New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Complex Lit Blog

(1) Experts: 701 vs. 702 Testimony — Business Owner/Officer May Offer Lay Opinion of Value or Future Profits Based on Particularized Knowledge Derived from Position And Straightforward, Common Sense Calculations — (2) CFO’s Testimony Based on Previous Professional Experience Creating Budget Forecasts and Utilizing Complex, Sophisticated Formulas Improperly Admitted Under 701, Constituted 702 Testimony — (3) Contract Interpretation: A Broad Heading Cannot Override the Specific Language of a Particular Clause — (4) If Appellant Does Not Challenge Trial Court’s Alternate Ground for Its Ruling, Appellate Court May Affirm

Lambland, Inc. v. Heartland Biogas, LLC, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 25502 (10th Cir. Sept. 27, 2023) (unpublished) ORDER AND JUDGMENT* At its most b ...
Lambland, Inc. v. Heartland Biogas, LLC, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 25502 (10th Cir. Sept. 27, 2023) (unpublished) ORDER AND JUDGMENT* At its most basic level, this case involves a breach of contract and the resulting damages. But to determine…
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Contract Formation Online — When Is A Customer Bound by Unread/Unclicked-On Terms And Conditions? — 2-Part Test: Inquiry Notice & Unambiguous Manifestation of Consent — What Is A “Reasonably Prudent” Internet User? — When Is That Person on Inquiry Notice? — What Constitutes An Unambiguous Manifestation of Consent?

Edmundson v. Klarna, Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 29285 (2d Cir. Nov. 3, 2023): Defendant-appellant Klarna, Inc. ("Klarna") provides a "buy now, pay later" service that allows shoppers to buy a product and pay for it in four equal installments over t ...
Edmundson v. Klarna, Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 29285 (2d Cir. Nov. 3, 2023): Defendant-appellant Klarna, Inc. (“Klarna”) provides a “buy now, pay later” service that allows shoppers to buy a product and pay for it in four equal installments…
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Federal Court of Appeals Is Bound by Decisions of State Intermediate Appellate Courts Absent Persuasive Evidence The State’s Highest Court Would Reach a Different Decision

Sanchez v. Clipper Realty, Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 29283 (2d Cir. Nov. 3, 2023) (unpublished): "We are bound, as was the district court, to apply the law as interpreted by New York's intermediate appellate courts . . . unless we find persuasive ...
Sanchez v. Clipper Realty, Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 29283 (2d Cir. Nov. 3, 2023) (unpublished): “We are bound, as was the district court, to apply the law as interpreted by New York’s intermediate appellate courts . . . unless…
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Rule 37 Sanctions – Default Judgment: (1) 4-Factor Test for Litigation-Ending Sanctions for Discovery Abuse (Fifth Circuit); (2) Deletion and Manipulation of Source Code As Spoliation; (3) Detailed Consideration of Lesser Sanctions Excused Where It Is Clear Lesser Sanctions Would Have Been Futile—Especially Where the Misconduct Was Egregious And Repeated, And There Has Been A Warning; (4) Giving A Second Or Third Chance Before Imposing Litigation-Ending Sanctions Itself Amounts to a Lesser Sanction; (5) A Default Judgment Is Sometimes The Only Practicable Solution; (6) Where Party Appealing Denial of Rule 60(b) Motion for Reconsideration Failed to Object to the R&R Adopted by the District Court, Appellate Review Is for Plain Error Only

Calsep A/S v. Dabral, 84 F.4th 304 (5th Cir. 2023): One company, alleging that another company stole the code for its software product, filed a lawsuit. During discovery, the alleged thief destroyed electronic evidence. That was a violation of several court orders and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. So, the district court sanctioned the spoliator by entering a default judg ...
Calsep A/S v. Dabral, 84 F.4th 304 (5th Cir. 2023): One company, alleging that another company stole the code for its software product, filed a lawsuit. During discovery, the alleged thief destroyed electronic evidence. That was a violation of several…
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Section 1927 Sanctions: (1) While Review Is Generally Abuse-of-Discretion, It Is De Novo When Exercise of Discretion Depends on a Purely Legal Issue; (2) 4. Survival on Rule 56 and 52 Motions On The Same Grounds Used Later To Sanction Plaintiffs’ Counsel Shows That They Didn’t Pursue Their Claims Recklessly; (3) Absent a Misrepresentation to the Court, Parties May Rely on Success in Rule 56 and 52 Motions As Indicators That Their Claims Were Objectively Reasonable and Suitable for Trial, Although Court Notes That Survival on Rule 52 and 56 Motions Doesn’t Automatically Preclude § 1927 Sanctions; Court Cannot Impose § 1927 Sanctions For Failing To Sustain Burden Of Proof Where Court Accepted That Quantum Of Evidence As Sufficient On Summary Judgment; Survival on Daubert Motion Precludes § 1927 Sanctions for Continued Reliance on Expert to Proceed to Trial

