Retail & E-Commerce

  • January 28, 2025

    Staples Settles Out Of Visa, Mastercard Swipe Fee Battle

    Staples on Tuesday settled out of an over decade-long antitrust battle lodged against Visa and Mastercard for allegedly overcharging merchants via swipe fees, leaving the payment card companies with one less retailer to face in trial this year over their alleged anticompetitive fee scheme.

  • January 28, 2025

    Amazon Says Too Late For Mass. Court's Expense Suit Take

    Amazon said a delivery driver missed his chance to seek clarity on whether Massachusetts state wage law requires employers to compensate employees for work-related expenses, urging a Washington federal judge to pass on asking the Bay State's top court to weigh in.

  • January 28, 2025

    CFPB, Bank Orgs Rebuff Intervention Bid In Data Rule Fight

    In a moment of agreement, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and a group of banking trade groups pushed back on Tuesday against a bid to intervene by two advocacy groups in a suit over the CFPB's small business lending data rule. 

  • January 28, 2025

    Capri Investors Sue Over Scrapped $8.5B Tapestry Merger

    Fashion brand giants Capri Holdings Ltd. and Tapestry Inc. misled investors about potential antitrust regulatory issues associated with their planned $8.5 billion merger that ultimately led to the deal's failure and investor losses, according to a proposed securities class action filed Tuesday in Delaware federal court.

  • January 28, 2025

    19 Republican State AGs Press Costco To End DEI Policies

    A group of nearly 20 Republican attorneys general is urging Costco to end its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the wake of President Donald Trump's recent executive order encouraging companies to end them, criticizing the initiatives as "discriminatory" and saying they fly in the face of recent U.S. Supreme Court precedent.

  • January 28, 2025

    Dolce & Gabbana Wants 'Worthless' NFT Outfit Suit Tossed

    The U.S. division of Italian luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana has urged a New York federal judge to toss a proposed investor class action accusing it of abandoning a nonfungible tokens project while retaining the more than $25 million that was used to fund it, arguing that the U.S. arm of the company was not at all involved in the project.

  • January 28, 2025

    Judge Says The Comfy Sweatshirt Injunction Wasn't Violated

    The startup behind The Comfy, a large and heavy sweatshirt featured in an episode of "Shark Tank," failed Tuesday to convince a federal judge in Arizona that a rival was breaking an injunction by deliberately selling infringing sweatshirts on Amazon in an $18 million patent and trademark case. 

  • January 28, 2025

    4th Circ. Wary Of Discrimination Claims In Pot License Row

    The Fourth Circuit on Tuesday expressed skepticism about claims that Maryland's cannabis regulator discriminated against out-of-state entrepreneurs when it implemented a social equity program that gave consideration to applicants who attended one of six in-state colleges.

  • January 28, 2025

    Baker Botts Atty Says Inventor's Defamation Claims Are False

    A Baker Botts LLP partner hit back Tuesday against a patent-licensing company executive's claims that she made defamatory statements about him related to infringement litigation over a patent for a mobile restaurant ordering app with personalized suggestions.

  • January 28, 2025

    Apple Can't Defend Google Revenue Deal In DOJ Search Case

    A D.C. federal judge has refused to let Apple intervene to defend the billions it gets from Google to keep the search giant as the default for Safari browser, holding the iPhone maker waited too long to intervene in the Justice Department's monopolization lawsuit, and the company's involvement now would be too disruptive.

  • January 28, 2025

    Party City Seeks OK For Exec Private Security In Ch. 11

    Bankrupt retailer Party City HoldCo Inc. Tuesday asked a Texas judge to approve up to $400,000 in spending on private security for its current and former senior employees, saying the recent killing of UnitedHealth's CEO has spurred threats of violence against the debtor's leadership.

  • January 28, 2025

    Guns Owners Urge Justices To Throw Out NY Carry Law

    Members of the Gun Owners of America Inc. have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a New York carry law that the Second Circuit largely upheld last year, arguing that the lower appellate court's ruling "doubled down" on erroneous conclusions already vacated the last time the justices heard the case.

  • January 28, 2025

    Trader Joe's Accused Of Badly Stocked 401(k), High Fees

    Grocery chain Trader Joe's mismanaged its retirement plan for employees to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, according to a potential class action filed Tuesday in Massachusetts federal court.

