Retail & E-Commerce

June 07, 2024
6th Circ. Sides With Hemp Co. In CVS Deal Commission Row

The Sixth Circuit has sided with hemp producers operating under Ecofibre Ltd. in a dispute with a group of businesses that sought commissions for linking the hemp companies with CVS, saying the businesses' prior concessions at the trial court dooms their new arguments on appeal.
June 07, 2024
Carhartt Heir's Atty Cleared On 2 Counts; Deadlock On Rest

A Michigan state jury in Detroit on Friday partially cleared a Michigan attorney accused of stealing millions of dollars from his wealthy client, the late Carhartt company heiress Gretchen Valade, but jurors could not agree on two of four charges.
June 07, 2024
Shein's Pursuit Of London IPO Proves US-China Rift Persists

Online fashion giant Shein's expected pivot to London rather than the United States for its initial public offering — triggered by persistent tensions between China and the U.S. — will be closely watched by IPO prospects mulling where to list their shares in a dicey geopolitical climate, experts say.
June 07, 2024
Bryan Cave, Goodwin Guide New Era's Merger With '47 Brand

Acon Investments-owned New Era Cap LLC announced Friday that it agreed to buy fellow sports lifestyle brand '47 to create a merged business that brings in roughly $2 billion in annual revenue in a deal built by Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP and Goodwin Procter LLP.
June 07, 2024
Google Ad Tech Case Won't Go To Jury Due To Co.'s Payment

A Virginia federal judge ruled Friday that the U.S. Department of Justice's case accusing Google of monopolizing key digital advertising technology will be heard by the bench, and not a jury, thanks to a $2.3 million check from Google covering the amount enforcers could be awarded if they prevail.
June 06, 2024
Roundup MDL Judge Worries Plaintiffs Firms Overstretched

A California federal judge presiding over multidistrict personal injury litigation over Monsanto's Roundup weed killer expressed concerns Thursday that plaintiffs firms may be taking on "a whole bunch of cases" they don't have the ability to prosecute just to settle "on the cheap," calling the prospect "a little bit disturbing."
June 06, 2024
FTC Says Kroger Hasn't Turned Over Promised Documents

The Federal Trade Commission urged an administrative law judge on Tuesday to require Kroger to fork over documents related to negotiations for its divestiture plan amid the commission's in-house challenge to the grocer's merger with Albertsons, saying Kroger's prior representations that it would produce the materials "have proven false."
June 06, 2024
In 13-Year Trademark Fight, Chicago Judge Says No More

A Chicago federal judge brought to a close a trademark fight between two vaping companies surrounding the phrase "21st Century Smoking" that has stretched on for over a decade and led to millions of dollars in sanctions over thousands of deleted emails and long-hidden documents.
June 06, 2024
Getty Images Removed From Barry Sanders Statue Suit

The number of defendants in the copyright fight over a photo used to create the statue of legendary running back Barry Sanders has continued to dwindle, after the photographer dismissed Getty Images Inc. from the suit while he continues to pursue claims against the Detroit Lions and others.
June 06, 2024
Garage Address Not Enough To Keep IP Suit In Texas, Biz Says

A Chicago-based business software review platform has argued it can't be forced to face a patent infringement suit in Texas because a patent-holding company claimed it has a location in Austin, saying a "quick Google search" would have revealed the address is a parking garage.
June 06, 2024
High Bar For Booking.com Price Limits, EU High Court Told

A European Court of Justice advocate general recommended a high bar Thursday for Booking.com assertions that price parity clauses imposed on contracts with hotels are "ancillary" to, and thus protected as, legitimate business arrangements.
June 06, 2024
Transport Monopoly Indictment Is Deficient, Accused Says

One of 12 individuals who U.S. federal prosecutors claim conspired to monopolize cross-border sales of used vehicles and other goods from the U.S. to Central America using violence has moved to dismiss antitrust charges, saying prosecutors omitted elements of an indictable offense.
June 06, 2024
FCC Floats New Rules On ISPs To Protect Internet Security

