Menu

Cases of Interest

Food and Water Watch et al. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency et al.

This is an action brought against the United States EPA, among other Defendants, by Food and Water Watch, a non-governmental organization, and other Plaintiffs, regarding the health impacts of fluoridation of public drinking water. Plaintiffs allege that fluoridation at levels occurring throughout the country presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health under the Toxic Substances Control Act (“TSCA”), 15 U.S.C. § 2620(b)(4)(B). A bench trial took place in this matter in June 2020 and the case was held in abeyance thereafter; the Court is now conducting the second phase or “part two” of the trial.

In re: Uber Technologies, Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation

This is a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) case involving whether Uber Technologies, Inc. and related entities (collectively, “Uber”) failed to implement appropriate safety precautions to protect passengers. Plaintiffs are former Uber passengers who were sexually assaulted or harassed by their Uber drivers. Plaintiffs bring various claims against Uber, including negligence, breach of contract, and product liability claims.

Federal Trade Commission v. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., et al

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brings this action for provisional relief pursuant to Section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 53(b), seeking to enjoin Defendants Intercontinental Exchange and Black Knight from consummating a proposed transaction while the FTC’s administrative review of the transaction is pending.

Moonbug v. Babybus

This is a case about alleged infringement of copyrights. The plaintiffs are Moonbug Entertainment Limited and Treasure Studio, Inc. The defendants in this case are BabyBus Co., Ltd. and BabyBus (Fujian) Network Technology Co., Ltd. Plaintiffs claim that Defendants willfully infringe Plaintiffs’ copyrights in characters and videos in Plaintiffs’ children’s show CoComelon. Plaintiffs also claim that defendants made misrepresentations to YouTube to cause YouTube to put back up infringing videos.

Federal Trade Commission v. Microsoft Corp. et al.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) brings this action for provisional relief pursuant to Section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C. § 53(b), seeking to enjoin Defendants Microsoft and Activision from consummating a proposed transaction while the FTC’s administrative review of the transaction is pending.

In re Tesla Inc. Securities Litigation

This securities class action case is brought by a group of Tesla shareholders who allege that Elon Musk and Tesla violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 10b-5(b), by making materially false or misleading statements regarding a potential going-private transaction for Tesla that artificially affected the price of Tesla’s stock and other securities in August of 2018. Plaintiff also asserts that the members of Tesla’s Board of Directors violated Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which imposes liability upon persons responsible for controlling an entity that is found to have violated the federal securities laws.

Cornet et al v. Twitter, Inc. 3:22-cv-06857

Plaintiffs filed a putative class action complaint against Twitter claiming violations of the WARN Act (29 U.S. Code section 2101) and violations of California’s equivalent state law (Cal. Lab. Code section 1400).

United States v. David Wayne Depape

A complaint was filed in this court charging David Wayne Depape with violations of 18 U.S.C. § 115(a)(1)(A) and (B), assault on the immediate family member of a federal official, and of 18 U.S.C. § 1201(d), attempted kidnapping of a federal official.

In re: Social Media Adolescent Addiction/Personal Injury Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 3047)

This is a Multi-District Litigation (MDL) involving various defendants such as Meta Platforms, Inc., Instagram LLC, Snap, Inc., TikTok, Inc., ByteDance, Inc., YouTube LLC, Google LLC, and Alphabet Inc. Plaintiffs have alleged that the defendants’ social media platforms are defective because they are designed to maximize screen time, which can encourage addictive behavior in adolescents. As alleged, this conduct results in various emotional and physical harms, including death.

Mickelson v. PGA Tour, Inc.

Professional golfers allege that the PGA acted an unlawful monopoly in suspending them for playing for LIV, Inc. They seek injunctive relief through a temporary restraining order that would permit them to compete in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

USA v. Balwani

Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, former executive of health technology corporation Theranos, was charged along with Elizabeth Holmes with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. The charges stem from Defendants’ allegedly deceptive representations about their company and its medical testing technology. Defendants are to be tried separately; Ms. Holmes’ trial concluded in January 2022.

USA v. Holmes, et al.

Elizabeth A. Holmes and Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, former executives of health technology corporation Theranos, are charged with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1349. The charges stem from Defendants’ allegedly deceptive representations about their company and its medical testing technology.

Epic Games, Inc. v. Apple Inc.

Plaintiff Epic Games, Inc. brings this action against defendant Apple Inc., alleging violations of antitrust laws through its Apple App Store policies on iOS devices. Apple counterclaims that Epic Games has breached its developer agreements and App Store guidelines by introducing a direct pay option on iOS devices in Epic Games’ videogame Fortnite.

USA v. Funez Osorto

(Compassionate Release Waiver)
Court rejects a plea agreement containing a modified waiver of compassionate release, holding that the waiver is contrary to Congressional intent.

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant et al v. Donald J. Trump et al

Plaintiffs seek to prevent enforcement of an interim final rule providing that all persons who enter the country in violation of the "Presidential Proclamation Addressing Mass Migration Through the Southern Border of the United States" are ineligible for asylum.

zzz