Litigation Highlights

In the News

Haynes and Boone Secures Final Judgment in Long-Running Marvel Dispute

NEW YORK – An Arizona district court has written the final chapter in a 15-year-old dispute concerning the “Web Blaster” Spider-Man role-play toy by issuing a declaratory judgment in favor of Haynes and Boone, LLP client Marvel Entertainment. >>

Haynes and Boone Achieves Complete Victory on Appeal for AT&T

The Dallas Court of Appeals recently handed Haynes and Boone client AT&T a complete victory on appeal in an employment discrimination suit. >>

Mark Trachtenberg in The Wall Street Journal: Schools Sue States for More Money

AUSTIN, Texas—School districts and their supporters around the country have launched a wave of lawsuits asking courts to order more spending on public education, contending they face new pressures as states cut billions of dollars of funding while adding more-rigorous educational standards. >>

Haynes and Boone Appellate Group Wins Reversal of $25.5 Million Jury Award

Haynes and Boone’s appellate attorneys persuaded the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a $25.5 million jury award tried in Houston, but revolving around a real estate deal in New England. >>

Georgia Court of Appeals Overturns Lower Court to Grant Summary Judgment

Haynes and Boone lawyers convinced a Georgia appellate court to uphold a summary judgment granted for KMG Chemicals in a nuisance/toxic tort case brought by 150 residents in Atlanta. >>

Haynes and Boone Defeats Class Certification

Haynes and Boone completed a trilogy of victories on behalf of a for-profit college, defeating certification of a putative class action seeking a complete refund of all tuitiion paid by every Texas student who had enrolled in an on-line clllege operated from out-of-state. >>

David Siegal in The New York Times: Rajaratnam Is Sentenced to 11 Years

The fallen hedge fund billionaire Raj Rajaratnam received on Thursday the longest-ever prison sentence for insider trading, a watershed moment in the government’s aggressive two-year campaign to root out the illegal exchange of confidential information on Wall Street. >>

Arthur Carter in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Boeing labor case could have repercussions in Texas, across U.S.

For the first time since President Ronald Reagan fired striking air traffic controllers in 1981, the long, strong arm of the U.S. government is trying to shift the course of organized labor, experts say. >>

Tom Kurth in Natural Gas Week: Middle-Ground Approach to NatGas Fracking Oversight Gains Traction

With no end in sight to questions about the environmental risks of shale gas development, many observers are beginning to wonder if the gas industry should settle for a bit more regulation if it gets opponents off their backs. >>

Nick Even Warns Public Companies of Disclosure Risks

Securities Litigation Partner Nick Even advises public companies to take note of the recent Matrixx decision, highlighting the court’s findings of a "compelling inference that Matrixx withheld disclosure of the adverse event reports not because they were meaningless, but because of their likely effect on the company’s stock." >>

Haynes and Boone Verdicts Among Tops for 2010

DALLAS - Three Haynes and Boone, LLP trial victories have ranked in the top half of The National Law Journal’s VerdictSearch list of the Top 100 Verdicts of 2010. >>


Recent Publications

Securities Litigation Year in Review 2011

The Haynes and Boone Securities Litigation Year in Review 2011 outlines Supreme Court decisions and rulings from Circuit and District Courts that affect securities class action cases, including class certification issues. >>

Texas Bar Journal Guest Article: 2011 Year in Review - Antitrust and Business Litigation

In 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a significant opinion that should narrow the scope of general jurisdiction for corporations. >>

Texas Bar Journal Guest Article: 2011 Year in Review - Texas Supreme Court

At the Texas Supreme Court, 2011 will be remembered as the year the Court conquered its backlog. >>

Update: NLRB Delays Notice Posting Rule’s Effective Date

On December 23, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that it would postpone its requirement that employers post a notice informing employees of their federal labor law rights until April 30, 2012. >>

DOJ Report Emphasizes Continued Growth of False Claims Act Cases

On Monday December 19, 2011, the Department of Justice announced year-end results for False Claims Act (“FCA”) cases in fiscal year 2011. The results demonstrate a dramatic increase in FCA cases brought by the government and private whistleblowers. >>

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Texas Lawyer Notes Haynes and Boone $7.3 Million Award Dismissal Will Lead to 5th Circuit Showdown

Texas Lawyer has highlighted the firm's successful representation of Timegate Studios, Inc., which led to a federal judge's decision to vacate a $7.3 million arbitration award. The decision sets up a crucial question for the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals: How far can an arbitrator go to resolve a dispute in a way not contemplated in a contract between parties?

