Lewis Brisbois Accused Of Ignoring Racism, Unethical Billing

By Aebra Coe

A former national billing director of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP filed a lawsuit in California state court this week accusing the firm of ignoring racist conduct and sexual harassment by partners, and alleging unethical billing practices and even embezzlement.

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

Restaurant Slams Sushi Chef's 'Soap Opera' Sanctions Bid

By Benjamin Morse

A Connecticut restaurant urged a federal judge to reject sanctions sought by a sushi chef alleging wage violations, arguing that the plaintiff's counsel has tried to turn a routine deposition dispute into a "soap opera."

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

6th Circ. Backs NLRB In Fight Over Paving Co. Lockout

By Emily Brill

A Midwest paving and road construction company violated federal labor law by blocking a group of Michigan employees from working for three weeks in an attempt to force their union's hand in a bargaining dispute, the Sixth Circuit has ruled, upholding a National Labor Relations Board decision.

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

Miami Police Chief's Firing Was Justified, 11th Circ. Told

By David Minsky

Former Miami officials urged the Eleventh Circuit on Thursday to dismiss retaliation claims against them, arguing they're immune from a lawsuit brought by a police chief who alleged he was wrongfully terminated after informing the FBI and state law enforcement officials that corruption was occurring within the city.

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

Deloitte Punishes Parents For Taking Leave, Ex-Worker Says

By Hailey Konnath

A former Deloitte employee filed a proposed class action in California federal court on Thursday claiming the consulting giant's performance metrics ultimately shortchange parents who've taken leave, and that that's a problem because compensation is based on those performance metrics.

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

Dunkin' Stores Cut $250K Deal In EEOC Disability Bias Suit

By Patrick Hoff

Fifteen Dunkin' franchisees and their management company will pay $250,000 to end a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit alleging they forced employees with disabilities and medical restrictions onto unpaid leave, according to a Thursday filing in Massachusetts federal court.

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

Va. Bar Suspends Atty For Misleading Client In Amazon Deal

By Lauren Berg

The Virginia State Bar's disciplinary arm notified the District of Maryland on Thursday that it suspended a Maryland attorney from practicing law in Virginia for six months after finding he misled his client about the consequences of a proffered employment discrimination settlement from Amazon.

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

Newark Hit With Class Action Over Missing, Late OT Pay

By George Woolston

Two public works employees for the city of Newark alleged in New Jersey federal court on Thursday that the city's complex overtime approval process results in unpaid, underpaid or late overtime payments.

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

NC Prison Officials Defend Push For Quick Appeal Of Pay Suit

By Benjamin Morse

North Carolina prison officials defended their bid for an immediate appeal of a ruling finding correctional officers may be entitled to pay for all time spent inside prison facilities, rejecting the guards' argument that the court's reliance on a "robust" factual record precludes such an appeal.

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

Brief

Elevance Nurses' Federal OT Suit Sent From NC To Va.

By MJ Koo

A class and collective action accusing insurer Elevance Health of misclassifying its nurses as overtime-exempt has been transferred from North Carolina to Virginia federal court, where the company faces related claims.

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

9th Circ. Nixes Tribe's Bid To Vacate Union Card Check Award

By Katherine Smith

A California Native American tribe can't undo an arbitration award requiring it to follow the guidelines for union representation elections outlined in its 2017 agreement with UNITE HERE, the Ninth Circuit has ruled.

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

Union Says DirecTV Can't Undo Arbitration Award Over Layoff

By MJ Koo

DirecTV is attempting to relitigate an arbitration loss over its layoffs of union-represented technicians, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has told a Colorado federal court, urging the judge to throw out the company's suit.

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

Trump Inks Deal With Library Groups Over Agency Cuts

By Gina Kim

The Trump administration reached a resolution Thursday in Washington, D.C., federal court with the American Library Association and a public sector union challenging an executive order eliminating an agency that disburses grants to libraries and museums, which means previously terminated grants will be reinstated and staff cuts will be rescinded. 

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

Ex-Pharmacy Director Denies Using Trade Secrets At New Job

By George Woolston

A former director at a specialty infusion therapy pharmacy urged a New Jersey federal court to reject her former employer's bid to block her from working for a rival, arguing that her new job does not pose any threat of imminent harm to her former company.

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

Ex-Joe Gibbs Racing Director Pans 'Desperate' Discovery Bid

By Hayley Fowler

Joe Gibbs Racing LLC's efforts to subpoena cellphone providers for deleted text messages is a "desperate" ploy to dig up proof its trade secrets were stolen when there is no evidence to suggest that is the case, the NASCAR team's former competition director said.

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

Ex-Assurant Workers Look To Toss RICO, Trade Secrets Suit

By Kelcey Caulder

A group of former Assurant salesmen called the auto warranty underwriter's eighth attempt at bringing Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations and trade secrets claims a shotgun pleading, arguing in Georgia federal court that competition and criminal enterprise are not the same.