  • January 28, 2025

    Eminem IP Owners Sue Over Ford Dealer's 'Lose Yourself' Ads

    Eminem's publisher hit a Ford dealership with a copyright infringement lawsuit in Michigan federal court, alleging the business used the rapper's hit "Lose Yourself" on TikTok and other social-media advertisements for a limited edition Detroit Lions Ford F-150 pickup truck without permission or obtaining requisite IP licenses.

  • January 27, 2025

    5th Circ. Wipes Out FTC Rule Targeting Auto Industry Scams

    A split Fifth Circuit panel on Monday vacated the Federal Trade Commission's Combating Auto Retail Scams, or CARS, rule prohibiting bait-and-switch tactics and hidden charges in the car buying and leasing process, siding with car dealers and finding that the FTC didn't give adequate notice of the proposed rulemaking.

  • January 27, 2025

    CFPB Says Acima Can't Use 'Lease' Label To Exit Suit

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau urged a Utah federal court to not dismiss its predatory lending suit against Acima Leasing, arguing the fintech company and Rent-A-Center affiliate can't hide offering functional credit products by calling them rental purchases.

  • January 27, 2025

    Judge Refuses To Stop Amazon Data Suit In Ill. State Court

    A Delaware federal judge refused on Monday to block a lawsuit in Illinois state court accusing Amazon Web Services of illegally collecting voice data, saying the Illinois privacy case involves different claims and parties than the federal case, which was dismissed because some plaintiffs lacked standing.

  • January 27, 2025

    Party City Inks Deal To Sell IP, Assets In 2nd Ch. 11

    Bankrupt retailer Party City has reached a stalking horse agreement to sell its brand name, other intellectual property and related operating assets to an affiliate of the pop culture merchandiser Ad Populum LLC, which owns the brand behind Chia Pet and is an owner of the entertainment complex at Elvis Presley's home Graceland.

  • January 27, 2025

    DC, Council Aim To Stop Block On Pot Shop Closures

    The D.C. Council and other city government agencies are urging the D.C. federal court to deny bids from cannabis retailers for injunctions to block enforcement of city cannabis regulations that has resulted in closures of some of the plaintiff stores.

  • January 27, 2025

    Walmart Hit With False Ad Suit Over Instant Mac And Cheese

    Walmart Inc. was hit with a putative false advertising class action in California federal court by customers who say the retail giant falsely markets its Great Value brand of instant macaroni and cheese products as containing no artificial preservatives and flavors, despite citric acid being part of the ingredients list.

  • January 27, 2025

    'Guesswork' Dooms Class Cert. In Meta Privacy Antitrust Suit

    A California federal judge has refused to certify a class of consumers who say Meta would have to pay users for their data if it didn't lie about privacy safeguards, finding that the motion was undone by the opinions of an economist who cannot get from general economics to market reality.

  • January 27, 2025

    Multiple Cannabis Cos. Hit With THC Potency Class Actions

    A single litigant has filed two proposed consumer class actions in Illinois federal court against cannabis companies, alleging that their wares exceeded lawful levels of psychoactive THC.

  • January 27, 2025

    Arrested Atty Can't Sue Sheriff's Office Either, Pa. Judge Says

    A Pennsylvania federal judge on Monday dismissed the last of a group of Allegheny County government officials and entities named as defendants in a lawsuit filed by two brothers who claimed they were unlawfully detained when they failed to meet discovery deadlines in a separate case.

  • January 27, 2025

    Fla. Judge Won't Recuse Over 'Adverse Ruling' In CBD Row

    A Florida federal magistrate judge has refused to step down from a case where she recommended sanctioning an attorney representing a franchisee in a contract dispute with CBD American Shaman LLC, saying adverse rulings are not grounds for recusal.

  • January 27, 2025

    California's Oldest Indy Bookstore Gets Ch. 11 Lifeline

    A California bankruptcy judge on Monday gave the Golden State's oldest independent bookstore chain, Books Inc., approval on a raft of first-day motions to ease its navigation through a Chapter 11 case the company launched to address burdensome rent and lower profits in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expert Analysis

  • Texas Ethics Opinion Flags Hazards Of Unauthorized Practice

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    The Texas Professional Ethics Committee's recently issued proposed opinion finding that in-house counsel providing legal services to the company's clients constitutes the unauthorized practice of law is a valuable clarification given that a UPL violation — a misdemeanor in most states — carries high stakes, say Hilary Gerzhoy and Julienne Pasichow at HWG.

