Washington

  • April 09, 2025

    DOJ's Stance On Refugee Program Status Vexes Wash. Judge

    A Washington federal judge expressed frustration on Wednesday with the U.S. Department of Justice's uncertainty about how long it would take to resume processing of certain refugees, citing two previous orders blocking President Donald Trump's administration from shutting down refugee admissions.

  • April 09, 2025

    9th Circ. Won't Restore Competing TM Claims In Vitamin Row

    The Ninth Circuit on Wednesday refused to revive competing trademark infringement claims between a pair of vitamin and supplement companies, backing a lower court's finding that neither party was able to prove their case.

  • April 09, 2025

    Insurer Settles Suit Blaming Bank Consultant For Data Breach

    National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh has settled a suit accusing a Washington-based consultant of security lapses after the personal data of over 10,000 bank customers ended up online, according to new filings in Evergreen State court.

  • April 09, 2025

    Student From China Says DHS Stripped Visa Status After DUI

    A doctoral student from China studying at the University of Washington is suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, claiming the federal government unilaterally terminated his Student and Exchange Visitor Information System record based on a pending DUI arrest without conviction, exposing him to potential removal from the U.S.

  • April 09, 2025

    Underwriters Owe $2.6M For Damaged Ship Loader, Co. Says

    A seller of ship loaders said its underwriters owe it an additional $2.6 million for a piece of equipment that was damaged en route to Canada, telling a Washington federal court that the carriers have breached their obligations under a marine all-risk cargo policy.

  • April 09, 2025

    IRS Acting Chief To Stay On Through Mid-May, Treasury Says

    The Internal Revenue Service's interim leader, Melanie Krause, will stay at her post through May 15, the U.S. Treasury Department said Wednesday, after she and other officials reportedly said they would resign following an IRS agreement to share taxpayer information with immigration enforcement agencies.

  • April 09, 2025

    Seattle Hospital Agrees To Pay $16M To End Meal Break Suit

    Seattle Children's Hospital has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a proposed class action brought by hospital workers who say they were denied required meal breaks in violation of Washington wage and hour laws.

  • April 09, 2025

    FTC Has Authority To Bring Antitrust Case Against Amazon

    A federal court in Washington found the Federal Trade Commission has the authority to bring an antitrust case targeting Amazon's treatment of sellers on its platform directly in federal court without also pursuing an in-house administrative case.

  • April 08, 2025

    'There Is No Duty To The World,' Hyundai Tells 9th Circ.

    Hyundai urged the Ninth Circuit on Tuesday to toss negligence claims from cities in consolidated litigation alleging the automaker and its Kia subsidiary sold vehicles with design flaws that spawned car thefts prompted by a social media challenge, saying the cities are trying to impose on manufacturers "a duty to the world."

  • April 08, 2025

    Feds Sue Wash. Company Over Barge's $1M Oil Spill Cleanup

    The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Coast Guard have sued a Washington state barge owner for allegedly violating federal laws related to an oil spill that the government said cost more than $1 million in salvage and remediation costs.

  • April 08, 2025

    9th Circ. To Hear Remaining AB 5 Challenge

    A Ninth Circuit panel is set to hear arguments Wednesday in likely the last ongoing high-profile challenge to California's Assembly Bill 5, leaving a potential path to striking down the independent contractor classification law's application to the trucking industry.

  • April 08, 2025

    Wash. Co. Liable For Hack Involving 19K Workers, Suit Says

    A Washington-based seafood producer has been hit with a proposed class action in federal court over a data breach that allegedly exposed the private information of more than 19,000 employees to hackers.

  • April 08, 2025

    9th Circ. Wary Of Judge Becoming 'King' Of Veteran Housing

    The Ninth Circuit appeared skeptical Tuesday of a California federal court's decision to establish control over a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs facility due to inadequate homelessness measures, with one panel member expressing concern the district judge gave himself the overbroad powers of a "king."

  • April 08, 2025

    Wash. Smoke Shop Settles Exploding Vape Battery Suit

    An Evergreen State smoke shop has reached a settlement to end a consumer's suit over a lithium-ion e-cigarette battery that allegedly exploded in his pocket, according to new filings in Washington federal court, following a judge's decision in late March to let a vape wholesaler off the hook.