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday proposed to impose new rules on internet service providers to ensure security of the internet's crucial routing technology, the Border Gateway Protocol.
June 06, 2024
Co. Won't Face Defect Claims In Suit Over Lost Fingers

A worker who lost her fingers after her right hand was pulled into an industrial laminating machine won't get the chance to add design defect claims to her lawsuit against the manufacturer, a Texas federal judge has ruled, saying she squandered her opportunity to investigate those claims.
June 06, 2024
FDA Urges High Court To Hear 5th Circ. Flavored E-Cig Case

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to grant its petition for a review of an en banc Fifth Circuit decision overturning its denial of a flavored e-cigarette marketing application, saying this case provides a better vehicle to decide the issues than other petitions at the high court.
June 06, 2024
Dollar Tree Mint's Injury To Toddler Not Covered, Insurer Says

The insurer of a breath mint manufacturer told a Missouri federal court that due to a pollution exclusion in its policy, it shouldn't have to defend against a suit alleging a toddler suffered severe esophageal injuries after swallowing freshening drops sold by Dollar Tree.
June 06, 2024
EPA To Reevaluate Widely Used Toxic Chemical Under TSCA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule to limit the use of a chemical found in hundreds of products from paint to cleaning products that has been linked to miscarriages, reduced male fertility and other health issues.
June 06, 2024
MNC Capital Ups Bid For Vista Outdoor To More Than $3B

MNC Capital Partners on Thursday upped its bid to take over outdoor products company Vista Outdoor Inc. to over $3 billion after the company rejected MNC's previous buyout offers on multiple occasions due to its already-inked agreement to sell its sporting products division to Czech defense company Czechoslovak Group AS.
June 06, 2024
Mass. Pot Regulators Hear Pleas To Address Islands' Shortage

Massachusetts cannabis regulators on Thursday acknowledged they have "some work to do" during a meeting and listening session on Martha's Vineyard, where enforcement of a federal ban on transporting the drug over water is wreaking havoc on the island's supply chain.
June 06, 2024
TJ Maxx Hit With Rest Break, Sick Pay Class Action

TJ Maxx has been requiring thousands of California workers to work through their rest breaks but forcing them to mark otherwise on their time sheets in violation of state labor law, a worker alleged in a proposed class action in state court.
June 06, 2024
Deals Rumor Mill: Carl Icahn, Bill Ackman, Michael Bloomberg

Carl Icahn invests in Caesars, Bill Ackman plans Pershing's public offering, and Michael Bloomberg joins prospective Timberwolves buying group. Here, Law360 breaks down the notable deal rumors from the past week.
June 05, 2024
Amazon Beats BIPA Suit Targeting Thermal Camera Use

An Illinois federal judge handed Amazon a pretrial win over accusations that it violated workers' biometric privacy rights by using thermal cameras to screen for fevers during the pandemic, saying the company is immune from such claims under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act.
June 05, 2024
Fed. Circ. Judges Skeptical Broadband IP Is Patentable

A Federal Circuit panel seemed ready Wednesday to affirm a Texas federal judge's decision that a Broadband iTV Inc. streaming service interface patent is invalid as abstract, even if one judge eventually said the company was "making close to a persuasive case."
June 05, 2024
Google Legal Dept. Goes From Crisis Mode To Long Term

As much of the major antitrust litigation against Google winds down, the company is shuffling around its in-house legal departments to add more people and settle from crisis mode into the more sustainable posture of a technology giant where lawsuits have likely become a permanent feature of its existence.
June 05, 2024
Chamber Says New Docs Show Transparency Issues At USTR

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is expressing transparency concerns about certain policy decisions after documents provided under the Freedom of Information Act revealed that Biden trade officials are utilizing a "deferential and highly coordinated approach" in their relationship with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

Expert Analysis

Charting The Course For Digital Assets In 2024

Although 2023 was a tough year for the digital asset industry, upcoming court decisions, legislation and regulatory action will bring clarity, allowing the industry to expand and evolve, and the government will decide what innovation it will allow without challenge, says Joshua Smeltzer at Gray Reed.
Law Firm Strategies For Successfully Navigating 2024 Trends

