Judge Recuses In Tesla Crash Suit After Musk Remarks

By Carolina Bolado

A Florida judge recused himself from overseeing a lawsuit against Tesla over a fatal crash after a hot mic moment that Tesla said shows he had prejudged disputed issues in the case and was biased against the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, according to documents unsealed Wednesday.

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Truck Makers Say Calif. Can't Ditch 'Clean Trucks' Pact Suit

By Linda Chiem

Heavy-duty truck manufacturers have told a California federal judge that state officials cannot be allowed to circumvent federal law and saddle manufacturers with stringent emissions standards and stiff penalties for noncompliance, saying the Golden State's regulations are unequivocally preempted.

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Del. Chancellor Pauses Tesla Suit As Musk Cites LinkedIn Post

By Jarek Rutz

The Delaware Chancery Court has paused a high-profile Tesla stockholder case following a recusal bid from Elon Musk and Tesla Inc. after a judge's LinkedIn account appeared to react to a post celebrating a recent California jury verdict against Musk, including language praising efforts to stand up to "the richest man in the world."

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Justices Skeptical Of Where To Draw Transit Worker Line

By Max Kutner

U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared to push back Wednesday on an argument by counsel for delivery drivers that their approach to an interstate transportation worker exemption to federal arbitration requirements would not go beyond the drivers.

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Lyft Sex Assault MDL Gets 3 Co-Lead Plaintiff Attys

By Bonnie Eslinger

A California federal judge on Wednesday appointed three female partners from three law firms to co-lead multidistrict litigation over passenger sexual assault claims against Lyft Inc., two of whom are also serving as co-lead counsel in similar litigation against Uber Technologies Inc.

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Swissport Owes OT Over Unpaid Breaks, Suit Says

By Katherine Smith

Aviation services provider Swissport USA Inc. violated Washington wage laws by depriving its employees of their overtime pay and requiring them to remain on duty throughout meal and rest breaks, according to a proposed class action filed in state court.

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Uber Has Duty Of Safety Under NC Law, Passenger Claims

By Jonathan Capriel

Uber is "obviously" a transportation company providing rides to the public and therefore can be held liable when its drivers sexually assault customers, a passenger told the California federal court overseeing the sprawling multidistrict litigation, urging the court not to fall for the company's "misdirection."

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EV Co. Investors Get Final OK Of $13.3M Deal, Atty Fees

By Emilie Ruscoe

Investors in bankrupt electric vehicle company Arrival have gotten final approval for their nearly $13.3 million deal ending claims the company touted a purportedly profitable business plan as it went public via merger with a special purpose acquisition company only to scale back its projections within a year of the merger announcement.

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Ex-Nikola CEOs Can't Get Bankruptcy Pause For Investor Suit

By Emilie Ruscoe

Former CEOs of bankrupt electric-truck maker Nikola Corp. can't hit pause on proposed investor class action claims they face while related claims against the company are stayed amid its bankruptcy proceedings, an Arizona federal judge has determined.

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Drivers Say FedEx Backtracking On OT Suit Consolidation

By Irene Spezzamonte

A driver who worked for FedEx through an intermediary entity and who is claiming the freight company owes him overtime said to a Massachusetts federal court that there is no need to hold a status conference and told it how to handle his and more than 190 similar cases.

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Volvo Accused Of Infringing LED Headlight, GPS System Tech

By Gina Kim

Volvo, Mack Trucks and other subsidiaries were sued in Texas federal court Monday by Longhorn Automotive Group, alleging they ripped off multiple patents covering connectivity systems, LED headlights, mobile apps and data storage in GPS and infotainment systems found in the defendants' products, including Volvo's flagship long-hauler sleeper truck.

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Caterpillar Hits Back At Bobcat With Patent Claims

By Adam Lidgett

Caterpillar Inc. has responded to Doosan Bobcat's patent infringement suit in the Eastern District of Texas by accusing Bobcat itself of infringing a series of Caterpillar patents, the latest development in a larger intellectual property fight between the companies.

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Idaho Expands Retail Developer Sales Tax Rebate

By Zak Kostro

Idaho expanded a sales tax rebate to reimburse developers of retail complexes for eligible transportation project expenses under a bill signed by the governor.

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When Trade Secret Litigation And Criminal Law Collide

An increasing convergence of trade secret litigation and white collar defense, especially with several recent criminal prosecutions from the Justice Department, should prompt businesses and counsel to adapt within the overlapping landscapes, says Kenneth Notter at MoloLamken.

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White & Case Staffer Sues Firm Over Nude Photo Ridicule

By Dorothy Atkins

A White & Case LLP staffer sued the law firm in New York state court Wednesday, alleging the firm's purported "hostile work environment" shielded his colleagues after they allegedly shared nude photos of him, which he claims were taken by his supervisor while he was unconscious at a firm-sponsored party.

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Akin Must Explain Client's 'Self-Indulgent' 9th Circ. Appeal

By Lauren Berg

Upholding a foreign arbitration award against a wine importer, the Ninth Circuit on Thursday ordered its attorneys at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP to explain why they and their client shouldn't pay their opponent's attorney fees for bringing a "frivolous" and "self-indulgent" appeal.

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Troutman, Former Associate Fight Over Scope Of Bias Trial

By Emily Sawicki

Weeks ahead of an anticipated May trial over discrimination and retaliation claims brought by a former Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP associate, the firm and its onetime employee are sparring over the scope of evidence that may be presented at trial.

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Maduro Judge Hints US Should Reconsider Legal Fee Refusal

By Pete Brush

A Manhattan federal judge suggested Thursday that the Trump administration should revisit its refusal to allow former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to access his country's funds to pay for his defense against narco-terrorism and trafficking charges.

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Antitrust Leaders Say Lobbyists Don't Impact Outcomes

By Matthew Perlman

The leaders of the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division said Thursday that companies can lobby the agencies all they want, but enforcers will still make merger and conduct decisions based on the facts and the law.

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Bill To Give Admin More Control Over US Attys Advances

By Courtney Bublé

A Republican-led bill that would give the executive branch more authority over the installation of U.S. attorneys was advanced out of a House committee Thursday.

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