  • April 08, 2025

    Photographer Tells 9th Circ. Kat Von D Tattoo Is Not Fair Use

    A photographer has urged the Ninth Circuit to reverse a jury verdict that found celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D did not infringe a Miles Davis picture that was the basis for a tattoo she drew, saying her company admitted that it was "100%" the same as the photograph.

  • April 08, 2025

    In Trump Order Against Perkins Coie, GCs See Harm For Cos.

    Nearly 70 current and former general counsel for companies including Apple Inc. and Starbucks filed an amicus brief Tuesday supporting Perkins Coie LLP in its suit against an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting the firm, saying the order "tramples on corporate independence, the right to counsel, and First Amendment rights."

  • April 07, 2025

    9th Circ. Partially Reverses LA Port Co.'s Coverage Suit

    The Ninth Circuit on Monday held that United National Insurance Company was obligated to defend a Los Angeles Port operator against pollution claims brought by the city, but said a district judge deprived the insurer of a jury trial on the operator's claimed defense costs due to the breach of contract.

  • April 07, 2025

    ​​​​​​​AFGE Demands Halt To Homeland Security's CBA Termination

    The American Federation of Government Employees and one of its affiliates requested an injunction to block U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's move to end a collective bargaining agreement covering Transportation Security Administration employees, accusing the Trump administration of retaliating against the union.

  • April 07, 2025

    NaphCare Hit With $25M Jury Verdict After Ex-Inmate Lost Leg

    A Seattle federal jury has determined NaphCare owes $25 million to a man who claimed his leg had to be partially amputated because the correctional healthcare provider failed to address signs of his declining health after he suffered blood clots while behind bars at a Washington county jail.    

  • April 07, 2025

    DOJ Says Partnerships Can't Wipe Out $4M Tax Lien

    Two partnerships cannot use a mortgage sale to foreclose on properties and wipe out the government's $4 million tax lien on a couple's real estate, the U.S. told a Washington federal court.

  • April 07, 2025

    Starbucks Asks To Dump Investors' 'Triple Shot' Strategy Suit

    Starbucks has urged a Seattle federal judge to toss a consolidated proposed class action alleging that the coffee chain made overly positive projections for its "Triple Shot Reinvention" strategy that hurt investors when the financial results didn't bear out the company's optimism, saying the plaintiffs haven't shown that Starbucks made any false statements.

  • April 07, 2025

    Kroger Says State AGs' Strategy Dooms Merger Row Fees Bid

    Kroger and Albertsons have urged an Oregon federal judge not to grant legal fees to the attorneys general who challenged their now-nixed $24.6 billion merger alongside the Federal Trade Commission, arguing U.S. Supreme Court precedent clearly requires more than a temporary court block to win costs.

  • April 07, 2025

    Monthly Merger Review Snapshot

    The Federal Trade Commission sued to block GTCR BC's planned purchase of a medical device coatings company, the Justice Department's antitrust case against Live Nation survived a dismissal bid and a New York state court found a ski mountain deal hurt competition. Here, Law360 looks at the major merger review developments from March.

  • April 07, 2025

    9th Circ. Says Teamsters Didn't Taint UPS Election

    Teamsters representatives didn't taint the results of a UPS union representation election by chatting with workers in a warehouse parking lot while the vote went on inside, a Ninth Circuit panel ruled Monday, saying the representatives' "brief conversations with three voters … did not constitute objectionable electioneering or voter intimidation."

  • April 07, 2025

    Litigation Firms Back Perkins Coie In Suit Over Trump Order

    A slew of midsize and small litigation firms took up Perkins Coie LLP's cause in its legal battle against an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting the BigLaw firm, arguing Monday in an amicus brief that the order is "anathema" to the justice system.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Coaching Little League Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    While coaching poorly played Little League Baseball early in the morning doesn't sound like a good time, I love it — and the experience has taught me valuable lessons about imperfection, compassion and acceptance that have helped me grow as a person and as a lawyer, says Alex Barnett at DiCello Levitt.