Though law firms face the dual challenge of external and internal pressures as they enter 2024, firms willing to pivot will be able to stand out by adapting to stakeholder needs and reimagining their infrastructure, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Consultants.
The Most-Read Legal Industry Law360 Guest Articles Of 2023

A range of legal industry topics drew readers' attention in Law360's Expert Analysis section this year, from associate retention strategies to ethical billing practices.
5 Most Notable Class Action Standing Cases Of 2023

Key appellate class action decisions this past year continued the trend of a more demanding approach to the threshold issue of standing during each phase of litigation, say attorneys at MoFo.
Trends Shaping The 2024 Consumer Packaged Goods Industry

The better-for-you segment within the consumer packaged goods industry is poised for a significant evolution in 2024, and industry players must remain agile and adaptive through M&A activities, legal considerations, sustainability initiatives and changing technology, says Christopher Cain at Foley & Lardner.
Attorneys' Busiest Times Can Be Business Opportunities

Attorneys who resolve to grow their revenue and client base in 2024 should be careful not to abandon their goals when they get too busy with client work, because these periods of zero bandwidth can actually be a catalyst for future growth, says Amy Drysdale at Alchemy Consulting.
A Difficult Year For CRE, But Future May Be Brighter

2023 was a challenging year for the commercial real estate industry, marked by significant uncertainty, but market pressure and signs of rising interest rates provide some reasons to be cautiously optimistic for the year ahead as pandemic headwinds and gridlock fade away, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.
In The World Of Legal Ethics, 10 Trends To Note From 2023

Lucian Pera at Adams and Reese and Trisha Rich at Holland & Knight identify the top legal ethics trends from 2023 — including issues related to hot documents, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — that lawyers should be aware of to put their best foot forward.
Opinion

Why Challenges To FTC Authority Are Needed

In spite of skepticism from courts, the Federal Trade Commission continues to advance novel legal theories — and Meta's recent federal suit against the agency over its alleged "structurally unconstitutional" administrative proceedings is arguably an expression of backlash to regulatory overreach, says Daniel Gilman at the International Center for Law & Economics.
Analyzing 1 Year Of Comments On FTC's Green Guides

A review of over 7,000 comments submitted in the year since the Federal Trade Commission requested feedback on its Green Guides reveals widespread concern over how the existing guidelines leave room for interpretation, putting businesses in a challenging position when marketing products, say Mark Levy and Emma Lombard at Eckert Seamans.
The Key Laws Retailers Should Pay Attention To In 2024

2024 promises to be another transformative year for retailers as they navigate the evolving regulatory landscape, particularly surrounding data privacy and sustainability laws, meaning companies should make it a practice to keep track of new legislation and invest in compliance efforts early on, say attorneys at Benesch.
Fed's New Swipe At Debit Fees Stirs Up Dilemma For Banks

The Federal Reserve's proposal to reduce the cap on debit card interchange fees charged or received by card issuers and payment networks comes as other bank account fees are taking regulatory hits, which could all culminate in an overall decline in access to banking products and services, says Kristen Larson at Ballard Spahr.
How Attorneys Can Be More Efficient This Holiday Season

Attorneys should consider a few key tips to speed up their work during the holidays so they can join the festivities — from streamlining the document review process to creating similar folder structures, says Bennett Rawicki at Hilgers Graben.
A Former Bankruptcy Judge Talks 2023 High Court Rulings

In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued four bankruptcy law opinions — an extraordinary number — and a close look at these cases signals that changes to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code will have to come from Congress, not the courts, says Phillip Shefferly at the University of Michigan Law School.
Series

Children's Book Writing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Becoming a children's book author has opened doors to incredible new experiences of which I barely dared to dream, but the process has also changed my life by serving as a reminder that strong writing, networking and public speaking skills are hugely beneficial to a legal career, says Shaunna Bailey at Sheppard Mullin.