On June 20, Costco and Nice-Pak Products, Inc. were hit with a proposed class action in California federal court regarding Costco’s fragrance-free Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes. The plaintiffs allege that although the baby...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a district court’s dismissal of an unjust enrichment claim, finding that unjust enrichment claims do not necessarily rise or fall with trade secret misappropriation...more
A franchisee, Functional HIIT Fitness, has filed suit in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan against a franchisor, F45 Training Incorporated, and five of its officers: Adam Gilchrist, Robert Deutsch, Marc...more
Plaintiffs frequently tack on negligent misrepresentation claims to ordinary business disputes. A negligent misrepresentation claim alleges that one party carelessly supplied incorrect or incomplete information on which the...more
A debt “for money, property, services, or an extension [. . .] of credit, to the extent obtained by [. . .] actual fraud,” is not dischargeable in a chapter 7 bankruptcy case. Courts have questioned whether this applied if...more
The industry is all abuzz about Sazerac’s flavored malt beverage “brand-extension” of its popular Fireball Cinnamon Whisky. Here is a single serving – aka shot – of the original 66 proof distilled spirit:...more
Disputes over capital accounts and equity percentages are frequent fodder for business divorce litigation — especially in LLCs without operating agreements. Exemplars previously treated on this blog include Chiu v Chiu, an...more
On May 13, 2022, a putative class action was filed in federal court against an online secondary marketplace that sells luxury goods (e.g., sneakers, handbags, and electronics) and, recently, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) that...more
When parties negotiate a contract, they make representations to each other like, “this product is like new” or “this is the best product on the market.” If those representations are false and made recklessly, the person...more
Litigation following mergers and acquisitions has always been a source of important judicial decisions on critical legal issues. However, can it tell us more about the state of the deal market and where future disputes may be...more
When can you compel arbitration of a putative class action? The law is developing quickly and still doesn’t provide a crystal clear answer. The Ninth Circuit recently weighed in on two cases examining what happens when the...more
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s recent decision in Gregg, et al. v. Ameriprise Fin., Inc., et al. holds vendors that provide goods and services to consumers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strictly liable for fraudulent...more
As we discussed in a previous post, the Northern District of California recently dismissed a plaintiff’s claim that the term “vanilla” was misleading on the label of a soymilk product. The Southern District of New York has...more
Otto Candies, LLC v. KPMG, LLP, C.A. No. 2018-0435-MTZ (Del. Ch. Aug. 21, 2020) - The Court of Chancery dismissed a complaint filed by creditors and former business affiliates of a defunct Latin American offshore oil...more
N.C. Business Court Digs into Pleading Requirements in Tossing Three Misrepresentation-Based Claims- A “failed deal” or contract often gives rise to claims for breach of contract, fraud, and/or negligent misrepresentation....more
Precision Hydraulic Cylinders, Inc. v. Manufacturing. Technology, Inc., No. 7:18-CV-203-FL, 2019 BL 344743, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 156670 (E.D.N.C. Sept. 13, 2019) - Precision Hydraulic Cylinders, Inc. (“Precision”) issued...more
Bankruptcy is meant to provide a fresh start for the honest but unfortunate debtor. A debtor who files Chapter 7 does so with the presumption that all his or her debts will be forgiven or "discharged." But what about the...more
On June 5, 2018, in RKA Film Financing, LLC v. Kavanaugh et al., the First Department unanimously affirmed the Supreme Court, New York County’s decision absolving the United States Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin,...more
Wypie Investments LLC v. Homschek, C.A. N14C-08-140 WCC CCLD (March 28, 2018) - This decision clarifies that negligent representation claims can only be brought in the Delaware Court of Chancery. ...more
David F. Johnson presented his paper on “Litigation Update, Including Fiduciary Issues” to the Texas Bankers Association’s Legal Conference in Austin, Texas, on April 5, 2018. This presentation covered recent Texas precedent...more
In JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. v. Orca Assets G.P., a trustee leased minerals to a leasee. No. 15-0712, 2018 Tex. LEXIS 250 (Tex. March 23, 2018)....more
Truffles are renowned as one of the rarest delicacies in the world. Perhaps not quite as rare, but still fairly uncommon, is the dismissal with prejudice of a false advertising class action without the plaintiffs being...more
Members of a company’s board who are also investors in the company often have access to detailed information about the company’s finances and its lending facilities. But what happens when an investor-board member could,...more
A U.S. Court of Appeals has held that a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denial of a citizen petition can be “clear evidence” of conflict preemption under the test set forth by the Supreme Court in Wyeth v. Levine, 555 U.S....more
Searcy Denney Mass Tort Unit attorneys Brenda Fulmer and Cal Warriner have filed three more lawsuits on behalf of Florida and North Carolina residents who suffered bleeding in their brains and GI tracts following use of...more