Michigan Utilities Sue Over New Political Donation Ban

By Susan Smiley

Michigan utility companies Consumers, DTE and CMS have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a new campaign finance law restricting political contributions from utilities and their affiliates that was approved by over 80% of voters, alleging the new law violates their free speech rights.

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Up Next At High Court: Pipeline Takings & H-2A Fines

By Katie Buehler

The U.S. Supreme Court will wrap up its November sitting by hearing disputes over whether federal or state law should control how much compensation landowners receive for private condemnations under the Natural Gas Act and if the U.S. Department of Labor can use in-house courts to issue civil penalties for violations of its temporary agricultural worker program. 

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Toshiba Must Post $549M Bond In Mich. Utilities Case

By Melanie Dorsey

Toshiba America Energy Systems Corp. must post a $549.5 million bond to prevent two Michigan utilities from collecting on a nearly $394.4 million judgment while it appeals, a Michigan federal judge ruled Friday, rejecting the company's argument that a state law capping appeal bonds should limit its financial obligation to about $37 million.

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DOD Inks $925M In Loans For US Defense Manufacturing

By Ganesh Setty

The U.S. Department of Defense's Office of Strategic Capital announced a series of "conditional" loan commitments to companies developing critical battery materials, semiconductors, radar and drone technology, totaling $925 million.

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Bessent, Greer Warn China Over Trade Truce Commitments

By Dylan Moroses

Top U.S. officials warned China on Friday over what they viewed as potential shortfalls in commitments made last year as part of the trade truce reached between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to readouts published Friday by the U.S. Treasury Department and Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

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Brief

Commerce Probing Indian Alloy Pipes For Possible Duties

By Jack McLoone

Imported Indian and Georgian carbon and steel alloy pipes are under investigation by the U.S. Department of Commerce for possibly being sold at unfair prices in the U.S., the department said 

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Brief

Commerce Orders India, Indonesia, Laos Solar Cell Duties

By Jack McLoone

The U.S. Department of Commerce on Friday ordered antidumping and countervailing duties on solar cell products imported into the U.S. from India, Indonesia and Laos, some of which stretch into triple digits.

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Don't Miss It: Paul Weiss, Baker McKenzie Steer Hot Deals

By Jade Martinez-Pogue

A lot can happen in the world of mergers and acquisitions and equity fundraising over the course of a couple of weeks, and it's difficult to keep up with all the deals.

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DOE Energy Efficiency Rollbacks Portend Clashes With States

With the U.S. Department of Energy proposing rollbacks of energy efficiency regulations for numerous appliance types, backstop provisions in many states could come into play to preserve existing standards — but disputes over antibacksliding provisions in federal law and the limits of preemption mean court battles are likely, say attorneys at HWG.

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Opinion

Judges Must Turn To Merits Earlier To Fix Civil Justice System

The U.S. justice system is long overdue for a cultural shift that encourages judges to engage with the merits of a case from the outset, which would help to cut through procedural complexities and deliver high-quality justice efficiently and at lower cost, says Steven Kayman at Rottenberg Lipman.

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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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