New York Partner Jennine A. Gerrard recently secured summary judgment on behalf of the defendants in a wrongful death drowning matter under New York’s Labor Law, where the court determined that the plaintiff was the sole proximate cause of his own death – a rare finding on summary judgment.

On April 5, Phoenix Partner and Chair of Lewis Brisbois’ Collegiate & Professional Sports Law Practice Gregg Clifton and New York Sports Law Associate Christina Stylianou hosted an engaging webinar with guest speaker Jill Bodensteiner – vice president and director of athletics at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. During the session, titled, “The Future of Amateurism in College Athletics,” Ms. Bodensteiner provided a behind-the-scenes look at several hot topics in college sports.

In United States v. Ahakuelo, the government pursued wire fraud and embezzlement charges against three members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ leadership based on allegations the defendants conspired to convert membership dues. The evidence supporting the government’s case consisted of voluminous, complex materials, so the government requested to call a summary witness. In granting the motion, the court explained the framework for use of summaries of evidence by witnesses.

Going to trial is always a risky decision, but it can be especially risky in the rural areas of Eastern Kentucky. Last month, a jury from Pikeville, Kentucky returned a $10 million verdict against Pikeville Medical Center for allegedly committing medical malpractice resulting in the death of the plaintiff.

Kansas City & Wichita Managing Partner Alan Rupe spoke with The Kansas City Star for an article titled “How a Dysfunctional Missouri Human Rights Commission Slows Discrimination Lawsuits,” which discusses how recent public comments from the chairman of the Missouri Human Rights Commission (MHRC) have highlighted credibility problems within the organization.

Chicago Partner George J. Manos was quoted in a Law360 Pulse article titled, “Tech Co.’s Partial Win Opens Small BIPA Coverage Window,” which addresses the implications of a recent Illinois appellate decision determining that a cyber insurer must defend a technology company in a biometric privacy class action. 

The lack of trial judges and civil jury trials in New Jersey has spread to all of the Garden State’s vicinages (counties), and there is little end in sight. The effects of this deficiency are being felt by attorneys across the state, including Newark Trial Partners Afsha Noran and Colin Hackett.

The principle of sovereign immunity has existed since the inception of common law societies to protect the state from tort liability. In the United States, the government is immune from lawsuits in tort unless it consents. The United States Supreme Court has made clear that sovereign immunity likewise applies to state and local governments.

Pittsburgh Associate Shane Miller recently authored an Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) Lawyers Journal article on the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA), which was signed into law by President Obama in 2016.

Phoenix Partner Gregg E. Clifton recently joined the Sports Lawyers Association's (SLA) podcast to discuss a recent blog post titled “Was Kyrie Irving’s Suspension From The Nets A Violation Of Labor Law?” from SLA NextGen Committee Member Lauren Mattice, a 1L at USC.

Lewis Brisbois is pleased to announce the addition of experienced trial attorney Vincent Gunter as a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment and General Liability Practices. He joins from Rasmussen, Dickey & Moore and previously clerked for the Hon. Richard E. Dorr of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He also served in the U.S. Army JAG Corps for seven years and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal while deployed to Iraq.

Akron Managing Partner and Chair of Lewis Brisbois’ Tax Practice David Kern, with Partners John Hill, Michael Altvater, and John Conley, Associate Moriah Cheatham Williams, and Chair of Lewis Brisbois’ National Corporate Practice Michael Platner recently spoke with Akron Legal News for an article on the successes and growth of Lewis Brisbois’ Akron, Ohio office. 

Phoenix Partner and Chair of Lewis Brisbois’ National Cargo & Logistics and Transportation Practices Julie E. Maurer recently spoke with Law360 for an article titled “Key Roadblocks In Calif.'s Pivot To Electric Heavy-Duty Trucks,” which discusses California’s zero-emission commercial truck standard and the challenges it will present for companies in the transportation industry.

As the receiver of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) is charged with managing SVB’s assets to preserve their value and to dispose of them as quickly as possible, consistent with the objective of maximizing the net return on those assets. Now that the FDIC has announced it has entered into a purchase and assumption transaction for all deposits and loans of the interim Silicon Valley Bridge Bank by First–Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Raleigh, North Carolina (First Citizens), borrowers and depositors will have opportunities to alter their new relationships with First Citizens or seek new financial partners. 

On Friday, March 24, Florida Governor Ron Desantis signed HB 837 into law, enacting sweeping tort reform in the Sunshine State. As a result of the impending passage of this law, tens of thousands of cases were filed in Florida courts, as the Plaintiffs’ Bar raced to get cases filed before the law was enacted.