Mar 1, 2016

Teamsters, Lyft Drivers Will Object to Settlement Over Expenses

Five Lyft drivers and the Teamsters union will object to a proposed class action settlement, saying it would shortchange drivers by keeping them as independent contractors instead of employees, a union spokesman said on Tuesday. Lyft and larger rival Uber face separate lawsuits brought on behalf of drivers who contend they are employees and entitled to reimbursement for expenses including gas …



As Ghomeshi Case Resumes Next Week, Cameras in Courts Remain Elusive

Jian Ghomeshi is set to return to court next week for his judgment and as his case resumes, so will the torrent of tweets that drew Canadians into the trial, giving them a full picture of the courtroom — except in the literal sense. Throughout the former CBC Radio host’s sexual assault trial, journalists reported testimony and colour in volume and detail that’s rare for a court case. For some, …


New System Could Save Streaming Music Services a Ton of Lawsuits

A new online system could save streaming services a few headaches — and perhaps a few lawsuits — by giving music publishers direct involvement in the often messy process of mechanical licensing. Back in December, Spotify was hit with a $150 million class-action lawsuit from a group of artists — led by musician David Lowery — who said that the streaming giant failed to obtain licenses for its …



First Nations Seek Closure for Sixties Scoop With Class-Action Suit

Indigenous people who say they lost their cultural identity when they were removed as children from their homes on Ontario reserves to be placed with non-aboriginal families are urging the federal government to negotiate a settlement in a long-standing case that will go before a judge later this year. The class-action suit seeks redress for what the plaintiffs say was the government’s failure …


Garland Could Claim Supreme Court’s Ideological Center

Merrick Garland not only has a chance to be the U.S. Supreme Court’s next justice. He also stands to become the most important one. In a career highlighted by oversight of the Oklahoma City bombing prosecutions and 19 years on a federal appeals court in Washington, Garland established a moderate record that could put him squarely in the middle of the often-divided Supreme Court.


Do You Have to Disclose a Government Investigation? Practical Considerations, Legal Standards, and Recent Case Law

After receiving an inquiry from a government agency, such as a subpoena, a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”), or an informal request for information, public companies ask whether they must disclose publicly that they may be under investigation. A corollary question to public disclosure is how broadly to disclose internally, to lenders, or to D&O insurers. The standards for disclosing …



Angry Volkswagen Investors Are Coming After VW With $3.61 Billion Lawsuit

CEO Matthias Mueller makes a statement, following a meeting ahead of deadline to inform U.S. regulators on plans to comply with standards, at the VW factory in Wolfsburg, Germany November 20, 2015. Almost 300 institutional investors in Volkswagen have filed a multi-billion euro suit against the carmaker for what they see as breaches of its capital markets duty …