Starbucks Investors Allege $227.5M In Buyback Losses

By Ben Adlin

Two Starbucks shareholders have brought a derivative suit in Washington federal court accusing the company's leadership of hyping its performance in the U.S. and China even as sales declined, and of losing $227.5 million buying back its own stock at inflated prices. 

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

Judge Reduces $38.9M Beyond Meat TM Verdict

By Carolyn Muyskens

A Massachusetts judge slashed a $38.9 million trademark infringement verdict against Beyond Meat Inc. for an advertising campaign that used the slogan "Great Taste, Plant Based" after finding that the trademark owner failed to prove all of its damages.

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

Teddy's Says Buc-ee's TM Campaign Violates Antitrust Law

By Lauren Berg

Teddy's Market has escalated its counterclaims against Buc-ee's in Georgia federal court with allegations of antitrust violations, claiming the travel-center chain uses trademark infringement lawsuits to unlawfully expand its control over cartoon-animal branding in the convenience store industry.

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

Kraft Heinz Says Insurers Won't Cover Processed Food Suits

By Danielle Ferguson

Chubb units and Liberty Mutual are wrongfully refusing to cover Kraft Heinz's defense costs for several lawsuits blaming the food company's "ultra-processed foods" for consumers' diabetes or fatty liver disease diagnoses, costing the company millions of dollars, Kraft Heinz said in a Pennsylvania state court complaint.

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

Mass. Judge Trims Law Student's Everclear 'Fireball' Burn Suit

By Jonathan Capriel

A Massachusetts federal judge trimmed a Boston University student's lawsuit seeking to hold the spirits company behind Everclear liable for the "life-altering burns" she suffered when its 190-proof grain alcohol allegedly caused a fireball at a frat party.

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

Brief

Malaysia, Indonesia Dumping Fatty Acids, Commerce Finds

By Dylan Moroses

The U.S. Department of Commerce found that certain fatty acids imported from Malaysia and Indonesia have been sold at less than fair value, according to notices published Monday. 

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

Costco Says It Didn't Say 'Zero Heavy Metals' In Protein Powder

By Jonathan Capriel

"Good, clean nutrition" doesn't actually mean "free of lead," Costco Wholesale Corp. told a Washington federal court on Friday as it pushed for dismissal of a proposed class action claiming its Orgain protein powders contained dangerous levels of toxic heavy metals.

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

Target Says It Had No Duty To Investigate Formula For Taint

By Mike Curley

Target Corp. is again urging a Washington federal court to throw out a couple's claims that it sold tainted baby formula that gave their child infant botulism, saying it's protected by state law and had no duty to independently investigate its suppliers.

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

Ex-NJ Utility Worker Gets 3 Years For False Water Reports

By Carla Baranauckas

A former employee of the water utility for Trenton, New Jersey, was sentenced to three years in state prison after admitting he falsified water testing records and failed to collect required samples while working for the public utility, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said Monday.

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

FedEx Seeks High Court Review Of 6th Circ. Pension Ruling

By Katherine Smith

FedEx has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Sixth Circuit's decision to revive two proposed class actions alleging Kellogg's and FedEx's outdated actuarial assumptions shortchanged joint-and-survivor benefits for retirees, claiming the circuit court's "erroneous" interpretation of federal benefits law warrants high court review.

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

Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

By Jarek Rutz

The Delaware Chancery Court this past week dismissed a challenge to Alteryx Inc.'s $4.4 billion take-private sale, resolved a fight over the removal of a security technology company's director and declined to let Empery Digital Inc. immediately appeal a proxy contest ruling.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Yardbird Southern Dining Chain Hits Ch. 11 With $50M Debt

By Vince Sullivan

Elevated casual dining chain Yardbird Group LLC filed for Chapter 11 protection Monday in Delaware, listing $25 million of secured debt obligations and another $25 million in unsecured claims as it pursues a sale of its business.

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

Sidley Lands Life Sciences Pair From King & Spalding

By Rose Krebs

Sidley Austin LLP announced Monday that it has brought on two attorneys from King & Spalding LLP to bolster its capacity to handle life sciences-related litigation and regulatory matters involving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Seyfarth Says Data Breach Exposed Social Security Numbers

By Hailey Konnath

Seyfarth Shaw LLP has disclosed a recent data breach that exposed the names and Social Security numbers of at least 300 individuals, according to notices filed with the Texas and California attorneys general.

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

Meta Celebrates Its Abuse Of Atty-Client Privilege, Judge Told

By Dorothy Atkins

A California federal judge ordered Meta on Tuesday to rereview privilege designations on 300 documents in social media addiction litigation, after plaintiffs' lawyers cited a "culture of privilege abuse" epitomized by Instagram swag hats embroidered with "a/c priv" — the shorthand used to log withheld documents.

1 document attached | Read full article » | Save to favorites »

Mich. Fed. Judge On 1-Year Leave Over Drunken Driving Case

By Jack Karp

U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington is taking a one-year paid leave of absence from the bench following his misdemeanor conviction for drunken driving, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan announced Tuesday.

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

Womble Bond Can't Quit Dutch Client With TM Trial Looming

By Hayley Fowler

Womble Bond Dickinson can't withdraw from a trademark feud that's dragged on for more than five years between U.S. and Dutch software companies, a North Carolina federal judge ruled, saying the firm's exit at this late stage "would be completely disruptive."

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