Appellate

  • October 09, 2024

    5th Circ. Asks If Drag Ban Different From Obscenity Laws

    A Fifth Circuit panel wrangled with First Amendment questions surrounding a Texas law banning drag shows in front of children, with a judge asking an LGBTQ nonprofit how Texas' law was different from a law banning "sexual intercourse" or "sodomy" in downtown New Orleans during oral arguments Wednesday.

  • October 09, 2024

    Court Affirms Waste Management Win In 'Titans Of Trash' Spat

    A Florida appeals court on Wednesday affirmed a win for Waste Management Inc. of Florida Inc. in a dispute with Bergeron Environmental and Recycling LLC over a joint venture to provide municipal trash pickup services and said the agreement's jury trial waiver was valid.

  • October 09, 2024

    RFK Jr. Jumps Into TikTok Ban Fight At DC Circ.

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has joined the fray in litigation at the D.C. Circuit challenging a federal law that could put TikTok out of business in the United States, contending in a new lawsuit that the sale-or-ban statute defies the First Amendment.

  • October 09, 2024

    Mich. Pot Legalization Does Not Bar Prosecution, Court Says

    A Michigan appeals court has ruled that, notwithstanding the state's legalization of recreational marijuana, prosecutors can still pursue a case against a person charged with selling large amounts of the drug outside the state's regulated marketplace.

  • October 09, 2024

    9th Circ. Judge Open To Rebooting CoStar Antitrust Fight

    A Ninth Circuit judge on a three-judge panel appeared open Wednesday to reviving counterclaims alleging CoStar monopolizes commercial real estate information markets, telling CoStar's counsel repeatedly that the lower court's ruling "reads more like summary judgment" than the granting of a motion to dismiss and improperly draws inferences in favor of CoStar.

  • October 09, 2024

    Wash. Justices To Weigh $185M PCB Case Against Monsanto

    The Washington State Supreme Court will consider school teachers' bid to reinstate a $185 million jury verdict against Monsanto in a chemical poisoning tort, marking the first in a series of cases tied to the same school to make it all the way to the state's high court.

  • October 09, 2024

    9th Circ. Grills Geico, Assignees Over Failed Settlement

    A Ninth Circuit panel appeared conflicted over both Geico and a policyholder's assignees' arguments regarding whether the carrier acted in bad faith toward its insured when it prioritized a release of the insured's father-in-law during failed settlement negotiations with the family of a pedestrian fatally struck by the insured driver.

  • October 09, 2024

    Another Supreme Court Term, Another Call For Ethics Reform

    The new term for the U.S. Supreme Court began on Monday under a cloud of alleged ethics improprieties by several justices.

  • October 09, 2024

    SF Leaders Not Backing City's High Court Case Against EPA

    With oral arguments just a week away, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed a resolution urging the city attorney to drop a U.S. Supreme Court case against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over a Clean Water Act permit.

  • October 09, 2024

    11th Circ. Told Fla. Venue Can't Show Injury In Drag Show Law

    Florida told the Eleventh Circuit on Wednesday that it should be allowed to implement a law prohibiting children from attending drag shows, arguing that an Orlando bar that sued to stop the law's enforcement hasn't met its burden showing an injury traceable to the state.

  • October 09, 2024

    Del. Justices Told Noncompete Toss Will Upend State Doctrine

    An attorney for an Illinois-based auto parts company urged Delaware's Supreme Court on Wednesday to clarify recent court precedent on employee "forfeiture-for-competition" agreements, saying a federal court strike-down of the company's forfeit action against a former manager would be "anathema" to Delaware's "contractarian doctrine and tradition" if upheld.

  • October 09, 2024

    Texas Electric Co-Op Says EPA Mercury Rule Must Be Nixed

    A Texas electricity co-operative on Tuesday backed a D.C. Circuit challenge to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rule curbing mercury and other toxic metal emissions at some coal-fired power plants, saying the agency fudged data to saddle the co-op with unachievable emissions reduction requirements.

  • October 09, 2024

    9th Circ. Doubts 'Weak' Jeep Transmission Defect Suit

    A Ninth Circuit panel appeared skeptical Wednesday about reviving a putative class action over alleged defects in the automatic transmission systems of some Jeep and Dodge car models, with one appellate judge saying the plaintiff has "a weak case." 

