Thwarting a settlement that was designed to end decades of litigation and compensate claimants for damaging exposure to asbestos, a federal judge has relieved the Travelers insurance company of an obligation to pay $500 million because a key condition of the settlement was undermined by an appellate court ruling.

A federal judge has approved the settlement of a shareholder derivative suit over Merck’s alleged suppression of an unfavorable clinical study of its cholesterol drug Vytorin.

Bank of America’s $8.5 billion settlement with investors over mortgage-backed securities is returning to New York state court. The 2nd Circuit has ruled that the case, settled in 2011, falls within the securities exception in the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.

Lawyers challenging Bank of America’s proposed $8.5 billion settlement with mortgage-backed securities investors faced tough questions at the 2nd Circuit Wednesday. The court’s eventual ruling could vindicate the settlement as a blueprint for future deals or ensure that it remains mired in litigation.

Oracle Corp. has reached a settlement with patent-holding company Round Rock Research in a Texas patent infringement suit. The company also negotiated a licensing agreement as part of the settlement.