NY's Landmark Climate Change Superfund Blocked Again

By Hailey Konnath

Another New York federal judge on Wednesday agreed with the federal government that the Empire State overstepped its authority with its Climate Change Superfund Act, the second such ruling on the state's landmark attempt to collect payments from fossil fuel companies to fund climate change mitigation efforts.

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Talen Energy Plant's Pa. Deal Doesn't End Pollution Suit

By Matthew Santoni

A Talen Energy coal and gas power plant in York County, Pennsylvania, can't dodge an environmental group's lawsuit over contamination leaking from a coal ash impoundment near the Susquehanna River, after a federal judge rejected arguments that a state consent decree for the same impoundment barred the suit.

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DC Judge Rules EPA Wrongly Nixed $7B Solar Program

By Tom Lotshaw

A D.C. federal judge ruled that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lacked authority to terminate a $7 billion Solar for All program and 60 grants awarded to recipients including Harris County, Texas, which challenged the termination.

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Exelon Investors' $40M Deal In Bribery Case Wins Final OK

By Celeste Bott

An Illinois federal judge on Tuesday granted final approval to a $40 million settlement resolving Exelon shareholders' claims against company leaders connected to the Commonwealth Edison bribery scandal, over the objections of some investors who argued that most benefits were already paid, previously implemented, or too small to justify releasing valuable claims.

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Data Center Co. Says It Was Misled By Texas Land Seller

By Isaac Monterose

A developer accused a property seller in Texas federal court of obscuring how much of its land was dedicated to oil and gas development, claiming the energy operations are impeding a multibillion-dollar artificial intelligence data center project.

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9th Circ. Won't Rehear Klamath Project ESA Ruling

By Ganesh Setty

The Ninth Circuit said Wednesday it won't disturb a divided three-judge panel's ruling affirming that a federal regulator must abide by the Endangered Species Act's interagency consultation requirements as it operates a water management project in northern California and southern Oregon.

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Judge Rejects $2.5M Fees For Opt-Out Attys In Chevy Case

By Mike Curley

A Michigan federal judge has rejected a motion from LG Chem and its affiliates for $2.5 million in fees for attorneys who had urged their clients to opt out of a $150 million settlement resolving allegations that Chevrolet Bolt batteries were defective, then to opt back in, saying the attorneys did nothing to materially improve or work toward the deal.

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Chinese Laser Parts Subject To Duties, Trade Court Says

By Jack McLoone

Imported components used by a U.S. laser manufacturer don't meet the standards for exclusion from duty orders on aluminum extrusions from China, the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled Wednesday, backing a U.S. Department of Commerce determination.

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Brief

Commerce Lifts China, Bahrain Aluminum Can Stock Duties

By Dylan Moroses

The U.S. Department of Commerce has revoked countervailing and antidumping duties imposed on aluminum can stock imported from China and Bahrain, according to final results of a changed circumstances review published in a notice filed Wednesday.

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Brief

Chinese Graphite Electrodes May See Retroactive Duties

By Dylan Moroses

The U.S. Department of Commerce identified a surge of imported Chinese large-diameter graphite electrodes in advance of duties being imposed on those goods and preliminarily determined that critical circumstances exist for the department to retroactively apply countervailing duties, according to a Wednesday notice. 

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Cooley Adds GOP Hill Veteran To Congressional Probes Group

By Alison Knezevich

Cooley LLP announced Wednesday it has brought on a veteran Capitol Hill attorney as it continues to grow its congressional investigations practice launched in 2024.

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Baker Botts Adds King & Spalding Energy Deal Pro In Houston

By Lynn LaRowe

Baker Botts LLP has bulked up its energy and infrastructure offerings with a Houston-based corporate partner who most recently practiced with King & Spalding LLP.

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What Cos. Must Know As Fast Energy Permitting Gains Steam

A recently approved geothermal project in Nevada may be the first authorized by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management under a new 14-day expedited environmental review process — but project developers may find that a more thorough environmental analysis will provide better protection against litigation challenges, says Jill Yung at Allen Matkins.

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Opinion

Calif. Bill Goes Too Far In Trying To Regulate Attorney AI Use

California’s first-in-the-nation act regulating how attorneys and arbitrators use generative artificial intelligence will likely soon become law, but read broadly, the provisions may dissuade lawyers from employing AI at all, thereby depriving them of key work tools, says Joshua Wurtzel at Schlam Stone.

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Tarter Krinsky Data Breach May Have Affected Health Info

By Andrea Keckley

Tarter Krinsky & Drogin LLP said in a letter this month that a data breach last year may have compromised protected health information the firm possessed due to its representation of an unnamed healthcare provider.

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'I'm Tired Of This': Judge Scolds Atty In Romantasy Suit

By Theresa Schliep

A New York federal judge has reprimanded counsel for a writer in a failed copyright infringement lawsuit over the "Crave" book series, insisting the plaintiff answer all questions in a deposition over attorney fees and writing that she was "tired of this" and "indeed being jerked around."

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Goldstein Not Leaving Prison Any Time Soon, 4th Circ. Rules

By Jeff Overley

The Fourth Circuit balked late Wednesday at freeing Tom Goldstein from prison as he fights felony convictions, and it rejected fast-track review of the renowned appellate advocate's trial, indicating he'll likely spend substantial time behind bars even if his appeal succeeds.

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Analysis

Newman's Roadblocks Guide Judicial Conduct Reform Bill

By Dani Kass

The Judicial Conduct and Disability Act has worked well in allowing the judicial branch to govern itself for nearly 50 years, but the ongoing suspension of Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman has exposed gaps that could be addressed with newly introduced legislation, attorneys say.

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Senate Confirms Abbott Aide To Texas Federal Bench

By Courtney Bublé

The Senate voted 50-47, along party lines, on Wednesday to confirm Angela Colmenero, deputy chief of staff to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, to serve on the Southern District of Texas.

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Fed. Panel At Standstill Over ABA Law School Accreditor Role

By Emma Cueto

A key U.S. Department of Education committee deadlocked Wednesday over whether the American Bar Association council responsible for approving law schools should continue as a federally recognized accreditor, tabling the issue until Thursday after different proposals failed to win majority support.

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