Justices Won't Weigh Cracker Barrel Collective Action Fights

By Max Kutner

The U.S. Supreme Court turned down two petitions Monday stemming from the same Ninth Circuit decision in a wage and hour case against restaurant chain Cracker Barrel, one dealing with how many steps should be used for approving notice in a putative collective action and the other involving whether out-of-state workers can participate.

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Supreme Court Rejects Cafe's Petition Over $2.86M Grant

By Caroline Simson

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away a Georgia cafe's petition seeking guidance on the standards by which arbitral awards can be vacated, after the Eleventh Circuit refused to revive its claims against a bank that returned a $2.86 million COVID-19-era grant on suspicion of fraud.

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Monsanto Tells High Court US Law Trumps State Label Rules

By Jonathan Capriel

Monsanto urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to reverse a $1.25 million state jury verdict finding that its Roundup weedkiller caused a man's cancer, arguing that federal environmental regulators, and not "lay juries," must be the ones who determine what is on herbicide labels.

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Plaintiff's Depo Dooms Cert. In Blue Diamond False Ad Suit

By Celeste Bott

An Illinois federal judge Friday denied class certification in a lawsuit accusing Blue Diamond Growers of deceiving consumers by describing its almonds as "smokehouse" when their titular taste comes from synthetic flavoring, saying the proposed lead plaintiff admitted in a deposition she had knowledge of the alleged defect but continued to purchase the product.

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Senate Dems Aim To Require Refunds Of Illegal Trump Tariffs

By Dylan Moroses

Senate Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation Monday to require the federal government to issue refunds to importers for duties paid that were imposed by President Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling deeming those measures unlawful.

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Roundup

NJ Statehouse Catch-Up: Family Leave, PFAS, Farmland Tax

By George Woolston

In his final days as New Jersey governor, Phil Murphy was busy signing a slew of measures reforming existing legislation as well as bills aimed at breaking new ground.

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Union Urges Court To Undo DOL Farm Wage Survey Results

By Ganesh Setty

A farmworkers union has pressed a Washington federal court to reject the U.S. Department of Labor's approval of a wage survey meant to help determine foreign seasonal worker compensation, arguing it entails a "windfall" for growers at domestic farmworkers' expense. 

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Brief

Conn. Pizza Chain Settles Ex-Operations Chief's Bias Suit

By Brian Steele

Frank Pepe's, a Connecticut-based pizza chain, has settled a federal lawsuit brought by its former director of operations for allegedly firing him because he is a middle-aged white man, court records show.

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The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Leadership Strategy After Day 1

For law firm leaders, ensuring a newly combined law firm lives up to its promise, both in its first days of operation and well after, includes tough decisions, clear and specific communication, and cheerleading, says Peter Michaud at Ballard Spahr.

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ABA Says Trump Attacks On Justices Cross 'Dangerous Line'

By Bonnie Eslinger

The American Bar Association on Monday condemned President Donald Trump's "personal attacks" against U.S. Supreme Court justices after Friday's 6-3 decision struck a blow to his tariff policy, saying the remarks "cross a dangerous line that threatens the safety of the judiciary and our judicial process."

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ICE Atty Whistleblower Rips 'Broken' Agent Training Program

By Dorothy Atkins

An ex-U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorney testified before a Senate committee Monday that he recently resigned so he could blow the whistle on ICE-officer training cuts amid its hiring surge, slamming the truncated program for being "deficient, defective and broken" and accusing supervisors of secretly pushing "blatantly" unconstitutional orders.

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'Wackadoo': 9th Circ. Awarding Stays 'Like Candy,' Judge Says

By Jeff Overley

The Ninth Circuit is defying U.S. Supreme Court precedent and supersizing its immigration docket by freely awarding lengthy deportation reprieves, according to a new dissent that described a "Wackadoo" realm where noncitizens can safely await "the next Democrat administration."

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Feds Fight Ex-Judge's Bid For New Trial In ICE Arrest Case

By Parker Quinlan

The federal government asked a federal judge to deny acquittal and new trial motions made by a Wisconsin state judge convicted of directing a defendant in her courtroom to use a restricted staircase to avoid removal by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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2nd Circ. Chief Judge To Take Senior Status

By Courtney Bublé

Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston of the Second Circuit will take senior status over the summer, giving President Donald Trump another appellate seat to fill.

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Brief

Snow Delays Goldstein Deliberations Until Tuesday

By Jared Foretek

The jury in SCOTUSblog founder Thomas Goldstein's tax evasion trial won't be back to deliberate until Tuesday, after snow prompted courts in the District of Maryland to close Monday.

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Analysis

How Greenberg Thinks Tariff Ruling Could Affect Dealmaking

By Al Barbarino

The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling invalidating IEEPA-based tariffs gave dealmakers clarity on how to pursue potential refund rights in mergers and acquisitions, but President Donald Trump's swift announcement of new global tariffs has immediately reintroduced dealmaking uncertainty.

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Analysis

High Court Crafts Escape Hatch In Review Of Climate Torts

By Keith Goldberg

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to determine whether a climate change lawsuit against fossil fuel companies can proceed in state court, but the justices also created a potential off-ramp by questioning whether they can actually hear the case.

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Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

By Jeff Montgomery

Legal fee feuds, noncompete pact breach fights and post-closing "earnout" battles piled up in Delaware's equity and commercial law venues last week, with top jurists briefing lawmakers on efforts to better manage crowded dockets and expanded benches.

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