Contracts

‘King Charles clause’ limits new board overseeing Disney World, put in place after DeSantis’ feud

An agreement enacted by Disney World’s oversight board before its control was turned over to political appointees preserves power for Disney at the expense of the new board—and for quite a long time, thanks to a "King Charles clause."

Mar 31, 2023 3:33 PM CDT

BigLaw firm seeks COVID-19-era rent abatement in $30M suit

Crowell & Moring has filed a lawsuit contending that it is entitled to a rent abatement and interest totaling $30 million because of a “force majeure event” that interfered with its use of the property.

Mar 29, 2023 4:18 PM CDT

Impurr-fect evidence dooms suit over couple’s initial plans to declaw adopted Himalayan kitten

A Louisiana law governing the sale of good worth more than $500 has doomed a lawsuit filed by a woman seeking to prevent the declawing of a Flame Point Himalayan kitten she sold to a North Carolina couple.

Mar 20, 2023 2:50 PM CDT

Lawyers kicked off Twitter sue for breach of contract, citing Musk’s amnesty tweet

Husband-and-wife lawyers Jared and Elizabeth Lee Beck have filed a breach of contract suit in a bid for reinstatement to Twitter that is based on an Elon Musk tweet. The lawyers sued through their company, Don’t Tread On Us, in a January lawsuit that was removed to federal court in…

Mar 20, 2023 11:11 AM CDT

Universal Migrator snags first prize at ABA Techshow 2023’s Startup Alley competition

Universal Migrator won first prize at the seventh annual Startup Alley pitch competition at the ABA Techshow 2023 on Wednesday evening after facing off against 14 other finalists.

Mar 2, 2023 8:39 AM CST

Lawyer accused of pursuing client-poaching ‘modus operandi’ hit with $2.3M verdict

The Florida Injury Law Firm based in Orlando, Florida, was awarded $2.3 million last week in a lawsuit against a former associate accused of violating an employment contract by stealing the firm’s best clients.

Mar 1, 2023 2:20 PM CST

Lady Gaga failed to pay promised $500K for return of stolen bulldogs, suit alleges; plaintiff was charged in case

Singer and songwriter Lady Gaga promised to pay $500,000 with “no questions asked” for the return of her stolen French bulldogs but did not follow through when a woman later arrested in connection with the theft brought the bulldogs to a police station, a lawsuit alleges.

Feb 27, 2023 12:55 PM CST

Former associate must repay law firm for failing to bill promised hours, top state court says

An associate who signed a contract with an “hours billed discrepancy” clause is obligated to repay his law firm for failing to meet promised billable hours, the North Dakota Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Feb 21, 2023 9:56 AM CST

6th Circuit bans enforcement of Biden’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors against plaintiff states

A federal appeals court has ruled that President Joe Biden exceeded his statutory power when he required federal contractors to ensure that their employees are vaccinated for COVID-19, and that they wear face masks in areas of high transmission.

Jan 17, 2023 8:39 AM CST

FTC cites unfair competition law to justify proposed ban on noncompete agreements; will it hold up in court?

The Federal Trade Commission has proposed a rule that would ban employers from imposing noncompete agreements on workers and independent contractors.

Jan 9, 2023 8:35 AM CST

Listen to our 10 favorite podcast episodes of 2022

Looking for a new listen? We've picked our favorite 2022 episodes from each of the ABA Journal's three podcasts. And if this whets your appetite, find more than 10 years of past episodes on our podcast page. You can also check out more legal podcasts from our partners at Legal Talk Network.

Dec 23, 2022 8:42 AM CST

$7M adultery penalty in postnuptial agreement is valid, appeals court says

A wife’s agreement to stay in a marriage after her husband’s adultery was adequate consideration for a $7 million penalty against him in a postnuptial agreement for any subsequent extramarital romantic relationship, a state appeals court has ruled.

Nov 2, 2022 1:47 PM CDT

Weekly Briefs: Ex-officer pleads guilty in Breonna Taylor case; ex-BigLaw partner can’t shield 401(k) cash

Ex-officer pleads guilty in Breonna Taylor case Former Louisville, Kentucky, detective Kelly Goodlett pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge Tuesday for helping falsify an application for a warrant to search the home of Breonna Taylor, who was shot and killed by police in a 2020 raid at her home.…

Aug 26, 2022 12:12 PM CDT

Elon Musk’s bid to escape Twitter deal could face skepticism in court; ‘material adverse effect’ at issue

Elon Musk's stated reason for abandoning his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter is “a model of hypocrisy,” according to the social media company’s lawsuit seeking to enforce the agreement.

Jul 13, 2022 3:20 PM CDT

Waiver agreement bars ex-Chief Justice Roy Moore’s defamation suit against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, 2nd Circuit says

A federal appeals court has refused to revive a lawsuit filed by former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and his wife against a comedian who claimed to be an Israeli anti-terrorism expert with a device able to detect pedophiles.

Jul 8, 2022 2:59 PM CDT