NY Court Faults 'Woebegone' $71M Tupi Award Challenge

By Caroline Simson

A New York federal judge has enforced a $71 million arbitral award issued to a Petrobras-managed Dutch consortium in a long-running offshore oil dispute, in a case that she said "proves" that parties that eschew litigation in favor of arbitration "are making a huge mistake."

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Wells Fargo Customers Denied Class Cert. In Cash Sweep Suit

By Craig Clough

A California federal judge determined Friday a proposed class of Wells Fargo customers accusing the bank of underpaying interest on cash sweep accounts can't be certified as of now because better inquiries are required into the statute of limitations in each potential member's state of residence.

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PACER Fees Will Rise To Fund Cyber Defense Upgrades

By Bonnie Eslinger

The federal judiciary announced Friday it will temporarily increase the fees for electronic access to court records to pay for a potential $800 million upgrade that will modernize and strengthen court records systems PACER and CM/ECF, an upgrade it previously said is needed to respond to escalating cyberattacks.

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King & Spalding Insists On Fraud Suit Pause Amid 'Conflicts'

By Brian Steele

King & Spalding LLP has urged a Connecticut state court to keep its involvement in a $300 million fraud lawsuit on hold while it challenges the denial of its attorneys' withdrawal from representing several individual defendants, citing "serious, nonwaivable conflicts of interest" that will prevent the firm from proceeding.

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Texas Justices Revive Fraud Suit Over Criminal Defense Fees

By Spencer Brewer

The Texas Supreme Court gave a man convicted of aggravated assault another chance to claim his defense attorneys are liable for fraud, saying Friday that the doctrine that generally bars criminal defendants from suing their attorneys doesn't immunize defense counsel from tort claims.

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Firm Beats DQ Bid Over Deposition In Housing Authority Suit

By Rose Krebs

A Connecticut judge has denied a bid to disqualify Rose Kallor LLP from representing a Connecticut housing authority and related entities in litigation accusing a former employee of misappropriating funds, saying the ex-employee hasn't shown the firm or two of its attorneys should be barred from the case at this time.

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Homebuilder Says Colo. Atty Took Its Info To Adversary Firm

By Rachel Konieczny

A Colorado lawyer who represented a homebuilding company for more than a decade stole tens of thousands of the company's files when he went to work for a law firm that is a regular adversary to the homebuilder, the company alleged in Colorado state court. 

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Messner Reeves Says $8.3M Fraud Suit Repeats Utah Case

By Zach Dupont

Colorado law firm Messner Reeves LLP has claimed in federal court that a lawsuit accusing it of stealing more than $8 million as part of a fraudulent loan scheme should be dismissed because the plaintiffs' Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act claims were dismissed by another court with prejudice.

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Mass. High Court Says Procedural Flaw Can't Sink Arb. Award

By Julie Manganis

An arbitrator did not exceed his authority in ordering partial recoupment of payments made by a general contractor to a subcontractor amid a dispute over invoices, Massachusetts' highest court said Friday.

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Brief

Seller Of Cape Cod Inn Says Buyer Stiffed It Out Of $7.5M

By Julie Manganis

The former owners of a historic Cape Cod hotel said in a lawsuit filed in state court Thursday that the buyer defaulted on a $7.5 million seller promissory note, then resold the property and kept the proceeds.

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Insurer Says NJ Atty Sank Coverage By Not Cooperating

By Christine DeRosa

Hanover Insurance Co. has asked a New Jersey federal court for a declaratory judgment finding that it doesn't have to defend an attorney and his firm in a suit over a real estate deal gone wrong, telling the court that the attorney refuses to cooperate with the firm it hired to defend him in the underlying suit.

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Jeep Fire-Risk Suit Sends 15 Drivers' Claims To Arbitration

By Susan Smiley

Some Jeep Wrangler 4xe and Grand Cherokee drivers alleging the batteries in the plug-in hybrids are at risk of spontaneously catching fire and exploding must arbitrate their claims, a Michigan federal judge has ruled, saying that 15 members of the proposed class must adhere to an arbitration agreement.

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Contractor Not Liable For 'Obvious Danger': Texas Justices

By Spencer Brewer

The Texas Supreme Court did away with an injured roofer's $4.6 million verdict against a general contractor, saying Friday that an independent contractor like the roofer cannot recover in the case of an "open and obvious danger."

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American Airlines Passenger Says Employee Broke Her Arm

By Y. Peter Kang

An American Airlines employee repeatedly ignored warnings about a passenger's medical condition while rendering assistance which resulted in a severe arm fracture, according to a suit filed Friday in Texas federal court.

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Fla. Judge Won't Lift Asset Freeze In $91M Fake Benefits Suit

By Grace Elletson

A Florida federal judge declined a request to lift a freeze on two siblings' assets after the Federal Trade Commission accused them of orchestrating a $91 million fraudulent health benefits scheme, ruling they need to find other ways to pay their attorneys.

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Discovery Dispute Mounts In Boeing Moon Exploration IP Suit

By Emily Sawicki

A Colorado-based aerospace company is seeking expanded discovery in its ongoing intellectual property suit accusing The Boeing Co. of stealing patented technology for a NASA moon exploration program after repeatedly complaining that the company has failed to meet its duty to provide documents and depositions.

