Southern Co. Can't Toss ERISA Fight 11th Circ. Revived

By Kellie Mejdrich

A Georgia federal judge Monday refused to toss a proposed class action from Southern Co. pensioners who alleged their annuity benefits were shortchanged due to outdated mortality data used in conversions, holding allegations were plausible that the conduct breached duties of prudence and loyalty under federal benefits law.

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United Airlines Escapes Ex-Pilot's Military Bias Lawsuit

By Patrick Hoff

United Airlines defeated a former pilot's lawsuit alleging it unlawfully refused to reinstate him following a lengthy furlough he took to serve in the Air Force Reserve, with an Illinois federal judge ruling he hadn't provided evidence that anti-military bias tainted the airline's decision.

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Fintech Platform Stiffed Acting CEO On Way Out, Suit Says

By Julie Manganis

A former interim leader at financial technology platform Advisor360 said in a lawsuit filed in Massachusetts state court that he was promised a retroactive pay bump for stepping into what was effectively an interim CEO role last year, only to be ousted after he sought to enforce the deal.

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Ohio AG Asks To Streamline Drug Pricing Suit

By Aneeta Mathur-Ashton

The attorney general of Ohio is seeking to amend its complaint accusing Express Scripts and several related entities of conspiring to raise prescription drug prices.

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Kirkland Adds Ex-Latham Atty To Exec Compensation Team

By James Boyle

Kirkland & Ellis LLP recently expanded its Washington, D.C., office with the addition of a former Latham & Watkins LLP partner who specializes in advising clients on compensation matters in corporate transactions.

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High Court Disbars Judicial Watch Founder Larry Klayman

By David Minsky

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday disbarred Judicial Watch founder and Florida conservative activist attorney Larry Klayman following his 18-month suspension issued last year by the D.C. Court of Appeals. 

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Firms Must Face RICO Claims In Asbestos Fraud Suit

By Emily Field

An Illinois federal judge on Friday held that Simmons Hanly Conroy LLP and Sokolove Law must face racketeering claims brought by a Los Angeles industrial pipe manufacturer alleging that the firms brought baseless asbestos claims, finding that an antitrust doctrine shielding those who petition the courts does not apply.

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DOJ's Civil Division Head Joins Agency Exits After Midterms

By Jack Karp

The leader of the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Division, Brett A. Shumate, on Monday became at least the fifth top DOJ official to step down following Republicans' defeat in last week's midterm elections.

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Trump Eyes OLC Chief For Texas Judgeship After Midterms

By Courtney Bublé

President Donald Trump is considering the head of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel for a federal judgeship in Texas, a process that started right after the Democrats won big in last week's midterm elections.

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Goldstein Says Gov't Conceded Key Trial Errors

By Jared Foretek

SCOTUSblog co-founder Thomas Goldstein told the Fourth Circuit that the federal prosecutors who netted 12 tax and mortgage fraud convictions effectively conceded they hid evidence by steering a key witness to new testimony mid-trial and had reversed their stance on jury instructions, two key issues in Goldstein's appeal.

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AAA Says Consumers' Monopoly Claims Lack Factual Support

By Caroline Simson

The American Arbitration Association is lashing out against consumers who accuse the institution of monopolizing the consumer arbitration services market, telling a federal judge on Monday that they should be sanctioned for including "false, misleading, and unsupported allegations" in an amended complaint.

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Wash. Panel Nixes $10K Sanctions On Monsanto PCB Attys

By Rachel Riley

A Washington Court of Appeals panel has overturned a combined $10,000 in sanctions against four attorneys who defended Monsanto from chemical poisoning claims, concluding Monday that the trial court overstepped its authority by personally punishing the lawyers for late disclosure of expert witnesses.

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Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

By Jarek Rutz

The Delaware Chancery Court last week cleared the way for Cloudflare Inc. to seek immediate review of an injunction blocking a stock restructuring designed to preserve its founders' control, while setting a January hearing in a similar dispute over Meta Platforms Inc.'s plan to create nonvoting shares.

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