Washington

  • March 28, 2025

    Google Privacy Fight Raises 'Classic' Trial Issues, Judge Says

    A California federal judge Friday doubted consumers' bid to certify a class of Chrome users in a revived lawsuit accusing Google of surreptitiously collecting their data while also observing that the case raises "classic" trial questions and asking how else Americans could "tell corporations what they believe to be offensive?"

  • March 28, 2025

    Wash. Uber Driver Fails To Upend Arbitration Over Termination

    A Washington federal judge has thrown out an ex-Uber driver's case seeking to block the ride-hailing company from forcing him to settle his wrongful termination dispute in arbitration, despite the plaintiff's argument that a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling upended the company's case for arbitration.  

  • March 28, 2025

    9th Circ. Affirms Toss Of 3D Printer Co. Derivative Suit

    The Ninth Circuit on Friday affirmed the dismissal of a derivative suit brought by a venture capital firm over an $11 million investment it made in a 3D printing company, with the panel finding the lower court correctly tossed the suit due to previous and ongoing "outside entanglements" between the parties.

  • March 28, 2025

    2nd Judge Grants Injunction Against DOD's Transgender Ban

    A Washington state federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's ban on transgender troops following a similar move by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., finding that the prohibition blatantly discriminates based on gender status and sex without any justifying evidence.

  • March 28, 2025

    9th Circ. Affirms Maui County's Win In Religious Land-Use Suit

    The Ninth Circuit is backing a Hawaii county's jury trial victory over a nonprofit's Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act lawsuit, ruling on Friday that the lower court rightfully sided with the county even though it erred by including a certain jury instruction.

  • March 28, 2025

    Kroger, Albertsons Appeal Block Of $24.6B Merger

    Kroger and Albertsons say they plan to appeal a Washington state judge's ruling that blocked the $24.6 billion merger of the grocery chains and determined the state could collect legal costs for prevailing in its Consumer Protection Act suit opposing the deal.

  • March 28, 2025

    Protego Says Texas Firm Broke $200M Crypto Bank Promise

    Protego Holdings Corp. said a Texas-based firm promised to invest $200 million in its launch of a cryptocurrency bank but delivered only excuses as the funding failed to materialize and a rare conditional approval from the U.S. government lapsed when financing wasn't in place.

  • March 27, 2025

    FTC Seeks Amazon Execs' Financials For Prime Renewal Suit

    The Federal Trade Commission urged a Washington federal court to make several Amazon executives hand over an accounting of their assets and liabilities, saying the financial information was essential for determining civil penalties in its lawsuit accusing the e-commerce giant of trapping consumers into renewing Prime subscriptions.

  • March 27, 2025

    Video Privacy Law Doesn't Hit Movie Theaters, 9th Circ. Says

    The federal Video Privacy Protection Act doesn't cover companies that offer "a classic in-theater moviegoing experience," the Ninth Circuit ruled Thursday in affirming the dismissal of a putative class action accusing Landmark Theatres of violating the law by sharing ticket buyers' information with Facebook.

  • March 27, 2025

    'Success By Health' Execs Fight $7.3M FTC Win At 9th Circ.

    Executives behind the alleged "Success By Health" pyramid scheme urged the Ninth Circuit on Thursday to reverse a $7.3 million compensatory sanction and asset-freeze injunction, arguing the sanction wasn't tied to actual loss and the lower court shouldn't have frozen assets following the high court's 2021 AMG v. FTC ruling.

  • March 27, 2025

    9th Circ. Revives Monsanto Roundup Expiration Label Fight

    Consumers can pursue their proposed class claims against Monsanto that ingredients in its Roundup herbicides could form a dangerous cancer-causing substance, but not against a distributor, the Ninth Circuit ruled Thursday.

  • March 27, 2025

    Shade Store Customers Seek Class Cert. In Deceptive Ad Suit

    A pair of Washington residents are seeking to certify a class of thousands of consumers in a case alleging The Shade Store violated Washington's consumer protection law with fake buy-now ads.

