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Retail & E-Commerce

  • July 10, 2025

    Apple Tees Up Bid To End App Store Antitrust Class Action

    Apple is preparing to file a summary judgment motion in California federal court seeking to end claims from a class of more than 185 million users in a long-running case accusing it of monopolizing the distribution of apps on its devices.

  • July 10, 2025

    Uber, Instacart Fight Seattle's Driver Rights Law At 9th Circ.

    A Ninth Circuit panel appeared split on Thursday while hearing Uber and Instacart's challenge to a Seattle city ordinance regulating deactivation of app-based worker accounts, with the judges seemingly at odds on whether the law forced commercial speech while still unconvinced of a First Amendment violation.

  • July 10, 2025

    'Admonition' But No More Amazon Penalty For Hidden Docs

    A federal judge in Washington state took Amazon.com to task Thursday for "bad faith" material review that labeled tens of thousands of documents as covered by attorney-client privilege despite involving no legal advice, but the judge, who is presiding over the Federal Trade Commission's Prime subscriptions case against the company, opted against further punishment.

  • July 10, 2025

    Apple, Visa And Mastercard Beat Payment Fee Collusion Suit

    An Illinois federal judge on Wednesday dismissed several retailers' proposed antitrust class action that accused Apple, Visa and Mastercard of scheming to restrain competition in point-of-sale transaction payment networks, saying the express terms of agreements retailers had claimed were anti-competitive showed otherwise.

  • July 10, 2025

    Original BBQ Joint Lays Claim To TM In Fight With Franchise

    The original location in a North Carolina chain of barbecue restaurants has shot back at a trademark infringement suit brought by the company that runs its sister restaurants, arguing it never lost ownership of the marks after the two entities split ways two decades ago.

  • July 10, 2025

    Joann's Ch. 11 Wind-Down Plan Confirmed In Del.

    The Chapter 11 wind-down plan of former arts and crafts retailer Joann Inc. received approval Thursday in Delaware bankruptcy court without opposition from any party in interest.

  • July 10, 2025

    Florida Restaurateur Can't Get Shrimp TM, Fed. Circ. Affirms

    The Federal Circuit on Thursday refused to revive an author and restaurateur's bid to register a trademark for "Yucatán Shrimp" at his Florida eatery named after his crime novels, backing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's finding that the mark would be merely descriptive.

  • July 10, 2025

    College Apparel Co. Seeks New Trial In Penn State TM Case

    A print-on-demand company that was permanently barred from using The Pennsylvania State University's name or logos asked a federal judge for a new trademark infringement trial, saying the verdict form at the first trial was confusing to the jury and the university's evidence had not shown it used the marks illegally.

  • July 10, 2025

    Calif. Vape Co. Drops Claims Over Allegedly Counterfeit G Pen

    California-based GS Holistic LLC has reached a deal with a Michigan smoke shop that will end claims the retailer was selling counterfeit versions of its G Pen e-cigarettes without authorization at a fraction of the price, according to a notice issued by a federal judge.

  • July 10, 2025

    Tyson Says $55M Del. Poultry Plants Win Blocks Ga. Damages

    Tyson Foods wants to block any claim to damages in a poultry rendering company's antitrust lawsuit, telling a Georgia federal judge Wednesday that a Delaware state court already ruled that it overpaid to buy out the company and asserting that precludes any claims that it forced the firm into an underpriced buyout.

  • July 10, 2025

    Pa. Sens. Unveil Bipartisan Plan To Legalize Marijuana

    Pennsylvania lawmakers on Thursday unveiled a new bipartisan legislative proposal to legalize and regulate the sale of recreational marijuana in the Keystone State, after a previous proposal to legalize the sale of pot through state-run stores failed in the state Senate.

  • July 10, 2025

    11th Circ. Revives Case Over $3.1M Glassware Verdict Debt

    The Eleventh Circuit has revived a case over $3.1 million in debt resulting from a jury verdict finding that two glass companies had copied the designs of another business, saying a lower court was wrong to find that the infringing companies' bankruptcy had wiped the debt out.

  • July 10, 2025

    Stitch Fix Must Face Most Claims In Investor Action

    A California federal judge has declined to toss a revised complaint alleging that Stitch Fix Inc. and two of its former executives deceived investors about the impact of a new business line, saying the suit adequately made the case that the defendants knowingly made misleading statements.

