North Carolina

  • February 19, 2026

    Scientist Must Give Splenda Maker Emails With In-House Attys

    A scientist battling a lawsuit by the maker of Splenda over her research linking the artificial sweetener to cancer-causing chemicals must turn over emails with her employer's in-house counsel, a North Carolina magistrate judge ruled, finding they are not protected by privilege.

  • February 19, 2026

    Paralegal Can Pursue Her ADA Bias Suit Against Former Firm

    A former paralegal at The Driscoll Firm PC can pursue her lawsuit alleging the firm discriminated against her after she informed higher-ups that her cancer had metastasized, because a North Carolina federal judge said she stated plausible claims for relief.

  • February 19, 2026

    Northrop Grumman 401(k) Suit Dropped For 4th Circ. Appeal

    A Virginia federal judge dismissed a suit Thursday against Northrop Grumman from workers who alleged misspending of 401(k) forfeitures, a step that followed the parties settling a final claim in anticipation of workers' Fourth Circuit appeal of the court's December order tossing most claims in the dispute.

  • February 19, 2026

    Law Firm Says Sports Database Co. Defaulted On $116K Bill

    College sports database service Winthrop Intelligence LLC failed to pay a just under $116,000 bill for three months of legal representation in Winthrop's contentious asset battle with the widow of the company's co-founder, a law firm told a North Carolina state court.

  • February 19, 2026

    Judge Brown To Exit NC Biz Court With Successor Named

    North Carolina Business Court Judge A. Todd Brown is stepping down from the bench less than two years into his term, the state judicial branch said Thursday in an announcement that named Judge Graham Shirley as his successor.

  • February 19, 2026

    'Sealed Container' Defense Sinks Exploding Battery Suit

    A North Carolina appeals panel won't revive a man's suit against a retailer and distributor alleging he was sold a defective lithium-ion battery that exploded in his pocket, saying all his claims are blocked by the sealed container defense.

  • February 18, 2026

    Duke Energy's $17M Fuel Cost Recovery Improper, Panel Says

    The North Carolina Utilities Commission was wrong to let Duke Energy recover over $17 million in fuel costs two years after they were incurred, a North Carolina appeals court panel ruled Wednesday, finding that a statute permits utilities to recover only the fuel costs incurred during a one-year "lookback period."

  • February 18, 2026

    4th Circ. Rejects Under Armour's Coverage Rehearing Request

    The Fourth Circuit on Wednesday rejected Under Armour's request to reconsider a recent ruling that capped its coverage for a securities class action, government investigations and derivative matters at $100 million.

  • February 18, 2026

    BofA Military Interest Cap Suit Should Be Tossed, Judge Says

    A North Carolina federal judge has recommended tossing a proposed class action accusing Bank of America of violating an interest cap law for military service members, saying the veteran plaintiffs have failed to allege any actual violations of federal or state law.

  • February 18, 2026

    Sen. IP Leads Worry About Outsize Standards Influencers

    U.S. senators who lead the Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on intellectual property wrote to the head of the American National Standards Institute stressing "the essential importance of integrity, balance and transparency" while developing standards in the U.S.

  • February 18, 2026

    NC Biz Court Slashes Tex-Mex Chain's Trade Secrets Case

    The former manager of an upscale Tex-Mex restaurant in North Carolina pared down a trade secrets suit accusing him of replicating the dining concept at another restaurant in Missouri, with a state judge throwing out all but one breach of contract claim against him.

  • February 18, 2026

    State Law Matters More For Bankruptcy Tolling, NC Justices Told

    A real estate rental agency told North Carolina's high court Wednesday that it didn't miss its chance to collect a $507,000 debt because a decade-long statute of limitations period for judgment renewal was tolled by the debtor's bankruptcy.

  • February 18, 2026

    Meta Pixel Tracking Suit Tossed Over Lack Of Standing

    A North Carolina federal judge has ruled that a prospective class of Nurse.com users lacked standing to sue the website's operator for Video Privacy Protection Act violations for allegedly sharing customers' information with Meta Platforms Inc. without permission.