  • March 27, 2025

    Chamber Asks Justices To Review Duke Energy Monopoly Suit

    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to review a decision that revived a case accusing Duke Energy of squeezing a rival out of the market in North Carolina, saying the appeals court was wrong to recognize a "Frankenstein's monster" theory of harm.

  • March 27, 2025

    WordPerfect Software Co. Settles 'Alludo' TM Suit In Wash.

    The company behind the 1990s word-processing application WordPerfect has settled a Washington-based education technology firm's lawsuit accusing it of stealing a trademarked name for a 2022 revamp, ending the case ahead of an early April trial date in Seattle federal court.

  • March 27, 2025

    Nu Skin Can't Avoid Distributor Dispute In Wash. Court

    The Washington Supreme Court said Thursday that Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. can't jettison a case in Washington state court and force product distributors to go to Utah to settle claims that the multilevel marketing company violated a Washington law against pyramid schemes, in a question that had split lower appellate courts.

  • March 27, 2025

    Ex-Netflix Exec Urges 9th Circ. To Wipe Bribery Conviction

    Counsel for Netflix's former vice president of information technology urged a Ninth Circuit panel on Thursday to undo his conviction for taking bribes from vendors, saying prosecutors tainted the verdict by improperly intertwining two different fraud theories.

  • March 27, 2025

    UPS, Workers To Take Military Leave Suit To Mediation

    United Parcel Service and a class of employees alerted a Washington federal court that they intend to mediate the workers' lawsuit accusing the company of failing to pay drivers on short-term military leave while paying those who take time off for jury duty and other short-term absences.

  • March 27, 2025

    FCA Suit Alleging Unnecessary Spinal Surgeries Avoids Dismissal

    A Washington federal judge declined Wednesday to toss the state and federal government's suit alleging a hospital operator made millions of dollars by submitting false claims to Medicaid and Medicare for medically unnecessary surgical procedures.

  • March 27, 2025

    DOJ's Antitrust Unit Targeting Anticompetitive Regulations

    The U.S. Department of Justice launched a task force on Thursday aimed at eliminating state and federal laws and regulations that are hindering competition, with an initial focus on key sectors including housing, food and transportation.

  • March 27, 2025

    Payroll Co. Hid IRS Interest Money From Clients, Court Told

    A payroll provider for a maintenance company never passed along interest payments from the Internal Revenue Service related to its clients' pandemic-era relief claims, the company alleged in a proposed class action filed in Washington federal court.

  • March 27, 2025

    9th Circ. Won't Stay Injunction Compelling Fed. Worker Rehire

    A split Ninth Circuit panel has refused to block an injunction compelling the Trump administration to reinstate about 16,000 probationary employees to six federal agencies, saying the administration will likely lose its argument that the agencies weren't acting on an order from above when they fired the workers.

  • March 27, 2025

    1st Circ. Denies Gov't Bid To Enforce Funding Freeze

    The First Circuit has declined to interfere with a Rhode Island federal judge's order that the government continue releasing federal funds while the Trump administration appeals a ruling blocking its efforts to enforce the freeze.

  • March 26, 2025

    Sotomayor Urges Caution On Nondelegation Doctrine Revamp

    U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor cautioned her colleagues during oral arguments Wednesday against using a challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's administration of a broadband subsidy program as a way to resurrect the long-dormant nondelegation doctrine. Several conservative justices, however, seemed willing to disregard that admonition.

  • March 26, 2025

    Apple Cites Amazon Ruling To Toss Web App Antitrust Suit

    Apple is hoping the Ninth Circuit will allow it to wash its hands of a proposed antitrust class action accusing it of preventing iPhones from running web-based apps for the same reason the court just refused to revive a consumer antitrust action over Amazon's fulfillment service, according to a recent filing.

  • March 26, 2025

    Judge Knocks Amazon For Mislabeled Docs In Antitrust Suits

    Amazon.com Inc. must hand over dozens of records previously flagged as confidential to the consumers in a series of class actions alleging antitrust violations, a Washington federal judge has ruled, concluding that the e-commerce giant wrongly marked the documents as "attorney-client communications or attorney-work product."

