3M, Small Businesses Make Final Case In Texas Explosion Suit

By José Luis Martínez

A group of businesses affected by a Houston factory explosion told a jury Wednesday during closing arguments that 3M Co. should bear most of the responsibility for the disaster, while the manufacturing giant contends that the now-defunct owner of the factory is to blame.

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Judge Blocks Southwest From Some Employee Investigations

By Spencer Brewer

A Texas federal judge delayed the deposition of multiple pilots after Southwest's union alleged the airline threatened witnesses with discipline right before they sat for depositions, saying the company could not bring new disciplinary actions against union-related witnesses for actions from over two years ago without prior court approval.

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Texas Panel Weighs Highland Sanctions After $1B Judgment

By Spencer Brewer

A Texas appeals court on Wednesday pressed counsel for several former Highland Capital Management LLP executives to explain why they should get out of a contempt finding, asking what to do with an order compelling each of the executives to pay $500 in sanctions.

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Fla. Court Asked To Lift Freeze In $91M Fake Health Plans Suit

By David Minsky

Two siblings asked a Florida federal court Wednesday to lift an asset freeze in the Federal Trade Commission's lawsuit alleging they sold $91 million of fake health benefits on the Affordable Care Act exchange, arguing they need money to pay their attorneys. 

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Bloom Nu Energy Drinks Have Artificial Ingredients, Suit Says

By Gina Kim

Bloom Nu customers filed a proposed class action in New York federal court Tuesday alleging that the health and wellness supplement company deceptively labels its sparkling energy drinks as containing "no artificial colors, flavors, or aspartame," despite the presence of commercially manufactured and chemically processed citric acid. 

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Asbestos Trusts Fight Data Preservation Suit In Delaware

By Jarek Rutz

Asbestos bankruptcy trusts told the Delaware Supreme Court on Wednesday that Johnson & Johnson, Dow Chemical and other repeat asbestos defendants are trying to turn an old equitable remedy into a sweeping, indefinite preservation order for more than 1.1 million victims' private claims files.

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Prospect Medical Captive Insurer Files Ch. 15 In Texas

By Emily Lever

Connecticut Healthcare Insurance Company, a Cayman Islands insurance company indirectly owned by Prospect Medical Holdings, has filed a Chapter 15 petition in Texas bankruptcy court seeking recognition of its Cayman winding-up proceedings that involve a $26 million payment to Prospect.

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First Brands Lender Slams Creditors' 'Baseless' Investigation

By Alex Wittenberg

First Brands Group lender Aequum Capital has urged a Texas bankruptcy judge to reject unsecured creditors' bid to extend a deadline for their investigation into liens that Aequum asserted, saying the creditors are pursuing a "baseless fishing expedition."

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EDTX Urged To Deny Samsung New Trial After $78.5M Verdict

By Adam Lidgett

A patent owner that won a $78.5 million infringement verdict in the Eastern District of Texas against Samsung urged the court to reject the electronics giant's bid for a new trial, saying the South Korean company wants to turn the law "on its head."

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Amazon Smart Devices Accused Of Infringing AI Co.'s Patents

By Jack McLoone

Artificial intelligence company Cerence AI on Wednesday accused Amazon of importing smart devices into the U.S. that violate its voice technology patents, asking the U.S. International Trade Commission to look into banning the devices, while also bringing a similar suit in federal court.

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Texas Co. Accused Of Stiffing Subcontractor On Navy Project

By Tom Lotshaw

A Wyoming company told a Texas federal judge that asset management company Shipcom Federal Solutions LLC owes it nearly $4.6 million for products and services delivered in support of a U.S. Navy contract and misappropriated its intellectual property.

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Womble Bond Adds Akin Gump Finance Pro In Houston

By Lynn LaRowe

Womble Bond Dickinson has strengthened its debt financing capabilities in the energy sector with the hiring of a Houston-based partner who came aboard from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

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Paul Weiss Brings On Gibson Dunn Litigator In Houston

By Lynn LaRowe

Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP announced Wednesday that it has brought on a veteran trial lawyer in Houston who practiced for over three decades with Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP to boost the firm's litigation offerings domestically and internationally.

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FTC Focus: Ad Deal Signals Viewpoint Suppression Is A Risk

The Federal Trade Commission's recent settlement of an antitrust case accusing major ad agency holding companies of colluding on brand safety standards underscores the risk of industry coordination on politically or socially sensitive issues and signals heightened viewpoint suppression scrutiny for companies and antitrust practitioners, say attorneys at Proskauer.

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Documenting Business Purpose After IRS' 10th Circ. Win

Following the Tenth Circuit’s recent Liberty Global v. U.S. decision, which held the economic substance doctrine does not require a threshold relevancy determination, taxpayers can prepare for potential audits by maintaining contemporaneous documentation and taking other steps that demonstrate the business purpose of transactions, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

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Womble Bond Atty's 'Draconian' Penalty Gives 4th Circ. Pause

By Hayley Fowler

A Fourth Circuit panel seemed to struggle Thursday with what one judge described as a "draconian" contempt order against a Womble Bond Dickinson partner, with the panel nudging counsel for both sides toward a simpler solution that wouldn't force the court's involvement.

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Ex-Jackson Walker Atty Seeks Breakup With Romance Suit

By Adrian Cruz

A former Jackson Walker LLP partner said Thursday that she should be dropped from a suit accusing her, a former Texas bankruptcy judge she had a secret relationship with and multiple law firms of fomenting "mass corruption" in Houston's bankruptcy court.

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Comey Retains NC Criminal Defense Pro For 2nd Indictment

By Rachel Rippetoe

Former FBI Director James Comey has added a North Carolina white collar defense pro to his legal team fighting an indictment by the Trump administration over a social media post last year that prosecutors characterized as a threat of violence against the president, according to a court filing on Thursday.

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Toss Of Ex-Shkreli Atty's Deal May Be Error, 2nd Circ. Hints

By Pete Brush

A Second Circuit judge hinted Thursday that a trial judge may have erred in rejecting a retirement-fund garnishment deal that would have protected Martin Shkreli's convicted former lawyer from a potential $1 million "punitive tax event."

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Analysis

How Litigation Funding Disclosure Could Affect ITC Cases

By Ryan Davis

The U.S. International Trade Commission's proposed rule to require disclosure of litigation funding in intellectual property cases could bring more transparency to disputes and promote settlements, but it could also discourage some suits if it's not carefully tailored, attorneys say.

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NC Judge Tosses Atty's Suit Against State Bar Panel Member

By Andrea Keckley

A North Carolina federal judge dismissed a suspended attorney's lawsuit against a State Bar Disciplinary Hearing Commission member he accused of bias and due process violations, finding Thursday that the defendant is entitled to absolute quasi-judicial immunity.

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Analysis

Why Compliance Is Getting Complicated In Latin America

By Phillip Bantz

White collar compliance is getting trickier for companies that do business in Latin America, according to experts, who say they are seeing big shifts in the region connected to cartel crackdowns and efforts to strengthen corporate regulations, including relatively recent pushes for voluntary self-disclosure.

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