Complex Lit Blog

Joint Defense/Common Interest Privilege: Direct Communications among Clients Unprivileged unless Purpose Is to Solicit or Communicate Legal Advice — One Client’s Reporting His or Her Research to Another Not Protected

United States v. Krug, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 15643 (2d Cir. Aug. 18, 2017): Appeal from the December 10, 2016 order of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York (Skretny, J.) precluding the government from introducing at trial certain testimony by a co-defendant turned government witness on the basi ...

Rule 68 vs. Sanctions: While Unaccepted Offer of Full Judgment under Either R. 67 or 68 Does Not Moot a Claim, Refusal to Accept the Offer May Be Sanctionable under § 1927, the Inherent Power or Even Rule 11

Conrad v. Boiron, Inc., 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 16180 (7th Cir. Aug. 24, 2017): Chad Conrad filed a class action against Boiron for deceptive marketing, but he was left with only his individual claim after the district court refused to certify his proposed class. About a year later Boiron offered Conrad $5,025, more than he coul ...

Conrad v. Boiron, Inc., 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 16180 (7th Cir. Aug. 24, 2017): Chad Conrad filed a class action against Boiron for deceptive marketing, but he was left with only his individual claim after the district court refused to …

Disqualification in Federal Court Is Decided under Ethics Rules of State in Which Court Sits (Rule 1.9), Not under a Federal Standard — What Is “Substantially Related” — Implications of Passage of Time — Court May Rely on Commentary to Rules

Watkins v. Trans Union, LLC, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 16016 (7th Cir. Aug. 22, 2017): Plaintiff Richard Watkins has sued Trans Union for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The merits of his claims are not the subject of this appeal. The issue here is whether attorney John Cento should be disqualified from representing Watkin ...

Watkins v. Trans Union, LLC, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 16016 (7th Cir. Aug. 22, 2017): Plaintiff Richard Watkins has sued Trans Union for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The merits of his claims are not the subject of this …

RICO “Nexus” Element — Needed Relationship among Defendant, D’s Involvement in Enterprise’s Affairs and Pattern — Same in Civil, Criminal Cases — Racketeering Must Be One Means by Which Defendant Participates in Enterprise’s Affairs

United States v. Ferriero, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 14358 (3d Cir. Aug. 4, 2017): Joseph A. Ferriero appeals his judgments of conviction, forfeiture, and sentence based on violations of the Travel Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1952, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act ("RICO"), id. § 1962(c), and the federal wire fraud s ...

Discovery Misconduct Warranting Adverse Inference That Leads to Dismissal Does Not Require the Willfulness or Bad Faith That Is Required for Discovery Misconduct Directly Warranting Dismissal (Fed. Cir. Applying 2d Cir. Law)

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Merus NV, 2017 WL 3184400 (Fed. Cir. July 27, 2017): *1 Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“Regeneron”) appeals from a final judgment of the district court holding U.S. Patent No. 8,502,018 (“’018 patent”) unenforceable because of Regeneron’s inequitable …

Arbitration: Diversity Jurisdiction over FAA Petition (to Compel) Is Determined by Reference to Parties to the Petition — Federal Question Jurisdiction Is Determined by Looking Through to See If Underlying Dispute Raises Federal Question

Hermés of Paris, Inc. v. Swain, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 15027 (2d Cir. Aug. 14, 2017): Respondent-appellant Matthew Swain appeals from a judgment of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (Colleen McMahon, Chief Judge). On appeal, Swain argues that the district court lacked subject matter jurisdi ...

RICO: Parent Company Lacks Standing to Sue for Injuries to Subs — Strict 9(b) Application to Mail, Wire Fraud — Conspiracy Claim Falls with Underlying Substantive Violation

Am. Biocare Inc. v. Howard & Howard Attys. PLLC, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 15776 (6th Cir. Aug. 17, 2017): The plaintiff companies allege that the defendants [*2] and other non-parties to the suit engaged in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations ("RICO") Act enterprise that "looted" the pla ...

Am. Biocare Inc. v. Howard & Howard Attys. PLLC, 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 15776 (6th Cir. Aug. 17, 2017): The plaintiff companies allege that the defendants [*2] and other non-parties to the suit engaged in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt…

Twitter & Facebook Authentication: Circumstantial Evidence — Selfies, Corroboration of Contents (Rival Gangs, Animus), Community Awareness, Use of Phone to Log in — Rule 403: Prejudice Unfair If to Elicit Bias, Sympathy, Hatred, Contempt, Retribution

Stat v. Alias, 2017 WL 3575871 (Tenn. Ct. Crim. App. Aug. 18, 2017): *1 This case arose after a shooting occurred at Walter P. Taylor Homes apartment complex (Walter P.) on October 3, 2014, resulting in the death of the victim, Dominique Johnson. Devonte Blair was sitting next to the victim on an apartment porch when ...