  • Why High Court Social Media Ruling Will Be Hotly Debated

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    In deciding the NetChoice cases that challenged Florida and Texas content moderation laws, what the U.S. Supreme Court justices said about social media platforms — and the First Amendment — will have implications and raise questions for nearly all online operators, say Jacob Canter and Joanna Rosen Forster at Crowell & Moring.

  • In Memoriam: The Modern Administrative State

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    On June 28, the modern administrative state, where courts deferred to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes, died when the U.S. Supreme Court overruled its previous decision in Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council — but it is survived by many cases decided under the Chevron framework, say Joseph Schaeffer and Jessica Deyoe at Babst Calland.

  • How High Court Approached Time Limit On Reg Challenges

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Corner Post v. Federal Reserve Board effectively gives new entities their own personal statute of limitations to challenge rules and regulations, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh's concurrence may portend the court's view that those entities do not need to be directly regulated, say attorneys at Snell & Wilmer.

  • How To Clean Up Your Generative AI-Produced Legal Drafts

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    As law firms increasingly rely on generative artificial intelligence tools to produce legal text, attorneys should be on guard for the overuse of cohesive devices in initial drafts, and consider a few editing pointers to clean up AI’s repetitive and choppy outputs, says Ivy Grey at WordRake.

  • Constitutional Protections For Cannabis Companies Are Hazy

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    Cannabis businesses are subject to federal enforcement and tax, but often without the benefit of constitutional protections — and the entanglement of state and federal law and conflicting judicial opinions are creating confusion in the space, says Amber Lengacher at Purple Circle.

  • Series

    Boxing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Boxing has influenced my legal work by enabling me to confidently hone the skills I've learned from the sport, like the ability to remain calm under pressure, evaluate an opponent's weaknesses and recognize when to seize an important opportunity, says Kirsten Soto at Clyde & Co.

  • Anticipating Disputes In Small Biz Partnerships And LLCs

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    In light of persistently high failures of small business partnerships and limited liability companies, mediator Frank Burke discusses proactive strategies for protecting and defining business rights and responsibilities, as well as reactive measures for owners.

  • The Often Overlooked NY Foreclosure Notice Requirements

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    As multifamily real estate defaults mount, New York foreclosing parties should be aware of pitfalls and perils that can await the litigant who is not prepared to ensure adherence with tenant notice requirements under the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law, say Christopher Gorman and John Muldoon at Rosenberg & Estis.

  • Opinion

    Industry Self-Regulation Will Shine Post-Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's Loper decision will shape the contours of industry self-regulation in the years to come, providing opportunities for this often-misunderstood practice, says Eric Reicin at BBB National Programs.

  • 3 Ways Agencies Will Keep Making Law After Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court clearly thinks it has done something big in overturning the Chevron precedent that had given deference to agencies' statutory interpretations, but regulated parties have to consider how agencies retain significant power to shape the law and its meaning, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • After Chevron

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    Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference standard in June, this Expert Analysis series has featured attorneys discussing the potential impact across 37 different rulemaking and litigation areas.

  • Series

    After Chevron: Expect Few Changes In ITC Rulemaking

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's opinion overruling the Chevron doctrine will have less impact on the U.S. International Trade Commission than other agencies administering trade statutes, given that the commission exercises its congressionally granted authority in a manner that allows for consistent decision making at both agency and judicial levels, say attorneys at Polsinelli.

  • Opinion

    Atty Well-Being Efforts Ignore Root Causes Of The Problem

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    The legal industry is engaged in a critical conversation about lawyers' mental health, but current attorney well-being programs primarily focus on helping lawyers cope with the stress of excessive workloads, instead of examining whether this work culture is even fundamentally compatible with lawyer well-being, says Jonathan Baum at Avenir Guild.

  • Antitrust In Retail: The Meaning Of 'Accessible Luxury'

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    In order for the Federal Trade Commission to block a deal that would put six "accessible luxury" brands, including Coach and Michael Kors, under one roof, the agency will need to prove that this category is distinct from the true luxury or mass-market categories, says David Kully at Holland & Knight.

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