DOL, Defense Research Co. Settle ESOP Stock Sale Fight

By Kellie Mejdrich

An Alabama federal judge agreed to stay a U.S. Department of Labor enforcement case against a research company that allegedly mismanaged an employee stock ownership plan, after the parties reported a settlement of their dispute.

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Telecom Co. Slapped With Tobacco Fee Suit

By Grace Elletson

A former telecommunications company worker told an Arkansas federal court the business failed to properly reimburse workers who paid an extra benefit plan fee for using tobacco, arguing the company created inequities through a tobacco cessation program.

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CalPERS, States Urge SEC To Keep Adviser Pay-To-Play Rule

By Jessica Corso

State officials and public pensions, including the California Public Employees' Retirement System, are urging the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission not to get rid of a 15-year-old rule blocking investment advisers that donate to certain political campaigns from working with municipal and state funds, arguing it protects retirees from corruption.

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Josh Cellars Parent Owes Ex-President Royalties, Jury Told

By Aaron Keller

The companies behind Josh Cellars wines breached an agreement to distribute trademark royalties to a former company president who owned 20% of a holding entity, all because the family that controlled the brand wanted to keep the money for themselves, a Connecticut jury heard Tuesday.

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Woman Accused Of Helping Steal Retirement Fund Cops Plea

By David Aaro

A former contract worker for investment manager Vanguard Group Inc. pled guilty in Georgia federal court Tuesday to bank fraud, about 14 months after being indicted for her alleged role in stealing $450,000 from a retirement account.

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Government Contractor Settles Hartford Premium Hike Suit

By Tom Lotshaw

Government contractor Sciolex Corp. has settled a lawsuit accusing Hartford insurance units of misclassifying its workers and inflating its workers' compensation insurance premiums.

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Blue Cross Appeals Denial Of Ford Health Benefits Discovery

By Susan Smiley

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has asked a federal judge to reconsider a magistrate judge's ruling that rebuffed its attempt to obtain discovery from Ford Motor Co. and rejected its requests for additional depositions in an antitrust lawsuit brought by the automaker.

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Planning Personal Phone Collections Before Discovery Begins

For counsel planning a personal phone collection as part of the litigation discovery process, it's important to take early steps to ensure that necessary information will be obtained without exposing unrelated information or running into access issues, says Jeremy Horowitz at MARA Forensics.

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How A Child Of Immigrants Defends Abrego Garcia

By Corey Rothauser

Hecker Fink attorney Jeffrey Then grew up translating English-language letters for customers at his Dominican immigrant family’s Bronx business. Decades later, he drew on that experience while defending Kilmar Abrego Garcia from federal human smuggling charges, becoming a lifeline for Abrego Garcia during his detention.

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Q&A

John Morgan On Why Luck Matters More Than Most Admit

By Y. Peter Kang

John Morgan, founder of personal injury giant Morgan & Morgan PA, built the largest personal injury firm in the U.S., with 1,110 attorneys in 140 locations. In his new memoir, "Life Is Luck," the attorney who Forbes estimates has a net worth of $1.5 billion argues that success is about more than talent, intelligence or determination. It is also about recognizing opportunities, taking risks and capitalizing on fortunate breaks when they appear.

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Wachtell To Probe Nvidia CEO's Affair With Alleged China Spy

By Anna Scott Farrell and Sue Reisinger

Nvidia has hired Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz to lead an investigation into allegations that its founder and CEO had an affair with a business executive who U.S. intelligence believes is a Chinese spy, the artificial intelligence chipmaker said Tuesday.

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Grassley Defends Rush To Confirm Trump Judicial Picks

By Courtney Bublé

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday defended how quickly the committee is moving to confirm President Donald Trump's judicial picks before Democrats control the Senate.

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Trump Swaps Out Blocked 8th Circ. Nominee With Ark. Justice

By Courtney Bublé

President Donald Trump on Tuesday withdrew his pick for the Eighth Circuit and replaced him with a different nominee amid apparent opposition from Arkansas' senators. 

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Girardi Estate's $54M Claim Put Behind Other Creditors

By Craig Clough

The trustees overseeing Tom Girardi's and his former law firm's bankruptcies struck a deal to put their claims against each other behind other approved general unsecured claims, according to a California bankruptcy court filing, with the firm's trustee saying neither estate is expected to collect on those claims.

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