Business vs Business disputes, e.g., IP, fraud, contract breaches, antitrust, whistleblowers, M&A, trade secrets, poaching.

Ninth Circuit Rejects Religious Accommodation Claim in COVID Testing Case

November 17th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, Employment, HB Tort Notes, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , , , |

The Ninth Circuit has rejected a religious accommodation claim from a healthcare worker who objected to weekly COVID-19 testing, holding that the employee failed to show a bona fide religious conflict and that the employer’s masking-and-testing accommodation was reasonable. The ruling offers valuable guidance for employers navigating post-pandemic accommodation requests. Read the full analysis for key takeaways.

California AI Hiring Law Takes Effect, Mandating Bias Audits

November 16th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Law Firm Operations, New Featured Post for Home Page, News, Technology Law|Tags: , , , , |

California’s new AI hiring regulations take effect on October 1, 2025, requiring employers to conduct bias audits and increase transparency when using automated decision systems. With broad definitions of ADS and new FEHA liabilities, employers must prepare now to stay compliant. Read the full analysis to understand what steps your organization should take next.

Authentic Business Development for Litigators: Stop Chasing Cases and Start Building Clients with John Reed

October 16th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, ELP, New Featured Post for Home Page|Tags: , , |

What if waiting for lawsuits is the worst growth strategy a litigator can have? In this episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, host Tom Hagy speaks with John Reed, founder of Rain BDM and host of Sticky Lawyers, about how litigators can build authentic, lasting client relationships instead of chasing the next case. John shares practical insights on defining your professional brand, using emotional intelligence in business development, and adapting your natural style—especially for introverts or those navigating remote mentorship. Whether you’re a new associate or a seasoned partner, this episode offers a roadmap for making your practice more resilient, visible, and genuinely client-centered.

Subway Surfing Suit Against Meta and TikTok: Setting the Stage for Social Media Liability

September 1st, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News, Technology Law|Tags: , , , |

Social media platforms are under mounting legal pressure as courts scrutinize how algorithms amplify dangerous viral trends. In Nazario v. ByteDance Ltd., a New York judge allowed a wrongful death lawsuit against Meta and TikTok to move forward after a teen died attempting a “subway surfing” stunt allegedly promoted by their platforms. In this article, Tom Hagy examines how the decision challenges long-standing Section 230 protections and signals a shift toward treating social media as potentially defective products when design and targeting harm young users. This case—and others involving viral challenges and youth safety—may redefine platform liability for years to come.

CEO Depositions and the Apex Doctrine with Rachel Lary

August 7th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, ELP, New Featured Post for Home Page|Tags: , , , , , , |

Can a CEO be forced to sit for a deposition? In this episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, national trial lawyer Rachel M. Lary of Lightfoot, Franklin & White unpacks the Apex Doctrine—a legal standard designed to shield high-ranking executives from unnecessary depositions. Rachel explains how courts assess executive knowledge, alternative discovery options, and the growing body of case law shaping this issue across jurisdictions. A must-listen for litigators navigating discovery strategy in high-stakes cases.

From Socks to Strategy: What Zoom Focus Groups Reveal About Your Case with Elizabeth Larrick

August 7th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, ELP, Law Firm Operations, New Featured Post for Home Page|Tags: , , , , |

Trial attorney and litigation consultant Elizabeth Larrick shares what more than 1,000 virtual focus groups have taught her about trial prep, from testing case narratives to refining jury selection. In this episode of the Emerging Litigation Podcast, discover how Zoom-based sessions reveal surprising insights into witness credibility, evidence presentation, and what really resonates with jurors—yes, even their take on orange socks.

DEI Programs as a Source of Liability for Law Firms and Other Businesses

August 6th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, Employment, HB Tort Notes, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , , |

Two recent cases against international law firms point to an emerging trend in litigation that could have wide-spread implications for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The author, William "Billy" Jones examines these recent cases filed against the law firms for their DEI fellowships and the potential impacts for law firms and other private businesses.

