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News

Surge in Legal Advertising and Third-Party Funding Drives Up Insurance Rates, Experts Warn

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New York — A recent report from the Insurance Information Institute indicates that a significant uptick in attorney advertising, mass tort litigation, and third-party funding for lawsuits is closely linked to rising insurance costs in the United States. Research by the American Tort Reform Association reveals that legal service providers allocated over $2.5 billion to 26.9 million advertisements in 2024 alone, marking a staggering increase in advertising across television, radio, and outdoor platforms since 2017. Television ad placements hit a peak in 2023, totaling 16.4 million — a 44% increase since 2017. Radio advertisements exceeded … Read more

Beloved Asheville Resident Philip Jason Laws Remembered for His Kindness and Community Spirit

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Asheville, North Carolina – Philip Jason Laws, 40, passed away on March 26, 2025, at his home in Asheville. His life journey began on June 12, 1984, in Wilkes County, where he spent his early years in Traphill. Laws moved to St. Augustine, Florida, during his teenage years, later returning to North Carolina. He was known for his deep attachment to family and friends and had a passion for helping others in his community. His parents, Nathan and Leesa Love Laws, survive him. He was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Kimberly Laws, along … Read more

Inventor Triumphs in $278 Million Patent Case Against Samsung After Proving Invention Conception Post-Employment

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Tyler, Texas — A pivotal ruling from the Eastern District of Texas has cleared the way for Headwater Research to pursue a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics, allowing the company to claim $278.8 million in damages. The court found that although a post-employment assignment clause appeared to give Samsung claims to certain patents, Headwater had the legal standing to assert them because the inventor demonstrated that he conceived the inventions after terminating his employment with Qualcomm. On April 20, 2025, Judge J. Rodney Gilstrap upheld a report indicating that Headwater Research possessed the necessary … Read more

Hollywood Meets Justice: Cobie Smulders Joins Cast of Netflix’s ‘The Lincoln Lawyer’ for Season 4

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Los Angeles, CA – Netflix is expanding the cast for the upcoming fourth season of its legal drama, The Lincoln Lawyer, with the addition of Cobie Smulders. Best known for her roles in How I Met Your Mother and the Avengers franchise, Smulders joins the series headed by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo. The new season is inspired by the seventh installment of Michael Connelly’s best-selling book series. It follows protagonist Mickey Haller as he navigates the challenging task of clearing his name after a gruesome discovery: his client’s lifeless body found in the trunk of his iconic … Read more