Court

Federal Appeals Court Clears Medtronic in Major Patent Case, Overturns Jury’s $106 Million Ruling

by

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of Medtronic Plc in a lengthy patent lawsuit involving the company and Colibri Heart Valve LLC, reversing a jury’s decision that charged Medtronic with inducing patent infringement concerning artificial heart valves. The case centered on Colibri’s U.S. patent No. 8,900,294, which describes a technique for partially deploying and recapturing an artificial heart valve during implantation. This method allows surgeons to reposition the valve if its initial placement is not optimal, effectively providing a “do-over” during surgery. Colibri accused Medtronic of promoting this technique through its … Read more

Judge Sentences D.C. Man to 18 Months for Non-Fatal Shooting, Community Reconciliation Acknowledged in Court

by

Washington, D.C. — A local man was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his involvement in a non-fatal shooting earlier this year. Terry McNeal, 44, received the sentence from Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld on July 16, following a plea deal related to the incident that took place on February 2, 2024, in the 2400 block of H Street, SE. McNeal faced charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. He ultimately pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and carrying a pistol without … Read more

NBA and NFL Push Supreme Court to Clarify Video Privacy Act Amid Streaming Era Confusion

by

Washington, D.C. — The National Basketball Association (NBA), backed by the National Football League (NFL), is pushing the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA), legislation from the 1980s designed to safeguard consumer video rental and viewing records. As the landscape of digital content evolves, discrepancies among federal courts have emerged regarding whether this historic law should extend to individuals accessing free online content. The legal debate centers on conflicting rulings from the U.S. Court of Appeals. The 2nd and 7th Circuits have interpreted the VPPA as applicable to consumers who … Read more

Federal Court Eases Free Speech Restrictions in Tennessee’s Controversial Abortion Law

by

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A federal judge has partially blocked a Tennessee law that criminalized the recruitment or transportation of a minor for an unlawful abortion without parental consent, marking a significant ruling regarding free speech rights. The judge deemed that the law’s provisions relating to “recruitment” impose unconstitutional restrictions on protected speech. The decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed in June 2024 by Tennessee State Representative Aftyn Behn, a Democrat from Nashville, alongside family law attorney Rachel Welty. They contested the law, asserting it violated their First Amendment rights and was vague in its language. … Read more