Attorney

FTC Challenges Kroger’s Acquisition of Albertsons

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Employment, Negotiation, Albertsons, District court, QFC, Consumer, C&S, Haggen, Pharmacy, Social media, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Blog, News, Acquisition, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Kroger, Commission, Pavilion, UFCW, CBA, Lawyer, Competition, Attorney, Hearing, Federal Trade Commission, Supermarket, FTC, Retail

For thousands of grocery store workers, Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons would immediately erase aggressive competition for workers, threatening the ability of employees to secure higher wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions.

Key Points: 
  • For thousands of grocery store workers, Kroger’s proposed acquisition of Albertsons would immediately erase aggressive competition for workers, threatening the ability of employees to secure higher wages, better benefits, and improved working conditions.
  • “This supermarket mega merger comes as American consumers have seen the cost of groceries rise steadily over the past few years.
  • Kroger’s acquisition of Albertsons would lead to additional grocery price hikes for everyday goods, further exacerbating the financial strain consumers across the country face today,” said Henry Liu, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition.
  • A bipartisan group of nine attorneys general is joining the FTC’s federal court complaint.
  • Albertsons also operates thousands of stores across 35 states under regional names including Albertsons, Haggen, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Safeway, and Vons.
  • Harm to Consumers In addition to raising grocery prices, the FTC alleges that Kroger’s acquisition of Albertsons would also diminish their incentive to compete on quality.

NCLA Asks Supreme Court to Uphold Injunction Against Government Social Media Censorship

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
Security (finance), Plaintiff, Supreme court, COVID-19 vaccine, Government, FBI, Attorney, COVID-19, The Daily Wire, Safety, Supreme, Constitutional right, First, Marketing, Father, CDC, Speech, Social media, CISA, Fifth, White, NCLA, The Administrative State, DRS, Judge, Federalist

The injunction would bar officials from the White House, CDC, FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Surgeon General’s office from coercing or significantly encouraging social media platforms to censor constitutionally protected speech.

Key Points: 
  • The injunction would bar officials from the White House, CDC, FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and Surgeon General’s office from coercing or significantly encouraging social media platforms to censor constitutionally protected speech.
  • In September, a Fifth Circuit panel upheld the key components of U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty’s July 4 preliminary injunction order, prohibiting named federal officials from coercing or significantly encouraging social media companies to suppress legal speech.
  • Though the U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily stayed the Fifth Circuit’s injunction, NCLA believes the Justices are ultimately unlikely to permit the egregious First Amendment abridgements this case has exposed.
  • In fact, much of the speech the government suppressed in this case—about Covid-19 and Hunter Biden’s laptop—was truthful.”
    — Mark Chenoweth, President and Chief Legal Officer, NCLA

Lieff Cabraser Partner Brendan Glackin Announces $700 Million Settlement with Google over Play Store Misconduct

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
Legal, Professional Services, Attorney, ACH, Google Play, Glackin, Heart, Epic Games, PayPal, Mobile phone

This settlement strikes a blow for competition.”

Key Points: 
  • This settlement strikes a blow for competition.”
    The attorneys general retained Glackin in 2021 as Lead Trial Counsel for the case.
  • Under the terms of the settlement, Google will pay $630 million in restitution, minus costs and fees, to consumers who made purchases on the Google Play Store between August 2016 and September 2023.
  • Play Store consumers will receive automatic payments through PayPal or Venmo, or they can elect to receive a check or ACH transfer.
  • Allow the installation of third-party apps on Android phones from outside the Google Play Store for at least seven years.

U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Landmark NCLA Case Against Government Social Media Censorship

Retrieved on: 
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Supreme court, First, Social media, Fifth Circuit Four, COVID-19 vaccine, Government, White House, NCLA, First Amendment to the United States Constitution, Court, Attorney, Constitutional right, Law of the United Kingdom, General Grievous, Speech, CDC, Surgeon, Joe Biden, DRS, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, White, FBI, Safety, Fifth, Plaintiff, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, COVID-19, CISA, Supreme, Computer security

This afternoon the Court agreed to hear arguments over the Fifth Circuit’s grant of a preliminary injunction in Missouri v. Biden, a case brought on behalf of NCLA clients Drs.

