Analysis

Stakes Are High In Meta Bellwether Social Media Trial

By Bonnie Eslinger

A potential trillion-dollar bellwether trial slated to begin Wednesday over states' claims that Meta's social media platforms harm the mental health of children and are intentionally designed to be addictive puts a lot on the line, with one legal expert calling the fight "existential" to the social media industry.

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Abbott, Mead Must Face Baby Formula Retrial, Mo. Panel Says

By Y. Peter Kang

A Missouri appeals court on Tuesday affirmed a new trial order in a suit accusing Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson of selling baby formula that causes a serious condition in preterm infants, agreeing with the trial court that the verdict was not supported by the evidence.

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Meta Must Produce Collaborator Metadata In Addiction Suits

By Hailey Konnath

A California federal magistrate judge Monday ordered Meta Platforms Inc. to produce the "collaborator" and "viewer" metadata for dozens of trial exhibits ahead of a potential trillion dollar bellwether trial in social media addiction multidistrict litigation.

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Pennsylvania AG Joins TikTok Child Harm Enforcement Blitz

By Matthew Santoni

Social media app TikTok misrepresented its safeguards and content in order to be rated suitable for children as young as 13, according to a lawsuit announced Tuesday by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.

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Feds Settle American Airlines Claims Over DC Midair Collision

By Linda Chiem

American Airlines and its regional affiliate PSA Airlines have settled their cross-claims seeking to have the federal government share the costs or indemnify them for any potential judgment or damages in litigation over the deadly January 2025 midair collision over Washington, D.C.

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US Fights Ayahuasca Church's $240K Fee Bid As Excessive

By Jonathan Capriel

The U.S. government is slamming as "exorbitant" a Phoenix church's request for $240,000 in fees — a sum racked up while the church successfully secured a $2 million attorney payout — arguing that the litigation was unnecessary because the church could have secured the right to use the psychoactive beverage ayahuasca in religious ceremonies via an administrative process.

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Heated Cholula Fans Say McCormick Ruined Famous Sauce

By Jonathan Capriel

Cholula Hot Sauce lovers are steaming after McCormick & Co. allegedly diluted the popular brand, replacing its "authentic, traditional Mexican ingredients" with "lab-produced" ones, according to a consumer-led proposed class action filed in New York federal court.

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Unilever Misleads With 'No Preservatives' Claim, Suit Says

By Mike Curley

A New York man is suing Unilever United States Inc. in federal court, alleging it misleads consumers with the labels on nearly 30 Knorr brand products by claiming they're made without artificial preservatives while they contain citric acid.

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4th Circ. Says Late Notice Bars $5.1M Fatal Crash Coverage

By Danielle Ferguson

The Fourth Circuit said an insurer owes no defense or coverage for a $5.1 million default judgment against a truck driver in a wrongful death case, finding the insurer wasn't timely notified of the underlying suit and a federally mandated policy endorsement for motor carriers doesn't extend to the driver.

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Split 11th Circ. Upholds FRA's Train Crew Size Rule

By Linda Chiem

A divided Eleventh Circuit panel on Tuesday upheld the Federal Railroad Administration's two-person train crew rule, saying the agency reasonably justified the safety rationale for the rule and rejecting the rail industry's claims of government overreach.

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Renewed Gold Mining In Mojave National Preserve Halted

By Crystal Owens

A federal district court judge has halted gold mining within the Mojave National Preserve, saying the National Park Service violated a law designed to protect sensitive ecosystem by authorizing an Australian company to resume operations in the preserve based on an outdated plan without requiring compliance with current environmental regulations.

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Are your summer associates prepared for a legal career?

How does your firm shape the summer associate experience and mentor new talent? Invite your summer associates to share their perspectives in this year’s Law360 Pulse Summer Associates Survey.

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Trial Firm Reid Collins To Award 3rd Set Of Associate Bonuses

By Jake Maher

Texas-based trial boutique Reid Collins & Tsai LLP is planning to dole out a third round of bonuses for the year to associates, raising their total bonus pay to between $130,000 and $170,000 on the year so far, with another round expected later in 2026.

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Aperture Expands Litigation Finance Platform To $1B

By Ryan Boysen

Alternative asset manager Aperture Investors is expanding its litigation finance platform to $1 billion in total investment capacity, mostly deployed as direct loans to plaintiffs firms.

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Deal Reached In Class Action Over Botched Calif. Bar Exam

By Emily Sawicki

A settlement has been reached in a proposed nationwide class action brought by bar applicants against the proctor of the botched February 2025 California bar exam, one month after the California State Bar settled its claims against the proctor.

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Law Grad Says Hofstra Ignored Heart Attack Mid-Bar Exam

By Andrea Keckley

A Fordham University School of Law graduate accused Hofstra University in New York state court of failing to intervene in time when she had a heart attack in the middle of the July 2025 Bar Exam, refusing to stop the test and discouraging her peers from rendering aid.

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$190K Or $1.9M? Goldstein, DOJ 'At Impasse' Over Forfeiture

By Jeff Overley

Tom Goldstein and the U.S. Department of Justice aired dramatically divergent views Wednesday of a looming financial penalty for his fraud convictions, with the famed appellate advocate voicing constitutional objections to the DOJ's request for almost $2 million and revealing that prosecutors spurned a far smaller offer.

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Analysis

DOJ Settlements Perceived As Flouting Litigation Norms

By Britain Eakin

A trend of settlements between the Trump administration and friendly parties in fast-track lawsuits to pursue policy changes has legal experts concerned about the endurance of a longstanding norm that federal courts can only hear genuine disputes between opposing parties.

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BakerHostetler Faces Possible RICO Claim From Ex-Client

By Emily Johnson

A trustee who has accused BakerHostetler and an Atlanta-based attorney of legal malpractice has asked a Georgia federal court to allow him to accuse the former de facto general counsel and business adviser of a nonprofit of violating the Georgia RICO Act.

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Q&A

She Has A Point: Shutts & Bowen's Jodi-Ann Tillman

By Dani Kass

Jodi-Ann Tillman of Shutts & Bowen LLP was brought into patent infringement litigation over drum technology just months before trial, and her performance earned high praise from opposing counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP partner Laura Ganoza.

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Trent McCotter Follows Blanche As DOJ's 2nd-In-Command

By Courtney Bublé

Following confirmation of Todd Blanche as attorney general, U.S. Department of Justice official Trent McCotter is taking his former post as deputy attorney general on a temporary basis.

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Trump, DOJ Say Firing Seattle US Atty Was Within Their Rights

By Emily Sawicki

The White House and the U.S. Department of Justice are fighting a demand for immediate reinstatement brought by Seattle's former top federal prosecutor, who was fired within an hour of a court appointing him to the role, arguing his due process rights were not violated.

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