Legal Book » monday

Using Sarbanes-Oxley, SEC Gets Clawback Against Execs Who Weren’t Charged with Wrongdoing

Master — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:06:05 +0000

The SEC announced Monday that it is using the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to clawback $450,000 in compensation from the former CEO of Symmetry Medical, and $185,000 from its chief financial officer, and return the money to the company. What’s notable is that neither of these individuals are accused of wrongdoing.

Court trims California slaughterhouse law

Master — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:57:21 +0000

In a major victory for the meat industry, a unanimous Supreme Court decided Monday that the federal law governing the operation of slaughterhouses pre-empts efforts by California and other states to require humane treatment of “downer” or nonambulatory pigs.

Suits mount in NFL injury fight

Master — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:03:40 +0000

As a key deadline approached, lawyers for former pro football players and wives who say the National Football League failed to protect players from long-term brain injuries filed two more suits Monday, bringing to six the number of actions filed in Atlanta over concussions sustained on the playing field.

Suits mount in NFL injury fight

Master — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:03:40 +0000

Dean departs La Verne following ABA’s accreditation rebuke

admin — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:03:29 +0000

Allen Easley, dean of the University of La Verne College of the Law, resigned unexpectedly Monday, citing personal reasons. The shakeup came eight months after the school lost provisional accreditation from the American Bar Association because of concern over its bar passage rates.

Dean departs La Verne following ABA’s accreditation rebuke

Master — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 07:03:29 +0000

Legal Issues Stall Volkswagen-Porsche Merger

Master — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:03:56 +0000

Volkswagen’s CEO said Monday that a proposed merger with fellow German automaker Porsche isn’t possible due to legal obstacles and tax issues that have cropped up since the companies announced merger plans in 2009. Volkswagen plans to explore alternative approaches to completing the tie-up.

In Texas voting rights case, Court chooses a narrow path

Master — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:03:52 +0000

What was billed as a possible Supreme Court showdown over the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act instead turned into a narrower debate Monday over how the redistricting of Texas legislative districts should proceed.

Covington & Burling Wins $908 Million Arbitration Award for Exxon in Dispute over 2007 Nationalization, but Venezuela Claims Victory

admin — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 19:51:30 +0000

Exxon Mobil rang in the New Year by announcing that it won a nearly $908 million award in an international arbitration over Venezuela’s nationalization of its oil operations. But on Monday Venezuela’s state oil company touted its “successful defense” against Exxon’s claims.

Roberts, Kagan Among Winners of Legal Writing Awards

admin — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:53:17 +0000

The entertaining grammar lesson that Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. included in his decision in FCC v. AT&T did not just help win him unanimity among his voting colleagues

DOJ Records $3B In False Claims Act Settlements Last Year

Master — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:53:14 +0000

The U.S. Justice Department said on Monday that it recorded more than $3 billion in settlements and judgments in fraud cases against the government in 2011, pushing the total amount covered since January 2009 to $8.7 billion. The bulk of the $3 billion flowed from the whistleblower provision of the False Claims Act.

Kessler Topaz, Milbank Face Off over $428 Million Fee Request in Grupo Mexico Derivative Suit

Master — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:31:39 +0000

The Delaware Chancery Court is scheduled to hear arguments Monday over a $428 million fee request by plaintiffs lawyers for their work winning a record $1.26 billion ruling in the Grupo Mexico shareholder derivative suit. Grupo Mexico’s lawyers claim such an award is an “impermissible windfall.”

Scott Storms’ Boss Indicted in Duke Energy Ethics Case

Master — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:37:11 +0000

The ethics scandal involving Scott Storms, the former general counsel of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, just won’t die. On Monday, a grand jury indicted Storms’ former boss for helping Storms set up a new job with Duke Energy while he still worked on Duke cases before the commission.

Kirkland Can’t Stop Judge from Certifying Stock-Drop Class Action Against Medtronic

Master — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:58:03 +0000

Despite claims by Medtronic that plaintiffs lawyers in a stock-drop suit had fudged the testimony of 13 confidential witnesses, a federal judge on Monday certified the shareholder class, ruling that it was “premature” to determine whether the plaintiffs had accurately represented witnesses’ testimony.

Tobacco Companies Preparing for Supreme Court Review of Graphic Labels

Master — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:41:11 +0000

In a new motion filed Monday in Washington federal court, the cigarette manufacturers suing the Food and Drug Administration over new graphic label requirements hinted that they already have their sights set on the Supreme Court.

K&L Gates Adds 7 Partners From Parker Poe to Launch in South Carolina

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:07:04 +0000

K&L Gates announced Monday that it has opened its 24th office in the United States — and its 40th overall — by launching a location in Charleston, S.C., with the addition of a seven-partner team from Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein.

GSK Unit Turns to Greenberg Traurig to Fight SEC Claims Over Stock Buy-Backs

admin — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:06:59 +0000

Glaxo unit Stiefel Labs is gearing up for a nasty fight with the SEC, which sued the company Monday for allegedly defrauding shareholders out of $110 million. But at least Stiefel’s lawyers at Greenberg Traurig won’t need long to get up to speed: The firm’s been defending Stiefel in related private litigation for two years.

HP Replacing Its Top Lawyer

Master — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:06:59 +0000

Hewlett-Packard announced Monday that general counsel Michael Holston will leave after almost five years at HP, the latest in a string of high-profile departures. David Healy, co-chair of mergers and acquisitions at Fenwick & West, will serve as interim counsel while HP searches for a permanent replacement.

High Court Issues First Death Judgment Reversal in Two Years

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:04:28 +0000

The California Supreme Court issued a rare and unanimous decision on Monday reversing two death judgments in 1990s gang killings. It’s the first reversal after 45 consecutive death judgments the court has upheld over the past couple of years, according to the California Appellate Project.

Bahrain Firm Seeks $1 Billion in Damages for Alleged Alcoa Bribes

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:06:47 +0000

In a complaint filed Monday in Pittsburgh federal court, Aluminum Bahrain BSC alleges that it overpaid $420 million for raw materials from 1997 to 2009 because companies affiliated with Alcoa and controlled by a billionaire businessman paid millions in bribes to company executives and Bahrain officials.Visit International News

For the justices, the weirder side of consumer protection

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:48:52 +0000

The Supreme Court struggled Monday with whether Congress, in creating a private right of action for consumers under a statute that prohibits robocalls and unsolicited faxes, limited them to suits in state courts. The case was one of two argued Monday in which consumers sought access to the federal courts.

In the next argument cycle, ex-SGs abound

Master — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:06:07 +0000

In the Supreme Court argument cycle that begins Monday, three former solicitors general will argue before the justices, with Paul Clement facing off against his successor, Gregory Garre, in one case. Garre will be arguing twice in two weeks, which he says “certainly magnifies the challenge.”

Expansion-Minded Kasowitz Opens Silicon Valley Office

Master — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:32:33 +0000

In the latest move to build its intellectual property practice, Kasowitz Benson announced Monday that it has opened an office in Silicon Valley. The office will be headed by IP group chair Douglas Lumish and will include the group of attorneys that moved with him from Weil Gotshal in January.

Wall Street Protesters File Federal Lawsuit

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:07:35 +0000

Attorney Ronald L.

Fannie Mae Conservator Loses Bid to Halt Class Action

Master — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:22:03 +0000

In early October, Fannie Mae’s conservator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, asked a Washington federal judge for a stay in a securities class action against the mortgage giant.