Washington

  • April 01, 2025

    9th Circ. Won't Revive Wash. Atty's Bias Firing Suit

    An attorney can't revive his complaint alleging the Washington State Attorney General's Office fired him based on his PTSD diagnosis linked to being a closeted gay Mormon youth, after the Ninth Circuit said the case was time-barred and was an attempt to relitigate claims already tossed.

  • April 01, 2025

    Nordstrom Suit Over $6.7M Shirt Deal Restitched At 9th Circ.

    A Ninth Circuit panel on Tuesday restored a garment maker's lawsuit accusing retailer Nordstrom of using baseless human rights concerns as a pretense to yank a $6.7 million menswear order, saying a U.S. Customs press release about a forced labor investigation wasn't enough to warrant the alleged cancellation.

  • April 01, 2025

    9th Circ. Judge Unsure Oppenheimer Liable For Broker Ponzi

    A Ninth Circuit judge on Tuesday questioned if Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. was responsible for a Ponzi scheme orchestrated by one of its brokers as a side hustle, telling investors he was struggling to see how they were direct customers of the investment firm.

  • April 01, 2025

    Fla. Defends Sandoz Price-Fixing Settlement Terms

    Florida defended its deal with Sandoz Inc. on Monday, saying the other states suing the generic-drug maker over price-fixing have no right to object to the settlement, which does not require court approval and does not affect the states objecting to it.

  • April 01, 2025

    Retired Wash. Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens Dies At 75

    Former Washington State Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens has died at 75 after closing the book in December on a 44-year legal career, including an almost quarter-century on the state's high court.

  • April 01, 2025

    Nordstrom Family Faces Class Action Over Merger Deal

    Members of the Nordstrom family and Mexican omnichannel retailer and shareholder El Puerto de Liverpool, along with Nordstrom Inc., were hit with a class action alleging that they formed a group to acquire the remaining shares of the retailer and take it private at an inadequate price and based on an unfair and unlawful process.

  • April 01, 2025

    9th Circ. Urged To Keep Capital Group 401(k) Suit In Court

    An employee retirement plan participant urged the Ninth Circuit to keep in court her proposed class action alleging 401(k) mismanagement by The Capital Group Cos., arguing a lower court correctly blocked an arbitration provision in the plan that waived statutory rights under federal benefits law.

  • April 01, 2025

    NC Atty Gets $775K Fee For Multistate Wage Verdict

    A North Carolina federal judge has awarded $775,000 in attorney fees to the workers of an Apple-affiliated repair company following their six-figure win in a multistate wage class action over back wages and damages.

  • April 01, 2025

    Seattle Schools Must Face Teacher's Retaliation Lawsuit

    A Washington state appeals court breathed new life into a Seattle public schoolteacher's suit claiming she was punished for reporting that elementary school personnel mistreated students of color, faulting a trial court's conclusion that she hadn't done enough to satisfy presuit obligations.

  • April 01, 2025

    23 States Sue HHS To Stop $11B In Health Grant Funding Cuts

    Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia on Tuesday accused the Trump administration of illegally terminating about $11 billion in public health funding, causing layoffs and "chaos" in public health agencies across the country.

  • March 31, 2025

    9th Circ. Won't Stay Injunction On Transgender Troop Ban

    A Ninth Circuit panel on Monday denied the federal government's bid for an emergency stay that would have allowed the U.S. Department of Defense to move forward with the Trump administration's ban on transgender military service following a Washington federal judge's decision to block the prohibition last week.

  • March 31, 2025

    Ex-Blood Bank Atty Goes Back To Ballard Spahr In Phoenix

    Ballard Spahr LLP has picked up a former in-house intellectual property lawyer from nonprofit blood bank Vitalant who had worked at the law firm a little over a decade ago.

  • March 31, 2025

    Insurer Off The Hook For Tribe's COVID Casino Shutdown

    Lexington Insurance Co. does not owe a Washington tribe business-loss coverage after COVID-19 forced the shutdown of the tribe's casino, a Washington state appeals court said Monday, ruling that the virus did not cause direct physical loss or damage to tribal properties.

