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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

EXPERIENCING TURBULENCE  – Not all COVID-19 litigation is created equal. For example, suing over business interruption insurance coverage denials is going OK. Suing over the loss of the "college experience" is going even better. But suing airlines over cancellations? Seems like maybe that's not going to fly. As Amanda Bronstad reports, major airlines, both domestic and international, face more than two dozen class actions, most asserting breach-of-contract claims. But, in the past month, federal judges in California have dismissed cases against Norwegian Air Shuttle and Deutsche Lufthansa after concluding that the plaintiffs did get refunds—just not as soon as the seven days required by U.S. Department of Transportation notices in April and May. In addition, they concluded, the plaintiffs had not established that the airlines breached a contract—the sole exception to the Airline Deregulation Act's preemption of claims related to fares, routes and services.

IN ANTITRUST WE TRUST – Antitrust practices have weathered the economic downturn relatively well, inspiring law firms to bulk up their capabilities in that area recently. As Dylan Jackson reports, Crowell & Moring, Lowenstein Sandler and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer all added to their antitrust practices this week with partner hires in Washington, D.C. Crowell's chair, Philip Inglima, summed up the strategy nicely: "We're a firm that has always believed in building strength on strength," he said, adding that antitrust is "one of our busiest practices in the pandemic, and it will continue to be."

JUST SUE IT – Arnold & Porter filed a trademark lawsuit Wednesday in California Central District Court on behalf of Nike. The suit pursues claims against Warren Lotas and Warren Lotas LLC over the alleged production and sale of fake Nike Dunk sneakers. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendants. Stay up to date on major litigation nationwide with Law.com's Legal Radar.


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EDITOR'S PICKS

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