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NC Judge Won't Block Ex-Sales Team's Rival Venture, For Now

By Hayley Fowler

An office technology provider can't block a group of former sales representatives from running a rival business, which it claims they're doing by violating their noncompete agreements and using its trade secrets, after a federal judge said he'd wait until both sides can weigh in.

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Louis Vuitton Wins Sanctions In Conn. Flea Market IP Fight

By Hailey Konnath

A Connecticut federal judge on Friday agreed to sanction a New Haven flea market operator accused of continuing to sell counterfeit Louis Vuitton goods despite a 2018 settlement in which it agreed to stop, finding that the operator failed to comply with a discovery order in a timely manner.

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Caesars Expands Maine Tribal IGaming Agreement Amid Suit

By Crystal Owens

Caesars Entertainment Inc. says it has expanded an existing partnership with three of Maine's Wabanaki Nations to include online casino gambling within the state, with a launch date this year, pending regulatory approvals.

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Mich. Crane Rental Co. Owes Union Funds $43K, Judge Says

By Emily Brill

A Michigan crane rental company must pay about $43,000 to a group of union benefit funds, a Michigan federal judge has ruled, agreeing with the funds that the company didn't uphold the contribution obligations outlined in its collective bargaining agreement and a 2018 memorandum of understanding.

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Sonora Says Auto Parts Suppliers Forced $3.2M Overpayment

By Susan Smiley

A Mexico-based Tier 1 auto parts supplier filed a counterclaim in Michigan federal court on Friday, claiming a group of manufacturer-suppliers that brought a breach of contract suit "extorted" more than $3 million in retroactive price increases and threatened to halt production.

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Roundup

UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

By Laura Stewart Liberty

The past week in London has seen Michelle Mone sued by PPE Medpro, Broadfield Law sued by the founders of an international aid company, and litigation funder Fortress bring a claim against Edwin Coe and businesses the law firm represented in a cartel claim.

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As Quantum Computing Evolves, So Do Antitrust Risks

Amid quantum computing's increased strategic importance there are five potential antitrust fault lines that may arise not only between quantum developers, but also within and across the layers of the stack as the industry matures, say attorneys at Proskauer.

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Justices' Montgomery Ruling Doesn't Expand Shipper Liability

Whether negligent hiring liability claims against shippers will increase after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last month in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II is anyone's guess, but the ruling itself will have no impact on shippers' actual liability in personal injury claims relating to trucking accidents, says Ronald Leibman at McCarter & English.

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Opinion

State Courts Must Be Gatekeepers Of Expert Testimony

Based on my experience in the state judiciary, emulating federal courts' role as gatekeepers of expert witness testimony would help state court judges maintain the appearance of impartiality and assist juries, thus enhancing the overall confidence people have in their justice system, says Lorie Gildea at Greenberg Traurig.

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Justices Strike Down Humphrey's Presidential Firing Limits

By Katie Buehler

The president has unlimited authority to fire members of independent agencies, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday in a major win for President Donald Trump's campaign against officials at the Federal Trade Commission and beyond.

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Insurer Says Firm, Atty Not Covered For Malpractice Claim

By Hope Patti

A Georgia law firm and attorney are not entitled to coverage for a legal malpractice claim brought by a former client who said their handling of an underlying lawsuit resulted in a nearly $600,000 default judgment against him, the firm's professional liability insurer told a federal court.

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Harris Beach Murtha To Combine With Peabody & Arnold

By Christine DeRosa

Harris Beach Murtha Cullina PLLC is set to expand its footprint in the Northeast through a combination with Boston firm Peabody & Arnold LLP.

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Greenberg Traurig Hires Nuclear Commission Veteran In DC

By Jack Rodgers

Greenberg Traurig LLP has hired a U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission leader, who spent 18 years there, most recently as deputy assistant general counsel for materials, fuel cycle and waste programs, the firm announced Monday.

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Ex-Pa. AG, Trump Defense Firm Want Malpractice Claims Axed

By James Boyle

An elections nonprofit is seeking to keep alive its malpractice claim against the former acting attorney general of Pennsylvania and his firm, van der Veen Hartshorn & Levin, filing a quick response over the weekend to a motion to dismiss its amended complaint in Pennsylvania federal court.

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Justice Jackson Tops High Court Book Earnings In 2025

By Ryan Boysen

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made nearly $1.2 million in book royalties last year, bringing her total to $4.14 million and making her the most highly compensated author on the high court, according to financial disclosure forms released Monday.

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Brief

NC 'Faithful Slaves' Monument Suit To End In Settlement

By Abigail Harrison

North Carolina residents are nearing a settlement in their lawsuit against a county alleging a monument that commemorates "faithful slaves" considered loyal to the South during the Civil War is unconstitutional, according to a notice filed in North Carolina federal court.

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Analysis

The End Of An 'Independent' FTC

By Bryan Koenig

Federal Trade Commission members, responsible for merger review, antitrust enforcement, consumer protection safeguards and rulemaking, and industry analysis, no longer serve at a remove from presidential authority, thanks to Monday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could dramatically remake the FTC and other independent agencies.

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Judge Limits Vegas Trip For BigLaw Insider Trading Defendant

By Julie Manganis

A Massachusetts federal magistrate judge said Monday a defendant described by prosecutors as a "lynchpin" in the BigLaw insider trading case must limit a planned visit to Las Vegas next month to just two nights, saying she also has "concerns about the validity" of a financial statement he provided to obtain a federal defender.

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