The bumpy ride toward the first trial against Toyota over sudden acceleration claims got bumpier when a Los Angeles judge told lead plaintiffs lawyers to tear up the complaints in their proposed bellwether cases and suggested that a wrongful death case might have a higher priority.

Since June, class action defendants have wielded the Supreme Court’s Wal-Mart decision to wipe out a variety of claims on the grounds that the proposed classes couldn’t meet the commonality requirements set forth by the Court. Now the ruling has claimed another victim: an ERISA class action against Motorola.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Thursday ruled against H&R Block’s proposed acquisition of a rival company that also sells digital do-it-yourself tax preparation products, saying the proposed $287 million merger would harm consumers. See related story: D.C.

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Thursday ruled against H&R Block’s proposed acquisition of a rival company that also sells digital do-it-yourself tax preparation products, saying the proposed $287 million merger would harm consumers. See related story: D.C. Judge Explains Decision to Stop H&R Block’s $287.5 Million TaxAct Merger

Some former Ruden McClosky equity partners are trying to stall the proposed bankruptcy sale of firm assets to Greenspoon Marder. “It appears the biggest opponent is going to be former shareholders that are owed money,” said an attorney not affiliated with shareholders who appeared at the first hearing in the case.