The Litigation Daily

Litigator of the Week: Michael Rubin of Altshuler Berzon

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:02:59 EDT

In a ruling that could help define the publicity rights of athletes and other well-known figures, Rubin persuaded the Third Circuit to rule that Electronic Arts violated the rights of former Rutgers University quarterback Ryan Hart by using his avatar in a video game.

Rejecting $7 Billion Deal, Retailers Sue Visa and MasterCard

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:34:29 EDT

Conspicuously absent from Thursday's lawsuit is Constantine Cannon, which took the lead in objecting to a $7.25 billion deal that MasterCard, Visa, and a group of card-issuing banks struck last July to resolve claims that they fixed fees on credit and debit card transactions.

Ally Makes Peace with ResCap, Creditors for $2.1 Billion

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:52:09 EDT

The deal resolves a long and contentious fight with ResCap and its creditors over claims that Ally stripped its bankrupt subsidiary of valuable assets and turned it into a dumping ground for mortgage-related liabilities.

After Defections, CalPERS Wants Winston Disqualified

Wed, 22 May 2013 22:12:27 EDT

The nation's largest public pension fund wants to bar Winston & Strawn from further work on bankruptcy proceedings involving the California cities of Stockton and San Bernardino.

Quinn Emanuel Hits Banks with New LIBOR Fraud Suit

Wed, 22 May 2013 20:05:20 EDT

Big banks have flat out admitted to regulators that they rigged LIBOR, but so far litigation over the global benchmark interest rate has been a major disappointment for investors. Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan wants to turn things around.

Vermont Sees Red, Sues Troll over Alleged Patent Shakedown

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:54:02 EDT

By asserting dubious patents against countless small businesses around the country, MPHJ Technology has developed a reputation as one of the most shameless "patent trolls" around. But has it broken the law? The state of Vermont clearly thinks so, and it intends to do something about it.

In Smoking Cases, Interminable Delay Is the Real Due Process Violation

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:57:27 EDT

Will the Eleventh Circuit break the bargain that the Florida Supreme Court reached in the Engle litigation, or will it side with the tobacco industry and force thousands of plaintiffs to start from scratch?

Paul Weiss Scuttles $1 Billion Suit over Lyondell Buyout

Wed, 22 May 2013 16:48:55 EDT

A New York appellate court threw out claims that Bank of New York Mellon negligently signed off on Basell's disastrous 2007 leveraged buyout of Lyondell Chemical Co., costing Basell noteholders almost $1 billion.

Aereo Makes Peace with FilmOn Founder Amid Network Challenges

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:42:57 EDT

Litigation magnet Aereo Inc. has reached a settlement with billionaire Alki David, the founder of rival online TV streaming company FilmOn. The deal brings an end to David's quixotic fight with Aereo and its top financial backer, Barry Diller, leaving the companies to face their real adversary:...

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Reed Smith Wins Essential Patent Ruling in Chip Feud

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:14:16 EDT

Expanding the backlash against companies that aggressively assert "standards-essential patents" against their rivals, a federal judge in San Francisco barred the chip designer LSI Corp. from pursuing injunctive relief against RealTek Semiconductor Corp. at the U.S. International Trade...

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Brocade and A10 Settle on Eve of Retrial

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:38:46 EDT

The deal averts a new trial in the trade secrets case that produced a $112 million verdict against A10.

Bartlit Beck Loses Bid to Nix Alexsam Patent on Appeal

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:15:27 EDT

A divided Federal Circuit panel affirmed an East Texas jury verdict upholding the validity of a patent owned by licensing company Alexsam Inc. that covers systems used to process prepaid phone and gift cards. But it reversed jury's finding that IDT Corporation had infringed the patent for one...

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Another Judge Prods Plaintiffs Lawyers on Diversity

Mon, 20 May 2013 16:05:10 EDT

For years U.S. District Judge Harold Baer in Manhattan has been using his power to appoint plaintiffs counsel as a means to cajole lawyers to find more women and minorities to lead class action lawsuits. Now another New York judge has followed his lead in a suit against Bayer AG.

Heavyweights Line Up to Block Morrison End-Run in UBS Appeal

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:57:35 EDT

Companies have wielded the Supreme Court's decision in Morrison v. NAB to strike down securities claims in case after case. So it's no surprise that the defense bar--including the lawyer who won Morrison back in 2010--came out in force Friday to back UBS AG in an appeal that could undermine...

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Judge Revives $774 Million Securities Case Against JPMorgan

Sun, 19 May 2013 14:45:28 EDT

For the lawyers at Cravath fighting Dexia SA's mortgage-backed securities lawsuit against JPMorgan, Jed Rakoff giveth, and Rakoff taketh away.