Commercial Contracts

  • November 06, 2024

    Judge Axes NY Claims In Chase Bank Counterfeit Check Row

    A New Jersey federal judge partly granted JPMorgan Chase Bank's bid to toss a tile company's lawsuit over the financial giant's alleged acceptance of $5 million in counterfeit checks drawn from its Valley National Bank account, reasoning that Florida law claims could stand but allegations under New York statutes could not. 

  • November 06, 2024

    Morgan Stanley Denied ERISA Deferred Comp Ruling Redo

    A New York federal judge denied Morgan Stanley's request that the court rethink its order compelling to individual arbitration a proposed class action from former financial advisers seeking deferred compensation to individual arbitration, keeping a holding intact that found disputed benefits were subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

  • November 06, 2024

    R&B Singer Says Ex-Manager Can't 'Squeeze' More Money

    A Grammy-nominated singer has urged a Michigan federal judge to find his former management isn't entitled to any commission from the last eight years of his work in the entertainment industry, saying a sunset clause from a 2003 agreement isn't valid because he terminated the contract.

  • November 06, 2024

    FINRA Fines Firm Over Lax Real Estate Investment Diligence

    The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ordered broker-dealer XP to pay $800,000 in restitution and penalties to settle claims that, among other things, it recommended investments in a series of real estate-focused private placements without conducting proper due diligence on them, leading to investor losses when the offerings flopped.

  • November 06, 2024

    No Arbitration For NBA Player Agent Suit Against Klutch, Paul

    Klutch Sports Group and its founder, superagent Rich Paul, had their bid to send to arbitration a $4.9 million breach of contract lawsuit by a fellow agent and former negotiator turned aside, with an Ohio federal judge ruling the suit will remain in district court.

  • November 06, 2024

    Lawyer's Suit Against Ex-Partner Can Proceed, NJ Panel Says

    A New Jersey state appeals court ruled Wednesday that a lawyer who is suing a former law partner may continue pursuing the case in open court, because a contract signed years earlier between the lawyers doesn't require a private arbitration.

  • November 06, 2024

    Poultry Cos. Can't Nab Quick Appeal Of Pollution Verdict Plan

    Tyson, Cargill and other poultry producers have not shown that an immediate appeal of an Oklahoma federal judge's plan to hash out remedies concerning a river pollution trial that took place over a decade ago would "materially advance the ultimate termination of the litigation," the judge ruled.

  • November 06, 2024

    Ex-GE Exec Called 'Innocent Victim' In $1.1B Forgery Trial

    Counsel for a former GE Power executive accused of taking a $5 million kickback after forging documents to close a $1.1 billion gas turbine deal in Angola suggested to a Manhattan federal jury Wednesday that others were behind the fraud.

  • November 06, 2024

    Telecom Co. Seeks Toss Of Insurer's Marshall Fire Suit

    A Lumen Technologies subsidiary urged a Colorado federal court to toss a Liberty Mutual unit's suit seeking to avoid coverage for underlying actions over the 2021 Marshall Fire, saying the insurer lacks standing because it has not suffered any injury.

  • November 05, 2024

    Trump Has Official Immunity. What About His Aides?

    Whether the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity extends to subordinates who follow a president's orders has become a more pressing question in the wake of Donald Trump's projected election win, according to legal experts.

  • November 05, 2024

    How Trump Can Quash His Criminal Cases

    Donald Trump's projected victory at the polls also translates to a win in the courts, as the second-term president will have the power to end both of his federal criminal cases. And the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on presidential immunity would shield him from any consequences for ordering his charges to be dismissed, experts say.

  • November 05, 2024

    An Early Look At Trump's Supreme Court Shortlist

    With former President Donald Trump projected to win the 2024 presidential election and the Republicans' success in securing the U.S. Senate majority, Trump may now get the chance to appoint two more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, cementing the court's conservative tilt for decades to come.

  • November 05, 2024

    GOP's Senate Win Hands Future Of The Judiciary To Trump

    Republicans were projected to take back the White House and Senate and possibly the House early Wednesday, putting the GOP in position to back Donald Trump's agenda and his slate of young, conservative judicial nominees. 

