News from December 2023
Barnes & Thornburg Elects Jahan Sharifi As Corporate Department Chair
Barnes & Thornburg announced that Jahan Sharifi, a partner at the firm and veteran investment funds and transaction attorney, has been named chair of the firm’s Corporate Department.
Stephon Bagne Secures Major Victory in Airport Taking
Birmingham Member Stephon Bagne successfully represented a pair of property owners in a northern Michigan airport eminent domain matter.
Barnes & Thornburg Adds Labor And Employment Partner Leslie Eason In Atlanta
Barnes & Thornburg has announced the addition of Leslie K. Eason as a partner in the firm’s Labor and Employment Department, closely following the arrival of executive compensation partner Brittany McCants.
Bradley Grows its Atlanta Office to 32 with Additions Jonathan DeLuca and Jonathan Stuart
Bradley is pleased to announce that litigators Jonathan DeLuca and Jonathan Stuart have joined the firm’s Atlanta office.
Stephon Bagne Secures Major Victory in Airport Taking
Birmingham Member Stephon Bagne successfully represented a pair of property owners in a northern Michigan airport eminent domain matter.
Judge again rejects consumer lawsuit trying to shut down Kroger-Albertsons merger
A federal judge said the consumers still haven't demonstrated how exactly they will be harmed by the $24B merger of the country's No. 1 and No. 2 supermarket chains. Action by the FTC could come in mid-January, per court filings
Texas Attorney General Announces $700 Million Settlement with Google for Anticompetitive Practices
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has announced a landmark $700 million settlement with technology giant Google over allegations of anticompetitive conduct related to the Google Play Store. The agreement, which was reached with the participation of attorneys general from all states and several territories, marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle to hold big tech companies accountable for their monopolistic practices.Under the terms of the settlement, Google will pay $630 million in restitution to consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between...
Texas Attorney General Sues Biden Administration Over Transportation Emissions Rule
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration, challenging a new greenhouse gas reporting measure imposed by the federal Department of Transportation. The measure requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to establish a declining carbon dioxide target for transportation as a performance measure for the Interstate and National Highway System. The federal government argues that this mandate is necessary to achieve the administration's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reach net-zero across the economy by 2050....
Law firm sued for malpractice fails to raise venue argument in time
JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - A law firm sued by its former client in Mississippi over an unsuccessful lawsuit over the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill can’t move the case to its home turf in Florida because the firm didn’t raise the question of improper venue in time, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled.
San Bernardino County denies liability for death of homeless during massive storm
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - A California county says it is not to blame for the drowning of three homeless individuals in a storm drain during a historic storm.
Defendant moves to dismiss PFAS lawsuit over Nantucket Nectars bottles
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers are attempting to stretch "the bounds of liability beyond reason," the maker of Nantucket Nectars says.
Attorney General Kaul Applauds Wisconsin Supreme Court Decision Invalidating Legislative Maps
Attorney General Josh Kaul has expressed his satisfaction with the recent ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which declared the state's legislative maps unconstitutional. The decision will require new maps to be drawn before the upcoming 2024 election.In a statement released today, Attorney General Kaul stated, "Today is a great day for democracy in Wisconsin." He went on to highlight the impact of partisan gerrymandering on the state's legislative process, saying, "For over a decade, our state legislature has been elected in a fundamentally undemocratic manner due to...
New York State Bar to Honor Morgan Lewis Partner Russell Franklin With Higgins Award
The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) will honor Morgan Lewis partner Russell Franklin with its 2024 John E. Higgins Diversity Trailblazer Award, given each year to a member of the legal community for their efforts to promote the full and equal participation of diverse people throughout the legal profession.
Morgan Lewis: Global Employment Landscape Undergoing Rapid Transformation, International Employment Lawyer
Partners Grace Speights, David McManus, Matthew Howse, and Louise Skinner spoke with International Employment Lawyer (IEL) about the evolving global employment landscape and the firm’s recent recognition at the inaugural IEL Awards ceremony.
A Quarter for Your Thoughts: New York Employment Law Q4 2023 Developments and Trends on December 19, 2023
This Episode: Updating New York’s Newest Employment Laws and Addressing Proposed New York Legislation to WatchJoin Michael Schmidt and Janice Sued Agresti as they host the latest installment in this quarterly webinar series.
Attorney General Moody Intervenes in Federal Case to Defend Florida Law Protecting Victims of Terrorism
Attorney General Ashley Moody is stepping in to defend a Florida state law aimed at providing relief to victims of terrorism. The law, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this year, allows for civil remedies for individuals injured by acts of terrorism. The case in question involves plaintiffs Carlos Marrón and his wife Maria Marrón, who were awarded a final default judgment of $153 million against defendant Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other parties.The plaintiffs are now seeking a declaration that claimant Samark Jose López Bello is an agency or...
Attorney General Miyares Announces Norfolk Ceasefire Conviction
Attorney General Jason Miyares announced that a federal jury convicted a Norfolk man on charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, using a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The conviction came after Jamique Mays conspired with his former girlfriend, Jaclyn Inge, and a friend, Desmond Littlejohn, to rob Inge's employer, a federal firearms licensee.According to court records and evidence presented at trial, Mays, Inge, and Littlejohn drove to Inge's employer's business in Virginia Beach on October 9, 2017. They...
Texas Appeals Ruling That Would Cripple State's Ability to Settle Lawsuits
The Office of the Attorney General (“OAG”) in Texas has filed an appeal against a recent ruling that could severely impact the state's ability to settle lawsuits. The OAG argues that the decision, if upheld, would have detrimental effects on the state's legal system.In the case of Office of the Attorney General of Texas v. James Blake Brickman et al, the OAG had reached an agreement with former agency employees almost a year ago. This agreement was aimed at resolving the dispute between the parties in a cost-effective and efficient manner. However, the trial court's...
New legal measures in Minnesota include ERPOs and revised court procedures
A series of new laws, rules, and policies are set to take effect on January 1, 2024.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Settlement with Major Internet Provider to Address Consumer Complaints
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has successfully reached a settlement with CSC Holdings, LLC, the operating subsidiary of Altice USA, Inc., a major telecommunications company. The Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) aims to ensure that CSC Holdings provides the services it advertises to consumers in Texas.CSC Holdings, LLC, which operates under the brand name "Optimum" in Texas, offers broadband, television, phone, and other services to consumers across the country, with over 100 service areas in Texas alone. However, over the years, Texas residents have reported...