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

Ecolab Says Personal Injury Law Firm Holding Back $148K

By Abigail Harrison

Ecolab and its self-funded employee benefit plan have accused a North Carolina personal injury firm of withholding around $148,000 in settlement funds the food safety company says it's owed for covering a worker's medical bills after a car accident.

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

Judge Tosses Ex-IRS Worker's Suit Alleging Political Firing

By Anna Scott Farrell

A Virginia federal judge tossed a lawsuit by a former Internal Revenue Service employee who claimed she and others were fired in President Donald Trump's sweep of the agency as part of an effort to thwart audits of high-profile entities.

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

Chicago Suits Highlight Struggle Over Piercing Corporate Veil

A union's latest lawsuit against the owners of a storied Chicago bar and restaurant that closed in 2023 illustrates how doing business via a limited liability company does not necessarily protect owners' personal assets — but also that obtaining a judgment does not mean that collection is automatic, says James Trail at Ginsberg Jacobs.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Series

Alpine Skiing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Skiing has shaped habits I rely on daily as an attorney — focus, resilience and the ability to remain steady when circumstances shift rapidly — and influences the way I approach legal strategy, client counseling and teamwork, says Isaku Begert at Marshall Gerstein.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

The Evolution Of States' Workplace Violence Prevention Laws

Utah's new law requiring hospitals to implement comprehensive workplace violence reporting systems continues a broader trend of state efforts to expand workplace protections in the absence of sufficient federal regulations, say attorneys at Ogletree.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

DLA Piper Partner Rejects Pregnant Atty's Account Of Firing

By Pete Brush

The DLA Piper partner who fired a pregnant associate said she did so lawfully, telling a Manhattan federal jury her former employee was "in over her head" and disputing that the associate raised pregnancy bias concerns on a termination call.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

6th Circ. Won't Revisit EFAA Ruling Against Adams & Reese

By Patrick Hoff

The Sixth Circuit said it won't reconsider its ruling that a law barring mandatory arbitration of sexual harassment cases kept a former Adams & Reese LLP paralegal's sex harassment and disability bias suit in court, concluding that the firm's objections were already considered.

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

Roundup

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

By Laura Stewart Liberty

The past week in London has seen the owner of an oil tanker stuck in the Strait of Hormuz sued by an energy company and an insurer, law firm Boodle Hatfield LLP and two Serle Court barristers sued by a group of Winston Churchill's great-grandchildren, and Welsh Water hit with a fresh class action over polluted rivers.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Calif. Atty Avoids Sanctions For Filing Bogus Citations With AI

By Matt Perez

A California attorney has avoided sanctions over his use of artificial intelligence for a filing in a civil rights case, which resulted in false citations.

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

Another Gov't Atty From Vt. Joins Stris & Maher's Team

By Jack Rodgers

A former civil chief of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Vermont has joined Stris & Maher LLP's practice as a partner, the firm announced Friday.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

GC Cheat Sheet: The Hottest Corporate News Of The Week

By Sue Reisinger

Other states might follow the lead of California and break with President Donald Trump's policies in implementing guardrails for state agencies to contract with AI companies. And after three individual indictments last month for selling banned tech to China, Supermicro has hired Munger Tolles & Olson LLP to conduct an independent investigation, assigned its general counsel to lead an internal compliance review, and shaken up its compliance leadership.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

NJ Justices Won't Review Beasley Allen's DQ From Talc Cases

By George Woolston

The New Jersey Supreme Court has declined to review a lower court's order booting the Beasley Allen Law Firm from multicounty litigation in the Garden State over Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder, according to an order made public Friday.

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

Conn. Justices Block Agency's Bias Probe Into Atty Licensing

By Brian Steele

Because citizens blocked the legislature from reviewing court decisions when ratifying the state's 1818 constitution, a Connecticut human rights agency has no power to investigate alleged bias in attorney licensing decisions, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled Friday in a unanimous opinion.

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

Airline Worker Asks To Expand Sanctions Row In Bias Case

By Emily Brill

A Southwest Airlines flight attendant who was fired after sending her union's president pictures of aborted fetuses is pushing for additional remedies in a sanctions dispute stemming from her long-running religious discrimination lawsuit against the airline, from which she received $800,000 after winning a jury trial in 2022.

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

In Case You Missed It: Hottest Firms And Stories On Law360

For those who missed out, here's a look back at the law firms, stories and expert analyses that generated the most buzz on Law360 last week.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Trump Taps Personal Atty For 2nd Circ.

By Courtney Bublé

President Donald Trump announced on Friday evening he's tapping Matthew Schwartz, his attorney in the New York hush money case, for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. 

Read full article » | Save to favorites »