Litigation

Features

Federal bankruptcy courts have been unavailable to marijuana businesses due to the Schedule I status of marijuana. The United States Trustee's policy is to move to dismiss or object in each case involving marijuana assets, because they cannot be administered under the Bankruptcy Code.

Features

The commercial real estate industry is having little trouble shrugging off today's challenging economic situations and its optimism is brewing with recent pandemic restrictions being lifted, according to a state of the market survey from DLA Piper.

Columns & Departments

"Artistic Relevance" Test Applied to NFTs Vape Musical Found to Be Copyright Fair-Use Parody of Grease

Columns & Departments

COVID-19 Does Not Trigger Frustration of Purpose or Impossibility Defenses Tenant Entitled to Actual Damages for Landlord Breach, But Not to Suspension Payment COVID-19 Does Not Excuse Failure to Pay Rent

Columns & Departments

Federal Circuit: Agreement Between Patent Owner and Third Party Was Not Insulated from The On-Sale Bar

Features

The 1971 agreement between Universal City Studios and creators of the TV series Columbo permitted Universal to be a distributor of Columbo "photoplays." But the contract parties failed to include "just one more thing" when negotiating their 17-page memo deal and two-page rider: a definition of the key term "photoplays."

Features

During the 2017 to 2019 baseball seasons, allegations were made that individual baseball clubs were engaged in electronic "sign stealing." Shortly after this activity was acknowledged by Major League Baseball's Commissioner, a class action suit was filed, alleging that MLB made actionable misrepresentations that had an impact on the fantasy baseball games.

Features

Landlords initially renting up new RPTL 421-a buildings routinely give incoming rent-stabilized tenants rent concessions to account for the fact that construction may be ongoing, and that there may still be punch list items in the apartments. This seemingly innocuous practice, however, has led to class-action litigation wherein tenants allege that rent concessions are part of a fraudulent scheme that results in massive building-wide overcharges under the Rent Stabilization Law.