Do the federal courts have to abide by Florida Supreme Court rules that relieve plaintiffs in smoker suits from the burden of proving that tobacco companies knowingly sold dangerous products? The industry says that's unconstitutional, but plaintiffs lawyers say it's just common sense.

The ruling--a resounding rejection of Credit Suisse's attempt to vacate the FINRA arbitration panel's award--should burnish Jenner's reputation as the only firm with any plaintiffs-side success in auction-rate securities litigation.

The ruling came in a case brought by investors in Regions Financial Corporation who tried to hold the company liable for allegedly overstating goodwill and failing to increase loan loss reserves enough before the 2008 financial crisis. Sullivan & Cromwell, representing Regions, convinced the court that these figures should be treated as opinions, not facts.

A Florida woman who claims that she was injured by Teva's generic version of a brand drug manufactured by Wyeth and Schwarz Pharma can't sue any of the companies, an Eleventh Circuit panel ruled on Tuesday. The panel found that the woman's claims against Teva were barred by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and that her claims against Wyeth and Schwarz were barred by Florida law.