David Koenig

June 20, 2007 | Law.com

The chief executive of Whole Foods Market Inc. told his board that if it bought its leading rival, Wild Oats Markets Inc., then Whole Foods would "eliminate forever" the possibility that anyone else could create a nationwide competitor in the natural and organic grocery business, government lawyers alleged in court document unsealed on Tuesday. This month, the Federal Trade Commission filed a federal lawsuit and won a temporary restraining order to block Whole Foods' purchase of Wild Oats Markets.

By David Koenig

3 minute read

April 19, 2005 | Law.com

A supporter of President Bush is suing the Republican National Committee and one of its suppliers, claiming they stole his design for the ubiquitous "W" bumper sticker logo in the 2004 campaign. Seeking unspecified damages for copyright infringement and conspiracy, Jerry Gossett says he is a loyal Republican and voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004, but has become jaded by his experience. "The big RNC against little me, there was absolutely no chance to win," he said.

By David Koenig

2 minute read

October 24, 2007 | Law.com

Prosecutors will likely retry the former leaders of a Muslim charity, as well as the organization itself, after the government's biggest terror-financing case since Sept. 11 ended in a mistrial. Not one of the leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development was convicted Monday, and many acquittals were thrown out after three jurors took the rare step of disputing the verdict. The mistrial followed two other terror-financing trials that also ended without convictions on the major counts.

By David Koenig

4 minute read

June 02, 2005 | Law.com

Telephone company SBC Communications Inc. says a legislative defeat in Texas won't stop it from competing against cable TV without the local licenses traditionally required by municipal governments. SBC and Verizon Communications Inc., the nation's two largest phone companies, are spending billions of dollars to offer robust video services they hope will break cable's powerful grip on the market. But the phone companies have had a tough time getting state legislators to help.

By David Koenig

5 minute read

April 17, 2006 | Law.com

In a case cast as crucial to TiVo's survival, a Texas federal jury decided last week that EchoStar Communications copied key technologies from the digital video recording pioneer, infringing on nine sections of its patent on technology for digital video recorders that let viewers pause, rewind and fast-forward live TV shows. The judge could triple the nearly $74 million award -- which is subject to appeal -- since the jury found that EchoStar had willfully infringed TiVo's patent.

By David Koenig

5 minute read

June 09, 2006 | Law.com

Southwest Airlines is suing a company that helps travelers get the best seats on Southwest planes by handling passengers' online check-in, and the airline is asking other Web sites to stop offering the same service. Phoenix-based BoardFirst has been helping Southwest passengers get better seating through the airline's first-come, first-served "open seating" system. Southwest is considering changing its process and assigning seats before boarding.

By David Koenig

3 minute read

October 22, 2007 | The Legal Intelligencer

A judge declared a mistrial Monday for most former leaders of a Muslim charity charged with financing Middle Eastern terrorists after jurors failed to reach a verdict.

By DAVID KOENIG

5 minute read

January 17, 2003 | Law.com

Minority enrollment at the University of Texas' Austin campus is still lower than it was before the 1996 court ruling barring race-based admissions. University officials say a slow increase in minority students is evidence that they're doing a good job of replacing affirmative action, but graduate programs still suffer; one year, only four law school entrants were black. This fall, 22 of the law school's 582 new students were black.

By David Koenig

4 minute read

March 28, 2006 | Law.com

In a case beginning Wednesday, a Texas jury will be asked to decide whether EchoStar Communications stole technology that lets TiVo users skip television commercials. By suing EchoStar in East Texas, TiVo lawyers picked an area considered kind to plaintiffs. "The David-versus-Goliath strategy may play very well in a courtroom like this," said Brian Coyne, an analyst with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. who has followed the case closely. Testimony in the case is likely to be highly technical.

By David Koenig

4 minute read

August 30, 2006 | Law.com

A federal judge in Texas has handed the owner of the Dish satellite-TV network another setback in its feud with TiVo Inc., delaying a countersuit against the pioneer in digital video recording technology. U.S. Magistrate Judge Caroline M. Craven blocked EchoStar's patent infringement lawsuit against TiVo and Humax USA while the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reviews patents claimed by EchoStar. The countersuit had been scheduled for trial early next year.

By David Koenig

3 minute read