News from April 2021
NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH: Life Sciences Regulatory Attorney Christopher Hanson Joins Nelson Mullins in D.C.
Life sciences regulatory attorney Christopher J. Hanson has joined Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP in its Washington, D.C. office as a partner. He joins from Covington & Burling LLP, where he was a special counsel.
ARMSTRONG TEASDALE LLP: Armstrong Teasdale Adds IP Partner Dhruv Kaushal in Boston
Armstrong Teasdale announces the addition of Partner Dhruv Kaushal, Ph.D. to the firm’s Intellectual Property practice in Boston.
SCHIFF HARDIN LLP: Tax: Young Tax Lawyers Committee Webinar
Partner Joanne Faycurry will co-present a webinar for the State Bar of Michigan’s Taxation Section for young tax lawyers.
GREENBERG TRAURIG LLP: Greenberg Traurig Expands New York Corporate Practice, Adds Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney Jim Cross
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has expanded its award-winning Corporate Practice with the addition of Jim Cross as shareholder in the firm’s New York office.
SAUL EWING ARNSTEIN & LEHR LLP: Timothy Walsh Takes Lead Role in Handling Commercial Real Estate Deals in Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr’s Minneapolis Office
In joining Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr’s Minneapolis office, Timothy Walsh advises clients on commercial real estate transactions and financing, as well as corporate matters, based on his more than 35 years of experience in private practice and as in-house counsel at Fortune 500 and mid-market privately held companies.
Maryland courts resume statewide jury trials with strict safety measures
The Maryland Judiciary is set to resume jury trials in both criminal and civil cases across the state on April 26, 2021.
Climate activist's position at Interior is 'slap in face' to Sen. Murkowski, industry analyst says
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A report that climate activist Elizabeth Klein has taken a high-level position with the Department of the Interior after the Biden Administration withdrew her nomination as deputy secretary is “contrary to the spirit” of an agreement that Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, a Republican, and others made with the administration, according to Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance.
Judge dismisses biometric privacy case, saying lawyers `skirted close to the line’ of sanctions
CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) - A federal judge in Illinois dismissed a would-be biometric privacy class action after the plaintiff disappeared, saying plaintiff lawyers “skirted close to the line” of sanctions by pursuing the case without properly investigating the claims.
AirBnB, HomeAway, TripAdvisor accused of not paying tourism taxes in South Carolina
A lengthy lawsuit from multitudes of plaintiffs including the Cities of Charleston, Isle of Palms, Folly Beach, Myrtle Beach and many others against more than 20 defendants accuse many lodging companies such as AirBnB and HomeAway of evading tax obligations.
Court rejects landlords’ suit against NY AG over Covid eviction ban
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Landlords hoping to block a New York statute preventing them from evicting tenants who aren’t paying rent were rebuffed by a federal court that agreed New York Attorney General Letitia James couldn’t be sued over the law.
Court persuaded carbon black facility was hotbed for asbestos, affirms seven-figure ruling
NEW ORLEANS (Legal Newsline) – A Louisiana appeals court has affirmed a multimillion-dollar asbestos verdict against carbon black manufacturer Birla Carbon USA.
Appeals court reverses reinstatement of Seattle officer who punched handcuffed woman
SEATTLE (Legal Newsline) -The City of Seattle was correct when it fired a police officer who punched a handcuffed woman in the face and fractured her skull, a Washington appeals court ruled, rejecting the police union’s argument a 15-day suspension was enough.
Missouri court allows woman's lawsuit over brief exposure to heavy metals
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Legal Newsline) - A Missouri appeals court has allowed a woman to sue Kansas City Power & Light over claims she was exposed to toxic levels of heavy metals during a brief visit to her mother, exposing the utility to liability for emissions from a coal-burning power plant that spread across two states.
Lawsuit: Texas AG Paxton violates critics' constitutional rights when he blocks them on Twitter
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - The Texas Attorney General was sued in Texas federal court for alleged First and Fourteenth amendment violations by multiple individuals.
Mom who lost son wanted $10M from Arizona city but didn't give it enough time to decide
PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) – A woman who lost her son then asked for $10 million from the Arizona city of Peoria has lost her lawsuit because her lawyer did not give the City enough time to mull the offer.
Dispute over stray cat's vet bill will cost Louisiana $20K for bringing frivolous lawsuit
LAKE CHARLES, La. (Legal Newsline) – A Louisiana man who took a stray cat to a state-run vet’s office may have had to deal with the death of the animal but his dispute with the bill will have state officials thinking twice about filing collections lawsuits.
Walmart employee can't be sued over slip-and-fall, ruining plaintiffs' strategy
INDIANAPOLIS (Legal Newsline) - An Indiana couple’s attempt to get their lawsuit before a more favorable state court failed, as the Indiana Supreme Court said they couldn’t sue the manager of a Walmart store in addition to the company itself.
TROUTMAN PEPPER HAMILTON SANDERS LLP: Troutman Pepper’s Román Hernández to Serve on Merit Selection Panel for U.S. Magistrate Judge
Román D. Hernández, managing partner of Troutman Pepper’s Portland office, was recently appointed by Chief U.S. District Judge Marco Hernández to serve on the Merit Selection Panel for a United States Magistrate Judge in Portland.
TROUTMAN PEPPER HAMILTON SANDERS LLP: Troutman Pepper Partner Named Among ‘Virginia’s Go To Lawyers’ for Employment Law
Troutman Pepper Partner David E. Constine III was recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s “Go To Lawyers” list for employment law.
BRADLEY ARANT BOULT CUMMINGS LLP: Bradley Attorneys Jason Bushby and Greg Pipes Receive 2021 Azbee Award of Excellence
Bradley attorneys Jason Bushby and Greg Pipes were awarded a 2021 Azbee Mid-Atlantic Regional Award Of Excellence.