Litigators Struggle to Connect With Masked Jurors | GCs Being Called On to Create Company Culture | Insurance Broker Accused of Cutting Employee Loose to Avoid Retirement Payout: The Morning Minute
The news and analysis you need to start your day.
March 26, 2021 at 06:00 AM
5 minute read
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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING
FACING ISSUES - When you really think about it, it's amazing how quickly all of us (well, most of us) adapted to interacting with each other in public while dressed like surgeons and ninjas. Still, exchanging pleasantries with the Whole Foods cashier through a mask is a far cry from trying to convince a 12-person jury that your client is innocent while the lights are glaring off their face shields or the Zoom connection is getting fuzzy. Whether in-person or virtual, pandemic-era court proceedings pose unique challenges for litigators trained to read and react to jurors' facial expressions. In this week's Law.com Litigation Trendspotter column, we look at the drawbacks of trying to connect with jurors through masks, shields and computer screens—as well as a few unexpected advantages. I'm interested to hear what you think: is it really possible to connect with a jury through face coverings and Zoom calls? Let me know at [email protected].
COUNSEL CULTURE - Have you ever wondered who in the corporate structure is responsible for transforming a company's "culture" from an amorphous buzzword to an actual concrete concept? Don't look now, but it's your friendly neighborhood GC. As Law.com's Heather Nevitt writes in this week's Law.com Barometer newsletter, in-house heads are increasingly expected to lead by example and help establish an ethical company culture that is deeply embedded and embraced throughout the organization. The bad news is: that ain't easy. The good news is it presents yet another opportunity for legal department leaders to show their value to their organization while also driving cross-business collaboration and the strategic mission of the company. To receive the Law.com Barometer directly to your inbox each week, click here.
EARLY RETIREMENT? - Edelson PC filed an ERISA lawsuit Thursday in Illinois Northern District Court against insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. The complaint was filed on behalf of a longtime employee who claims he was terminated unexpectedly in order for the company to avoid paying him millions of dollars in retirement funds. Counsel have not yet appeared for the defendant. The case is 1:21-cv-01650, Chung v. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Stay up on the latest deals and litigation with the new Law.com Radar.
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Who Got The Work
J. Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit. The suit, accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products, was filed Dec. 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc. and Graco Minnesota. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, is 3:24-cv-11294, Graco Inc. et al v. Devco Corporation.
Who Got The Work
Rebecca Maller-Stein and Kent A. Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives, Lior Prosor and David Frankel, in a pending securities lawsuit. The action, filed on Dec. 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell, Aron & Co. on behalf of Goldeneye Advisors, accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, is 1:24-cv-09918, Goldeneye Advisors, LLC v. Hanaco Venture Capital, Ltd. et al.
Who Got The Work
Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action. The suit, filed Dec. 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld, accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, is 1:24-cv-09445, Gonzalez v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank et al.
Who Got The Work
Crown Castle International, a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure, has turned to Luke D. Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC, accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan K. Declercq, is 2:24-cv-13131, The Town Residences LLC v. T-Mobile US, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Wilfred P. Coronato and Daniel M. Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc. in a pending product liability lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern, alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack, is 2:24-cv-08204, Stern v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
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