Worldwide: Trials & Appeals & Compensation

A federal appeals court has reversed a lower court's dilution ruling in the decade-long trademark dispute between Jack Daniel's whiskey and VIP's "Bad Spaniels" parody dog toy. The Ninth Circuit held that Jack Daniel's failed to prove the humorous dog toy actually tarnished its famous brand, despite creating a mental association with the whiskey marks.

The Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport II, LLC has fundamentally altered the landscape for freight brokers facing negligent hiring claims. After years of conflicting court decisions on whether federal law shields brokers from state tort liability, the nation's highest court has definitively ruled that such claims fall within the FAAAA's safety exception and are not preempted.

Oregon's civil discovery rules diverge sharply from federal practice by eliminating interrogatories and generally prohibiting compelled pretrial disclosure of retained expert testimony. Understanding these procedural differences and adapting discovery strategy accordingly can mean the difference between building a winning record and discovering critical gaps too late to address them.

A federal court in Ohio has ordered Aaron Michael Jones, once considered the undisputed king of illegal robocalls responsible for billions of unwanted calls, to pay $83.7 million...

Strong courtroom advocacy begins long before opening statements, with early case strategy sessions that define priorities, test assumptions, and align trial teams around a unified message. This integrated approach combines jury research, expert testimony, trial graphics, and legal arguments into a cohesive framework that strengthens cases from discovery through verdict.

Recent federal court decisions address critical questions about church autonomy, religious freedom in education, and COVID-19 vaccine mandates. From disputes over church governance structures to challenges involving state tuition assistance programs and foster care licensing restrictions, these cases illuminate the evolving boundaries between religious liberty and government regulation.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will review a landmark medical malpractice case involving a $207 million judgment, examining whether hospitals can be held vicariously liable without explicit jury findings against named agents. The court will also resolve a critical split among appellate panels regarding whether liability can be established through increased risk of harm rather than direct factual causation.

On Aug. 7, 2026, the Appeals Court of Massachusetts vacated a Chapter 93A judgment in Antokal v. Spring Valley Country Club, Inc., holding that the trial court’s findings were insufficient to establish liability based on negligent misrepresentation.

Trial attorneys face critical decisions about how to test their cases before trial, choosing between focus groups, mock jury trials, and online jury research. Each method offers distinct advantages for gathering juror feedback, from qualitative insights about case themes to quantitative data on damages and verdicts. Understanding which approach aligns with your case stage and information needs can significantly strengthen trial preparation and settlement strategy.