  • October 09, 2024

    Pa. Justices Skeptical That Surety Is Insurance

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed leery of a steel company's assertion that suretyship and insurance are the same thing when it comes to the state's bad faith laws, with justices repeatedly asking how the terms were identical.

  • October 09, 2024

    Pa. Justices Delve Into Audiences For Facebook Posts

    Whether the public's right to access to school board members' controversial social media posts depends on the intended audience dominated oral argument at the Pennsylvania's Supreme Court on Wednesday in a resident's challenge of a court order shielding the content.

  • October 09, 2024

    SEC Equity Trading Reforms Spark DC Circ. Challenge

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is facing a legal challenge in the D.C. Circuit over recent equity trading regulatory changes that allow stocks to be quoted in half-penny increments and lower access fee caps. 

  • October 09, 2024

    Locke Lord Slams 'Unsustainable' Take On Jurisdiction Issue

    Locke Lord LLP urged a New Jersey appellate panel Wednesday to reverse a trial court's finding that it is subject to Garden State courts in a malpractice suit over an allegedly botched deal involving a North Dakota oil refinery project, arguing personal jurisdiction can't be obtained through personal service on a firm partner not involved in the litigation.

  • October 09, 2024

    Mich. Justices Open To Atty Fee Bid In Legal Malpractice Case

    The Michigan Supreme Court appeared receptive Wednesday to arguments from a lab-grown orchid company that it should be allowed to recover attorney fees incurred in an employment lawsuit the company claimed resulted from legal malpractice.

  • October 09, 2024

    Lame-Duck Judiciary Confirmations? Wait And See

    Democrats have been signaling that they want to surpass former President Donald Trump's record on judicial confirmations, but President Joe Biden's prospects for the post-election period are likely going to be contingent on the election results, according to an analysis published Wednesday.

  • October 09, 2024

    9th Circ. Rejects Judicial Ethics Complaint Over Case Delays

    The Ninth Circuit has tossed an attorney's ethics complaint against a federal district judge accused of failing to promptly rule on a motion to dismiss as part of an alleged pattern of slow rulings by the court.

  • October 09, 2024

    Ex-NC Govs. Back Cooper In Power Struggle With Lawmakers

    Five former governors of North Carolina have thrown their support behind the current Democratic governor as he wrestles with Republican lawmakers over appointment powers, telling the state appeals court that the legislature has trampled on "bedrock constitutional principle" by seeking to divest the governor of his ability to select members of executive branch agencies.

  • October 09, 2024

    Paul Hastings Adds Former Asst. US Solicitor General

    Global firm Paul Hastings LLP announced Wednesday that a former assistant to the U.S. solicitor general is joining the firm to strengthen its appellate and Supreme Court practice.

  • October 08, 2024

    Del. Justices Revive Margolis Edelstein Malpractice Suit

    The full Delaware Supreme Court on Tuesday revived GMG Insurance Agency's malpractice suit claiming Margolis Edelstein's incompetence caused the insurer to have to settle a case for $1.2 million, saying there are still disputed facts about whether the law firm's representation fell below the requisite standards.

  • October 08, 2024

    Wash. Families Claim Judicial Bias In Tribal Eviction Saga

    A trial judge for Washington state's Nooksack Indian Tribe has paused a series of evictions against a group of families after they argued judges on a tribal appeals court were biased for ruling they can be removed from homes purchased using a federal tax credit program.

  • October 08, 2024

    'Alarming' AI Might Aid Research In Patent Fights, Judge Says

    A Federal Circuit judge on Tuesday told law school students at the University of California, Berkeley that while he finds artificial intelligence tools "a little alarming and frightening," he could see how they might be useful for finding prior art in patent disputes.

Expert Analysis

  • Replacing The Stigma Of Menopause With Law Firm Support

    Author Photo

    A large proportion of the workforce is forced to pull the brakes on their career aspirations because of the taboo surrounding menopause and a lack of consistent support, but law firms can initiate the cultural shift needed by formulating thoughtful workplace policies, says Barbara Hamilton-Bruce at Simmons & Simmons.

