobacco or refused the COVID-19 vaccination failed to state a claim for violating federal benefits law, an Ohio federal judge ruled as he tossed a proposed class action against the insurance giant.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Health Insurers Can't Force Conn. ERISA Row Into Arbitration

By Gianna Ferrarin

Elevance Inc. can't compel arbitration of a union health plan's allegations the insurer caused it to pay excessive administrative fees and medical costs, a Connecticut federal judge ruled, finding the insurer and its subsidiaries waived that right by seeking to dismiss the proposed class action.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Chemical Co. Beats Suit Over Pension Plan's Mortality Data

By Patrick Hoff

Chemical manufacturer Olin Corp. has defeated a proposed class action alleging it shortchanged retirees' pension payments by relying on decades-old mortality data, with a Missouri federal judge saying federal benefits law doesn't dictate the information employers should use to calculate their plans' actuarial estimates.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Chicago Can't Ditch Airline Group's Sick Leave Law Challenge

By Irene Spezzamonte

An organization representing the largest U.S. airlines supported its claims that Chicago's new paid sick leave law could affect air carriers' business, an Illinois federal judge said, keeping alive the group's challenge to the law.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

BJ's Says Pension Fund Oversteps With Climate Study Ask

By Julie Manganis

BJ's Wholesale Club told a Massachusetts federal judge that it cannot be forced to poll shareholders on whether the retailer should study the effects of deforestation on its supply chains, calling it an improper attempt at "micromanagement."

Memorandum attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

J&J Amici Seek Clarity On Goldman Precedent For Class Cert.

By Jarek Rutz

Four groups of amici have urged the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Johnson & Johnson's challenge to a Third Circuit decision allowing a securities class action over its talc products to proceed, warning the ruling could reshape how shareholder suits are litigated nationwide.

4 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trucking Co. Denied H-2A Workers Overtime, Suit Says

By Benjamin Morse

A Texas trucking company denied H-2A workers overtime pay and misrepresented the nature of their work to qualify for the federal visa program, according to a proposed collective action filed Monday in federal court.

Complaint attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Labor & Employment Head Named Next Morgan Lewis Chair

By Tracey Read

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP announced Monday that the global leader of its labor and employment practice was unanimously elected as the firm's next chair to take over for Jami McKeon, who will retire at the end of the year.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Social Media Atty Sanctioned For 'Most Shameful Moment'

By Craig Clough

A California judge on Monday sanctioned an attorney for the plaintiff in a bellwether trial alleging Meta Platforms and Google's social media platforms harm children's mental health, fining him $1,100 and keeping him off the plaintiffs' steering committee for violating court rules by twice filming inside the courthouse.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

NJ Judges Name US Atty In Apparent End To Leadership Fight

By Jake Maher

The New Jersey federal court on Monday appointed a career federal prosecutor to serve as U.S. attorney for the Garden State in what appears to end a lengthy standoff between district judges and the U.S. Department of Justice over leadership of the office.

Order attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Immigration Judges To Challenge Their Firing At Fed. Circ.

By Britain Eakin

Attorneys for a pair of fired immigration judges said Monday they will ask the Federal Circuit to review a federal panel ruling that stripped them of civil service protections, warning of a dramatic expansion of presidential authority over the civil workforce.

Opinion attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Day Pitney Fights DQ Over Ex-Justice's Time On Case He Heard

By Aaron Keller

Day Pitney LLP has apologized after former Connecticut Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard A. Robinson, now a firm partner, billed 15.7 hours for reviewing a since-remanded case he heard years ago as a justice, but the firm said the "error" should not disqualify its other lawyers from advancing the litigation. 

3 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Reed Smith Pushes To Continue Atty Depo In NJ Bias Suit

By Jake Maher

Reed Smith LLP is urging a New Jersey state trial court to allow it to resume its deposition of a former attorney suing it for gender discrimination years after the last deposition date in the wake of an appeals court decision widely expanding the scope of discovery.

Brief attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Ramey IP Attys, Client Must Pay $107K Fees In Bad-Faith Suit

By Emily Sawicki

A San Francisco federal judge has ordered three sanctioned attorneys, including Texas intellectual property lawyer William Ramey III, together with their client, to cover $107,389 in attorney fees stemming from three identical patent suits the lawyers launched and withdrew in 2024, also ordering Ramey to show cause why he should not face further sanctions.

2 documents attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Roundup

Injury Law Roundup: Meta Atty Uses Jane Doe Plaintiff's Name

By Y. Peter Kang

A Meta attorney's gaffe and Mark Zuckerberg's testimony in the closely watched social media addiction bellwether trial, and an announced $7.25 billion settlement by Bayer over Roundup weedkiller claims, lead Law360's Injury Law Roundup.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

By Jarek Rutz

The Delaware Chancery Court's docket this past week featured high-stakes disputes involving major consumer brands, a reinstated video game executive, revived noncompete and compensation claims and fresh allegations of corporate misconduct in the healthcare sector.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »