A Missouri federal judge is threatening attorneys representing a mining company controlled by billionaire Ira Rennert in a lawsuit over pollution in Peru with serious sanctions for repeatedly disregarding and misrepresenting his orders.
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TOP NEWS

Mo. Judge Warns Of Sanctions In Peru Lead Poisoning Case

By Juan-Carlos Rodriguez

A Missouri federal judge is threatening attorneys representing a mining company controlled by billionaire Ira Rennert in a lawsuit over pollution in Peru with serious sanctions for repeatedly disregarding and misrepresenting his orders.

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Wash. Justices Reinstate $185M Monsanto PCB Verdict

By Rachel Riley

The Washington State Supreme Court has restored a $185 million jury verdict against Monsanto in the first of a series of chemical poisoning trials tied to a Washington state school site, finding a lower appellate court misapplied choice-of-law principles when overturning the win for three school teachers.

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Senate Overturns Petroleum Reserve Drilling Limits In Alaska

By Keith Goldberg

The U.S. Senate on Thursday approved the revocation of a Biden-era move rolling back a plan by the first Trump administration to expand oil and gas drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

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ENFORCEMENT & COMPLIANCE

State AGs Target 'Anticompetitive Recycling Practices'

By Matthew Perlman

The attorneys general of Florida and several other states have said they're concerned that environmental groups are coordinating with large corporations to implement "anticompetitive recycling practices" that could violate state or federal antitrust law.

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CLIMATE CHANGE

Green Groups Can't Intervene In Feds' NY Superfund Suit

By Mike Curley

A New York federal judge won't let environmental groups intervene in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's suit challenging a New York state Superfund law, saying the addition of five defendants would overcomplicate the litigation.

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CHEMICALS

Injury Risk Can't Support Toxic Tort Claims, Colo. Court Finds

By Mike Curley

A Colorado appeals court on Thursday affirmed the dismissal of a proposed class action by a man living near a Terumo BCT Inc. sterilization facility, finding that the trial court correctly found that his claim of a potential future illness from exposure to toxic chemicals isn't an injury that confers standing.

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Florida Tribe Sues PFAS Makers Over Health Risks, Cleanup

By David Minsky

A Florida tribe has brought a civil action in South Carolina federal court against several makers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, alleging their land is contaminated by products containing the so-called forever chemicals. 

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Garden Supply Co. Faces Suit Claiming PFAS In Products

By Emily Field

A gardening supply company was hit on Wednesday with a proposed class action in California federal court alleging that it falsely advertises its soil and fertilizer products as organic even though they contain synthetic and dangerous "forever chemicals."

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NUCLEAR

DC Circ. Judge Asks If Disputed Nuclear Rules 'Ignore Future'

By Nadia Dreid

The D.C. Circuit asked the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission whether it was "reasonable to ignore the future" when conducting environmental assessments for nuclear power plant license renewals during oral arguments Thursday morning.

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LAND USE

California Returns 17,030 Acres To Tule River Tribe

By Craig Clough

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced the return of 17,030 acres of ancestral land to the Tule River Indian Tribe, calling it an effort to address "historical wrongs" committed against the tribe and other Native American tribes in the state.

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PEOPLE

Addleshaw Adds Eversheds Partner To Irish Disputes Team

By Joyce Hanson

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has hired a top commercial litigator from Eversheds Sutherland to join its disputes practice as a senior partner in Ireland, saying he will contribute his expertise in planning, environmental law and dispute resolution to the international law firm.

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EXPERT ANALYSIS

Navigating EPA Compliance As Gov't Shutdown Continues

As the federal government shutdown drags on, industries regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can expect application and permitting delays, limited guidance from EPA personnel regarding compliance matters, and stalled court proceedings — but there are strategies that can help companies deal with these problems, says Lauren Behan at Goldberg Segalla.

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10 Quick Tips To Elevate Your Evidence Presentation At Trial

A strong piece of evidence, whether in the form of testimony or exhibit, is wasted if not presented effectively, so attorneys must prepare with precision to help fact-finders both retain the information and internalize its significance, says Allison Rocker at Baker McKenzie.

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Series

Practicing Stoicism Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Practicing Stoicism, by applying reason to ignore my emotions and govern my decisions, has enabled me to approach challenging situations in a structured way, ultimately providing advice singularly devoted to a client's interest, says John Baranello at Moses & Singer.

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LEGAL INDUSTRY

Judge Blasted For Violent Sexual Comments Against Minors

By Spencer Brewer

The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct has reprimanded a municipal judge for directing sexual remarks at children and wishing sexual violence upon them, noting that the judge exhibited racial bias from the bench.

