Million

Landmark $38.8 Million Jury Verdict Signals New Era for ERISA Plaintiffs Amid Fiduciary Breach Case Against Pentegra

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White Plains, New York — A recent jury verdict has awarded $38.8 million to participants of a 401(k) plan managed by Pentegra Services Inc., marking a significant moment for plaintiffs under the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). This ruling allows participants an opportunity to take their fiduciary breach claims to a jury, a rarity in ERISA cases. On April 23, an eight-member jury unanimously found that Pentegra and the plan’s board of directors failed their fiduciary responsibilities by imposing excessive administrative fees on the retirement plan, which serves roughly 26,000 employees across various … Read more

California Appeals Court Overturns $10 Million Verdict After Judge’s Inflammatory Racial and Sexist Remarks

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LOS ANGELES — A California appeals court has overturned a $10 million jury ruling in a sexual harassment lawsuit against the Los Angeles Community College District, citing significant prejudicial errors made during the trial. The court’s decision indicated that the comments and actions of the trial judge, Robert S. Draper, clouded the proceedings. The appellate judges ordered a new trial after determining that Draper’s remarks, which were described as “bizarre” and “inflammatory,” violated the principles of fair trial. Their opinion emphasized that these comments, along with flawed evidentiary rulings, unfairly influenced the outcome of the … Read more

Texas Jury Hands Down $278.8 Million Verdict Against Samsung for Patent Infringement in Mobile Tech

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Marshall, Texas — A federal jury has awarded Headwater Research LLC $278.8 million in a patent infringement case against Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. The jury found that Samsung had unlawfully used technology critical to mobile communications in its smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, and televisions. The verdict came on April 25 from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, located in Marshall. The jury concluded that Samsung had infringed upon Headwater’s U.S. Patent Nos. 8,406,733 and 9,198,117. Headwater, headquartered in Tyler, Texas, initiated the lawsuit against Samsung on March 10, 2023. The lawsuit accused … Read more

Gov. Polis Cracks Down on Local Governments: Compliance with Housing Laws Now Tied to $100 Million in Funding

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DENVER — Colorado Governor Jared Polis has issued a stern warning to local governments: comply with state housing regulations or face the loss of at least $100 million annually in state funding. This directive comes amid ongoing efforts to address the state’s housing crisis, which has seen Polis take significant legislative strides in recent years. In his latest executive order, signed recently, Polis is elevating the confrontation between state mandates and local control. Over the past two years, he has enacted a series of laws focused on issues such as residential occupancy limits, accessory dwelling … Read more