Avalon Zoppo

Avalon Zoppo

Avalon Zoppo is an appellate courts reporter for The National Law Journal. Contact her at [email protected]. On Twitter: @AvalonZoppo.

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January 17, 2025 | National Law Journal

DC Circuit Rejects Jan. 6 Defendants’ Claim That Pepper Spray Isn't Dangerous Weapon

The D.C. Circuit said the federal government had shown that pepper spray can cause "serious bodily injury" and that the three men used it that way, therefore an enhancement was properly applied to the charges against them.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

January 16, 2025 | National Law Journal

DC Bar’s Proposed Anti-Discrimination, Harassment Conduct Rule Sees More Pushback

Several legal groups that have backed major conservative victories in the courts—including First Liberty Institute and the New Civil Liberties Alliance—told the D.C. Court of Appeals that the proposal threatens the First Amendment rights of lawyers.

By Avalon Zoppo

5 minute read

January 16, 2025 | National Law Journal

Full 8th Circuit Hears First Amendment Challenge to School District’s ‘Equity Training’

The lawsuit alleges the Springfield, Missouri, School District both compelled the employees to speak as directed and chilled dissenting speech through the required training.

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

January 14, 2025 | National Law Journal

Insurance Policies Don’t Cover Home Depot's Data Breach Costs, 6th Circuit Says

The appellate court's decision noted that the commercial general liability policies precluded coverage of “damages arising out of the loss of, loss of use of, damage to, corruption of, inability to access, or inability to manipulate electronic data.”

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

January 10, 2025 | National Law Journal

Standing Spat: Split 2nd Circuit Lets Challenge to Pfizer Diversity Program Proceed

The appellate panel remanded the case to the district court to decide whether the nonprofit Do No Harm has sufficient evidence of standing, overturning a previous decision upholding the case’s dismissal because anonymous members who alleged injury refused to give their names to the trial court.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

January 10, 2025 | National Law Journal

Fight Over Amicus-Funding Disclosure Surfaces in Google Play Appeal

University of Masssachusetts Amherst political science professor Paul Collins Jr. wrote that public records show numerous amici supporting Google in the underlying antitrust case have had financial ties to the company. He urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to view those filings with skepticism.

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

January 08, 2025 | National Law Journal

‘Old Home Week’: Justice Breyer Hears Challenge to Cruise Ship Ordinance in 1st Circuit

Breyer, as chief judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit from 1990 to 1994, was involved in the design of the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse 30 years ago.

By Avalon Zoppo

4 minute read

January 08, 2025 | Delaware Business Court Insider

Fed Judiciary Panel Mulls Authority to Ban In-State Bar Admission Requirements

Currently, federal districts courts in Delaware, California, Florida and Hawaii have rules that require in-state bar admission.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

January 07, 2025 | National Law Journal

Judiciary Panel Questions Authority to Make Attorney Admissions Rule for US Trial Courts

The committee is considering a rule that would bar district courts from having local rules requiring attorneys applying to represent litigants to live in the state where the district court is located or have in-state bar admission.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read

January 06, 2025 | National Law Journal

Just Ahead of Oral Argument, Fubo Settles Antitrust Case with Disney, Fox, Warner Bros.

“Quite literally, while I was on the courthouse steps, literally, we’ve reached a deal,” said Cravath, Swaine & Moore partner J. Wesley Earnhardt, who represented Disney.

By Avalon Zoppo

3 minute read