News from July 2023
Lawsuit over plane crash says pilot climbed over passengers to get out
BOSTON (Legal Newsline) — Cape Air passengers who allegedly suffered burns and other injuries during a crash are claiming negligence.
Split court says Chinese citizens may sue Cisco for allegedly helping Communists quash Falun Gong; Dissenting judge warns of 'serious' foreign policy ramifications
A divided federal court has ruled a California-based technology company, which allegedly helped Chinese Communists crack down on a religious group, can be sued for its alleged involvement in that persecution, but a dissenting judge cautioned such a suit could imperil already tense relations between China and the United States.
Troutman Pepper’s John Bowler Named President of Georgia Lawyers for the Arts
Georgia Lawyers for the Arts (GLA), a nonprofit organization that provides legal assistance and educational programming to artists and arts organizations, recently announced the appointment of John Bowler, a partner in Troutman Pepper’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, as President of its Board of Directors.
Nike wants class action over what's in its clothing tossed
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) - Nike is hoping a federal judge will throw out a class action lawsuit against it, just like a colleague did with a similar case.
No antitrust claim for salesman fired after bad-mouthing merger
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A title-insurance salesman who tried to win customers by warning them about the anticompetitive effects of a pending merger has no case, a California court ruled, saying he wasn’t the right party to make an antitrust claim.
NetChoice alleges Arkansas' social media age verification law violates First Amendment
EL DORADO, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — NetChoice alleges Arkansas' Social Media Safety Act requiring age verification for social media use violates First Amendment rights.
PetLab faces class action over auto renewal purchases
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A California woman alleges PetLab automatically renews consumers' purchases in violation of state law.
Binance taps Eleanor Hughes as General Counsel amid crypto industry’s ‘pivotal time’
Binance, a global leader in blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure, has announced Eleanor Hughes as its General Counsel.
Kristen Larson Named to Minnesota Women Lawyers Board of Directors
Kristen Larson, a Consumer Financial Services attorney in Ballard Spahr’s Minneapolis office, has been elected to a two-year term on the Minnesota Women Lawyers Board of Directors.
Report: Paxton impeachment investigators looking at dash cam contract
AUSTIN (Legal Newsline) - Trouble may be compounding for embattled Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who's facing an impeachment trial Sept. 5 in the state Senate on corruption charges.
DeSantis asks federal court to dismiss Disney retaliation complaint
Counsel for Gov. Ron DeSantis claims he has immunity as an elected official
Dogs are property, Wyoming court rules after St. Bernards die in trapper's snares
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Legal Newsline) - A Wyoming family can’t win emotional damages from watching their pet St. Bernard dogs die in snares set by a trapper, the state’s Supreme Court ruled, because state law doesn’t allow emotional damages over the loss of property.
Judge in Altoids class action urged to revisit ruling, now that Ninth Circuit requires more from consumers
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) - The maker of Altoids says a recent pro-defendant ruling in consumer deception class actions should push a federal judge to throw out the case against it.
Association of American Railroads claims Ohio crew size law is unconstitutional
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline) — The Association of American Railroads is claiming Ohio's newly enacted law requiring at least two crew members for freight railroads is unconstitutional.
Class action: Pop Secret microwave popcorn contains high levels of PFAS
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — A class action alleges Pop Secret microwave popcorn contains high levels of chemicals known as PFAS.
Dechert Adds Leading Hedge Fund Team of Robert Leonard and Michael Mavrides
Dechert LLP announced the additions of Robert Leonard and Michael Mavrides as partners in the financial services and investment management practice in New York.
Gov. Abbott's former chief of staff accused of planting whistleblower in AG Paxton's office
Paxton's Senate impeachment trial is set for Sept. 5
As court losses mount, Khan remakes FTC with like-minded hires
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan will face a hostile audience tomorrow morning when she appears before the Republican-run House Judiciary Committee to explain, as the committee puts it, her “record of enforcement actions and politicized rulemakings.”
TikTok moves to block Montana ban
MISSOULA, Mont. (Legal Newsline) - TikTok is asking a federal judge to impose an injunction against Montana's Senate Bill 419, which would ban use of the social media platform in the state.
Fatal wheelchair accident involved health care, Texas Supreme Court says
AUSTIN, Texas (Legal Newsline) - A lawsuit over the death of a woman who hit her head in the parking lot after her wheelchair tipped over is subject to a Texas law governing malpractice suits, the state’s highest court ruled, reversing an appeals court that held the accident lacked a “substantial nexus” to health care.