Afternoon Briefs: Giuliani, Powell sued by another voting machine company; Cooley ups its bonuses
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Voting machine company sues Fox News, lawyers
Voting machine company Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit Thursday against Fox News, three of its TV personalities, and lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell. The suit claims that the defendants made Smartmatic the villain in a disinformation campaign claiming that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Another voting machine company, Dominion Voting Systems, has also sued Giuliani and Powell for claiming that its machines switched votes. Powell called the latest suit “just another political maneuver motivated by the radical left that has no basis in fact or law.” (CNN, the New York Times)
First firm to announce special bonuses matches market
Cooley, the first law firm to announce a special bonus for associates, is meeting the market rate with a second round of bonuses. Cooley announced in September that it would pay special appreciation bonuses ranging from $2,500 to $7,500. It was soon topped by other firms that paid special bonuses of $7,500 to $40,000. Now, Cooley is paying its second round of bonuses, ranging from $5,000 to $32,500, on Feb. 12. (Above the Law)
COVID-19 response cited in award for General Motors general counsel
Craig Glidden, the general counsel of the General Motors Co., will receive the Outstanding Corporate Counsel Award from the ABA International Law Section, partly for his leadership in the company’s fight against COVID-19. Glidden led contract negotiations with the U.S. government for the company’s production of 30,000 ventilators with partner Ventec Life Systems. He also supported the company in its manufacturing of personal protective equipment. The award also recognizes Glidden for his commitment to promoting diversity within the legal profession and for helping the company as it embraces electric vehicles. (ABA press release)
SCOTUS cancels arguments on border wall, asylum policy
Responding to a request by the Biden administration, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday canceled oral arguments in two cases challenging actions by former President Donald Trump. One case concerns Trump’s use of military funds for the border wall, and the other concerns his remain-in-Mexico policy for asylum-seekers. President Joe Biden is moving to reverse both actions. (USA Today, Reuters via How Appealing)