  • 5 Litigation Funding Trends To Note In 2025

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    Lawyers and their clients must be prepared to navigate an evolving litigation funding market in 2025, made more complicated by a new administration and the increasing overall cost of litigation, says Jeffery Lula at GLS Capital.

  • Predicting Where State AGs Will Direct Their Attention In 2025

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    In 2025, we expect state attorneys general will navigate a new presidential administration while continuing to further regulate and police financial services, artificial intelligence, junk fees and antitrust, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

  • A Look At Sweepstakes Casinos' Legal Issues In Fla., Beyond

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    Scheduled for trial in Florida federal court this fall, the VGW sweepstakes case underscores the growing urgency for gambling states to clarify and enforce their laws in response to emerging online gaming models, as the expansion of sweepstakes casinos challenges traditional interpretations of gambling regulations, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • Rethinking Litigation Risk And What It Really Means To Win

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    Attorneys have a tendency to overestimate litigation risk before summary judgment and underestimate risk after it, but an eight-stage litigation framework can clarify risk at different points and help litigators reassess what true success looks like in any particular case, says Joshua Libling at Arcadia Finance.

  • Mass Arbitration Procedures After Faulty Live Nation Ruling

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    Despite the Ninth Circuit's flawed reasoning in Heckman v. Live Nation, the exceptional allegations of collusive conduct shouldn't be read to restrict arbitration providers that have adopted good faith procedures to ensure that consumer mass arbitrations can be efficiently resolved on the merits, says Collin Vierra at Eimer Stahl.

  • Series

    Playing Rugby Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My experience playing rugby, including a near-fatal accident, has influenced my legal practice on a professional, organizational and personal level by showing me the importance of maintaining empathy, fostering team empowerment and embracing the art of preparation, says James Gillenwater at Greenberg Traurig.

  • Looking Back At 2024's Noteworthy State AG Litigation

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    State attorneys general across the U.S. took bold steps in 2024 to address unlawful activities by corporations in several areas, including privacy and data security, financial transparency, children's internet safety, and other overall consumer protection claims, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.

  • Opinion

    No, Litigation Funders Are Not 'Fleeing' The District Of Del.

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    A recent study claimed that litigation funders have “fled” Delaware federal court due to a standing order requiring disclosure of third-party financing, but responsible funders have no problem litigating in this jurisdiction, and many other factors could explain the decline in filings, say Will Freeman and Sarah Tsou at Omni Bridgeway.

  • Top 10 Noncompete Developments Of 2024

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    Following an eventful year in noncompete law at both state and federal levels, employers can no longer rely on a court's willingness to blue-pencil overbroad agreements and are proceeding at their own peril if they do not thoughtfully review and carefully enforce such agreements, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • 5 Advertising Law Trends To Watch In 2025

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    Although advertisers are encouraged by the incoming Trump administration's focus on deregulation, this year could feel like wading through uncharted waters, and decreased federal government regulation may mean increased state regulation, say attorneys at Reed Smith.

  • 5 E-Discovery Predictions For 2025 And Beyond

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    In the year to come, e-discovery will be shaped by new and emerging trends, from the adoption of artificial intelligence provisions in protective orders, to the proliferation of emojis as a source of evidence in contemporary litigation, say attorneys at Littler.

  • 7 Ways 2nd Trump Administration May Affect Partner Hiring

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    President-elect Donald Trump's return to the White House will likely have a number of downstream effects on partner hiring in the legal industry, from accelerated hiring timelines to increased vetting of prospective employees, say recruiters at Macrae.

  • E-Discovery Quarterly: Rulings On Custodian Selection

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    Several recent rulings make clear that the proportionality of additional proposed custodians will depend on whether the custodians have unique relevant documents, and producing parties should consider whether information already in the record will show that they have relevant documents that otherwise might not be produced, say attorneys at Sidley.

  • When Judging Product Label Claims, Follow The Asterisk

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    A recurring question in false advertising class actions is whether misleading or ambiguous statements on a product's front label can be cured by information on the back label — but recent decisions from the Ninth Circuit suggest that a front-label asterisk can help alert consumers to seek further clarification, say attorneys at Hunton.

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