Obeslo v. Empower Capital Mgmt., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 28812 (10th Cir. Oct. 31, 2023):
Obeslo v. Empower Capital Mgmt., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 28812 (10th Cir. Oct. 31, 2023): *1 Two law firms that represented Plaintiffs in this litigation, Schlichter Bogard & Denton LLP (“SBD”) and Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP (“SWCK”), appeal the…
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Inherent Power Sanctions: (1) Court May Enter Dismissal on the Merits Even If It Lacks Subject Matter Jurisdiction — (2) Bad Faith or Willful Abuse of Judicial process Required in Fifth Circuit — (3) Opposing Party Need Not Be Prejudiced — (4) All Aspects of Inherent Power Sanctions Award, Including Invocation of Power, Reviewed for Abuse of Discretion — (5) District Court Must Sufficiently Articulate Reasons for Sanctions Award

Ben. E. Keith Co. v. Dining All., Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 24114 (5th Cir. Sept. 12, 2023) < ...
Ben. E. Keith Co. v. Dining All., Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 24114 (5th Cir. Sept. 12, 2023) Opinion *1 Although modern business entities may organize in complex ways unknown in the past, the criteria for diversity of citizenship jurisdiction…
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Inherent Power Sanctions — (1) Deeming Facts Admitted for Violations of Discovery Orders by Corporate Defendants, Leading to Entry of Judgment Against Them and Associated Individual Defendant — (2) May Issue Both Case-Terminating and Financial Sanctions for Same Discovery Misconduct (Concealing Financial Information) — 9th Circuit Factors for Terminating Sanctions

URS Holdings, Inc. v. Topolewski, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 24660, 2023 WL 6058825 (9th Cir. Sept. 18, 202 ...
URS Holdings, Inc. v. Topolewski, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 24660, 2023 WL 6058825 (9th Cir. Sept. 18, 2023) (unpublished): MEMORANDUM* *1 Defendant Gary Topolewski and Defendants Morrison Knudsen Corporation, Morrison-Knudsen Company, Inc., Morrison-Knudsen Services, Inc., and Morrison-Knudsen International…
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Rule 37 Sanctions: Second Circuit Factors for Entry of a Default Judgment for Discovery Abuse — Meaning of “Possession, Custody Or Control” under Rule 34

Mirlis v. Greer, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 22938 (2d Cir. Aug. 30, 2023): *1 Defen ...
Mirlis v. Greer, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 22938 (2d Cir. Aug. 30, 2023): *1 Defendant-Appellant Sarah Greer appeals the district court’s judgment awarding damages to Plaintiff-Appellee Eliyahu Mirlis to recover funds Greer received as the result of an alleged fraudulent…
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Bankruptcy Court Has Inherent Authority to Impose Substantial Compensatory and Coercive Civil Contempt Sanctions — Burden of Proof/Factors for Civil Contempt

Worms v. Rozhkov (In re Markus), 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 22989 (2d Cir. Aug. 30, 2023): ...
Worms v. Rozhkov (In re Markus), 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 22989 (2d Cir. Aug. 30, 2023): *1 In this case, appellant Victor A. Worms, an attorney, represented the debtor Larisa Ivanovna Markus in proceedings before the United States Bankruptcy Court…
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Even If Statutory Basis for Injunction Is Later Withdrawn by Supreme Court, That Does Not Excuse Contempt, Which The District Court Has Inherent Power to Sanction (Here, By a $40 Million Fine)

FTC v. Nat'l Urological Grp., Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 22823 (11th Cir. Aug. 29, 2023): Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Jared Wheat, and Stephen Smith appeal the district court's denial of their request for relief from contempt sanctions. Nearly t ...
FTC v. Nat’l Urological Grp., Inc., 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 22823 (11th Cir. Aug. 29, 2023): Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Jared Wheat, and Stephen Smith appeal the district court’s denial of their request for relief from contempt sanctions. Nearly twenty years…
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Recent Posts

Rule 41(b): Five Factors to Be Weighed in Deciding Whether Dismissal Is Appropriate (Second Circuit) — Is A Finding of Bad Faith or Fault Required if Dismissal Is Without Prejudice? — Undecided If Truly Without Prejudice But It Is Required If the Without Prejudice Dismissal Will Act as a Dismissal on the Merits (Here, Because of the Statute of Limitations) — Failure To Consider A Lesser Sanction Than Dismissal Is Generally An Abuse Of Discretion

Spoliation Sanctions/Mootness: Stipulation Resolving “All Pending Discovery Disputes,” Which Are Enumerated, Does Not Moot Subsequent Sanctions Motion for ESI Spoliation — Postjudgment Sanctions Order Is Appealable When District Court Has Finally Disposed of Both Liability and Amount

