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Features

Increased Scrutiny for <i>Cy Pres</i> Provisions in Class Action Settlements Image

Increased Scrutiny for <i>Cy Pres</i> Provisions in Class Action Settlements

Joshua L. Becker & Brad M. Strickland

Lawsuits against pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers often come in the form of class actions, and sometimes the settlement or award amount exceeds the identified class members' claim amounts. In such cases, the excess funds may be distributed to a <i>cy pres</i> recipient, but courts are starting to question such moves more thoroughly.

Features

Negotiating Key Points in Literary Agent-Author Relationships Image

Negotiating Key Points in Literary Agent-Author Relationships

Michael I. Rudell & Neil J. Rosini

Several of the same concepts that are in agreements between performing artists and managers also apply to agreements between authors and literary representatives.

Features

How Defendant's Prior Conduct Can Impact Copyright Cases Image

How Defendant's Prior Conduct Can Impact Copyright Cases

Nicholas J. Boyle & Richard A. Olderman

In the context of a copyright case, a defendant's prior bad acts and prior conduct are more useful to a plaintiff than is typical in civil litigation. In many instances, copyright infringement lawsuits are brought against defendants who have been sued before for infringement, or related misconduct, or who have been the subject of allegations or informal complaints, or who simply have experience in copyright matters.

Features

Adult Use Zoning in New York Image

Adult Use Zoning in New York

Stewart E. Sterk

New York City's 2001 ordinance regulating adult uses has been the subject of litigation for more than 15 years. In September, the Court of Appeals put an apparent end to the litigation by denying reargument of its June decision upholding the ordinance.

Features

Defamation and the Disgruntled Defendant Image

Defamation and the Disgruntled Defendant

Janice G. Inman

<b><i>Anti-SLAPP Legislation and Defamation Claims</i></b><p><b><i>Part Two of a Two-Part Article</i></b><p>After defendants have established that their allegedly defamatory statements were made in furtherance of their right of free speech or petition under the United States Constitution or the California Constitution in connection with a public issue, the second thing that courts must question when a defendant seeks dismissal through an anti-SLAPP motion is whether the claimant has carried his burden of establishing a probability of success on the merits of his claim.

Columns & Departments

Cooperatives & Condominiums Image

Cooperatives & Condominiums

ljnstaff

Discussion of two recent cases.

Features

Oral Appellate Arguments in 'Blurred Lines' Copyright Case Image

Oral Appellate Arguments in 'Blurred Lines' Copyright Case

Scott Graham

Lawyers for Marvin Gaye's heirs and recording artists Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke were singing past each other in court in October. But it wasn't clear which side was making the most headway with the appellate court.

Columns & Departments

Case Notes Image

Case Notes

ljnstaff

The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding whether to consider the case of Southern Baptist Hospital of Florida v. Charles, which pits a plaintiff against a hospital in the ongoing battle over which documents are privileged as adverse event records for the improvement of quality of care, and which must be turned over to aggrieved patients and their families.

Features

New-Wave Legal Challenges for Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies Image

New-Wave Legal Challenges for Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies

Robert J. Anello & Christina Lee

As the adoption of cryptocurrencies spreads throughout the business and financial sectors, so too do the concerns that lack of regulation render the new-age currency susceptible to fraud, manipulation, and to being used as a vehicle for money laundering. Nevertheless, recent efforts by U.S. enforcement agencies to apply and enforce financial regulations mean greater scrutiny than ever before.

Features

The New Patent Venue Regime Image

The New Patent Venue Regime

Conor Tucker

Venue in patent cases lies "in the judicial district where the defendant resides, or where the defendant has committed acts of infringement and has a regular and established place of business." Since 1990, the Federal Circuit interpreted the term "resides" coextensively with the general venue statute such that patent venue lay where the defendant was subject to personal jurisdiction. But this year, the Supreme Court greatly narrowed that definition in <i>TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods</i>. The Federal Circuit, in turn, interpreted the newly-relevant alternative phrase. After two decades of relaxed patent venue rules, these decisions work a seismic shift in patent litigation.

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