Key Points: 
  • This afternoon the Court agreed to hear arguments over the Fifth Circuit’s grant of a preliminary injunction in Missouri v. Biden, a case brought on behalf of NCLA clients Drs.
  • The New Civil Liberties Alliance welcomes this opportunity to defend the First Amendment rights of our clients in the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • NCLA released the following statements:
    “We are disappointed Americans’ First Amendment rights will be vulnerable to government infringement until this case is decided.
  • The First Amendment forbids such censorship, and the Supreme Court must never allow such mischief again, if we are to keep our democracy.”

Patent Litigation Firm Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP Opens Tokyo Office

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
Other Health, General Health, Professional Services, Business, Patent Law, Other Professional Services, Science, Legal, Biotechnology, Consulting, Other Science, Health, Intellectual property, United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Partnership, European Patent Litigation Agreement, Face, Electronics, Telecommunications, Chambers, Attorney, Greenhouse effect (United States Supreme Court), Multimedia, Lawyer, IP, University of Yamanashi, United States International Trade Commission, Jazz Photo Corp. v. United States International Trade Commission, Iranian American Bar Association, Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Inn of Court, Social justice, Japan Patent Attorneys Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Publication, Patent, Maxwell, Supreme court, Pleasure, IAM, Growth, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Mac, American Bar Association, American Inn, Pharmaceutical industry, Groombridge

View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230912254273/en/

Key Points: 
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230912254273/en/
    Photo is of prominent Japan-based patent litigator Maxwell "Mac" Fox, partner in charge of the newly launched Tokyo office of leading patent boutique law firm Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP.
  • Groombridge Wu was formed late last November by four preeminent patent litigators who had previously worked together for many years at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
  • Groombridge Wu’s Tokyo office will focus on a single area of practice for which there is a great deal of demand.
  • The partners’ track record of success has already led to industry recognition: after only nine months, the firm has been ranked and recommended in key industry publications such as Chambers and IAM, and repeatedly identified as a 2023 “firm to watch.”
    Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP is a patent litigation firm.

Individuals who received notice of a Data Incident from Ethos Technologies are entitled to submit a claim for money under a class action settlement.

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Ethos, Class representative, In re Garlock Sealing Technologies, LLC, DeMarco, Attorney, Class, Valid claim, Vexatious litigation, Morgan & Morgan, Subclass, Settlement, Service award, Court, CLASS, Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement, Claim, Credit, Pharmaceutical industry, Insurance, Real estate

Individuals are included as Settlement Class Members if they received notice of the Ethos Data Incident that occurred between approximately August 2022 and December 2022.

Key Points: 
  • Individuals are included as Settlement Class Members if they received notice of the Ethos Data Incident that occurred between approximately August 2022 and December 2022.
  • Settlement Class Members are also entitled to 12 months of free Credit Monitoring and Identity-Protection Services.
  • Settlement Class Members must submit a Claim Form, by mail or online, postmarked or submitted by December 20, 2023 to qualify for a Cash Payment.
  • Settlement Class Members will still be eligible to receive free credit monitoring and will be bound by the Court's decisions.

SEC Charges Software Company Blackbaud Inc. for Misleading Disclosures About Ransomware Attack That Impacted Charitable Donors

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Crypto, Risk, Failure, Organization, Disclosure, Federal Trade Commission, Blackbaud, Security (finance), Social Security, Attorney, State, Joint Sigint Cyber Unit, Axon Enterprise, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission, Cryptocurrency

The SEC’s order finds that, on July 16, 2020, Blackbaud announced that the ransomware attacker did not access donor bank account information or social security numbers.

Key Points: 
  • The SEC’s order finds that, on July 16, 2020, Blackbaud announced that the ransomware attacker did not access donor bank account information or social security numbers.
  • Within days of these statements, however, the company’s technology and customer relations personnel learned that the attacker had in fact accessed and exfiltrated this sensitive information.
  • These employees did not communicate this information to senior management responsible for its public disclosure because the company failed to maintain disclosure controls and procedures.
  • The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Federal Trade Commission and the Offices of the Attorneys General for the States of Indiana and Vermont.

