Jurisdictional

Massachusetts Court Rejects Business Tort Claims, Citing Jurisdictional Issues

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BOSTON — A Massachusetts federal judge has dismissed several business tort claims due to a lack of personal jurisdiction over the defendants, emphasizing the importance of jurisdictional standards in legal proceedings. This ruling highlights ongoing challenges in establishing connections between plaintiffs and defendants in business litigation. The case revolved around allegations against a firm whose primary operations and personnel were based outside Massachusetts. The judge determined that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate enough of a link between the defendants and the state to warrant jurisdiction. This decision underscores the necessity for plaintiffs to thoroughly establish … Read more

U.S. Court Tosses Class-Action Bid to Overhaul Junior Hockey Draft System, Citing Jurisdictional Limitations

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A U.S. District Court in Seattle has dismissed a class-action lawsuit aimed at abolishing the entry draft system used in major junior hockey. The ruling, made by Judge Tana Lin on May 23, was based on jurisdictional concerns, as much of the relevant activity takes place in Canada. In her ruling, Judge Lin highlighted that the majority of the alleged conduct occurred outside the United States. She noted, “Asserting jurisdiction for a small group and allowing the small group to potentially upend the conduct of business that mostly occurs in another country would be like … Read more

Judge Shuts Down Bucks County’s Lawsuit Against Fossil Fuel Giants, Citing Jurisdictional Limits

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Bucks County, Pennsylvania — A recent ruling from the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas has dismissed a lawsuit targeting major fossil fuel companies, effectively ending the county’s attempt to hold these corporations accountable for damages linked to climate change. Judge Stephen Corr issued the decision on Friday, halting the county’s pursuit of financial reparations for climate-related impacts. The lawsuit was filed in March 2024, naming companies such as Shell, BP, Chevron, and ExxonMobil, along with the American Petroleum Institute, and accused them of knowing about the harmful effects of their products on the environment. … Read more

Syngenta Seeks Clarity from Pennsylvania Court on Weedkiller Lawsuits Amid Jurisdictional Confusion

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Philadelphia, PA — Syngenta Crop Protection, a North Carolina-based company, recently requested that the Pennsylvania Superior Court clear up lingering legal ambiguities following a pivotal 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision. This appeal stems from the ongoing mass tort litigation in Philadelphia concerning Paraquat, a controversial weedkiller. Syngenta’s April 26 legal filing argues for clarity on constitutional and jurisdictional issues not fully resolved by the Supreme Court’s decision, which broadly upheld Pennsylvania’s consent by registration statute but hinted at potential constitutional challenges. The Superior Court is being asked to review a trial court’s decision which refused … Read more