2nd Circ. Backs Lyft In Wheelchair Access, Disability Bias Suit

By Linda Chiem

The Second Circuit on Thursday rejected certified class claims from Westchester County, New York, residents accusing Lyft of systematically discriminating against disabled riders, saying the plaintiffs' suggestions for increasing the availability of wheelchair-accessible vehicles weren't reasonable.

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VW Can't Toss Claims Audi E-Tron Batteries Are 'Time Bombs'

By Craig Clough

A Georgia federal judge refused to dismiss a proposed class action Thursday accusing Volkswagen Group of America Inc. of concealing and failing to adequately repair an alleged defect in the high-voltage batteries of certain Audi electric vehicles, keeping alive claims the autos are "ticking time bombs" that can lose power, short-circuit and catch fire.

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Biz Group Urges 11th Circ. To Toss $243M Tesla Crash Verdict

By Y. Peter Kang

A trade association of product manufacturers has told the Eleventh Circuit that a $243 million verdict against Tesla over a fatal crash involving Autopilot technology should be reversed, saying letting the verdict stand would improperly punish automakers failing to prevent reckless driver behavior.

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Uber Beats Defamation Claims In Philly RICO Fight

By James Boyle

A Pennsylvania federal judge on Thursday tossed Philadelphia personal injury firm Simon & Simon PC's counterclaim accusing Uber and FedEx of sham litigation, extortion and abuse of process in response to the companies' ongoing RICO lawsuit against the firm.

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Boeing Says Bid To Depose Ex-Exec In 737 Suit Is Off Base

By Mike Curley

The Boeing Co. is urging a Washington federal judge to toss a motion by Norwegian Air subsidiaries to depose a former senior executive in a suit over their purchase of 737 Max airplanes, saying it has no control over him, and he wouldn't have unique information relevant to the case anyway.

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Pilots Look To Dodge Airline's Sanctions Bid Over Group Chat

By Emily Brill

A group of pilots is doing its best to fulfill Hawaiian Airlines' discovery request in a legal dispute over COVID-19 vaccine mandate exemptions, the pilots told a Hawaii federal judge, asking him not to sanction them for taking time to redact and format a Telegram group chat.

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EV-Maker SPAC Investors Reach $4M Chancery Settlement

By Jarek Rutz

Former stockholders of the special purpose acquisition company that took electric vehicle manufacturer Lion Electric public have agreed to a $4 million cash settlement with seven individuals who served as Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp. directors, officers or alleged controllers to end Delaware Chancery Court claims over the 2021 deal.

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Claims Court Halts BMW's $38M Tax Bid Over COVID Tolling

By Kat Lucero

The U.S. Court of Federal Claims paused reviewing luxury automaker BMW's $38.4 million tax refund suit until an appeals court issues a decision in a similar case over the tolling of a COVID-19-era filing deadline.

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Colo. Pro Racer Says Botched Mold Cleanup Shut Down Shop

By Isaac Monterose

A professional race car driver in Denver, Colorado, accused several companies Thursday of failing to address mold and asbestos contamination that eventually shut down his auto shop, canceled a commercial shoot and caused him an estimated loss of more than $2.9 million.

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MARTA, Atlanta Reach $52M Deal In Lengthy Tax Dispute

By David Aaro

The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority and the city of Atlanta announced a $52 million settlement Thursday to end their yearslong dispute over the amount of sales tax proceeds allocated for its enhanced bus service.

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FCC Urged To Hold Off On New Subsea Cable Security Regs

By Elaine Briseño

A trade association for submarine cable owners and other groups urged the Federal Communications Commission to hold off on adopting more regulations for undersea communication cable equipment until more information is available.

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Insurer Looks To Bifurcate $50M COVID Coverage Trial In NC

By Gianna Ferrarin

An insurer urged a North Carolina federal court to bifurcate an upcoming trial on claims that it improperly denied $50 million in coverage for an auto parts manufacturer's COVID-19 pandemic-related losses, arguing a jury may resolve the case entirely by looking at coverage issues first.

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Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: August Lessons

In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy discusses seven recent rulings from cases involving Class Action Fairness Act jurisdiction, appellate jurisdiction, attorney fees and employment rights.

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Series

Taekwondo Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Taekwondo has taught me to recognize when to fight for a position and when to focus on finding a solution, and that the best outcomes are often achieved by solving problems — all of which has improved my work as a bankruptcy lawyer, mediator and Subchapter V trustee, says Amy Denton Mayer at Berger Singerman.

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Exclusive

Inside The $150M Immigration Contract That Wasn't

By Daniel Connolly

The leader of a small Houston-based law firm says she was "blindsided" by an announcement from the federal government that her 24-attorney shop had won a $150 million no-bid contract to represent thousands of immigrant children in deportation proceedings.

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ABA Faces Uphill Battle To Remain As Law School Accreditor

By Emma Cueto

The American Bar Association council responsible for accrediting law schools is fighting on multiple fronts to retain its status as a nationwide accreditor, fending off challenges at both the federal and state levels.

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Dems Say DOJ Opinion Aims To Foil Oversight Of White House

By Courtney Bublé

With midterm elections right around the corner, Senate Democrats are worried the new legal opinion from the U.S. Department of Justice could let the Trump Administration obstruct congressional oversight of the White House.

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Google Users' Atty Fee To Be In 'Realm' Of $147M, Judge Says

By Bonnie Eslinger

A California federal judge indicated Thursday that he won't give the full $147 million in fees sought by lawyers who won a $425 million class action verdict against Google for unlawfully collecting user information, but he said their "really excellent lawyering" deserves an amount "within that realm."

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Womble Bond Asks To Drop Dutch Software Client Over Rift

By Hayley Fowler

Womble Bond Dickinson is looking to pull its representation of a Dutch software company after five years of a bitter trademark battle, citing a "fundamental disagreement" that has allegedly made it impossible for the firm to move forward as counsel of record.

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