Am I Covered For? . . . A Discussion of Insurance Coverage Issues

July 8th, 2025|Categories: CLE OnDemand, Complex Business Litigation, Corporate Compliance, Insurance|Tags: , , , , , , |

Join Steven J. Pudell and Christina Yousef of Anderson Kill and William Harrison of Gallagher for an engaging CLE webinar introducing the fundamentals of insurance coverage. This session breaks down the differences between first-party and third-party claims and provides an overview of key insurance policies—including general liability, property, D&O, E&O, employment practices, cyber, commercial crime, and product recall. Through real-world examples and practical tips, the panel will highlight common challenges policyholders face and how courts have addressed key coverage issues. Ideal for those new to insurance or looking for a comprehensive refresher.

Artificial Intelligence Litigation Roundup

July 7th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, Intellectual Property, Technology Law|Tags: , , , |

The ongoing rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping legal landscapes, with a surge in antitrust and copyright lawsuits challenging the way AI integrates into business and creative industries. Key cases target AI-driven pricing platforms like RealPage and Yardi Systems, with plaintiffs alleging these tools enable collusive price fixing and drive up costs in sectors such as real estate, healthcare, hospitality, and equipment rental by aggregating and sharing sensitive commercial data. Meanwhile, copyright battles have intensified as creators, publishers, and developers sue major tech companies—including Cohere, Stability AI, OpenAI, Meta, GitHub, Microsoft, and Google—over the unlicensed use of their works to train AI models. These lawsuits argue that using copyrighted material without consent threatens creators’ rights and business models, while defendants counter with fair use and public domain defenses. The outcomes of these pivotal cases will set crucial precedents on acceptable AI practices, copyright scope, and the use of data for training language models. As AI continues to advance, these legal battles will play a defining role in shaping the future of competition, creativity, and consumer protection across industries worldwide. Read an excerpt and click to the full story on the Mogin Law LLP website.

Federal court rejects First Amendment defense in chatbot wrongful death case

June 26th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, Technology Law|Tags: , , , , |

As generative AI tools grow more sophisticated—and more personal—the legal system is being forced to confront their potential harms. Guest contributor Justin Ward explores a chilling case against Character AI, where the mother of a teenage user is suing the company after her son took his own life. The boy had become fixated on an AI-generated version of a Game of Thrones character. In a significant ruling, a federal judge refused to dismiss the case on First Amendment grounds, challenging assumptions about whether AI output qualifies as protected speech—and raising urgent questions about AI accountability, user vulnerability, and the boundaries of tech company liability.

AI tools may be the cause of the explosion in nuclear verdicts — and also the solution

April 6th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, HB Tort Notes, Journal, New Featured Post for Home Page, News, Technology Law|Tags: , , , , |

Guest contributor Justin Ward discusses how artificial intelligence is both fueling and fighting the rise of “nuclear verdicts.” Plaintiff attorneys are using AI to identify high-damages cases, favorable jurisdictions, and winning arguments—driving a spike in verdicts over $10 million. At the same time, defense lawyers and insurers are adopting tools like NaVeL to spot high-risk cases early and craft smarter strategies. As AI reshapes legal practice, the very technology accelerating massive awards may also be the best hope for containing them.

Supreme Court to Reconsider Separate Sovereignties

April 6th, 2025|Categories: Complex Business Litigation, HB Tort Notes, Journal, Law Firm Operations, New Featured Post for Home Page, News|Tags: , , , |

The Supreme Court’s decision to review Barrett v. United States signals a potential shift in how the long-standing “separate sovereignties” exception to the Double Jeopardy Clause is applied. This article by guest contributor Bret Thurman offers a deep dive into the historical, constitutional, and practical complexities of double jeopardy, from its roots in ancient Greece to modern-day interpretations. It explores how exceptions—like implied acquittals, mistrials, and fraud—have shaped the doctrine, and raises questions about whether dual prosecutions still make sense in today’s legal landscape.

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