CAFA Local Controversy Exception: Court Is Bound by Complaint, Can’t Look to Other Evidence (Internet) — Factors for Judging If Local Defendants Can Provide “Significant Relief” or Their Conduct Is a “Significant Basis” for Suit

Christmas v. Union Pac. R.R., 2017 U.S. App. LEXIS 11724 (9th Cir. June 30, 2017): Plaintiff-Appellant Elon Christmas ("Christmas") filed a class action complaint in the Superior Court of California on February 5, 2015 alleging that Defendant Union Pacific Railroad ("Union Pacific") required certain employees to wo ...

RICO—Is Any Act of Criminal Copyright Infringement a Predicate Or Only Egregious Ones?—Enterprise: Affiliated Corps: Need “Something More”? (2 Case Law Splits)—Conspiracy: Agreement Inferable—Pattern Extends Thru Era of Violations

Synopsys, Inc. v. Ubiquiti Networks, Inc., 2017 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 130070 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 15, 2017): This case stems from the purported interest of defendants Ubiquiti Network Inc., UNIL, and Ching-Han Tsai to review and evaluate for licensing plaintiff Snyopsys, Inc.'s high-value [*2] semiconductor electronic design a ...

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Joint Defense/Common Interest Privilege: Direct Communications among Clients Unprivileged unless Purpose Is to Solicit or Communicate Legal Advice — One Client’s Reporting His or Her Research to Another Not Protected

Rule 68 vs. Sanctions: While Unaccepted Offer of Full Judgment under Either R. 67 or 68 Does Not Moot a Claim, Refusal to Accept the Offer May Be Sanctionable under § 1927, the Inherent Power or Even Rule 11

Disqualification in Federal Court Is Decided under Ethics Rules of State in Which Court Sits (Rule 1.9), Not under a Federal Standard — What Is “Substantially Related” — Implications of Passage of Time — Court May Rely on Commentary to Rules

RICO “Nexus” Element — Needed Relationship among Defendant, D’s Involvement in Enterprise’s Affairs and Pattern — Same in Civil, Criminal Cases — Racketeering Must Be One Means by Which Defendant Participates in Enterprise’s Affairs

Discovery Misconduct Warranting Adverse Inference That Leads to Dismissal Does Not Require the Willfulness or Bad Faith That Is Required for Discovery Misconduct Directly Warranting Dismissal (Fed. Cir. Applying 2d Cir. Law)

Arbitration: Diversity Jurisdiction over FAA Petition (to Compel) Is Determined by Reference to Parties to the Petition — Federal Question Jurisdiction Is Determined by Looking Through to See If Underlying Dispute Raises Federal Question

RICO: Parent Company Lacks Standing to Sue for Injuries to Subs — Strict 9(b) Application to Mail, Wire Fraud — Conspiracy Claim Falls with Underlying Substantive Violation

Twitter & Facebook Authentication: Circumstantial Evidence — Selfies, Corroboration of Contents (Rival Gangs, Animus), Community Awareness, Use of Phone to Log in — Rule 403: Prejudice Unfair If to Elicit Bias, Sympathy, Hatred, Contempt, Retribution

CAFA Local Controversy Exception: Court Is Bound by Complaint, Can’t Look to Other Evidence (Internet) — Factors for Judging If Local Defendants Can Provide “Significant Relief” or Their Conduct Is a “Significant Basis” for Suit

RICO—Is Any Act of Criminal Copyright Infringement a Predicate Or Only Egregious Ones?—Enterprise: Affiliated Corps: Need “Something More”? (2 Case Law Splits)—Conspiracy: Agreement Inferable—Pattern Extends Thru Era of Violations

Recent Posts

Statements in Briefs As Judicial Admissions

Supreme Court: TRO As Appealable Order — And District Court Inaction As Tantamount to Refusing An Injunction And Thus Appealable

“Slow-Playing Discovery” in Response to Court Order, Prejudicing Opponent, Violates Rule 37(b)(2)(A)

RICO: Mail and Wire Fraud: Act of Emailing Transcript of Court Proceedings Containing Allegedly False Statements Made in Court ≠ Wire Fraud — Mailing (Serving on Opposing Party) Declarations Allegedly Containing False Statements ≠ Mail Fraud

FRAP 38 Sanctions — Sixth Circuit Usually Declines to Impose FRAP 38 Sanctions Unless An Improper Purpose Was Behind the Appeal

FRAP 38: Permissible for Appeals Court to Affirm Sanctions But Deny FRAP 38 Sanctions for Appeal — A Defendant’s Voluntary Cessation of Complained of Behavior Does Not Moot a Case Unless It Is Clear That The Behavior Could Not Reasonably Be Expected to Recur

Archives

New York Office