Split Wash. High Court Affirms Meta Liability Ruling In Advertising Law Dispute
OLYMPIA, Wash. — A split Washington Supreme Court affirmed an appellate court ruling upholding judgment for the state in its suit against Meta Platforms Inc. regarding its liability for alleged violations of the Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) for failing to provide information about political advertisements on its social media platforms, finding that the law relates to the state’s interest in election transparency and is not unduly burdensome.
Medical Expert Can Testify On Standards In How Inmate Was Treated, Judge Says
CHICAGO — A federal prisoner’s medical expert, who opines that health care workers at the prison failed to take appropriate steps to address his medical concerns, can testify, an Illinois federal judge held, finding that the expert meets the admissibility standards of Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Federal Circuit Reverses Judge’s Estoppel Finding In Controller Patent Dispute
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel reversed a Washington federal judge’s finding that video game company Valve Corp. was estopped from asserting invalidity arguments in defense of infringement claims asserted against it regarding a patent describing a video game controller with extra buttons located on the back; the panel held that the judge relied on insufficient evidence and failed to account for hindsight bias.
Florida Panel: Court Erred In Ordering FIGA To Pay $10,507 To Insureds’ Attorneys
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Florida appellate court panel held that a lower court erred in mandating the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association to pay $10,507.90 to insureds’ law firm as part of a settlement between the insureds and their insolvent insurer in a Hurricane Irma coverage dispute, reversing the lower court’s decision.
9th Circuit Affirms That Murder Conviction Bars ERISA Benefits Claim
SAN FRANCISCO — Affirming a ruling that barred a woman who was convicted of murdering her husband from claiming his Employee Retirement Income Security Act benefits, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals said in an unpublished memorandum disposition that under a state “slayer” statute, “a person’s killer is not entitled to benefit from the decedent’s pension” and that “federal common law refuses to allow a person to benefit financially from a murder she has committed.”
6th Circuit Reverses Judgment For Internet Group In Social Media Monitoring Law Row
CINCINNATI — A Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel on June 18 reversed and remanded a lower court’s ruling granting summary judgment to internet trade association NetChoice LLC in its suit seeking to enjoin enforcement of an Ohio law that requires parental consent for minors under age 16 to access certain social media platforms, finding that NetChoice failed to show that the law “is facially unconstitutional.”
Panel: Exclusion Bars Coverage For Insured’s Losses Over Spear Phishing Scheme
CHICAGO — The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on June 18 affirmed a lower federal court’s dismissal of an insured’s breach of contract and declaratory judgment lawsuit seeking coverage under a financial institution bond for its $4 million in unrecovered losses arising from a spear phishing scheme, agreeing that an exclusion in the bond’s electronic mail initiated transfer fraud coverage provision applies as a bar to coverage.
Summary Judgment Denied On Exhaustion In LTD Case Due To Possible Ambiguities
NEW YORK — Concluding that possible ambiguities in an insurer’s communications kept it from showing that the plaintiff failed to exhaust her administrative remedies, a New York federal judge on June 18 denied the defendant insurer’s motion for summary judgment in a suit over terminated long-term disability (LTD) benefits.
Washington Panel Says IFCA Claim Can Proceed In Auto Accident Coverage Dispute
TACOMA, Wash. — The Division II Washington Court of Appeals affirmed a trial court’s denial of an auto insurer’s motion for summary judgment on breach of contract and extracontractual claims after determining that questions of fact exist as to whether the insured’s recovery for damages following an auto accident is limited by a waiver and whether the insurer’s payment of underinsured (UIM) benefits bars the insured’s extracontractual claims brought under the state’s Insurance Fair Conduct Act (IFCA).
Objectors To $7.25B Roundup Deal Appeal Order That Remanded Case To State Court
ST. LOUIS — After a Missouri federal judge remanded a case challenging the $7.25 billion nationwide Roundup settlement to state court on June 17, finding that the parties objecting to the settlement are not defendants and cannot remove the case to federal court, the objecting parties filed a notice in the district court indicating that they will appeal the remand ruling.
Judge Confirms Final Award In ‘Long-Running Dispute’ Over Control Of Company
NEW YORK — A New York federal judge on June 17 granted a petition to confirm a final award in a years-long arbitration in which the majority shareholders of a Latin American telecommunications company have defied past awards, including one ordering them to pay more than $325 million to minority shareholders, for which they were previously found in contempt.