Expert Analysis

  • Nvidia Supreme Court Case May Not Make Big Splash

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    The skeptical tenor of the justices' questioning at oral argument in Nvidia v. Ohman Fonder suggests that the case is unlikely to alter the motion to dismiss pleading standard in securities class actions, as some had feared, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Series

    Circus Arts Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    Performing circus arts has strengthened my ability to be more thoughtful, confident and grounded, all of which has enhanced my legal practice and allowed me to serve clients in a more meaningful way, says Bailey McGowan at Stinson.

  • 3 Ways To Train Junior Lawyers In 30 Minutes Or Less

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    Today’s junior lawyers are experiencing a skills gap due to pandemic-era disruptions, but firms can help bring them up to speed by offering high-impact skill building content in bite-sized, interactive training sessions, say Stacey Schwartz at Katten, Diane Costigan at Winston & Strawn and Lauren Tierney at Freshfields.

  • The Bar Needs More Clarity On The Discovery Objection Rule

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    Almost 10 years after Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 34 was amended, attorneys still seem confused about what they should include in objections to discovery requests, and until the rules committee provides additional clarity, practitioners must beware the steep costs of noncompliance, says Tristan Ellis at Shanies Law Office.

  • Expect More State-Level Scrutiny Of Noncompetes Ahead

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    Despite the nationwide injunction against the Federal Trade Commission’s noncompete ban, and the incoming Republican administration, employers should anticipate that state legislatures will continue to focus on laws that limit or ban noncompetes, including those that target certain salary thresholds or industries, says Benjamin Fryer at FordHarrison.

  • Series

    Being A Navy Reservist Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Serving this country in uniform has not only been one of the greatest honors of my life, but it has also provided me with opportunities to broaden my legal acumen and interpersonal skills in ways that have indelibly contributed to my civilian practice, says Phillip Smith at Weinberg Wheeler.

  • What To Expect From State AGs As Federal Control Changes

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    Under the next Trump administration, Democratic attorneys general are poised to strengthen enforcement in certain areas as Republican attorneys general continue their efforts with stronger federal support — resulting in a confusing patchwork of policies that create unintended liabilities for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • So You Want To Move Your Law Practice To Canada, Eh?

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    Google searches for how to move to Canada have surged in the wake of the U.S. presidential election, and if you’re an attorney considering a move to the Great White North, you’ll need to understand how the practice of law differs across the border, says David Postel at Henein Hutchison.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: November Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy discusses six federal court decisions that touch on Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and when individual inquiries are needed to prove economic loss.

  • Notable Q3 Updates In Insurance Class Actions

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    Total loss valuation cases and labor depreciation cases dominated the past quarter of insurance class actions, with courts continuing to reject challenges to condition adjustments in the former, and a pro-insured trend persisting in the latter, say attorneys at BakerHostetler.

  • Promoting Diversity In The Selection Of ADR Neutrals

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Choosing neutrals from diverse backgrounds is an important step in promoting inclusion in the legal profession, and it can enhance the legitimacy and public perception of alternative dispute resolution proceedings, say attorneys at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Series

    Playing Ultimate Makes Us Better Lawyers

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    In addition to being fun, ultimate Frisbee has improved our legal careers by emphasizing the importance of professionalism, teamwork, perseverance, enthusiasm and vulnerability, say Arunabha Bhoumik and Adam Bernstein at Regeneron. 

  • Considering Chevron's End Through A State Tax Lens

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    States took the lead in encouraging Chevron's demise, turning away from Chevron-type deference in state tax administration ahead of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision, a trend likely to accelerate as courts take a more active role in interpreting tax laws, say attorneys at Eversheds Sutherland.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Recent Rulings On Metadata

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    Several recent rulings reflect the competing considerations that arise when parties dispute the form of production for electronically stored information, underscoring that counsel must carefully consider how to produce and request reasonably usable data, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • Comparing Antitrust Outlooks Amid Google Remedy Review

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    As the U.S. Justice Department mulls potential structural remedies after winning its recent case against Google, increased global scrutiny of Big Tech leaves ex post and ex ante antitrust approaches ripe for evaluation, say Nishant Chadha at the Indian School of Business and Manisha Goel at Pomona College.

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