Acadia Realty Trust Provides Update on Albertsons Special Dividend

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 5, 2023
Professional Services, Residential Building & Real Estate, Commercial Building & Real Estate, Finance, Construction & Property, REIT, Banking, NAREIT, Special dividend, Motion, AKR, Common, Washington Supreme Court, TRO, NYSE, Supreme court, Attorney, State, Attorney General of California, Kroger, Albertsons, Core, Fund, Hearing, Medical device

Acadia Realty Trust (NYSE: AKR) (“Acadia” or the “Company”) today gave an update on the status of the Special Dividend (the “Special Dividend”) that it expected to receive from Albertsons Companies, Inc. (“Albertsons”) in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Key Points: 
  • Acadia Realty Trust (NYSE: AKR) (“Acadia” or the “Company”) today gave an update on the status of the Special Dividend (the “Special Dividend”) that it expected to receive from Albertsons Companies, Inc. (“Albertsons”) in the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • Acadia expected to recognize its pro rata share of the Special Dividend of approximately $0.11 per Acadia share in the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • On November 3, 2022, Albertsons announced that the Attorney General of the State of Washington had been granted a temporary restraining order (“TRO”) preventing Albertsons from paying the Special Dividend, pending a hearing originally scheduled for November 10, 2022, which was then ultimately delayed to later dates in December 2022.
  • On January 2, 2023, Albertsons further announced that their motion for an expedited review had been granted.

Albertsons Companies Provides Update on Legal Proceedings in State of Washington Surrounding Special Dividend

Retrieved on: 
Monday, January 2, 2023
Supermarket, Retail, Legal, Professional Services, Special dividend, Circuit, Washington Supreme Court, NYSE, Supreme court, Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, Attorney, State, ACI, Attorney General of California, Kroger, Albertsons, Washington State

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) (“Albertsons Cos.” or “the Company”) announced that the State of Washington Supreme Court has granted the Company’s motion to hold an expedited review of the temporary restraining order (“TRO”) against the Company’s previously announced $6.85 per common share Special Dividend (the “Special Dividend”).

Key Points: 
  • Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) (“Albertsons Cos.” or “the Company”) announced that the State of Washington Supreme Court has granted the Company’s motion to hold an expedited review of the temporary restraining order (“TRO”) against the Company’s previously announced $6.85 per common share Special Dividend (the “Special Dividend”).
  • The date for the review has been moved forward to January 17, 2023, having previously been set for February 9, 2023.
  • Albertsons’ position has been supported by favorable rulings in both Circuit and District courts in the District of Columbia and a Washington State court.
  • Albertsons Cos.’ proposed merger with The Kroger Co. is continuing through required regulatory review, including seeking clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

Albertsons Companies Provides Updates on Legal Proceedings Surrounding Special Dividend

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Supermarket, Retail, Legal, Professional Services, Special dividend, Circuit, Douglas v. U.S. District Court ex rel Talk America, District court, Washington Supreme Court, TRO, NYSE, Supreme court, Hart–Scott–Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, Attorney, ACI, Kroger, Albertsons, Washington State

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) (“Albertsons Cos.” or “the Company”) announced that on December 19, 2022, the State of Washington Supreme Court set a date for the review of the temporary restraining order (“TRO”) against the Company’s previously announced $6.85 per common share Special Dividend (the “Special Dividend”).

Key Points: 
  • Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) (“Albertsons Cos.” or “the Company”) announced that on December 19, 2022, the State of Washington Supreme Court set a date for the review of the temporary restraining order (“TRO”) against the Company’s previously announced $6.85 per common share Special Dividend (the “Special Dividend”).
  • The TRO will remain in effect until there is a further order issued by the Washington Supreme Court.
  • Albertsons Cos. has filed a motion to further expedite the Washington Supreme Court’s en banc review.
  • Albertsons’ position has been supported by favorable rulings in both Circuit and District courts in the District of Columbia and a Washington State court.