  • November 05, 2024

    The Firms With An Inside Track To A New Trump Admin

    Law firms that have represented Donald Trump and the Republican Party on everything from personal legal woes to election-related lawsuits could see the risks of that work pay dividends as Trump is projected to secure a second term in office.

  • November 05, 2024

    Santos Wants 2nd Circ. To Revive Jimmy Kimmel Pranks Suit

    Former U.S. Rep. George Santos on Monday asked the Second Circuit to undo a New York federal court's decision throwing out his claims against ABC and Jimmy Kimmel over video clips the late-night host tricked the ex-congressman into making, arguing that the suit was prematurely tossed.

  • November 05, 2024

    Susman Godfrey Opposes Fee Bid In $147.5M Insurance Deal

    Susman Godfrey LLP lawyers have objected to three firms' requests for $36.9 million in attorney fees in a life insurance class action, saying they spent millions pressing similar New York and Pennsylvania claims being swept into an allegedly undervalued $147.5 million global settlement in Connecticut.

  • November 05, 2024

    Day Pitney Adds Trademark, Copyright Pro In Boston

    A former ArentFox Schiff LLP attorney has jumped to Day Pitney LLP's intellectual property law practice, bringing with her years of experience in Boston helping clients defend trademarks and register copyrights.

  • November 05, 2024

    Ex-Money Transfer Co.'s Del. Suit Says Fintech Fraud Sank Biz

    Sidelined money transfer venture Zelf Inc. has sued fintech Solid Financial Technologies Inc. in Delaware's Superior Court, accusing Solid of fraudulently representing that it could support anonymous banking and cryptocurrency services based only on a customer's name, email and phone number.

  • November 05, 2024

    Fubo Defends Block Of Sports Streaming Service At 2nd Circ.

    Fubo is defending a New York federal judge's order blocking the launch of a sports-only streaming service from ESPN, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery at the Second Circuit, telling judges there that competitors wouldn't stand a chance in the sports streaming market without the programming that the three behemoths control.

  • November 05, 2024

    NJ Staffing Co. Says Rival Stole Employees And Trade Secrets

    Medical staffing agency Aequor Healthcare Services LLC alleged in New Jersey federal court that a rival startup poached three of its employees, and those employees stole confidential information on their way out the door, according to a lawsuit filed Monday.

  • November 05, 2024

    Hagens Berman Defends Bid To Ditch AWOL Apple Suit Client

    A Washington federal judge expressed skepticism on Tuesday that Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP was within its rights to substitute a proposed class representative in an antitrust case against Amazon and Apple earlier this year when the lead plaintiff stopped communicating with the firm.

  • November 05, 2024

    French Music Co. Hit With IP Suit Over Song Distributions

    A French digital music business has been hit with a $500 million suit in New York federal court that claims it has been ripping off copyrighted song recordings owned by companies such as Universal Music Group by distributing allegedly manipulated tracks to social media platforms.

  • November 05, 2024

    Shuttered NHL Talent Rep Wants $1.2M Finnish Arb. Suit Nixed

    The owner of a now-defunct talent agency that represented professional hockey players has asked a Massachusetts federal judge to toss a $1.2 million lawsuit and said he intends to appeal a decision freezing his assets while the suit from a rival Finland–based management company proceeds in U.S. federal court.

  • November 05, 2024

    Warner Bros. Says New Series Is 'Entirely Different' From 'ER'

    Warner Bros. Discovery's television unit is urging a California state judge to throw out contract claims brought by the widow of "ER" creator Michael Crichton, saying its upcoming medical drama "The Pitt" shares only generic concepts with the 15-season hit series.

  • November 05, 2024

    Some Hertz Del. Insurance Claims Tossed In False Arrest Saga

    A Delaware state judge has branded as "unreasonable" and based on "contractual gymnastics" Hertz Corp. arguments for aggregating separate settlements to limit its retained liability payout duty before insurance picks up the balance of customer wrongful arrest suit settlements.

Expert Analysis

  • New Proposal Signals Sharper Enforcement Focus At CFIUS

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    Last week's proposed rule aimed at broadening the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States' enforcement authority over foreign investments and increasing penalties for violations signals that CFIUS intends to continue expanding its aggressive monitoring of national security issues, say attorneys at Kirkland.

