Real Estate Mogul Wants $51.2M Conn. Asset Freeze Reduced

By Aaron Keller

The chairman, secretary and chief financial officer of bankrupt construction management firm Gateway Development Group Inc. on Thursday asked a Connecticut judge to reconsider a $51.2 million asset freeze demanded by a Chapter 7 trustee and a minority shareholder, claiming "mathematical errors" warrant a $17 million reduction.

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

Hartford Cops' Assault Response Reveals Bias, Court Told

By Brian Steele

The city of Hartford's police department discriminates against women of color by failing to properly investigate their claims of sexual assault, counsel for a Connecticut state representative told a federal judge Thursday, while the municipality argued that she has not backed the allegation that the force is biased.

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

Mylan Must Face Generic Drug Price-Fixing Claims In MDL

By Jared Foretek

A Pennsylvania federal judge shot down most of Mylan's request for an early win in multidistrict litigation claiming price-fixing of the generic antidepressant clomipramine, finding sufficient evidence for the company to have to face direct buyers' claims at trial, but trimming claims that it inflated the drug's price at CVS.

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

Justices Asked To Limit Private Investment Fund Suits

By Jessica Corso

A group of investment funds seeking to fend off a challenge from an activist investor are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to issue a ruling in the case that would end the ability of private parties to file contractual disputes under the Investment Company Act.

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

2nd Circ. Affirms Hedge Fund Win In $87M Short-Swing Suit

By Katryna Perera

A unanimous Second Circuit panel on Thursday upheld a summary judgment win for hedge fund Armistice Capital LLC and its managing member in a derivative suit brought by a shareholder of biotechnology company Vaxart Inc., which sought disgorgement of $87 million in short-swing profits that allegedly were wrongfully obtained by the investment adviser.

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

Halloran & Sage Opens 5th Conn. Office With Family Law Trio

By Christine DeRosa

Halloran & Sage LLP has added three attorneys from Farrell Geenty Sheeley & Boccalatte PC, establishing a family law practice group and new office on the Connecticut shoreline.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Brief

SC Ends Sandoz, Novartis Price-Fixing Claims For $2.4M

By Aaron Keller

A Connecticut federal judge on Thursday approved South Carolina's request to dismiss its generic drug price-fixing claims from three multistate lawsuits against Sandoz Inc., Sandoz AG, Novartis AG and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc., four months after the parties filed a notice of settlement.

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

2nd Circ. Ruling Gives Banks Shield From Terrorism Liability

A recent Second Circuit dismissal strengthens the position of international banks facing claims they indirectly helped terrorist organizations and provides clearer guidance on the boundaries of secondary liability, but doesn't provide absolute immunity, say attorneys at Freshfields.

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

Series

Coaching Cheerleading Makes Me A Better Lawyer

At first glance, cheerleading and litigation may seem like worlds apart, but both require precision, adaptability, leadership and the ability to stay composed under pressure — all of which have sharpened how I approach my work in the emotionally complex world of mass torts and personal injury, says Rashanda Bruce at Robins Kaplan.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Chancery Says Docket For 'Routine' Matters Shows Success

By Rose Krebs

As it continues to pursue ways to streamline its docket and ease burnout concerns for its judges, Delaware's Chancery Court announced this week that a new procedure for handling "routine matters" is already showing success.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

First Chief PTAB Judge Remembered As Industrious Leader

By Theresa Schliep

Colleagues and loved ones of James Donald Smith — the first chief judge of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board who died this spring — remembered him as a superb leader, talented violist and dear friend at a memorial service on Saturday that featured a reading of a letter from former President Barack Obama.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Wash. Sen. Opposes Full-Term Role For State's New US Atty

By Courtney Bublé

The newly installed interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Washington at this juncture has not been nominated for the full-term role, but one of the state's Democratic senators is already vowing to prevent his confirmation.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Ex-Katten Partner's $67M Age Bias Suit Stayed For Arbitration

By Lauren Berg

A Manhattan federal judge stayed a $67 million discrimination lawsuit brought by a former Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP partner alleging the firm pushed him out of the aircraft-finance practice group, pressured him to resign and then fired him because of his age, saying there is an arbitration agreement at play.

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

Healthcare Cos. Want Akerman's 'Indefensible' Fee Suit Nixed

By Madison Arnold

Rennova Health Inc. and others asked a Florida state judge to dismiss Akerman LLP's unpaid fees case against the company, calling it "facially time-barred, factually flawed and legally indefensible."

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

LA Atty Convicted Of Laundering $2.1M From Swiss Oil Co.

By Craig Clough

A Los Angeles federal jury on Thursday found a divorce and immigration attorney guilty of money laundering, tax evasion and obstruction of justice related to a $2.1 million payment he received from a Swiss oil company while working in a government position in Nigeria that prosecutors allege was a bribe.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Email Excluded From Harassment Suit Against Paxton Deputies

By Spencer Brewer

A Texas federal judge on Thursday struck an email from a sexual harassment lawsuit brought against the founders of a law firm founded by former top attorneys in the Texas attorney general's office, but said the plaintiff could conduct discovery regarding the email.

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

Ga. Atty Sues Former Firm For Failing To Pay Final Wages

By Kelcey Caulder

A Georgia attorney has filed suit against her former employer, John Foy and Associates PC, over "threatening emails" she said she received after she was fired and a final paycheck that she reportedly never got.

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