Food Venture Financing Trends - Aigen, an agtech company that develops solar-powered robots for the agriculture industry, announced that it raised $12 million in its Series A financing....more
Maine Governor Janet Mills, in collaboration with the Maine Technology Institute, has unveiled the Maine Clean Energy Innovation Challenge program that will provide $500,000 in funding to at least two clean energy startup...more
On May 20, 2020, the Eleventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a proposed class action against General Mills for its alleged failure to disclose the presence of a harmful chemical in its Cheerios cereal....more
On Tuesday, a U.S. federal tax court began hearing arguments regarding Facebook’s 2010 tax bill. The IRS valued Facebook at $13.8 billion, while Facebook reported only $6.5 billion. The final tally could potentially cost...more
In the Wake of Monsanto, All Eyes are on the Cheerios Glyphosate Case - Doss v. General Mills, No. 18-cv-61924 (S.D. Fla Aug.17, 2018) - The Skinny: Last fall, a jury in California awarded $289 million to a plaintiff...more
2017 was a year filled with significant developments in case law for trademarks. The below rulings highlight some successes and obstacles faced by companies in the protection of their trademarks and their brand as a whole. ...more
In a precedential decision on August 22 2017, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) in In re General Mills IP Holdings II, LLC (Serial 86757390) held that the applicant did not provide sufficient evidence to support the...more
The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) delivered a primer on demonstrating the acquired distinctiveness of product packaging or trade dress, including color marks, in refusing registration of a trademark application for...more
Years after the Christian Louboutin v. Yves Saint Laurent battle over red soled shoes, trademark protection for color continues to be a hot topic. On August 22, 2017, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (“TTAB”) held that...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: After thirty-three former employees who signed release agreements requiring individual arbitration of ADEA claims collectively sued their employer for age discrimination, the employer moved to compel...more
Hedge fund managers—not that long ago the titans of Wall Street, thanks in part to their “2 and 20 model” that saw them receiving fees of 2% of assets under management and 20% of any gain in any year—are reeling from the loss...more
Food and beverage recalls, regardless of the reason, continue to proliferate in the news cycle. At the end of May General Mills issued a recall of 10 million pounds of flour due to a potential link to an outbreak of E. coli...more
On May 20, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit reversed class certification in a case involving residential vapor intrusion claims, in Ebert et al. v. General Mills, Inc., No. 15-1735 (8th Cir. May 20,...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Eighth Circuit found that a class action could not be sustained in an environmental pollution case because “the class lacks the requisite commonality and cohesiveness to satisfy Rule 23.”...more
Manhattan USA Preet Bharara’s back in front of the cameras and back on the insider-trading horse with the announcement yesterday of criminal charges against well-known sports bettor Billy Walters and former investment banker...more
A recent decision from the Central District of California demonstrates the challenges serial plaintiffs may have with pursuing similar class actions and showcases the primary jurisdiction doctrine. On December 29, 2015, in...more
The Ninth Circuit will not review district court stays, the appeals court recently held, because they are not “final orders” subject to immediate appeal. On January 26, 2015, the Ninth Circuit granted General Mills’ motion to...more
When I opened up a newspaper a few weeks ago and saw an ad by Chobani for its Simply 100 Greek Yogurt, my first thought was, “that’s going to provoke a false advertising dispute.” Here’s what Chobani said about its competitor...more
Labor and Employment - Plaintiff Wage and Hour Lawsuits Continue to Climb - Wage and hour litigation has become what some call the new "workplace revolution." Data from the Federal Judicial Center indicates that...more
Food recalls are on the rise as consumer protection regulations become more stringent, and they can be costly events. There can be significant expenses associated with removing impacted products from stores; reimbursing...more
In an opinion that may help clarify the jurisdictional and pleading requirements for plaintiffs seeking damages and injunctive relief for alleged injuries from vapor intrusion, the federal district court in Minnesota denied a...more
Before a legal decision is employed, it must be thoroughly vetted from multiple perspectives (including a determination of whether the decision comports with the company’s business goals). Otherwise, unintended business...more
The food industry may be catching on to the growing trend of binding arbitration agreements. General Mills recently added a binding arbitration provision to the legal terms on its website, then withdrew the changes a few days...more
I’ll admit, General Mills did not go that far. What they did, according to The New York Times was notify customers that if they downloaded a coupon, joined a forum or entered a sweepstakes, the customer would waive their...more
General Mills Reverses Binding Arbitration for Facebook Fans - General Mills recently made headlines for its attempt to bind consumers to an arbitration agreement if they “liked” the company’s Facebook page, downloaded...more