Food & Beverage

  • February 06, 2025

    Papa John's Franchisee Fails To Pay All Wages, Worker Says

    A Papa John's franchise owner failed to properly pay workers minimum wage and overtime pay and did not provide workers with meal and rest periods, according to a lawsuit filed in California state court.

  • February 06, 2025

    Democrats Press Trump's USTR Pick On Tariff Approach

    Senate Finance Committee Democrats pressed President Donald Trump's pick for U.S. Trade Representative on Thursday over Trump's universal tariff proposal and the 25% across-the-board tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, suspended for one month, arguing that constituents are facing consequences.

  • February 06, 2025

    Ex-Worker Hits Pot Giant Cresco With Wrongful Firing Suit

    A former kitchen agent for Cresco Labs LLC is suing the cannabis giant in Illinois federal court, alleging she was wrongly fired after a workplace injury and was not afforded time off as required under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

  • February 06, 2025

    Fla. Judge Beats Bias Challenge In Presiding Over CBD Suit

    A Florida federal judge on Thursday rejected an objection by former franchisee for CBD company American Shaman Franchise System LLC to a magistrate judge's decision not to recuse herself from his breach of contract case.

  • February 06, 2025

    Farm Can't Unravel $2.5M Severed-Foot Verdict, 4th Circ. Told

    A North Carolina farmworker who lost his foot in an auger accident and won $2.5 million at trial said he gave the Fourth Circuit a reliable recitation of the case in his opening brief, arguing his former employer is "picking apart" his statement in a "misguided attempt to discredit" him and have the verdict thrown out.

  • February 06, 2025

    Meta Eyes Texas Skies, Another Crypto IPO, And More Rumors

    Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc. is considering relocating its legal residence to Texas, while cryptocurrency exchange Bullish is moving forward on an initial public offering, and Unilever PLC is eyeing New York as a listing destination for its ice cream business.

  • February 05, 2025

    Trump's Immigration Agenda Could Gut Key Workforces

    Immigration raids are threatening harsh consequences for industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor, with economic losses being compared to recession levels if workers are swept up in the raids or don’t show up to work for fear of getting deported.

  • February 05, 2025

    DOL Scores Partial Win In Farmworker Union Wage Rate Fight

    A Washington federal judge has granted the U.S. Department of Labor a partial win in a farmworker union's challenge to federal policies that have allegedly depressed farmworker wages, concluding that some claims challenge DOL actions that aren't final agency actions.

  • February 05, 2025

    The Wonderful Co. Hits Rival With TM Suit Over Wonderspread

    The Wonderful Co. sued a competitor for trademark infringement in California federal court Wednesday, accusing it of mimicking its "Wonderful" marks and trying to sow consumer confusion by selling nut-based products in packaging that features similar names, "Wonderspread" and "Wondersquare." 

  • February 05, 2025

    Dickinson Wright Continues IP Growth With Chicago Hire

    Dickinson Wright PLLC said Wednesday that it had hired a named member of the small Illinois intellectual property firm formerly known as Bishop Diehl & Lee Ltd., marking the latest of the firm's many recent investments into the practice.

  • February 05, 2025

    Chancery Tosses Challenge To $1.1B Smart & Final Sale

    Writing that nothing in a "grab bag" of stockholder claims amounted to disclosure failures, Delaware's chancellor dismissed a suit challenging the $1.1 billion April 2019 sale of Smart & Final Stores Inc. — formerly controlled by funds of Ares Management Corp. — to interests of Apollo Global Management.

  • February 05, 2025

    Modelo, Constellation Urge Judge To Block 'Counterfeit' Beer

    Modelo and Constellation Brands have asked a Texas federal court to stop a beer distribution company from importing and selling "counterfeit" beers that have labels similar to those of Modelo, Corona and other beverages.

  • February 05, 2025

    China Hits Trump Tariffs With Mostly Symbolic WTO Challenge

    The Chinese government has challenged the Trump administration's new 10% tariff at the World Trade Organization, alleging violations of key global trade rules, even as years of U.S.-led gridlock has rendered the Geneva body mostly defunct as a dispute resolution forum.

  • February 05, 2025

    Food Slicer Patent Case Ends In Mistrial After 6 Days

    A Missouri federal judge has declared a mistrial on day six of a trial between two companies that accused each other of infringing food slicing patents.

  • February 05, 2025

    Justices' Ruling Nixes Md. Court's FLSA Order, 4th Circ. Told

    A Maryland federal court's decision imposing a stricter standard for an employer to claim an overtime exemption is no longer valid after the U.S. Supreme Court said the heightened evidence standard isn't necessary, an international food distributor told the Fourth Circuit.

  • February 05, 2025

    Ex-CBD Co. Franchisee Says Magistrate Can't Rule On DQ Bid

    A former franchisee for CBD company American Shaman Franchise System LLC on Wednesday objected to an order from a magistrate judge rejecting his bid to disqualify her, saying that a magistrate judge has no authority to decide on a posttrial motion.

