Sidley-Led Utz To Go Private In $2.9B Sale To Intersnack

By Al Barbarino

U.S. snack food maker Utz Brands said Tuesday it has agreed to be taken private by Germany's Intersnack Group in a deal valued at about $2.9 billion, giving the European snack company its first major foothold in the U.S. market.

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Chamber Asks 2nd Circ. To Back Toss Of Pepsi Smoking Suit

By Emily Brill

A New York federal judge rightly tossed allegations that Pepsi violated federal benefits law by making employees who smoke pay more for health insurance, the nation's largest business lobby argued in an amicus brief, urging the Second Circuit to affirm dismissal of the suit.

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Smucker's Says It Didn't Claim 'Only' Splenda On Fudge Label

By Mike Curley

The J.M. Smucker Co. is asking a New York federal court to throw out a proposed class action alleging that it misleads consumers by claiming its fudge topping is "Sweetened with Splenda," despite it using other sweeteners, saying the label never claims that Splenda is the only sweetener.

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Calif. Privacy Agency Targets Gig Economy In Inaugural Audit

By Allison Grande

The California Privacy Protection Agency on Tuesday kicked off its long anticipated series of sectoral privacy audits, announcing that its first focus would be on how transportation, delivery and other gig economy platforms are handling consumers' and workers' personal information. 

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High Court To Hear Alaskan Pilot Plane Forfeiture Case

By Mike Curley

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review a case in which the Alaska Supreme Court held that a pilot must forfeit his $95,000 plane to the state for transporting a six-pack of beer in a dry village.

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Jordan Secures 10% Forced Labor Tariff Rate With US Deal

By Dylan Moroses

The U.S. and Jordan signed a trade agreement Tuesday that would lower non-tariff trade barriers on U.S. exports in exchange for a U.S. commitment to impose a 10% tariff rate on imports from the kingdom when new duties to address goods produced with forced labor take effect.

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Economist Concedes Opioid Stats' Limits In Albertsons Trial

By Rachel Riley

Despite testifying that Albertsons pharmacy records suggest some opioids dispensed in Washington state had "red flags" for potential diversion from legitimate use, an economist for the Evergreen State conceded Tuesday that he can't point to "even a single pill dispensed by Albertsons" that was actually improperly diverted. 

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Ohio Can't Pause Halt Of Hemp Law During Appeal, Judge Says

By Jonathan Capriel

Ohio lost its bid Monday in federal court to be allowed to enforce a new law that reclassifies hemp products as marijuana, as a judge rejected the state's arguments that the hemp product manufacturers and sellers waited too long to file their lawsuit.

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Humana 401(k) Forfeiture Suit Will Wait For 6th Circ. Appeal

By Susan Smiley

A proposed class action against health insurance provider Humana alleging the company misallocated millions from employee 401(k) forfeitures was paused by a Kentucky federal judge on Tuesday to wait for the outcome of a similar suit against regional grocery giant Meijer currently awaiting a ruling in the Sixth Circuit.

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Colo. Milling Co. Says Insurers Wrongly Denied $6M Claim

By Rachel Konieczny

Insurers wrongly denied a Denver, Colorado-based flour milling company $6 million in coverage for damage to equipment caused by an explosion at its Texas facility, the company alleged in Colorado state court.

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Baker McKenzie Hires Life Sciences, IP Attys In DC, NY

By Jack Rodgers

Baker McKenzie has hired two attorneys, in Washington, D.C., and New York, who focus their practices on life sciences transactional matters and intellectual property issues, the firm announced Tuesday.

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USDA Rule Would Broaden Foreign Co. Reporting Burden

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's recently proposed overhaul of foreign landholder reporting obligations would expand covered agricultural uses, mandate more detailed online disclosures and toughen penalties, so organizations must proactively reassess U.S. land interests and prepare for a more stringent compliance regime, say attorneys at Skadden.

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How Competitive Is Your Pay? Last Call To Take Our Survey

Is your compensation keeping pace with the rate of inflation? Do you know what your colleagues made last year? Help Law360 Pulse answer these questions and more in this year's Law Firm Compensation Survey.

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Simpson Thacher Caused 'Chaos' With Deal, Jury Hears

By Cara Salvatore

The former chief financial officer of Patriot National Inc. testified to a Florida jury on Tuesday that "chaos" broke loose as funds that Simpson Thacher helped steward for the insurance services company hit public markets and executives found out that its terms differed from their understanding of them.

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Dems Press Skadden On Trump Pro Bono Pact, Intel Deal Work

By Lauren Berg

A group of Democrats demanded Tuesday that Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP disclose details of its pro bono arrangement with the Trump administration in light of allegations the firm advised both Intel Corp. and the U.S. Department of Commerce when the administration received a 10% company stake.

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Blanche Denies Conflict With Family's Firearms Company

By Courtney Bublé

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has close ties through his wife's family to a gun manufacturer that does federal contracting, but he told senators in questions following his confirmation hearing there is no conflict of interest, despite his service on a Justice Department task force aimed at rolling back gun control initiatives around the country.

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Trump, DOJ Sued For Firing Court-Appointed Seattle US Atty

By Bonnie Eslinger

Roger Rogoff, a former Washington state judge who was sworn in as Seattle's new U.S. attorney last week and then swiftly fired by the Trump administration, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against President Donald Trump and the U.S. Department of Justice, saying their "attempt to fire him cannot stand."

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Reagan-Appointed NC Federal Judge To Take Senior Status

By Courtney Bublé

U.S. District Judge Terrence William Boyle of the Eastern District of North Carolina plans to take senior status — a form of semi-retirement that gives federal judges a reduced caseload — at a date yet to be determined, according to a recent update from the federal judiciary.

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Senate Confirms Trade Court Pick Despite Past GOP Posts

By Courtney Bublé

The U.S. Senate voted 50-48 Tuesday evening to confirm Kara Westercamp, associate counsel to the president, to the U.S. Court of International Trade, who said during her confirmation in March she regretted her past social media posts critical of Republicans, including Sens. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and the late Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

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Bronx Public Defenders Set Strike Deadline

By Emily Sawicki

More than 300 unionized workers at legal aid organization The Bronx Defenders are set to walk out on July 27 if they cannot agree on a contract with the legal nonprofit's management, according to a Tuesday announcement.

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