Litigation
Major court decisions, class actions, landmark rulings, and significant procedural developments
Ontario Court Clarifies Partial Judgments, Compliance, and Insurance Risk
Ontario Court of Appeal's May 2026 civil rulings clarify limits on partial summary judgment, insurance liability, and court order compliance—essentials for Ontario litigators.
Supreme Court Affirms Federal Courts’ Power in Arbitration Award Cases
The Supreme Court ruled federal courts can confirm or vacate arbitration awards if the original case was filed in federal court, clarifying jurisdiction under the FAA.
San Diego Pays $450K to Settle Street Performer “Bubble” Lawsuit
San Diego settles lawsuit with street performer Sandy Snakenberg for $450,000 after a citation for liquid littering during a bubble show, raising questions on public space enforcement.
Arizona Judge Lets Groundwater Lawsuit Against Fondomonte Move Forward
An Arizona judge ruled a lawsuit over Fondomonte's groundwater usage can proceed, setting precedent for water rights enforcement and environmental compliance in arid U.S. states.
Disney Secures $1.6M in Fees After Winning 'Moana' Trade Secret Suit
A federal judge awarded Disney $1.6M in attorney fees after dismissing forged trade secret claims over 'Moana,' underscoring court intolerance for bad-faith IP litigation.
Class Action Targets 'Sterile' Labeling on Eye Drops Amid Safety Concerns
A new class action alleges major eye drop makers misled consumers by labeling products as 'sterile' despite contamination risks, raising legal and regulatory questions for pharma companies.
California Supreme Court Weighs 'Duty to Innovate' in Gilead Case
The California Supreme Court is considering if pharmaceutical firms have a legal 'duty to innovate' in the Gilead Tenofovir case—an outcome with major product liability implications.
Apple Agrees to $250M Settlement Over Siri AI Misrepresentation
Apple will pay $250 million to settle claims it misled iPhone users about Siri AI features, underscoring rising legal risks around marketing tech capabilities.
Supreme Court Lets Lower Courts Resist Dobbs, Bruen, and SFFA Rulings
Lower courts are pushing back on Supreme Court decisions—Dobbs, Bruen, SFFA—while justices increasingly decline to enforce their own precedents, affecting litigation strategy.
Federal Judge Blocks Texas From Deporting Immigrants Under New Law
A federal judge blocks Texas from arresting and deporting immigrants under SB 4, but allows criminalization of illegal entry. This impacts ongoing immigration litigation and federal-state authority.
Hawaii High Court Reviews Blame Split in Tobacco Addiction Case
The Hawaii Supreme Court reviews whether Philip Morris can limit damages in a lung cancer case by arguing the smoker's responsibility, potentially reshaping future product liability litigation.
GOP Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Virginia Redistricting Ruling
Virginia GOP legislators petition the U.S. Supreme Court to maintain the state’s redistricting process ruling, with implications for electoral procedure nationwide.
Environmental groups sue EPA over Iowa river delisting dispute
Environmental advocates sue the EPA for removing seven Iowa rivers from the impaired waters list, raising Clean Water Act and regulatory compliance concerns.
AAA Unveils AI Arbitrator, Sharpening Focus on Tech in Dispute Resolution
The American Arbitration Association launched its AI Arbitrator for document-only cases, pushing law firms and in-house counsel to rethink arbitration workflows.
California Federal Court Dismisses Offshore Drilling Lawsuit, May 14 Ruling
A California federal judge dismissed environmental nonprofits’ offshore drilling challenge for lack of standing, potentially curbing future legal actions on BOEM projects.
OpenAI Considers Legal Action Over Alleged Apple Breach in ChatGPT Deal
OpenAI has hired external counsel to review a breach-of-contract claim against Apple over their 2024 ChatGPT integration, signaling growing AI partnership risks.
Supreme Court Clarifies Jurisdiction for Stayed Arbitration Claims
The Supreme Court ruled that federal courts retain jurisdiction to confirm or vacate arbitral awards even after staying cases under the Federal Arbitration Act.
Supreme Court: State Negligent Hiring Claims Against Freight Brokers Not Preempted
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that freight brokers can face state-law negligent hiring claims, clarifying broker liability and resolving a federal circuit split.
Missouri AG, Counselors Appeal Local Conversion Therapy Bans to Eighth Circuit
Missouri's attorney general and two counselors are challenging local conversion therapy bans as unconstitutional, with the Eighth Circuit set to hear the case in May 2026.
Judge Invalidates Wildlife Agency's Malathion Ruling Over Flawed Data
A federal judge tossed out the Fish and Wildlife Service's 2022 decision clearing malathion pesticide risks, citing reliance on outdated, unreliable data.