Litigation-Business
Protecting the Identity of LLC Members, LP Partners, Part II: Strategies for Discovery
Thompson Coburn offers some pointers on how to safeguard the identities of business owners when an opponent has issued discovery requesting a copy of the organizational chart and/or information on the identities of the LLC members or LP partners.
Northwestern Mutual to Pay $84 Million to Settle Annuities Suit
NEWS
Reuters is reporting that Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. has agreed to pay $84 million to settle a lawsuit claiming that it illegally reduced potential payouts on annuities it sold at least 30 years ago, cheating investors who used them as retirement investments.
Duke Energy to Pay $146M to Settle Suit Over CEO Ouster
NEWS
America’s largest electric company announced that it is settling a lawsuit that claimed shareholders lost millions of dollars when Duke Energy fired its CEO hours after a long-anticipated buyout of its smaller neighbor, reports the Greensboro News & Record.
Insurer Conduct Can Lead Policyholders Into Suit Limitation Traps
White Paper
A white paper posted by Jones Day partner Tara Kowalski on the firm’s Insurance Policy Advocate site says a recent string of cases addressing suit limitation provisions serves as a reminder of the numerous traps that surround such provisions
Labor Department Lawyers Can Shift Loan Officer Policy, Court Rules
NEWS
The Obama administration had the authority to make a 180-degree shift in labor policy and declare thousands of mortgage loan officers subject to wage-and-hour laws, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, according to a report by Forbes.
Microsoft Hits Kyocera for Alleged Phone Patent Infringement
NEWS
In a complaint filed Friday in Seattle federal court, Microsoft claims Kyocera infringes its patents with three of Kyocera’s lower-cost Android phones, reports ArsTechnica.
Avoid Misrepresentation Claims Through Contractual Exculpatory Clauses
On-Demand
As a part of its Homebuilder Series, Bilzim Sumberg has posted a free on-demand webinar that discusses protecting your company from misrepresentation claims through contractual exculpatory clauses.
Launching Site or Other Advertising Alone is Not Service Mark ‘Use’
NEWS
For the first time, the Federal Circuit directly addressed whether the advertising or offering of a service, without the actual provision of the service, constitutes use in commerce for a service mark, reports McCarter & English.
Texas Jury Returns $58.7 Million Trade Secret, Exemplary Damages Verdict for TAOS Inc.
NEWS
Law firm Munck Wilson Mandala announced a $58.7 million trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, patent infringement and tortious interference verdict for firm client Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett Adds Trial Lawyer Ron McCallum
NEWS
Dallas-based Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett, PC, a nationally recognized trial law firm, is announcing the addition of trial attorney Ron C. McCallum in the firm’s Catastrophic Personal Injury & Wrongful Death section.
Texas Supreme Court Marries Contractual Limitations to Insurance Policies
White Paper
A Texas court has settled the debate concerning whether a company’s insurance policies stood alone or were married to and dependent upon an insured’s limited obligation in a separate contract to insure and indemnify a third party.
Protecting the Identity of LLC Members and LP Partners in Litigation
White Paper
Thompson Coburn LLP has published an analysis of handling a request for disclosure of the identity of members/partners in an LLC or LP during litigations. In “Part I: Motions to Remand,” the firm examines the best approach.
Man Claims to Own Bluetooth, Scores $15.7M Verdict Against Samsung
NEWS
A federal court jury in Marshall, Texas, found in favor of Rembrandt IP in a patent infringement case, finding that Samsung’s Bluetooth-enabled products, including its most popular cell phones, tablets, and televisions, infringe Gordon Bremer’s patents.
17 Reasons to Fire Your PR Person
NEWS
Digital Music News has posted a list of 17 mistakes your public relations person could make that would give you good cause to order that person’s dismissal.
The Executive Guide to Depositions
White Paper
Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing offers a free guide to aid with preparation of business executives for depositions, titled “The Executive Guide to Depositions.”
High-Power Line Easement Dispute Wins Texas Landowner $445,000
NEWS
A North Texas landowner has won a $445,365 judgment against an electric power delivery company after his land lost value when an easement was taken for a high-voltage electric transmission line.
GM Names LyondellBassell Exec Its New GC
NEWS
General Motors Co. on Thursday named Craig Glidden its new top lawyer, after earlier saying general counsel Michael Milikin would retire in July, reports The Detroit News.
Colt’s Manufacturing Settles With Two Top Execs
NEWS
Colt’s Manufacturing has settled multi-million claims by the company’s former general counsel and an ex-vice president who said they were wrongly dismissed during a fierce fight among stockholders for control of the company, according to a report in the Hartford Courant.
Boston Scientific and J&J Settle Suit Over Guidant Deal
NEWS
Boston Scientific has agreed to pay Johnson & Johnson $600 million, an amount far less than the more than $7 billion in damages that Johnson & Johnson sought in relation to its botched acquisition of Guidant.
Chesapeake Alleges Founder McClendon Stole ‘Trade Secrets’ to Start New Firm
NEWS
Chesapeake Energy Corp. filed suit Tuesday alleging that its founder and former chief executive, Aubrey K. McClendon, stole confidential company data during his last months on the job in order to launch his new oil and gas empire, Reuters reports.
