Complex Lit Blog

Class Actions — 7th Circuit Adopts Strict Scrutiny of Disclosure-Only Settlements — Good Posner Quotes (To Be told “The Board Considered a ‘Number of Factors’ Was to Be Told Nothing”) — Disqualification of Plaintiff’s Counsel Suggested

In re Walgreen Co. Stockholder Litig. (Hays v. Walgreen Co.), 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 14684 (7th Cir. Aug. 10, 2016) (2-1 decision; dissent forthcoming):In merger litigation the terms "strike suit" and "deal litigation" refer disapprovingly to cases in which [*2] a large public company announces an agreement that requires share ...

In re Walgreen Co. Stockholder Litig. (Hays v. Walgreen Co.), 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 14684 (7th Cir. Aug. 10, 2016) (2-1 decision; dissent forthcoming):In merger litigation the terms "strike suit" and "deal litigation" refer disapprovingly to cases in which …

Attorney-Client Privilege — Common Interest Doctrine — A “Shared Desire to See the Same Outcome … Is Insufficient” (Good Quote)

Brown v. Bank of America, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 15190 (9th Cir. Aug. 18, 2016): * This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by Ninth Circuit Rule 36-3. Larry Brown appeals the district court's dismissal of his case for lack of standing, and the ...

Facebook Authentication: 3d Cir. Adopts Circumstantial Approach — Chats Not Self-Authenticated by 902(11) Certificate (Circuit Split) Except to Prove Chats Took Place — Hearsay: Party’s Chat = Admission & Other Side’s Words OK for Context

United States v. Browne, 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 15668 (3d Cir. Aug. 25, 2016): The advent of social media has presented the courts with new challenges in the prosecution of criminal offenses, including in the way data is authenticated under the Federal Rules of Evidence--a prerequisite to admissibility at trial. Appellant Tony J ...

Prejudgment Interest Can’t Be Denied on the Ground That the Verdict Is Generous Enough — That Gives Windfall to Defendant: An Interest-Free Loan — Difficulty in Calculating Is Not A Basis to Deny

Leonard v. Stemtech Int’l Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 15565 (3d Cir. Aug. 24, 2016): Andrew Leonard, a stem cell photographer, and Stemtech International, Inc., a company that sells nutritional supplements through independent distributors, cross appeal various rulings in the copyright infringement lawsuit Leonard brought against Stem ...

Voicemail Authentication: Self-Identification + Request to Return Call to Home Number of Self-Identifier + Contents of Message = Sufficient Circumstantial Authentication

Goodrich v. Director, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 111633 (E.D. Tex. July 21, 2016): Petitioner Joseph Glenn Goodrich, an inmate confined within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division, proceeding pro se, filed this petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The abov ...

Evidence: How Does Rule 403 Apply to Propensity Evidence Allowed by Rules 413 and 414? — Circuit Split

Pilati v. United States, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 99541 (N.D. Ala. Mar. 23, 2016): A court cannot admit evidence of a person's character or traits in order to "prove that on a particular occasion the person acted in accordance with the character or trait." Fed. R. Evid. 404(a)(1), (b)(1). However, Rule ...

Class Actions — Claims-Made Settlement: Is Benefit to Class the Amount Claimed or Amount Available to Be Claimed? — Circuit Split — Consumer Settlement with Clear Sailing & Kicker Clauses, and Fees Exceeding Amount Claimed, Upheld

Gascho v. Global Fitness Holdings, LLC, 822 F.3d 269 (6th Cir. 2016) (2-1 decision): **1 This case involves challenges to the settlement of a consumer class action. Amber Gascho and other Plaintiffs (collectively, “Plaintiffs”) sued Global Fitness Holdings, LLC alleging that between 2006 and 2012 Global sold gym m ...

RICO Complaint Must Allege Crimes — Civil RICO Conspiracy Can’t Be Based on Negligence — Res Judicata Bars RICO Claim Based on Same Nucleus as Prior Non-RICO Case — Federal Res Judicata Law Applies in Fed. Question Cases (State Law If Diversity)

Snow Ingredients, Inc. v. Snowizard, Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 14977 (5th Cir. Aug. 15, 2016): As the seasons turn from spring to summer in New Orleans, locals know to expect familiar changes. The days get longer. The temperature rises. And in the humid warmth of summer, long lines grow outside the most popular sno-ball shops. The pa ...

Judicial Notice — Federal Court May Take Judicial Notice of Papers Filed in State Court

Wilson v. Cnty. of Contra Costa, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108246 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 14, 2015): As to the Due Process Claims, Defendants challenge these claims on the merits but also ask the Court, as an alternative to dismissal of these claims, to stay proceedings under the Colorado River doctrine pending the resolution of ...

Wilson v. Cnty. of Contra Costa, 2015 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 108246 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 14, 2015): As to the Due Process Claims, Defendants challenge these claims on the merits but also ask the Court, as an alternative to dismissal of …

Appealability — Denial of Summary Judgment Is Generally Interlocutory, Subsumed by Verdict, Unappealable — But a “Controversial Exception” Exists for “Purely Legal Issues” (Circuit Split)

Empress Casino Joliet Corp. v. Balmoral Racing Club, Inc., 2016 U.S. App. LEXIS 14057 (7th Cir. Aug. 2, 2016): A. Facilitating a RICO Enterprise The racetracks did not properly preserve for appeal their argument that the evidence did not support a finding that the racetracks agreed to facilitate the Blagojevich rackete ...

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Class Actions — 7th Circuit Adopts Strict Scrutiny of Disclosure-Only Settlements — Good Posner Quotes (To Be told “The Board Considered a ‘Number of Factors’ Was to Be Told Nothing”) — Disqualification of Plaintiff’s Counsel Suggested

Attorney-Client Privilege — Common Interest Doctrine — A “Shared Desire to See the Same Outcome … Is Insufficient” (Good Quote)

Facebook Authentication: 3d Cir. Adopts Circumstantial Approach — Chats Not Self-Authenticated by 902(11) Certificate (Circuit Split) Except to Prove Chats Took Place — Hearsay: Party’s Chat = Admission & Other Side’s Words OK for Context

Prejudgment Interest Can’t Be Denied on the Ground That the Verdict Is Generous Enough — That Gives Windfall to Defendant: An Interest-Free Loan — Difficulty in Calculating Is Not A Basis to Deny

Voicemail Authentication: Self-Identification + Request to Return Call to Home Number of Self-Identifier + Contents of Message = Sufficient Circumstantial Authentication

Evidence: How Does Rule 403 Apply to Propensity Evidence Allowed by Rules 413 and 414? — Circuit Split

Class Actions — Claims-Made Settlement: Is Benefit to Class the Amount Claimed or Amount Available to Be Claimed? — Circuit Split — Consumer Settlement with Clear Sailing & Kicker Clauses, and Fees Exceeding Amount Claimed, Upheld

RICO Complaint Must Allege Crimes — Civil RICO Conspiracy Can’t Be Based on Negligence — Res Judicata Bars RICO Claim Based on Same Nucleus as Prior Non-RICO Case — Federal Res Judicata Law Applies in Fed. Question Cases (State Law If Diversity)

Judicial Notice — Federal Court May Take Judicial Notice of Papers Filed in State Court

Appealability — Denial of Summary Judgment Is Generally Interlocutory, Subsumed by Verdict, Unappealable — But a “Controversial Exception” Exists for “Purely Legal Issues” (Circuit Split)

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

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