  • February 04, 2025

    JBS Inks $83.5M Deal Over Ranchers' Beef Price-Fixing Claims

    One of the nation's biggest meat producers has reached an $83.5 million deal to end claims it conspired with others in the industry to suppress the price ranchers are paid for raising feeder cattle.

  • February 04, 2025

    Whirlpool Sinks Customer's Suit Over Service Plan Repair

    A Washington federal judge has tossed a customer's proposed class action over a dishwasher warranty for good, finding no "reasonable consumer" would have been misled to believe the terms covered the full cost of any repair given the "caveats" on marketing materials.

  • February 04, 2025

    Calif. Women Drops Bindle Bottle Suit Over Lead

    A maker of water bottles will not have to face an Oakland woman's lawsuit accusing it of selling products with high levels of lead after a California federal judge approved a request by both sides to permanently dismiss her claims.

  • February 04, 2025

    Calif. Agency's Individual Claims Against Grocer May Be Axed

    A California state judge on Tuesday told attorneys with the California Civil Rights Department that she doesn't think the law allows it to seek individual damages on behalf of the roughly 1,000 applicants it says were illegally denied jobs by a supermarket chain due to their criminal history, calling it a "problem" with the case. 

  • February 04, 2025

    Ex-Celsius VP Cops To Insider Trading In Florida Case

    A former vice president and head accountant of Celsius Holdings Inc. pled guilty to insider trading Tuesday in Florida federal court, admitting that he used confidential information about sales expectations to buy securities in the energy drink company and sold them a month later at a profit.

  • February 04, 2025

    Southern Glazer's Wants FTC Unfair Pricing Suit Canned

    Southern Glazer's asked a California federal judge Monday to dismiss the Federal Trade Commission's first price discrimination lawsuit in 25 years, arguing that even if the "mistaken economic theory" undergirding it holds true, dissents from the FTC's Republicans illustrate why the case fails anyway.

  • February 04, 2025

    Insurer Points To Limits In McDonald's Franchisees' Policies

    An insurer told a Washington federal court that it owes limited coverage to two McDonald's franchisees it insures in suits accusing them of illegally withholding specific pay figures in job postings. 

  • February 04, 2025

    'Is This A Joke?' Judge Denies Atty Fees For Grocery Patrons

    A California federal judge had so little tolerance for shoppers claiming victory and seeking attorney fees from the abandoned Kroger-Albertsons merger that in tossing their motion and underlying lawsuit he noted with incredulity, "Plaintiffs are actually making these arguments."

  • February 04, 2025

    Steptoe & Johnson Adds Business Duo In Dallas

    Steptoe & Johnson PLLC has bolstered its business department in Dallas with a pair of corporate attorneys, one who joined from Carrington Coleman Sloman & Blumenthal LLP and one who arrived from Cowles & Thompson PC.

Expert Analysis

  • Defense Insights As PFAS Consumer Product Claims Rise

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    Amid the recent proliferation of lawsuits seeking damages for failure to disclose the presence of PFAS in consumer products, manufacturers, distributors and consumer product companies should follow the science and consider a significant flaw in many of the filings, say attorneys at Farella Braun.

  • 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.

  • Recent Listeria Outbreaks Hold Key Compliance Lessons

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    Listeria outbreaks in ready-to-eat foods from Boar's Head and other companies, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration responses to these outbreaks, should be closely evaluated from an overall compliance and risk management perspective by food manufacturers, retailers and industry investors, say attorneys at Kirkland.

  • 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.

  • What Cos. Can Learn from Water Microplastics Class Actions

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    Class actions against companies whose bottled spring water allegedly contains microplastics, challenging claims such as "natural" and "100% spring water," seem to be drying up — but these cases serve as a good reminder to other businesses to review regulatory standards, and carefully vet plaintiff allegations at the outset, say attorneys at Keller and Heckman.

  • 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.

  • What's Next For The CFTC After The Election

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    While much of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's enforcement actions in line with its traditional priorities will continue as usual in the near term, postelection leadership changes at the CFTC and new congressional priorities may alter the commission's regulatory framework in 2025 and beyond — particularly its oversight of crypto, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Why K-Cup Claims Landed Keurig In Hot Water With SEC

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's recent settlement with Keurig Dr. Pepper for making incomplete statements regarding the recyclability of K-cup pods highlights the importance of comprehensive corporate disclosures, particularly with respect to ESG matters, say attorneys at BCLP.

  • Legislation Most Likely To Pass In Lame Duck Session

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    As Congress begins its five-week post-election lame duck session, attorneys at Greenberg Traurig break down the legislative priorities and which proposals can be expected to pass.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • The 3rd-Party Bankruptcy Release Landscape After Purdue

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    In its Purdue Pharma ruling prohibiting nonconsensual third-party releases, the U.S. Supreme Court did not comment on criteria to render a third-party release consensual, opening a debate in the bankruptcy courts on the permissibility of opt-out versus opt-in releases, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

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