Litigation

Analysis of recent rulings.

Commentary on the latest cases.

Everything contained in this issue, in an easy-to-read format.

Recent rulings of interest.

On Jan. 15, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision in Stoneridge Investment Partners v. Scientific Atlanta, the case that has been called 'the most important securities law case to reach the Court this decade' and 'the securities lawyer's Roe v. Wade.' While the case had both domestic and international corporations concerned about its potential to dramatically expand the scope of 10b-5 claims in order to target third parties doing business with public companies that concern can now be laid to rest.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York recently issued a decision in In re Coudert Brothers LLP concerning the treatment of an attorney's retaining lien in the bankruptcy of a law firm. The decision does not alter the analysis that would obtain under applicable state law, and serves as an important reminder to attorneys that their liens to secure payment of amounts owed by clients and former clients depend on state law and are not enhanced in the bankruptcy setting.

A discussion of the aftermath of the recent decision, In re Northwest Airlines Corp., 483 F.3d 160 (2d Cir. 2007), in which the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held that a federal court may enjoin a strike by employees covered under the Railway Labor Act (the 'RLA') following rejection of their collective bargaining agreement.

A new generation of food-related litigation, and class action litigation in particular, has been launched.