Business Torts › Constitutional Law › Civil Remedies

Sanctions Are Issued Where Court Determines That Special Motion To Strike Was Filed For Improper Purpose

In Kleveland v. Siegel & Wolensky LLP, 2013 DAR 4961(2013) the California Courts of Appeal for the Fourth Appellate District affirmed the denial of a special motion to strike and the award of costs and attorney fees as...more

It's Not Defamation if No One Knows It's You -- Sammy Hagar Defeats Defamation Claim

The first element of defamation is sometimes forgotten. The defamatory statement must be about the plaintiff. In most instances that will be self-evident, but sometimes the identity of the person being defamed will be known...more

How to Use the “Wall of Wrong” to Determine if a Proposed Defamation Case is a SLAPP -- Shaheen Sadeghi v. Delilah Snell

The tale starts with an article in OC Weekly. The article was about a guy named Shaheen Sadeghi. The article was extremely favorable to Sadeghi, referring to him as the “Curator of Cool” and discussing his amazing success in...more

Anti-SLAPP Law Does Not Protect Civil Extortion by Attorneys

Despite the prohibitions against doing so, some attorneys can’t resist throwing a threat of criminal action into their demand letters. They apparently think (if they give it any thought at all) that an express or veiled...more

Miguel Mendoza v. Reed K. Hamzeh

Court Rules that Attorney's Demand Letter is Not Protected under Anti-SLAPP Law

Following the prior decision of Flatley v. Mauro, the California Court of Appeal in Miguel Mendoza v. Reed K. Hamzeh finds that a demand letter from an attorney which threatens criminal prosecution is not protected under the...more

Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Ptroleum

U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Kiobel

In an opinion issued on April 7, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against a group of Nigerians living in the United States who sought to hold oil companies accountable for alleged human rights violations in Nigeria...more

Texas Court Rules that Regardless of Fault, CEOs and CFOs Will Have to Pay Up Under Sarbanes-Oxley Section 304

A Texas federal judge denied defendants ArthoCare CEO Michael A. Baker and CFO Michael T. Gluk’s motion to dismiss the SEC’s claim against them under Sarbanes-Oxley (“SOX”) Section 304’s clawback provision. Section 304...more

Arizona Upholds $54 Million Reduction of Punitive Damages in Insurance Bad Faith Case

The Arizona Court of Appeals recently upheld a trial court's reduction of a $55 million punitive damages award to only $620,000 and further reduced the punitive damages to $155,000-a 1:1 ratio to compensatory damages....more

Stopping Competitors From Denigrating Your Product

"Cats prefer Whisker Nibblets to Gato Gourmet 4:1." "Only Marie’s sandwich cookies are made with real chocolate and cream." "Seatur’s Slick works 40 percent faster than other leading motor oils." "Shampoo with Lixertonic and...more

The Texas Anti-SLAPP Statute: Issues for Business Tort Litigation - September 2012

On June 17, 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry affixed his neat signature to Texas‘ new anti-SLAPP law, entitled the Texas Citizens Participation Act (the "TCPA"), and in so doing Texas joined 28 states and the District of...more

Dunkin’ Donuts in Hot Water Over Franchisee Discrimination Claims

Dunkin’ Donuts in Hot Water Over Franchisee Discrimination Claims by Joel N. Kreizman on August 30, 2012 Dunkin’ Donuts is in hot water after several former franchise owners have alleged that it discriminates against...more

Legal Byte: Can non-signatories be bound by an arbitration clause?

In California a person who is not a party to a contract containing a mandatory arbitration clause may still be compelled to arbitrate whether that non-signatory is a plaintiff or a defendant. ...more

The Texas Anti-SLAPP Statute: Issues for Business Tort Litigation - May 2012

Introduction - On June 17, 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry affixed his neat signature to Texas’ new anti-SLAPP law, entitled the Texas Citizens Participation Act (the “TCPA”), and in so doing Texas joined 28 states and the...more

Appointing An Examiner is not a Simple Task

Three cases provide examples of situations in which the courts considered an outside overseer. Allegations of impropriety by a bankrupt company's management can fuel heated litigation in bankruptcy cases — including...more

