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

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 LEXIS 29283 (2d Cir. Nov. 3, 2023) (unpublished): "We are bound, as was the district court, to apply the law as interpreted by New York's intermediate appellate courts .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 LEXIS 29283 (2d Cir. Nov. 3, 2023) (unpublished): “We are bound, as was the district court, to apply the law as interpreted by New York’s intermediate appellate courts .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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Rule 11 Sanctions — Fees Incurred Because of the Violation, Including Fees Incurred in Bringing the Sanctions Motion, Are Recoverable Even If They Are Covered by Insurance — Res Judicata vs Claim-Splitting (The Rule Against Duplicative Litigation): Unlike Res Judicata, Which Requires A Final Judgment, The Rule Against Duplicative Litigation Permits Dismissal of a Duplicative Action While the First Case Remains Pending — A Judicial Determination That A Proposed Amendment to A Complaint Would Be Futile Operates As A Ruling on The Merits

Kezhaya v. City of Belle Plaine, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 22431 (8th Cir. Aug. 25, 2023) * ...
Kezhaya v. City of Belle Plaine, 2023 U.S. App. LEXIS 22431 (8th Cir. Aug. 25, 2023) *1 Attorney Matthew Kezhaya appeals an order of the district court* sanctioning him and his co-counsel under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11…
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12(b)(6): To What Extent May A Court Consider An Expert Report Or Affidavit Annexed To A Complaint In Deciding A Dismissal Motion?

Alix v. McKinsey & Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 145872, at *82-83, 2023 WL 5344892, at *27 (SDNY Aug. 18, 2023): *** Finally, [Defendant] McKinsey contends that a joint declaration from three bankruptcy professionals that Alix appended to ...
Alix v. McKinsey & Co., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 145872, at *82-83, 2023 WL 5344892, at *27 (SDNY Aug. 18, 2023): *** Finally, [Defendant] McKinsey contends that a joint declaration from three bankruptcy professionals that Alix appended to the…
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Recent Posts

Experts: “Normally, Courts Are Loath to Outright Dismiss An Expert” (Good Quote) — Experts Are Unhelpful If They Misstate the Law [Note Premise That Testimony on Law Not Precluded Outright] — Rule 37 Sanctions Unwarranted for Unjustifiable Failure to Produce Relevant Document Already in Requester’s Possession

FRAP 38 Sanctions: (1) Pressing Objectively Frivolous Arguments, Multiple Misstatements at Oral Argument and Failure to Address What District Judge Said Warrant Award against Appellants’ Counsel (Only) — (2) “General Award” of $5,000 Warranted Where Appellee Failed to Sufficiently Document Its Fees and Expenses [Goodyear v. Haegar Issue]]

RICO: Capital Call Investment Process Increasing Equity of Those Responding to Call at Expense of Those Not Responding ≠ Collection of An Unlawful Debt

RICO [And Constitutional] Standing: Concrete Injury Requirement Not Satisfied by Alleged Intangible Injuries of Intrusion Upon Seclusion, Confusion And Emotional Distress, Public Disclosure of Private Facts, Deterred Speech On Nondefamatory Matters, Violation Of First Amendment Rights, And Compulsion

Rule 37(b) Sanctions: Striking of Answer, Default Judgment, Civil Contempt and Piercing Corporate Veil for Deliberate Disregard of Multiple Orders to Produce — Finding of Deliberate Disregard of Court Order Is Factual, Triggering Clear Error Review — Discretion Narrows When Default Sanction Involved — Fourth Circuit Factors for Rule 37 Default Sanction Are Different Than Those for Inherent Power Dismissal Sanction — Continued Defiance of Court Orders And Millions in Unpaid Judgments And Tax Liens Render Lesser Sanctions Futile

RICO: No Causation for Company Harmed by Governmental Customers Shunning It After Employee Publishes Book Admitting He Bribed Governmental Officials — Harm Too Indirect, Not from Bribery (Predicate Act) But from Customers’ Decisions to Shun and Publication of Book (Both Lawful) — Customers Injured by Bribery of Their Officials Are More Direct Plaintiffs

FRAP 38 Sanctions for Frivolous Opposition to Arbitration

Extrinsic Fraud Exception to Rooker-Feldman — Where Defendants’ Perjury, False Evidence, Flawed Legal Arguments Prevented Plaintiffs from Presenting Their Claim in State Court

Federal Jurisdiction: Party Can Waive Subject Matter Jurisdiction — While Federal Courts Must Ensure They Do Not Lack Subject Matter Jurisdiction, There Is No Duty to Find and Exercise It

“RICO Is a Judge’s Nightmare” — “The Requisite RICO Pleading Standards Are Far From Explicit, And The RICO Jurisprudence Offers Courts (And Plaintiffs) Little Guidance” (Good Quotes) — Common Elements of § 1962(a), (c) and (d)-Based Claims — Closed-End Continuity: Duration > 1 Year = Substantial Period of Time — Continuity: Courts Skeptical If Number of Victims and Schemes Is Limited — Untargeted Persons Who Suffer Derivative Injury Do Not Add to the Number of Victims Considered for Continuity Purposes — Open Ended Continuity Can Be Established by Showing Defendant Commits Predicate Acts As “Regular Way of Doing Business” — Citing the Existence of Other Lawsuits Alleging Similar Predicates ≠ Pleading Facts Demonstrating Defendant’s Commission of Similar Predicates Against Others

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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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