Summary Judgment Granted for Haynes and Boone Client Marvel

NEW YORK – A federal judge has thrown out a comic book author’s copyright challenge to Haynes and Boone, LLP client, Marvel Entertainment, ruling that he signed over all rights to the “Ghost Rider” character and origin story.

U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest of the Southern District of New York granted Marvel’s motion for summary judgment, ruling that she did not need to reach the issue of whether Friedrich’s contribution to the Ghost Rider comic book was a work made for hire because author Gary Friedrich had assigned to Marvel whatever Ghost Rider rights he might have had.

Haynes and Boone Lawyers Achieve Trial Victory for Curves International, Inc. in Federal Lawsuit

A team of Haynes and Boone, LLP attorneys has successfully defended client Curves International, Inc. against trademark and antitrust claims asserted in federal court by Go Figure, Inc. (Civil Action No. 4:09-CV-2930)

After more than two years of litigation, Houston Partners Yasser Madriz and Mike Powell joined Houston Associate Mike Raab and Washington, D.C. antitrust Partner Richard Ripley in the Dec. 12 trial before Judge Hoyt in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division.

Haynes and Boone Appellate Lawyers Achieve Victory in San Antonio Court of Appeals

A team of Haynes and Boone, LLP lawyers successfully represented Keystone-Texas Property Holding Corporation in an appeal arising out of a failed sale of the Marriott Rivercenter Hotel.

SEC Closes Investigation on Haynes and Boone Energy Client

The new year brings positive news for a Haynes and Boone alternative energy client that was under scrutiny by the SEC. On Jan. 3, 2012, the company received notification that the SEC had concluded its year-long investigation and was closing the matter without enforcement action.       

“During the early stages of the investigation, the SEC suggested that it might seek emergency action such as a restraining order to prevent the company's securities offerings or a freeze of investor assets, which would have been disastrous to the company,” said Partner Kit Addleman, who led the Haynes and Boone team.

Haynes and Boone Team Obtains Favorable Result in Lawsuit Over Passport Health Franchise Agreement

Haynes and Boone, LLP attorneys have secured a favorable court decision for client Passport Health, Inc., a franchisor of travel health services, in its lawsuit against a franchisee for breach of contract and violation of trademark.

The Haynes and Boone team -- Partner Aimee Furness of Dallas and Associate Jason Gonder of the firm’s Silicon Valley office -- obtained more than $400,000 in damages and lost profits for Passport Health in addition to more than $175,000 in fees and costs.

David Siegal in Reuters: Analysis - On the hotseat Corzine stakes his legal ground

Even with an apology and an insistence he has no idea what happened to missing client money, MF Global's former chief Jon Corzine cannot distance himself from the mess at the bankrupt futures brokerage.

Corzine testified to Congress on Thursday about the chaotic final days of MF Global, defying some predictions that he would refuse to answer questions...

"It is far from clear if anyone did anything intentionally wrong at MF Global," said David Siegal, a former federal prosecutor who is a white-collar defense lawyer with Haynes and Boone in New York.

Kit Addleman in The New York Times: S.E.C. Faults Credit Raters, but Doesn't Name Them

WASHINGTON — An examination of credit ratings agencies by the Securities and Exchange Commission found repeated instances of the companies failing to follow their own procedures or to manage conflicts of interest adequately, according to an S.E.C. staff report issued Friday.

The examinations were mandated in the Dodd-Frank regulatory law passed last year after numerous investigations into the causes of the financial crisis. Several of those inquiries found that the agencies had issued inaccurate reports, failed to report or manage conflicts of interest and appeared to put generating revenue ahead of rigorous financial analysis...