  • March 31, 2025

    9th Circ. Revives Investor Suit Over $8B Avalara Sale

    The Ninth Circuit on Monday partially revived a proposed class action accusing tax software company Avalara Inc. of underselling investors on its future prospects before taking the company private in an $8.4 billion deal.

  • March 31, 2025

    Minimum Wage Orders Blocked For H-2A Farmworkers In Wash.

    The U.S. Department of Labor may not approve minimum wage job orders for migrant farmworkers in Washington state, a federal judge has ruled, saying seasonal farmworkers with H-2A visas must receive paychecks that don't depress agricultural wages in the area.

  • March 31, 2025

    JB Hunt Drivers Urge 9th Circ. To Revive Piece-Rate Wage Suit

    Delivery truck drivers urged the Ninth Circuit to revive their wage-and-hour suit alleging J.B. Hunt used a piece-rate formula that did not separately compensate for tasks done off-the-clock, which included fueling trucks or completing paperwork, arguing Monday the company's system ultimately failed to pay drivers for all hours worked. 

  • March 31, 2025

    Insurer Must Cover $2.4M Water Damage, Condo Owners Say

    A Washington condo association has filed a federal consumer protection complaint against Country Casualty Insurance Co., alleging $2.4 million in unpaid claims for hidden water damage to exterior sheathing and framing the condo association says is covered by its property insurance policy.

  • March 31, 2025

    Amazon's Bid To Kick Drivers From Pay Suit Mostly Denied

    A Washington federal judge agreed to oust only two of the 11 workers Amazon asked to dismiss from an 8-year-old suit accusing the company of misclassifying drivers as independent contractors, saying the other nine made enough effort to comply with discovery.

  • March 31, 2025

    Wachtell, S&C Build Mechanics Bank, HomeStreet Merger

    Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz LLP-advised Mechanics Bank on Monday announced plans to merge with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP-led HomeStreet Bank in a deal that will create a combined company with 168 branches and $23 billion in assets.

  • March 28, 2025

    Grocery Vendor Gets $3M In Atty Fees In Bony Chicken Case

    A Washington federal judge has awarded an Evergreen State grocery vendor about $3 million in attorney fees following its $10.5 million jury trial win in its case blaming a poultry producer for a lost chicken burger deal with Trader Joe's, acknowledging the "excellent work" of the plaintiff's counsel while stopping short of granting the full $4.5 million fee request.

  • 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.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Gardening Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Beyond its practical and therapeutic benefits, gardening has bolstered important attributes that also apply to my litigation practice, including persistence, patience, grit and authenticity, says Christopher Viceconte at Gibbons.

  • Nevada Justices Could Expand Scope Of Subrogation Claims

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    The Nevada Supreme Court's recent decision to hear North River Insurance v. James River Insurance could expand the scope of equitable subrogation claims in the state by aligning with the California standard, which doesn't require excess insurers to demonstrate damages, says Daniel Heidtke at Duane Morris.

  • Litigation Inspiration: Reframing Document Review

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    For attorneys — new ones especially — there is much fulfillment to find in document review by reflecting on how important, interesting and pleasant it can be, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.

  • Series

    Flying Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Achieving my childhood dream of flying airplanes made me a better lawyer — and a better person — because it taught me I can conquer difficult goals when I leave my comfort zone, focus on the demands of the moment and commit to honing my skills, says Ivy Cadle at Baker Donelson.

  • 9th Circ.'s High Bar May Limit Keyword Confusion TM Claims

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    A recent Ninth Circuit ruling that a law firm did not infringe upon a competitor’s trademarks by paying Google to promote its website when users searched for the rival’s name signals that plaintiffs likely can no longer win infringement suits by claiming competitive keyword advertising confuses internet-savvy consumers, say attorneys at Mitchell Silberberg.

  • Post-Election Implications For The EPA's Methane Rules

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    Amid the U.S. Supreme Court's recent denial of requests to halt implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's methane rule in two suits, and given the outcome of the election, a complete reversal of the methane rule is expected, but state-level policymaking and enforcement will continue, says John Watson at Spencer Fane.

  • 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.

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