Rule 37 Default Judgment Sanction: (1) Default Judgment Appropriate Only As a Last Resort, When Less Drastic Sanctions Would Not Ensure Compliance with the Court’s Orders — (2) Default Judgment Sanction Requires Willful or Bad Faith Failure to Obey Discovery Order — (3) Fugitive Defendant’s Failure to Appear at Court-Ordered, Remote Deposition Despite Court Warning That Sanctions Could Follow Disobedience Warrants Default Judgment — (4) District Court Afforded Wide Discretion in Interpreting Its Own Orders — (5) Filing a Notice of Appeal from a Non-Appealable Order (Here, a Discovery Order) Does Not Deprive the District Court of Jurisdiction over the Case

RICO and Injunctions: (1) State Court Actions Designed to Perpetuate and Monetize a RICO Violation Are Enjoinable under RICO, Even Though They Are Not Themselves Alleged to Be Predicate Acts [Note: Noerr Pennington Applies in RICO Actions] — (2) Although Civil RICO’s Text and Legislative History Fail to Reveal Any Intent to Override the Provisions of the Federal Arbitration Act, Arbitrations Are Enjoinable Under the “Effective Vindication” Doctrine Where They Operate As a Prospective Waiver of a Party’s Right to Pursue Statutory RICO Remedies — (3) Arbitration Findings May Be Given Collateral Estoppel Effect in a Civil RICO Action — (4) Injunction of Non-Corrupt State Court Litigations That Furthers a RICO Violation Are Enjoinable Under the Anti-Injunction Act’s “Expressly Authorized” Exception — (5) “The Irreparable Harm Requirement Is The Single Most Important Prerequisite For The Issuance Of A Preliminary Injunction” (Good Quote) — (6) When Injunction Is Based on “Serious Questions on the Merits” Rather Than “Likelihood of Success,” Court May Rely on Unverified Pleadings and Attached Exhibits to Assess the Merits, Unless the Opponent Has Raised Substantial Questions (Here, the Opponent Failed to Request an Evidentiary Hearing) — (7) Whether Amended Pleading Moots An Appeal Turns on Whether It Materially Changes the Substantive Basis for the Appeal — (8) Meaning of “In That” (“Used To Introduce A Statement That Explains Or Gives More Specific Information” About A Prior Statement)

RICO: Fraudulent Concealment Must Prevent Discovery of the Injury to Toll Statute of Limitations

Rule 37 Default Judgment Sanction: (1) Abuse of Discretion Review = Legal Conclusions De Novo. Factual Findings for Clear Error — (2) Client May Be Sanctioned for Misconduct of Its Counsel, Though Here Client Was Directly Involved in Bad Faith Misbehavior — (3) Is There A Difference, Under Rule 11 As Opposed to Rule 37, Concerning Whether A Client Can Be Sanctioned for Its Counsel’s Misconduct? — (4) While Sanctions of Last Resort (Dismissal/Default) Are Apt Only If Lesser Sanctions Wouldn’t Ensure Compliance, Rule 37 Doesn’t Require the Vain Gesture of First Imposing Lessert Sanctions When It Is Clear They Would be Ineffective — (5) Court’s Reconsideration of Non-Final Orders Is Governed by Rule 54(b), And Court’s Discretion under That Rule Is Governed by the Law-of-the-Case-Doctrine

RICO: (1) Special Pleading Requirements? — (2) Although Enterprise Must Be More Than a Summation of the Predicate Acts, The Predicate Acts Can Demonstrate the Existence of the Enterprise — (3) Requirement That Association-in-Fact Exist For Purposes Other Than Just to Commit Predicate Acts Merely Requires Continuity — (4) To State an Association-in-Fact Enterprise Consisting of One Natural Person and Collection of Legal Fictions Requires Factual Detail As to How They Acted Together — (5) “A § 1962(c) Enterprise Must Be More Than An Association of Individuals Or Entities Conducting the Normal Affairs of a Defendant Corporation” (Good Quote)

RICO: (1) Fee Award May Exceed Amount Recovered — Strict Proportionality Not Required — (2) Nonmonetary Benefits and Injunctive Relief Recovered Also Relevant Factors — (3) Loss on Some Claims Need Not Result in Lowered Fees, Especially When Both Arise Out of The Same Nucleus of Operative Facts

RICO: Indirect Purchasers (Car Buyers/Renters) Lack Standing to Sue Manufacturers for RICO Violations Even Though Intermediaries (Auto Dealer Direct Purchasers) Lack Any Damages

RICO: Statutory Requirement that RICO Be Liberally Construed Does Not Establish a More Liberal Pleading Standard for RICO Claims — “To Be Sure, Adequately Pleading a RICO Claim Can Be Challenging” (Good Quote) — Court May Dismiss Action Pursuant to Rule 41(b) Absent A Motion

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New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.
New York Attorneys JHA handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation and arbitration, including securities, RICO, corporate and contract disputes, credit default swaps, derivatives, and class, mass, and derivative actions. The firm also represents law firms in major disputes.

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