Recent Posts

Sonos sues Google accusing it of stealing patented technology

Sonos on January 7 sued Google in federal court, alleging that the tech giant infringed on five of its patents. Sonos, which makes wireless home speakers, said that Google stole patented technology, including tech that lets smart speakers pair and sync. Sons is seeking to ban Google’s smartphones, laptops, and smart speakers from being sold in the US, as well as unspecified financial damages.   

Sonos sues Google accusing it of stealing patented technology

Saudi court settles decade-old business dispute between billionaire families

Saudi Arabia’s largest and longest debt saga, fuelled by a feud that has split one of its richest families, could be nearing a resolution after a court approved about $14 billion in claims related to the collapse of two business empires a decade ago.

The Saudi court has accepted more than $7 billion in claims from creditors against the Algosaibi family’s conglomerate AHAB, and about $6.5 billion against tycoon Maan al-Sanea and his company Saad Group.

Saudi court settles decade-old business dispute between billionaire families  

US court declines relief for millionaire American lawyer for allegedly threatening Nike Inc

A U.S. judge on January 6 rejected the bid of celebrity millionaire lawyer Michael Avenatti to dismiss two of the three counts in an indictment accusing him of trying to extort Nike Inc by threatening to reveal its alleged improper payments to college basketball recruits.

Avenatti allegedly engaged in wrongful conduct by threatening Nike with economic and reputational harm unless it paid him millions of dollars. U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe in Manhattan said it is premature to dismiss as vague the two counts, alleging extortion and transmitting interstate communications with intent to extort.

US court declines relief for millionaire American lawyer for allegedly threatening Nike Inc

US Supreme Court braces for conservative vs liberal fight in 2020

Politically explosive issues concerning immigration, abortion, LGBTQ rights and the 2nd Amendment (people’s right to keep and bear arms) will be taken up by the US Supreme Court in 2020 as the bench remains starkly divided on ideological lines amid a conservative legal revolution launched with the election of President Donald Trump who is fulfilling his pledge to transform the courts.

US Supreme Court braces for conservative vs liberal fight in 2020  

Case on Guantánamo-related law to come up in US Supreme Court in March 2020

A case will be argued in the United States SC in early March on whether a 1996 federal immigration law unconstitutionally stripped the federal courts of jurisdiction over cases, including habeas corpus cases, brought by undocumented immigrants who are subject to what the law designated as “expedited removal.” 

Case on Guantánamo-related law to come up in US Supreme Court in March 2020 

The law was decided by the SC in cases pertaining to the Guantanamo Bay detainees, when the top court rejected attempts to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over cases brought by Guantánamo detainees, and ruled that the detainees had a constitutional right to seek habeas corpus.

Supreme Court to take up legal battle over water between Florida and Georgia

The US Supreme Court will again consider a three-decade-long dispute between two states — Georgia and Florida — over the previous resource of water. The case holds significance as some parts of US face water crisis and such disputes are expected to hit other areas due to climate change. 

Supreme Court to take up legal battle over water between Florida and Georgia 

 

Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf handed death penalty in treason case

A special court in Pakistan has sentenced former military ruler Parvez Musharraf to death on charges of high treason and subverting the constitution.

The treason trial against Musharraf – for imposing the state of emergency on November 3, 2007 –  began in 2014.

Musharraf, who is in self-imposed exile in Dubai, was not immediately available for comment. He has denied the charges in the past.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s army said in a statement posted on Twitter that the decision was received with “a lot of pain and anguish by rank and file of Pakistan armed forces”. 

Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf handed death penalty in treason case 

Parvez Musharraf challenges death penalty in Lahore HC

Former Pakistan president and army chief Pervez Musharraf has submitted a petition in Lahore High Court challenging the death sentence handed to him in a treason case earlier this month.

According to local media, the petition highlighted that the “judgement contained a mix of anomalies and contradictory statements” and that the special court “rapidly and hurriedly wrapped up the trial which was far from conclusion”.

A special court convicted Musharraf and sentenced him to death on December 17 on charges of high treason and subverting the constitution – an unprecedented verdict in a country that has been ruled by its powerful military for roughly half of its 72-year history.

The detailed judgement, published days after Musharraf’s sentencing was announced, also called for the former president’s corpse to be displayed outside the parliament building.

Parvez Musharraf challenges death penalty in Lahore HC

Growing cannabis for personal use not illegal, rules Italy supreme court

Italy’s Supreme Court on December 19 ruled that growing small quantities of cannabis at home for private usage is legal, in a landmark verdict.

The farming and selling of marijuana was barred under legislation which dates back to the 1990s but contradictory court decisions since then have generated uncertainty around the law.

The court declared the crime of growing narcotic drugs should exclude “small amounts grown domestically for the exclusive use of the grower”.

The court’s reasoning behind the decision has not yet been made public and a thorough, in-depth ruling will not be released for weeks or even months.

 Growing cannabis for personal use not illegal, rules Italy supreme court

Japan posts record number of M&A deals in 2019 as restructuring booms

Japan hit a record tally of domestic merger and acquisition deals in 2019 after Hitachi agreed to the $4.5bn sale of one of its largest subsidiaries and the country’s conglomerates continue a historic restructuring. Companies have made over 2,840 deals so far this year, according to research group Recof, topping the previous record of 2,814 transactions set in 2018. Japanese businesses have spent more than ¥6tn ($55bn) on buying domestic rivals, the highest level since 2007 before the global financial crisis hit. 

Japan posts record number of M&A deals in 2019 as restructuring booms 

Supreme Court of Spain says workers entitled to Christmas hamper

The Supreme Court of Spain said on December 16 that workers in the country have a right to receive a Christmas hamper from their employees.

The case arose from a labor dispute at Fujitsu Technology Spain, in which the company eliminated gifting the Christmas hamper from the budget in 2013. A Christmas hamper is a packaged assortment of wine, cheese, oils, and meats, often gifted to employees in Spain.

The court ruled that as the hamper was not only a longstanding tradition but employees were entitled to it as a condition of their employment.

Supreme Court of Spain says workers entitled to Christmas hamper