IP/Entertainment Law Weekly Case Update For Motion Picture Studios And Television Networks - August 17, 2011

Table of Contents: •Doe v. Gangland Productions, Inc., et al. •Goldberg v. Cameron •Mattel, Inc. v. MGA Entertainment, Inc. Doe v. Gangland Productions, Inc., et al., USDC C.D. California, August 1,...more

Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Shell Petroleum (No Corporate Liability Under AlienTort Claims Act)

Order Affirming Motion to Dismiss

A panel of the court ruled 2-1 on September 17, 2010 that the Alien Tort Statute gives U.S. courts jurisdiction over alleged violations of international law by individuals only, not by corporations. The decision dismisses...more

Pearson Education, Inc. v. Textbook Discounters

Reply Memorandum of Law in Support of Motion to Dismiss

This is a reply brief on the motion to dismiss the case filed against importers of "foreign" versions of textbooks against one of the publishers of those textbooks. The main issue involves the applicability of the First Sale...more

Anti-SLAPP Stature in the Real Estate Litigation Mix

As anyone who has been sued can tell you, litigation is, at best, an annoyance, and at worst, and much more typically, scary. stressful, time consuming and expensive. Given that the longstanding rule of American jurisprudence...more

Showing Animals Respect and Kindness v. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

Complaint

EFF has asked a federal court to protect the free speech rights of an animal welfare group after its video critiques of animal treatment at rodeos were removed from YouTube due to sham copyright claims. The group Showing...more

Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd, & Julius Baer Bank & Trust Co, LTD v Wikileaks; Wikileaks.org; and Does 1-10

Minute Order Tentatively Denying the Motion for Preliminary Injunction & Dissolving the Injunction by Dynadot

On 2-6-08, Swiss bank Julius Baer filed suit in federal district court against "Wikileaks," a website designed to give whistleblowers a forum for posting materials of public concern, for hosting 14 allegedly leaked documents...more

Bank Julius Baer & Co. LTD & Julius Baer Bank & Trust Co. LTD v. WikiLeaks, et al

Order Denying Motion For Preliminary Injunction; Dissolving Permanent Injunction; And Setting Briefing & Hearing Schedule

A federal district court judge in San Francisco today rescinded a controversial order that disabled the "wikileaks.org" domain name which had -- until two weeks ago -- pointed to Wikileaks, a website designed to give...more

Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd, & Julius Baer Bank & Trust Co, LTD v Wikileaks; Wikileaks.org; and Does 1-10

Plaintiffs' Brief in Opposition to Multiple Applications & Motions by Proposed Amici and/or Requests to Intervene

On 2-6-08, Swiss bank Julius Baer filed suit in federal district court against "Wikileaks," a website designed to give whistleblowers a forum for posting materials of public concern, for hosting 14 allegedly leaked documents...more

Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd, & Julius Baer Bank & Trust Co, LTD v Wikileaks; Wikileaks.org; and Does 1-10

Daniel Mathews' Memorandum of Points & Authorities in Opposition to the Temporary Restraining Order, Proposed Preliminary...

On 2-6-08, Swiss bank Julius Baer filed suit in federal district court against "Wikileaks," a website designed to give whistleblowers a forum for posting materials of public concern, for hosting 14 allegedly leaked documents...more

Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd, & Julius Baer Bank & Trust Co, LTD v Wikileaks; Wikileaks.org; and Does 1-10

Plaintiffs' Supplemental Brief in Support of Application for Preliminary Injunction re: Response to the Reporters Committee et...

On 2-6-08, Swiss bank Julius Baer filed suit in federal district court against "Wikileaks," a website designed to give whistleblowers a forum for posting materials of public concern, for hosting 14 allegedly leaked documents...more

Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd, & Julius Baer Bank & Trust Co, LTD v Wikileaks; Wikileaks.org; and Does 1-10

Brief of Amici Curiae The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press et al.

On 2-6-08, Swiss bank Julius Baer filed suit in federal district court against "Wikileaks," a website designed to give whistleblowers a forum for posting materials of public concern, for hosting 14 allegedly leaked documents...more