Tort Law

Suit over mistaken raid by FBI SWAT team given another chance by Supreme Court

A federal appeals court made “two faulty assumptions” when it tossed an Atlanta family’s lawsuit over a mistaken raid of their home by an FBI SWAT team, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday.

Jun 12, 2025 12:06 PM CDT

Lawyer who collected over $40K in title insurance commissions in 1 month failed to disclose, hearing body says

A Massachusetts lawyer committed an “ethical misstep” by collecting commission of 80% for his real estate clients’ title insurance without disclosing it, according to a hearing committee report.

Jun 11, 2025 9:59 AM CDT

SCOTUS rejects Mexico’s suit against US gun-makers, sees problems with aiding-and-abetting theory

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday that Mexico cannot sue U.S. gun companies for aiding the flow of guns to drug cartels because its factual allegations fell short.

Jun 5, 2025 1:12 PM CDT

Federal sex-trafficking law has led to an increase in suits against hotel chains

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against hotel chains in recent years based on claims they were complicit in sex trafficking. The lawsuits push the hospitality industry to take seriously the potential for trafficking on hotel premises and appropriately train their employees, according to lawyers who represent survivors.

Jun 1, 2025 1:00 AM CDT

ChatGPT creator isn’t liable for embezzlement hallucinations that journalist didn’t publish, judge says

A lawsuit filed by a radio host who alleged that a ChatGPT hallucination defamed him has been tossed by a judge who found no negligence or actual malice by OpenAI, the creator of the artificial intelligence platform.

May 29, 2025 9:03 AM CDT

This New York lawyer gets laughs in 17 syllables via her poetry

Updated: Poetry is a great way to infuse a little humor in what can be a “tedious” lifestyle, says New York attorney Stevi Siber-Sanderowitz. She is fascinated by the haiku, a streamlined poem that originated in Japan.

May 28, 2025 3:07 PM CDT

2024 produced record number of ‘thermonuclear verdicts,’ report finds; what is impact of younger jurors?

A record number of eight- and nine-figure jury verdicts are evidence of an “indisputable trend,” according to the CEO of a communications and research company that compiled the figures.

May 22, 2025 12:11 PM CDT

Posner wins dismissal of suit for unpaid salary by pro se plaintiff who led his center for unrepresented litigants

Retired federal appeals Judge Richard Posner has won dismissal of a lawsuit filed by an Indiana man who said he was owed $170,000 in unpaid salary for leading a Posner-founded group that helped litigants representing themselves in court.

May 20, 2025 11:09 AM CDT

Climate change suit alleging energy companies created public nuisance may proceed, top state court says

Two energy companies accused of contributing to climate change can be sued in state court, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled last week.

May 20, 2025 8:50 AM CDT

Supreme Court justices weigh in—cautiously—on Trump’s attacks on the judiciary

“We need trained and passionate and committed lawyers to fight this fight,” U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said at an event in Washington, D.C., for the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section.

May 14, 2025 2:00 PM CDT

Sanctions imposed for ‘collective debacle’ involving AI hallucinations and 2 firms, including K&L Gates

A special master has imposed a $31,100 sanction against K&L Gates and a second law firm for submitting a brief with “bogus AI research.”

May 14, 2025 12:50 PM CDT

Vacation, mistaken filing led to order to show cause, lawyers for MyPillow CEO say

Human error led lawyers representing MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to file a draft document with incorrect case citations instead of the final version, according to a response to a federal judge’s order to show cause.

Apr 29, 2025 2:29 PM CDT

Insurance case is ‘but a speck in the recesses of interstellar space,’ high-profile appeals judge writes

In a span of less than a week, a conservative federal appeals judge has written two opinions that are getting attention—for taking a tough stand against the mistaken deportation of an immigrant in one case and for waxing philosophical in another case.

Apr 28, 2025 3:07 PM CDT

Expert witness was ‘confused, disoriented and out of touch’ at deposition, law firm’s suit alleges

An expert witness allegedly demanded a $20,000 advance payment before a deposition and then appeared "confused, disoriented and out of touch with the proceedings” when he showed up, according to a lawsuit filed by the law firm that hired him.

Apr 24, 2025 9:09 AM CDT

Drake alleges Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance defamed him in amended suit against music company

Rapper and singer Drake has alleged that the Universal Music Group “has tripled and quadrupled down on its defamation-for-profit strategy” in part by arranging for fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar to perform his 2024 song “Not Like Us” at the 2025 Super Bowl, according to an amended lawsuit that he filed April 16.

Apr 23, 2025 12:42 PM CDT