9th Circ. Says NY Claims Against Hyundai Raise 'Novel' Issue

By Bonnie Eslinger

A split panel of the Ninth Circuit Friday refused to toss negligence claims from cities in Ohio and Wisconsin in consolidated litigation alleging Hyundai and Kia, of which Hyundai is a major shareholder, sold vehicles with design flaws that enabled car thefts nationwide, but said negligence claims under New York law "raise a novel issue" of state law.

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2nd Circ. Backs Chubb's Win In $49M Sandy Coverage Fight

By Hope Patti

The Second Circuit on Friday cemented a Chubb unit's win in a decade-long dispute over a chocolatier's bid for an additional $49 million in coverage for Superstorm Sandy losses, affirming a decision denying the chocolatier's requests to set aside a jury verdict or hold a new trial.

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Aflac Hacked In 'Campaign' Against Insurance Industry

By Hope Patti

Aflac is the latest target of an ongoing "cybercrime campaign against the insurance industry," the company said Friday, reporting that a breach has potentially exposed claims and health data, Social Security numbers and other personal information.

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Judge Awards $29.5M Counsel Fee For $147.5M Class Deal

By Abigail Harrison

A Connecticut federal judge has given final approval to a $147.5 million settlement for an insurance fee class while awarding $29.5 million in attorney fees spread across three firms, marking a 5% reduction to the cut of the settlement counsel sought.

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Hartford Claims Co. Accused Of Shortchanging Auto Payouts

By Aaron Keller

Hartford Fire Insurance Co. was hit with proposed class claims in Connecticut federal court that it failed to pay full value for totaled cars under individual policies, after it used third-party data to whittle hundreds of dollars from vehicle prices as uniform claims administrator for 20 other insurers under The Hartford banner.

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Golf Course Biz Says Insurer Shirking $3M In Helene Damages

By Elaine Briseño

The owner of three North Carolina golf courses is suing Cincinnati Insurance for breach of contract after the company failed to fully cover property damage caused by Hurricane Helene, arguing its substantial premium clearly covers the destruction left by the 2024 storm.

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Liberty Mutual Off Hook For Tow Charge After Fatal Crash

By Julie Manganis

Liberty Mutual is not responsible for $118,290 a Massachusetts towing company tried to collect in storage charges for a vehicle that was evidence in a fatal car accident, the state's highest court concluded Friday.

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Roundup

UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

By Laura Stewart Liberty

This past week in London has seen Pogust Goodhead face legal action from mining giant BHP Group, Trainline bring a procurement claim against the Department for Transport, Sworders auction house sue Conservative peer Patricia Rawlings, and Nokia hit with a patents claim by Hisense. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.

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Norton Rose Adds Holland & Knight Tax Partner In DC

By Christine DeRosa

Norton Rose Fulbright has expanded its tax insurance underwriting offerings in the nation's capital with the addition of a partner from Holland & Knight LLP.

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What Calif. Appeals Split Means For Litigating PAGA Claims

After two recent California state appeals court rulings diverged on whether a former employee with untimely individual claims under the Private Attorneys General Act can maintain a representative action, practitioners' strategic agility will be key to managing risk and achieving favorable outcomes in PAGA litigation, say attorneys at Buchalter.

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Series

Competing In Modern Pentathlon Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Opening myself up to new experiences through competing in modern Olympic pentathlon has shrunk the appearance of my daily work annoyances and helps me improve my patience, manage crises better and remember that acquiring new skills requires working through your early mistakes, says attorney Mary Zoldak.

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Perkins Coie Lays Off 5% Of Staff Amid Strategic Review

By Xiumei Dong

Perkins Coie LLP, which successfully fended off President Donald Trump's executive order targeting the firm, has reportedly laid off roughly 5% of its professional staff this month, and attributed the reductions to the firm's strategic realignments following a yearlong review of its business operations.

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Dems Demand Info On Emil Bove's Alleged Misconduct

By Courtney Bublé

Ahead of Emil Bove's hearing on Wednesday for his judicial nomination, Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are pressing for information on complaints alleging his misconduct while at the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and Main Justice earlier this year.

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Litigation Funders Fight 'Kill Shot' In 'Big Beautiful Bill'

By Ryan Boysen

Litigation funders are in panic mode over a provision in the massive federal spending bill that would impose a 41% punitive tax on the $16 billion industry, with one executive calling it a "kill shot" and an academic warning it amounts to "unprecedented" weaponization of the U.S. tax code.

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Dems Laud Axing Of Budget Bill's Injunction Bond Provision

By Courtney Bublé

A provision meant to up the ante for plaintiffs filing lawsuits against the federal government by increasing the use of injunction bonds has been ruled ineligible for inclusion in the budget reconciliation package.

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Amazon Sanctioned For Hidden Discovery

By Bryan Koenig

A Washington federal judge sanctioned Amazon.com Monday by limiting its use of company documents produced during discovery while giving the Federal Trade Commission more time for discovery, siding with the FTC's allegations that the online retail giant improperly claimed privilege over tens of thousands of documents in the Prime "dark patterns" lawsuit.

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Justices Drop 'Third Country' Removal Due Process, For Now

By Katie Buehler

A divided U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Trump administration can send noncitizens facing deportation to countries where they have no prior ties without providing due process protections, including written notice or a chance to raise concerns about their future safety.

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Justices To Review Liability For Forcing Prisoner's Haircut

By Jared Foretek

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a former Louisiana prisoner's case for damages after guards forcibly shaved his head, removing the dreadlocks he maintained as part of his Rastafarian religion.

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