A New Jersey Court of Appeals found that a retailer was not a franchisee under New Jersey’s Franchise Practices Act (NJFPA) and therefore NJFPA’s termination requirements did not apply to the retailer’s termination....more
A United States District Court (N.D. Ohio) (“Court”) in an October 14th Order addressed a dispute arising out of a Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement (“NDA”) and Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) involving two...more
A federal court in California recently granted partial summary judgment in favor of a distributor of wine corks for breach of an exclusivity provision following the supplier’s sale of certain corks in the United States. M.A....more
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has recently affirmed a summary judgment order dismissing all claims by an importer of new Chinese construction equipment alleging a conspiracy to boycott and tortious interference with...more
A cease-and-desist letter is a warning to businesses or individuals to stop certain harmful actions. The letter may even threaten legal action if the recipient does not comply. If you receive a cease-and-desist letter,...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed a grant of summary judgment dismissing antitrust and tortious interference claims based on fraudulent procurement of patents where the plaintiff failed to show a knowing...more
With the New Year comes new medical staff leaders and a new set of growing pains. Contrary to what many of us believe, some simple steps can lessen the pain. ...more
Addressing an issue of damages, the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated the district court’s grant of punitive damages in favor of the plaintiff, finding “passion and prejudice” mitigated finding of “malice”....more
In Texas losing a title dispute doesn’t mean you committed myriad heinous torts by asserting your rights in the first place. The test: Were you reasonable in bringing your colorable but not correct claim? So says Dorfman v. J...more
A West Virginia federal court has rejected defamation claims arising from two Peabody Award-winning CBS Evening News reports about the opioid epidemic....more
Tax service franchisor, H&R Block, was recently vindicated in having terminated a franchisee for violating an in-term non-compete covenant. A United States District Court granted the franchisor summary judgment in Devore v....more
Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Chris Lazarini analyzed a case questioning whether a breach of contract occurred. The court, in interpreting a contract, must determine the intent of the parties from the language used in the...more
In Vaschenko v. Novosoft, Inc., a partner from an alleged oral partnership sued his partner for breach of fiduciary duty. No. 03-16-00022-CV, 2018 Tex. App. LEXIS 771 (Tex. App.—Austin January 26, 2018, no pet. history). The...more
Arbitration - Waymo v. Uber Technologies, 870 F.3d 1342 (Fed. Cir. 2017) - Waymo sued Uber and others for trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement. Uber contends that Waymo should be compelled to...more
Several recent decisions serve as a good reminder that it is not only the Probate and Family Court that addresses important T&E issues in Massachusetts. In the consolidated matters of Hanna et al. v. Williams et al.,...more
Bass, Berry & Sims attorney Chris Lazarini discussed a case where defendant carried out a personal vendetta against the plaintiff following plaintiff's report against defendant for violations of securities laws. Following...more
In Tex v. Iom, a former employer sued a former employee based on a covenant not to compete and breach of fiduciary duty and sued the new employer for tortious interference. No. 12-14-00254-CV, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 7317 (Tex....more
Goodwin Procter’s Business Litigation Reporter provides timely summaries of key cases and other developments within dedicated Business Litigation sessions and related courts throughout the country – courts within which...more
Supreme Court Advance Release Opinions: SC19233, SC19234 - State v. Wright - SC19233, SC19234 Concurrence - State v. Wright - SC19382 - State v. Anthony D. - SC19382 Dissent - State v. Anthony D. - ...more
In Courtade v. Estrada, Estrada created an inter vivos irrevocable trust and deeded real estate into the trust. No. 02-14-00295-CV, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 3105 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth March 24, 2016, no pet. history). Two days...more
Reversing a 2-1 decision of the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the state’s Supreme Court held unanimously that an assets purchase-and-sale contract containing an unreasonable territorial non-competition restriction is...more
Supreme Court Advance Release Opinions: SC19359 - Persels & Associates, LLC v. Banking Commissioner - Noting that it has generally been the policy of the Courts to defer to the Legislature, especially as to the...more
Counter-defendants claimed that counterclaims 1(breach of contract), 4(breach of duty of loyalty), 5(tortious interference with contractual relations) and 6 misappropriation of trade secrets) are procedurally improper. The...more
A former Ph.D. student sued the University of Michigan and several faculty members after the university removed him from the Ph.D. program. Joseph Dean Vigil failed to complete his dissertation and Ph.D. requirements within...more