On June 5 the Supreme Court issued two unanimous opinions that are elegantly straightforward. In Town of Chester, New York v. Laroe Estates, Inc., the Court held that an intervenor of right under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24(a)(2) must meet Article III standing requirements in order to pursue relief (such as a separate money […]
Two Supreme No-Brainers Read More »
Capital Appellate Advocacy founder Lawrence S. Ebner has filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Association of Corporate Counsel urging the Supreme Court to overturn a Tenth Circuit ruling holding that a New Mexico professional conduct rule does not apply to federal prosecutors who subpoena lawyers to provide grand jury testimony about current and former clients. The
In-House Bar Urges Supreme Court To Apply State Ethical Standards To Federal Prosecutors Read More »
The Supreme Court’s May 30 opinion in BNSF Railway Co. v. Tyrrell reaffirms that a State’s court system cannot exercise “general” or “all-purpose” personal jurisdiction over a corporation unless the company is incorporated in that State, has its principal place of business in that State, or otherwise is “at home” in that State. See Daimler
Supreme Court Derails Forum Shoppers Read More »
DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar files amicus briefs at both the certiorari and merits stages in cases raising legal issues that are exceptionally important to the civil defense bar and its clients. I have the privilege of serving as Chair of the DRI Amicus Committee, which reviews requests for DRI amicus support. The attached
Update: DRI’s Supreme Court Amicus Program Read More »
On April 17 the Supreme Court — in its final Order prior to Justice Neil Gorsuch’s inaugural session — declined to review the constitutionality of New York Judiciary Law § 470. Under that law, as recently interpreted by the New York Court of Appeals, a New York bar member residing anywhere other than in New York
Supreme Court Won’t Review Discriminatory Law-Practice Statute Read More »
My eyes usually glaze over about halfway through the opening paragraph of any judicial decision involving patent infringement. But the Supreme Court’s March 21, 2017 opinion in SGA Hygiene Products v. First Quality Baby Products, No. 15-927, kept my attention. The issue was whether the equitable defense of “laches” can bar a patent infringement suit
Supreme Court Scratches Laches Read More »
DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar has filed an amicus curiae brief in the U.S. Supreme Court to support a brand-name drug manufacturer’s challenge to a California Supreme Court ruling holding that nationwide marketing and distribution activities create enough of a “substantial connection” with California to enable that State’s courts to adjudicate out-of-state plaintiffs’ product liability claims. The DRI brief, filed
DRI Amicus Brief Repudiates California’s Open Invitation To Forum Shoppers Read More »
The only thing predictable about the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions on federal preemption — a subject that strikes at the heart of federalism — is the odd way that the Justices spell “pre-emption.” While the Court’s implied preemption (field preemption and conflict preemption) case law is particularly difficult to reconcile, the Court in recent years
Can Federal Contract Requirements Preempt State Law? Read More »
Perhaps in anticipation of soon being joined by a ninth Justice, the Supreme Court agreed in mid-January to decide a number of litigation-related issues that may directly affect U.S. businesses: Because each of these issues has the potential to affect a broad range of U.S. businesses and industries, each of the Supreme Court cases in which they
Lawrence S. Ebner, founder of Capital Appellate Advocacy PLLC, has filed an amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Association of Corporate Counsel supporting the petition for writ of certiorari in Schoenefeld v. Schneiderman, No. 16-780. The certiorari petition requests the U.S. Supreme Court to review the constitutionality of New York Judiciary Law § 470. In
