A recent Fifth Circuit decision in Sims Agency, LLC v. GEICO underscores a hard truth for commission-based professionals. Courts will enforce the plain text of your contract, and nothing more. This Fifth Circuit decision reminds insurance agents and any commission-based professionals that post-termination compensation must be spelled out in writing. Sims Agency, a captive GEICO […]
When the Contract Ends, So Do the Commissions Read More »
A reminder that even strong infringement claims can vanish if the underlying patent doesn’t hold up. Causam Enterprises v. International Trade Commission, 2025 WL 2919058 (Fed. Cir. 2025) In this Federal Circuit case, Causam Enterprises sued the International Trade Commission, claiming that imported “smart thermostat” products infringed on its energy-management patent. The Commission ruled there
Patent Invalidity Ends “Smart Thermostat” Infringement Dispute Read More »
A Wisconsin federal court recently reminded us that noncompete agreements are only as strong as their drafting and structure. In Hribar Transport LLC v. Slegers, the trucking company sued a former employee, claiming he breached a noncompete clause by forming a competing logistics business and taking customers. The employee, however, argued that his contract had
Noncompete Agreements Only Work When They’re Written Right Read More »
Think a handbook policy guarantees arbitration? Not so fast. A recent decision in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California addressed a dispute as to the existence of an arbitration agreement between Verily Life Sciences, LLC (Verily) and a former employee. Ryan Sloan, a former employee of Verily, filed a lawsuit
No Arbitration Without Clear Employee Consent Read More »
Clarifying Standard for Employer Conduct Under NLRA Section 8(a)(1) In a significant labor law decision with implications for union-related litigation, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit vacated a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Starbucks. It reaffirmed that employee reactions do matter when evaluating alleged coercion under Section 8(a)(1)
Eighth Circuit Reins In NLRB Read More »