  • July 10, 2025

    Bettors Fight To Keep Suit Over DraftKings Promos Afloat

    DraftKings customers alleging the online betting giant's advertisements fuel gambling addiction are pushing to keep their proposed class action against the company alive, throwing water on its effort to escape the lawsuit by leaning on its extensive disclaimers and fine print.

  • July 10, 2025

    Publix Pushed For Off-Clock Work, Underpaid OT, Suit Says

    Grocery chain Publix pressured a department manager to work off-the-clock to bolster store profits and shorted him on overtime by failing to incorporate bonus pay into its time-and-a-half calculations of his hourly rate, the worker said in a suit filed in Georgia federal court.

  • July 10, 2025

    SpaceX Seeks Record $400B Valuation, Plus More Rumors

    Elon Musk's satellite and rocket maker SpaceX is planning to raise money in a private round that would value the company at a record $400 billion, Starbucks China is seeking bids for a stake sale that could value the chain at $10 billion, plus online fashion giant Shein hopes to salvage its long-awaited IPO by listing in Hong Kong.

  • July 10, 2025

    Ex-Executive Of Cannabis Co. Ascend Alleges Wrongful Firing

    A former executive at New York cannabis company Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. claims the company cheated him out of $400,000 in unpaid wages, stock payouts, and medical and dental coverage owed to him after it unceremoniously fired him, according to a lawsuit.

  • July 09, 2025

    Judge Unlikely To Halt ATF Return Of 'Machine Gun' Triggers

    A Maryland federal judge said she was unlikely to block settlements between the federal government and gun-component manufacturers allowing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to return "forced reset triggers" to their owners and questioned the standing of states that claim the returns would break their laws.

  • July 09, 2025

    OpenAI Must Give Musk Info On Altman Firing In Fraud Suit

    A California federal magistrate judge overseeing discovery in Elon Musk's lawsuit challenging OpenAI's plans to change its corporate structure ordered the artificial intelligence company to hand over documents related to CEO Sam Altman's brief firing by OpenAI's board, agreeing the information is "relevant" to Musk's charitable trust and fraud claims.

  • July 09, 2025

    Amazon Customer Grilled On Whole Foods Ad Suit At 9th Circ.

    A Ninth Circuit panel appeared critical on Wednesday of a consumer's claim that Amazon duped Prime members by pulling its free Whole Foods grocery delivery perk, as the judges pointed to subscriber terms allowing the e-commerce giant to change the benefits package.

  • July 09, 2025

    Costco Says Insurer Owes Defense In Heavy Box Injury Suit

    A Hartford unit violated Washington state's Insurance Fair Conduct Act by unreasonably denying additional insured coverage for a man's lawsuit alleging he suffered severe injuries when moving a product at Costco, the retail giant alleged in a lawsuit recently removed to Washington federal court.

  • July 09, 2025

    $2.5M Awarded In Suit Over Fatal Shooting After Pot Delivery

    A California state judge awarded a $2.5 million default judgment to the mother of a teenager who was fatally shot by a man who delivered him marijuana, allegedly ordered from the website Weedmaps.

  • July 09, 2025

    2nd Circ. Pressed For Second Look At Novel Trading Dispute

    An Estée Lauder shareholder is calling for the full bench of the Second Circuit to rehear a case he argues created a "judicially sanctioned loophole" that allows corporate insiders to retain profits they made on short-swing profits.

  • July 09, 2025

    T.I.'s Big Punitive Damages Win Cut To $1, Teeing Up 4th Trial

    A California federal judge has reduced a jury's $53.6 million punitive damages award for rapper T.I. and his wife, singer Tameka "Tiny" Harris, to a $1 remitter, setting up a fourth trial in the trademark infringement case if the Harrises don't accept the remitter, which they have already said they will decline.

  • July 09, 2025

    Walgreens Judge OKs $950K Uniform Policy Deal On 2nd Try

    More than 12,000 Walgreens employees have received preliminary approval of a $950,000 class action settlement over claims of unreimbursed uniform expenses, after a California federal judge said the parties had resolved deficiencies he previously cited, including an opt-out timeframe and the chance for class members to challenge proposed attorney fees. 