  • How Companies Can Use Big Data As A Strategic Asset

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    Artificial intelligence technology powered by big data has the potential to create radical improvements to business operations, but if big data is improperly protected or monetized, this same information can give competitors similar advantages, or at the very least undermine a company's edge, say Gary Weinstein and Hudson Peters at Faegre Drinker.

  • How Retail Tenants Can Avoid Paying Rent Prematurely

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    When negotiating leases for spaces in shopping centers, retail tenants should ensure that the language specifies they only need to begin paying rent when the center is substantially occupied as a whole, as it can be difficult to modify leases that are executed without co-tenancy requirements or termination rights, say Joshua Bernstein and Benjamin Joelson at Akerman.

  • Policy Misrepresentations Carry Insurance Rescission Risks

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    The Second Circuit's recent decision in Medical Mutual v. Gnik, finding that material misrepresentation in a clinic's insurance applications warranted policy rescission, is a clear example of the far-reaching effects that misrepresentations can have and provides a reminder that policyholders should employ relatively straightforward steps to decrease risks, say attorneys at Hunton.

  • Analyzing New EU Measure To Prevent Reexports To Russia

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    Niels Ersbøll, Alexander Italianer and Laura Beuls at Arnold & Porter offer a comprehensive overview of the European Union's new rule requiring export agreements to contain a clause prohibiting the reexport of goods to Russia, and discuss what companies should do to ensure compliance.

  • 3 Tech Sourcing Best Practices That Are Relevant For AI

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    It might be tempting to think that sourcing artificial intelligence tools requires a completely new set of skills, but the best practices that lead to a good deal are much the same as traditional technology procurement, says Mia Rendar at Pillsbury.

  • Weisselberg's Perjury At Trial Spotlights Atty Ethics Issues

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    Former Trump Organization executive Allen Weisselberg’s recent guilty plea for perjury in the New York attorney general's civil fraud trial should serve as a reminder to attorneys of their ethical duties when they know a client has lied or plans to lie in court, and the potential penalties for not fulfilling those obligations, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.

  • Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease

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    This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.

  • Series

    Playing Hockey Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Nearly a lifetime of playing hockey taught me the importance of avoiding burnout in all aspects of life, and the game ultimately ended up providing me with the balance I needed to maintain success in my legal career, says John Riccione at Taft.

  • A Snapshot Of The Evolving Restrictive Covenant Landscape

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    Rachael Martinez and Brooke Bahlinger at Foley highlight recent trends in the hotly contested regulation and enforcement of noncompetition and related nonsolicitation covenants, and provide guidance on drafting such provisions within the context of stand-alone employment agreements and merger or acquisition transactions.

  • For Lawyers, Pessimism Should Be A Job Skill, Not A Life Skill

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    A pessimistic mindset allows attorneys to be effective advocates for their clients, but it can come with serious costs for their personal well-being, so it’s crucial to exercise strategies that produce flexible optimism and connect lawyers with their core values, says Krista Larson at Stinson.

  • Handling Customer Complaints In Bank-Fintech Partnerships

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    As regulators mine consumer complaint databases for their next investigative targets, it is critical that fintech and bank partners adopt a well-defined and monitored process for ensuring proper complaint handling, including by demonstrating proficiency and following interagency guidance, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Trump's NY Civil Fraud Trial Spotlights Long-Criticized Law

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    A New York court’s recent decision holding former President Donald Trump liable for fraud brought old criticisms of the state law used against him back into the limelight — including its strikingly broad scope and its major departures from the traditional elements of common law fraud, say Mark Kelley and Lois Ahn at MoloLamken.

  • What NAR Settlement Means For Agent Commission Rates

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    If approved, a joint settlement agreement between the National Association of Realtors and a class of home sellers will likely take the onus off home sellers to compensate buyers' agents, affecting considerations for all parties to real estate transactions, say attorneys at Jones Foster.

  • Opinion

    Requiring Leave To File Amicus Briefs Is A Bad Idea

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    A proposal to amend the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that would require parties to get court permission before filing federal amicus briefs would eliminate the long-standing practice of consent filing and thereby make the process less open and democratic, says Lawrence Ebner at the Atlantic Legal Foundation and DRI Center.

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