  • February 18, 2026

    Insurer Must Cover $5.5M Crash Settlement, 4th Circ. Says

    A highway construction company is entitled to coverage under a subcontractor's policy for a $5.5 million settlement over two motorcycle crashes, the Fourth Circuit held Wednesday, finding that the company's liability to the victims was causally connected to the subcontractor's placement of work zone signage.

  • February 18, 2026

    4th Circ. Backs Military Policy Banning HIV-Positive Enlistees

    The Fourth Circuit on Wednesday upheld a U.S. Department of Defense policy that bans HIV-positive Americans from enlisting, deferring to the military's judgment that it must have healthy and fit service members who do not require consistent treatment for chronic medical conditions. 

  • February 18, 2026

    NC City Not Covered In Wrongful Conviction Suit, Court Told

    An insurer claimed it has no duty to defend or indemnify a city government or one of its police detectives against a civil suit brought by a man who was wrongfully convicted of the 2008 murder of a University of North Carolina student, the insurer told a North Carolina federal court.

  • February 18, 2026

    Diversity In Demand Feeds Data Center REITs' Gains

    Real estate investment trusts Equinix Inc. and Digital Realty Inc. attributed the growth they experienced last quarter and last year to data center demand from various sources, including business sectors beyond cloud computing and information technology.

  • February 17, 2026

    NC Town Files Latest PFAS Suit Against 3M, DuPont

    A Tar Heel State municipality has accused 3M, DuPont, Chemours and more than a dozen other chemical and firefighting‑foam manufacturers of concealing risks and environmental contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS)‑laden foam used at the town's fire training facility in a lawsuit filed in North Carolina state court. 

  • February 17, 2026

    States Hit Discovery Roadblocks In HPE Merger Fight With DOJ

    A California federal judge mostly sided with the Justice Department on Tuesday on the latest discovery disputes in state attorneys general's challenge to a DOJ settlement greenlighting Hewlett Packard Enterprise's $14 billion Juniper acquisition, ruling that HPE doesn’t need to reveal who's bidding for divested assets, and refusing to delay deadlines.

  • February 17, 2026

    4th Circ. Vacates Prison Officers' Immunity In Violent Assault

    A split Fourth Circuit revived the lawsuit of an incarcerated North Carolina man alleging correctional officers failed to prevent a violent attack by an incarcerated "safekeeper" after leaving open sallyport doors separating the two, ruling Tuesday risks could've been abated had they simply kept doors closed, as required under prison policy.

  • February 17, 2026

    4th Circ. Won't Revive Advance Auto Parts Fraud Suit

    The Fourth Circuit on Tuesday declined to revive a suit by investors claiming Advance Auto Parts and its top brass misled them about the failure of a new pricing strategy and about accounting errors, ruling they failed to allege the auto parts retailer had wrongful intent.

  • February 17, 2026

    Judge Rips Drugmakers' Borderline 'Disingenuous' Appeal Bid

    A Connecticut federal judge has rejected generic-drug makers' request for a quick appeal of his ruling denying them summary judgment on states' claims they engaged in an "overarching conspiracy" to fix prices, slamming the request for being borderline "disingenuous," mischaracterizing his reasoning and ignoring direct evidence of alleged wrongdoing.

  • February 17, 2026

    NC Justices Asked To Undo Earth Fare Founder's $195K Award

    Organic supermarket chain Earth Fare and its post-bankruptcy owner told North Carolina's top court on Tuesday that its founder can't recover damages for work he was salaried to do while revitalizing the brand, saying the justices should unravel a $195,000 unjust enrichment verdict in his favor.

  • February 17, 2026

    County's Tourism Tax Use Was Reasonable, NC Justices Told

    Counsel for a coastal North Carolina county told the state's Supreme Court justices Tuesday that commissioners' decision to spend occupancy tax dollars on public safety and infrastructure wasn't arbitrary and capricious, while opining that buying carnival equipment for their own pleasure might be.

  • February 17, 2026

    States Say FEMA Ignoring Disaster Mitigation Funding Order

    Two months after a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration's cancellation of a federal disaster mitigation program was illegal, the government has not shown any signs of restoring it, a coalition of states said Tuesday.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Muay Thai Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Muay Thai kickboxing has taught me that in order to win, one must stick to one's game plan and adapt under pressure, just as when facing challenges by opposing counsel or judges, says Mark Schork at Feldman Shepherd.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Intentional Career-Building

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    A successful legal career is built through intention: understanding expectations, assessing strengths honestly and proactively seeking opportunities to grow and cultivating relationships that support your development, say Erika Drous and Hillary Mann at Morrison Foerster.

