You likely are aware that Governor Brian Kemp signed Georgia’s tort reform legislation (SB 68) on April 21, 2025, which made a number of changes to Georgia law. This article summarizes some of the major changes under that...more
In recent years, Georgia has earned a prominent—and troubling—spot on the American Tort Reform Association’s annual “Judicial Hellholes” list, drawing national attention to the state’s increasingly unpredictable and...more
On May 29, 2025, the New Jersey Court of Appeals reversed dismissal in Satz v. Starr, No. A-2785-23, 2025 WL 1522032 (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. May 29, 2025), holding that the plaintiff’s voluntary dismissal of his claims did...more
In the case of N. Ridgeville v. Zilka, 9th Dist. Lorain No. 23CA012047, 2024-Ohio-2468, Ohio’s Ninth District Court of Appeals addressed the ability of a property owner in an eminent domain action to recover attorney fees...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed a district court’s ruling that a copyright holder’s voluntary dismissal of its claims did not render the defendant a prevailing party entitled to attorneys’ fees under...more
Fraudulent Transfer Act Allan v. Allan, 8th Dist. Cuyahoga Nos. 110177, 110179, 2022-Ohio-1488- In this appeal, the Eighth Appellate District reversed the trial court’s decision under the Fraudulent Transfer Act case to...more
Dismissal / Fees & Costs: While not an adjudication on the merits, a voluntary dismissal generally entitles a defendant to attorneys' fees as the prevailing party - Catamaran B.Y., Inc. v. Giordano, No. 3D21-369 (Fla. 3d DCA...more
In Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC v. Almirall, LLC, the Federal Circuit recently found 35 U.S.C. § 285 did not authorize the Court awarding attorney’s fees for conduct occurring at the PTAB. No. 2020-1106, 2020 WL 2961939, at *2...more
Last week, the Federal Circuit, in a precedential decision, reinforced that an accused infringer can be a “prevailing party” for the purposes of seeking attorneys’ fees under 35 U.S.C. § 285 when it successfully invalidates...more
KEITH MANUFACTURING CO. v. BUTTERFIELD - Before Taranto, Clevenger, and Hughes. Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. Summary: A voluntary dismissal with prejudice under Rule 41(a)...more
The Federal Circuit affirmed a district court award of over $360,000 in costs and attorneys’ fees against a non-practicing entity, citing the need “to deter future abusive litigation.” In October 2016, Blackbird sued...more
A magistrate judge determined that a prevailing party in a district court litigation could be entitled to an award of attorneys’ fees based solely on conduct during an inter partes review (IPR) proceeding. In September...more
Real Property Update - Attorneys' Fees / Voluntary Dismissal: it is an exception to the general rule that when a plaintiff voluntarily dismisses an action the defendant is the prevailing party, when both parties...more
Absent an agreement to the contrary, the dismissal of a statutory cause of action providing for attorneys’ fees to the prevailing party would seem to entitle a defendant to its reasonable fees and costs. In a matter of first...more
In a recent 4-3 decision, the Florida Supreme Court concluded that a borrower was entitled to her appellate attorneys' fees because she was the prevailing party in a judicial foreclosure action in which her mortgagee had...more
Earlier this month, the Fifth Circuit ruled that under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. § 1836, et seq.) (“DTSA”), a defendant is not the “prevailing party” by virtue of a plaintiff voluntarily dismissing a DTSA claim,...more
After a lengthy and circuitous patent proceeding between plaintiff O.F. Mossberg & Sons (“Mossberg”) and defendants Timney Triggers, LLC and its related manufacturing entity (collectively, “Timney”), which ultimately resulted...more
Ericsson Inc. v. Intellectual Ventures I LLC (No. 2017-1521, 8/27/18) (Reyna, Taranto, Chen) Reyna, J. - Vacating and remanding the PTAB’s IPR decision because the PTAB erred in not considering portions of the petitioner’s...more
The prospect of attorneys’ fees is often a major factor in strategy and, in particular, settlement. Defendants sometimes pay more up front just to avoid “running up” plaintiff’s counsel’s fees. ...more
In a recent unpublished opinion, the Eleventh Circuit issued a decision that should serve as a warning to insurers to be sure to resolve all issues before dismissing a coverage action, particularly when involved in the...more
Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (“FDUTPA”) prohibits unfair, deceptive, and unconscionable actors or practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce—including the purchase and sale of real estate. A...more
In Wells Fargo Bank v. Lauri Mailloux, 2D14-5116 (Fla. 2d DCA October 30, 2015), the Second District Court of Appeal held that the inclusion of language purporting to render a notice of voluntary dismissal conditional upon an...more
There's nothing better than winning a case or a motion in Court and to then follow that up with an award of attorneys' fees. On that subject, two rulings in the Business Court last week addressed the award of attorneys'...more