  • Series

    After Chevron: The Future Of AI And Copyright Law

    Author Photo

    In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision to overrule the Chevron doctrine, leaders in the artificial intelligence industry may seek to shift the balance of power to courts to exercise more independent statutory interpretation without constraints from the U.S. Copyright Office, says Greg Derin at Signature Resolution.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: August Lessons

    Author Photo

    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy considers certification cases touching on classwide evidence of injury from debt collection practices, defining coupon settlements under the Class Action Fairness Act, proper approaches for evaluating attorney fee awards in class action settlements, and more.

  • Planning Law Firm Content Calendars: What, When, Where

    Author Photo

    During the slower month of August, law firms should begin working on their 2025 content calendars, planning out a content creation and distribution framework that aligns with the firm’s objectives and maintains audience engagement throughout the year, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • 3 Presidential Privilege Questions After Trump Ruling

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Trump v. U.S., carving out a new evidentiary privilege for presidents, leaves unanswered several key questions concerning whether this new privilege is waivable or subject to various exceptions, says Jeremy Bates at Frankfurt Kurnit.

  • Notable Q2 Updates In Insurance Class Actions

    Author Photo

    Mark Johnson and Mathew Drocton at BakerHostetler discuss the muted nature of the property and casualty insurance class action space in the second quarter of the year, with no large waves made in labor depreciation and total-loss vehicle class actions, but a new offensive theory emerging for insurance companies.

  • What To Know About Major Fla. Civil Procedure Rule Changes

    Author Photo

    The Florida Supreme Court recently amended the state's Rules of Civil Procedure, touching on pretrial procedure, discovery, motion and trial practice, and while the amendments are intended to streamline cases, the breadth of the changes may initially present some litigation growing pains, say Brian Briz, Benjamin Tyler and Yarenis Cruz at Holland & Knight.

  • Prior Art Takeaways From Fed. Circ. Public Disclosure Ruling

    Author Photo

    While the Federal Circuit’s recent ruling in Sanho v. Kaijet clarified that a private sale is not a public disclosure under patent law, there remains significant room for advocacy, as the opinion lacked meaningful guidance on how to satisfy the public disclosure exception to prior art, says Derrick Carman at Robins Kaplan.

  • Series

    Playing Golf Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Golf can positively affect your personal and professional life well beyond the final putt, and it’s helped enrich my legal practice by improving my ability to build lasting relationships, study and apply the rules, face adversity with grace, and maintain my mental and physical well-being, says Adam Kelly at Venable.

  • Perspectives

    2 High Court Rulings Boost Protections Against Gov't Reprisal

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions in Gonzalez v. Trevino and Chiaverini v. City of Napoleon significantly strengthen legal protections against retaliatory arrests and malicious prosecution, and establish clear precedents that promote accountability in law enforcement, say Corey Stoughton and Amanda Miner at Selendy Gay.

  • Law Firms Should Move From Reactive To Proactive Marketing

    Author Photo

    Most law firm marketing and business development teams operate in silos, leading to an ad hoc, reactive approach, but shifting to a culture of proactive planning — beginning with comprehensive campaigns — can help firms effectively execute their broader business strategy, says Paul Manuele at PR Manuele Consulting.

  • 3 High Court Rulings May Shape Health Org. Litigation Tactics

    Author Photo

    Three separate decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court's most recent term — Loper Bright, Corner Post and Jarkesy — will likely strengthen healthcare organizations' ability to affirmatively sue executive agencies to challenge regulations governing operations and enforcement actions, say attorneys at McDermott.

  • Opinion

    The Big Issues A BigLaw Associates' Union Could Address

    Author Photo

    A BigLaw associates’ union could address a number of issues that have the potential to meaningfully improve working conditions, diversity and attorney well-being — from restructured billable hour requirements to origination credit allocation, return-to-office mandates and more, says Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea.

  • Opinion

    It's Time For A BigLaw Associates' Union

    Author Photo

    As BigLaw faces a steady stream of criticism about its employment policies and practices, an associates union could effect real change — and it could start with law students organizing around opposition to recent recruiting trends, says Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea.

  • How Calif. Justices' Prop 22 Ruling Affects The Gig Industry

    Author Photo

    The California Supreme Court's recent upholding of Proposition 22 clarifies that Uber, Lyft, DoorDash and other companies in the gig industry can legally classify their drivers as independent contractors, but it falls short of concluding some important regulatory battles in the state, says Mark Spring at CDF Labor.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Appellate archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!