Marilyn Monroe’s will was probated in New York which does not recognize a posthumous right of publicity. Both the federal trial and appellate courts concluded that because her executors consistently represented during the probate proceedings that she was domiciled in New York at her death to avoid paying California estate taxes, they are judicially estopped […]
Attorney Fees Awarded After Summary Judgment Filed And A Dismissal Of Trade Secrets Case Is Filed Instead Of Opposition.
Three individuals left plaintiff’s company and joined defendant’s company. Plaintiff brought a trade secret misappropriation claim against defendant. Defendant filed a motion for summary judgment containing evidence the purported trade secret was actually an off-the-shelf computer program. Plaintiff asked for several continuances to conduct discovery, but never opposed the motion and filed a dismissal instead. […]
Vicarious Liability For Spam Texts.
Spam is irritating, whether it comes by e-mail or text message, even though it’s actually pretty easy just to delete it. A group of customers of Heartland Automotive Services, a franchisee which operated Jiffy Lube service stations, found the spam texts they received sufficiently annoying that they initiated class proceedings: In re: Jiffy Lube Int’l […]
Summary Judgment Reversed By Ninth Circuit In Intellectual Property Case.
Plaintiff designed and registered with the Copyright Office a floral print fabric and sold 50,000 yards of it between 2002 and 2006. In 2008, plaintiff discovered shirts bearing a very similar design “printed using cruder, lower-quality techniques and machinery.” Plaintiff sued the seller of the design it discovered. The trial court granted summary judgment for […]