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Meet The Judge Hearing Comey's, James' US Atty Challenges

By Jack Karp

The South Carolina federal judge who will consider former FBI Director James Comey's and New York Attorney General Letitia James' challenges to the authority of the interim U.S. attorney who brought separate criminal charges against them is known for her rigorous preparation and exacting standards.

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Comey Wins Bid For Judge Oversight In Privilege Dispute

By Jared Foretek

A Virginia federal judge has appointed U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Fitzpatrick to preside over the privilege review of seized materials in the U.S. Department of Justice's case against former FBI Director James Comey, denying the DOJ's proposal for an outside "filter team" of government attorneys to conduct the review themselves.

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NJ Attys Punch Up Governor's Race With Campaign Funds

By Jake Maher

New Jersey's legal community has donated more than $900,000 to the gubernatorial candidates this election, with the Democrat surpassing the Republican in contributions, campaign finance records show.

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Habba Cites Essayli Ruling To Defend Role In NJ Cases

By Carla Baranauckas

The U.S. Department of Justice has urged the Third Circuit to reinstate Alina Habba's authority in two criminal prosecutions, arguing a recent California ruling backs her power to supervise cases as first assistant, even if she's barred from acting as U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey under federal vacancy law.

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Sidley's 'Incomplete' Story Hid Fraud Scheme, Family Says

By Chart Riggall

A family alleging it was roped into an illegal tax sheltering scheme on the advice of a former Sidley Austin LLP attorney has urged a Georgia federal judge to keep its suit against the firm alive, arguing a jury should decide when the family knew enough about the fraud to move forward with its claims.

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Copyright Rules For AI Creations Too Strict, IP Panel Says

By Ivan Moreno

The U.S. Copyright Office's rule barring registration of works created entirely by artificial intelligence systems may be overly strict and unlikely to endure, according to a panel of legal experts who discussed the matter Wednesday at the American Intellectual Property Law Association's annual conference in D.C.

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Judges Say Judicial Freedom Key To Maintaining Rule Of Law

By Rachel Konieczny

Colorado state and federal judges provided a glimpse Wednesday into how courts decide cases when facing current challenges to the rule of law, agreeing that judicial independence is paramount to maintaining the heart of the United States' legal system.

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4 Things To Know About Fla. Bar Admissions Reform Ideas

By Madison Arnold

A work group has issued its final report on possible changes to bar exam admission requirements in Florida, proposing 12 potential alternatives to the current system of requiring graduates to come from law schools accredited by the American Bar Association.

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Analysis

Defamation Litigation Roundup: Drake, IRS, Greenpeace

By Theresa Schliep

In this month's review of defamation fights, Law360 highlights notable developments in California's anti-SLAPP law following a major Ninth Circuit opinion, as well as a decision — and appeal — in Drake's fight with his record label over Kendrick Lamar's diss track.

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LAW FIRMS IN TODAY'S NEWS

Addleshaw Goddard

Archer & Greiner

Baker McKenzie

Bernstein Shur

Brooks & Warner

Bryan Cave

Caplan Cobb

Carmichael Ellis

Cooley LLP

Cowan DeBaets

Eversheds Sutherland

Frazer PLC

Friedman Rubin

Gibbons PC

Gibson Dunn

Goldberg Segalla

Greenberg Traurig

Griffin Humphries

Gupta Wessler

Harmon Curran

King & Spalding

Krovatin Nau

Lowell & Associates

Lynch Carpenter

McCarter & English

McFarland Litigation Partners

Moses & Singer

Munger Tolles

Napoli Shkolnik

Rivero Mestre

Robinson Gray

Rodriguez Tramont

Sidley Austin

Sills Cummis

Singleton Schreiber

Smith Goodfriend

Sperling Kenny

Steptoe LLP

COMPANIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

3M Co.

American Bar Association

American Intellectual Property Law Association

BASF SE

Bayer AG

BlackRock Inc.

Democratic National Committee

Doe Run Co.

Earthjustice

Energy Transfer LP

Food & Water Watch

George Washington University

Google LLC

Monsanto Co.

National Institute for Trial Advocacy

Natural Resources Defense Council

New Jersey State Bar Association

Rowan University

Seton Hall University

Sierra Club

Spectrum Management Holding Co.

State Bar of California

Terumo Corp.

The Florida Bar

The New York Times Co.

The Renco Group

The Walt Disney Co.

West Harlem Environmental Action Inc.

GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN TODAY'S NEWS

Bureau of Land Management

California Natural Resources Agency

Colorado Supreme Court

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Florida Supreme Court

Internal Revenue Service

Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida

New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission

New York Attorney General's Office

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Tule River Tribe

U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey

U.S. Copyright Office

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Government Accountability Office

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

U.S. Supreme Court

United States District Court for the District of Colorado

United States District Court for the District of North Dakota