  • State AG Enforcement During CFPB Gap Predicts 2026 Trends

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    State attorneys general responded to the decrease in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau enforcement in 2025 by stepping in to regulate consumer finance more than ever before, and the trends in rebooting CFPB investigations, cracking down on ESG and DEI initiatives, and fighting financial exploitation of homeowners will likely extend into 2026, say attorneys at Cozen O'Connor.

  • 3 Securities Litigation Trends To Watch In 2026

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    Pending federal appellate cases suggest that 2026 will be a significant year for securities litigation, with long-standing debates about class certification, new questions about the risks and value of artificial intelligence features, and private plaintiffs' growing role in cryptocurrency enforcement likely to be major themes, say attorneys at Willkie.

  • What 2025 Enforcement Actions Show About FERC's Priorities

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    A review of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 2025 enforcement record suggests that this year, the commission will persist in holding market participants to their commitments, and continue active market surveillance and close cooperation with market monitors, says Ruta Skucas at Crowell & Moring.

  • 4 Developments That Defined The 2025 Ethics Landscape

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    The legal profession spent 2025 at the edge of its ethical comfort zone as courts, firms and regulators confronted how fast-moving technologies and new business models collide with long-standing professional duties, signaling that the profession is entering a period of sustained disruption that will continue into 2026, says Hilary Gerzhoy at HWG Law.

  • Navigating AI In The Legal Industry

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    As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly integral part of legal practice, Law360 guest commentary this year examined evolving ethical obligations, how the plaintiffs bar is using AI to level the playing field against corporate defense teams, and the attendant risks of adoption.

  • The Major Securities Litigation Rulings And Trends Of 2025

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    The past 12 months saw increased regulator focus on disclosures concerning artificial intelligence, signs of growing judicial scrutiny at the class certification stage, and shifting regulatory priorities at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — all major developments that may significantly affect securities litigation strategy in 2026 and beyond, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • Sports Gambling Scrutiny Expands Risks For Teams, Leagues

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    The Minnesota attorney general recently sent warning letters to 14 website operators for offering what the state considers illegal online gambling, demonstrating why the sports industry, including teams and leagues, should ask critical questions about organizational compliance, internal controls and potential criminal liability, say attorneys at Stinson.

  • How Fractional GCs Can Manage Risks Of Engagement

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    As more organizations eliminate their in-house legal departments in favor of outsourcing legal work, fractional general counsel roles offer practitioners an engaging and flexible way to practice at a high level, but they can also present legal, ethical and operational risks that must be proactively managed, say attorneys at Boies Schiller.

  • Series

    Nature Photography Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Nature photography reminds me to focus on what is in front of me and to slow down to achieve success, and, in embracing the value of viewing situations through different lenses, offers skills transferable to the practice of law, says Brian Willett at Saul Ewing.

  • 2025 State AI Laws Expand Liability, Raise Insurance Risks

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    As 2025 nears its end, claims professionals should be aware of trends in state legislation addressing artificial intelligence use, as insurance claims based on some of these liability-expanding statutes are a certainty, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Practical Problem Solving

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    Issue-spotting skills are well honed in law school, but practicing attorneys must also identify clients’ problems and true goals, and then be able to provide solutions, says Mary Kate Hogan at Quarles & Brady.

  • What Trump Order Limiting State AI Regs Means For Insurers

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    Last week's executive order seeking to preclude states from regulating artificial intelligence will likely have minimal impact on insurers, but the order and related congressional activities may portend a federal expectation of consistent state oversight of insurers' AI use, says Kathleen Birrane at DLA Piper.

  • Opinion

    A Uniform Federal Rule Would Curb Gen AI Missteps In Court

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    To address the patchwork of courts’ standing orders on generative artificial intelligence, curbing abuses and relieving the burden on judges, the federal judiciary should consider amending its civil procedure rules to require litigants to certify they’ve reviewed legal filings for accuracy, say attorneys at Shook Hardy.

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