Expert Analysis

  • Compliance Refresher For 'Made In USA' Labeling Claims

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    As tariffs reshape the trade landscape, companies hoping to invoke the powerful consumer appeal of “Made in USA” labels must understand the strict rules for making acceptable claims so they avoid the costly legal ramifications and brand damage possible from misrepresenting products as 100% American, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: Appreciating Civil Procedure

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    If you’re like me, law school’s often complex and theoretical approach to teaching civil procedure may have contributed to an early struggle with the topic, but when seen from a practical perspective, new lawyers may find they enjoy mastering these rules, says Chloe Villagomez at Foster Garvey.

  • Appellate Guidance Needed On California Chatbot Litigation

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    There is wide variation in how courts are applying the California Invasion of Privacy Act against website owners that allegedly help third parties spy on visitors via chatbots — and the lack of appellate rulings creates uncertainty, especially as these cases move toward the summary judgment stage, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Calif. Bar Exam Fiasco Shows Why Attys Must Disclose AI Use

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    The recent revelation that a handful of questions from the controversial California bar exam administered in February were drafted using generative artificial intelligence demonstrates the continued importance of disclosure for attorneys who use AI tools, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • Opinion

    Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts Must Hold China Accountable

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    As the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development drafts guidelines for combating counterfeit goods, U.S. representatives must be frank about the need to hold Chinese platforms accountable for their role in counterfeiting — and specific about the changes that will be required, says Eli Clemens at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

  • Securing IP Protection For AI Avatars

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    As artificial intelligence avatars play an ever-expanding role in sales, operations and entertainment, companies must plan for intellectual property protection for these brand assets as their control will turn on the nuances of their creation and use, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • In 2nd Place, Va. 'Rocket Docket' Remains Old Reliable

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    The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia was again one of the fastest civil trial courts in the nation last year, and an interview with the court’s newest judge provides insights into why it continues to soar, says Robert Tata at Hunton.

  • CIPA May Not Be Necessary To Protect Ad Tech Plaintiffs

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    A California bill designed to protect businesses from advertising technology claims under the California Invasion of Privacy Act by amending the act retroactively has been highly contested by various consumer advocacy groups, but other existing law may sufficiently protect any plaintiff who suffers actual harm from such tech, says Justin Donoho at Duane Morris.

  • Parsing A Lack Of Antitrust Info-Sharing Enforcement Clarity

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    Information sharing among competing firms has recently faced dramatic changes in antitrust agency guidance, while courts grapple with the permissible scope of pricing algorithms, leaving companies in limbo, but potential Trump administration changes could offer some reprieve, say attorneys at Axinn.

  • How Attorneys Can Become Change Agents For Racial Equity

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    As the administration targets diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and law firms consider pulling back from their programs, lawyers who care about racial equity and justice can employ four strategies to create microspaces of justice, which can then be parlayed into drivers of transformational change, says Susan Sturm at Columbia Law School.

  • Public Cos. Must Heed Disclosure Risks Amid Trade Chaos

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    Ongoing uncertainties caused by President Donald Trump's shifting stances on tariffs and trade restrictions have exponentially escalated financial reporting pressures on public companies, so businesses must ensure that their operations and accounting practices align with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's standards, say Jennifer Lee at Jenner & Block and Edward Westerman at Secretariat Advisors.

  • Opinion

    9th Circ. Shopify Decision Gets Personal Jurisdiction Wrong

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    The Ninth Circuit's recent opinion in Briskin v. Shopify, rejecting the differential targeting requirement for personal jurisdiction, not only deviates from long-standing jurisprudence, but it also significantly expands the reach of internet-based claims under California law, says Matthew Pearson at Womble Bond.

  • Digital Equity Act Grant Terminations Raise Key Legal Issues

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    The Trump administration's move to cancel grant programs created under the Digital Equity Act yields key legal and policy questions facing the executive branch, Congress and the courts, including how the administration plans to implement the cancellation of the Digital Equity Act's appropriations in the first place, say attorneys at Akin.

  • Robinson-Patman Enforcement May Fizzle Out After PepsiCo

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    After securing an early Robinson-Patman Act victory against the largest wine and spirits distributor in the U.S., the Federal Trade commission's voluntary dismissal of its own enforcement action against PepsiCo throws into doubt the future of the federal statute that prohibits price discrimination and other anticompetitive practices, say attorneys at V&E.

  • Series

    Running Marathons Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    After almost five years of running marathons, I’ve learned that both the race itself and the training process sharpen skills that directly translate to the practice of law, including discipline, dedication, endurance, problem-solving and mental toughness, says Lauren Meadows at Swift Currie.

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