News Type: Media Mentions

Lara Shortz shared with Law360 her take on the recent California Supreme Court decision regarding Proposition 22, which permits app-based companies to classify their drivers as independent contractors rather than employees. Lara noted that while Proposition 22 specifically targets app-based drivers, its framework might inspire similar legal carveouts for other industries and open doors for broader applications beyond app-based drivers, potentially influencing independent contractor classifications in other sectors.

Jeffrey Farrow’s insights were featured in a recent article in The Recorder titled, “Tesla Sues Chinese Auto Parts Company Over ‘Dangerous’ Supercharger Compatibility Claims.” The piece covers a lawsuit filed by Tesla against JecoEV alleging false advertising and trademark dilution in connection with a charging adapter product marketed to drivers who want to charge non-Tesla electric vehicles at Tesla’s Supercharger network. Jeff’s commentary, including his nod to the potential impact of JecoEV’s claims on consumer confidence in EVs, underscores the critical role of accurate product representation in sustaining trust within the EV community amidst Tesla’s ongoing efforts to expand charging infrastructure globally.

Jeffrey Farrow was extensively quoted in a recent IAM article, discussing the significant impact of the Seventh Circuit’s judgment in the protracted trade secret and copyright lawsuit between Chicago-headquartered Motorola Solutions and Shenzhen-based Hytera. This ruling, which confirms the Defend Trade Secrets Act’s extraterritorial reach, allows businesses to seek relief for foreign misappropriation if the wrongdoer has a U.S. footprint. Jeff expertly highlighted the broad and sweeping remedies the DTSA provides, marking a major milestone in trade secret litigation.

Jennifer Mauri was quoted in an article published this week by World IP Review covering the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the ‘Trump Too Small’ trademark case. In the piece, Jennifer provides keen insights into the court’s unanimous ruling that upheld the Lanham Act’s names clause as content-based but viewpoint-neutral. Her analysis suggests that while the decision is ‘narrow,’ it may leave room for future constitutional debates on similar issues.

IAM turned to Jeffrey Farrow for his thoughts on the recently decided Zunum Aero v. Boeing trade secret case venued in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. Jeff shined a light on the importance of the jury’s $72 million verdict in favor of Zunum, which confirms strong legal protections for trade secret owners and highlights the need for careful vetting of business partners. Among other things, Jeff noted that Zunum’s innovative electric aircraft technology directly threatened Boeing’s long-standing business model, underscoring the critical need for rigorous protection and monitoring of proprietary information.

Alec DiMario has been quoted in a Bloomberg Law article titled, “Worker Harassment Cases Get ‘Tricky’ With Mentally Ill Patients.” In the piece, Alec provides commentary on a recent U.S. Court of Appeals ruling addressing the complex issue of third-party harassment liability in healthcare settings. Primarily, Alec highlights the challenges employers face in balancing the need for a safe work environment with the unique circumstances of working with mentally impaired patients.

In a recent World IP Review article, Jennifer Mauri offers her view of the Supreme Court’s ruling in a case between Warner Chappell Music and rapper Sherman Nealy involving relief for any infringement claim—no matter when the infringement itself occurred. Jennifer underscores the continued relevance of the “discovery rule” but warns of potential challenges ahead.

WorldatWork called upon Stacey Chiu for her thoughts on the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s recent update to its workplace harassment enforcement guidance. In an article titled, “What You Need to Know (and Do) About the EEOC’s Harassment Guidance,” Stacey emphasized the importance of revising anti-harassment policies to explicitly include gender identity as a protected characteristic.