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A Giant On and Off the Bench: The Complicated Legacy of Judge A. Leon Higginbotham by Kevin Trainer
Associate Kevin Trainer has written an article for the Philadelphia Bar Association’s magazine, The Philadelphia Lawyer, exploring the legacy of the late and great Judge Higginbotham. Kevin became interested in Judge Higginbotham during his clerkships with the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. “By training a […]
LGD Victory: Federal Court Grants Class Certification in RICO Case Seeking Relief for Student Borrowers
Turrey v. Vervent (formerly Aliff v. Vervent), No. 20cv00697 (S.D. Cal.) was brought on behalf of student borrowers who paid more than $80 million dollars on private student loans related to attendance at ITT. Plaintiffs allege that the entire “PEAKS” loan program (an acronym for “Program for Education Access & Knowledge”) was a scheme to […]
David Nagdeman Joins Langer Grogan & Diver P.C.
Langer, Grogan & Diver is pleased to announce that David Nagdeman has rejoined the boutique litigation firm as an associate. David Nagdeman has spent the prior year clerking for the Hon. Gerald A. McHugh in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania after graduating from Temple University, Beasley School of Law summa cum laude. During law school […]
Chambers USA 2022 Recognizes Langer, Grogan & Diver
The 2022 edition of Chambers USA has ranked Langer, Grogan & Diver as well as Howard Langer and Ned Diver among the best. This year, our Antitrust practice was honored among the best in Pennsylvania.
Langer Grogan & Diver P.C. Retained to Represent Local Governments in Gun Control Fight
Langer Grogan & Diver attorneys Mary Catherine Roper, Kevin Trainer, and John Grogan recently filed an amicus brief in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on behalf of local governments, elected officials, and the Pennsylvania Municipal League in a fight over the rights of municipalities to enact and enforce regulations to stem the scourge of gun violence. […]
USPTO Publishes New Rules to Implement Trademark Modernization Act of 2020
By Bob Silver The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has published a new rule in the Federal Register to implement the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA) of 2020. Most revisions to the trademark rules became effective December 18, 2021. Some, including the implementation of the shorter response period for office actions, will become effective […]
Settlement with LoanCare in Class Action Suit Earns Final Approval in Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas
On October 27, 2020, the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas issued a final approval of a settlement in a class action against Loancare, LLC, for overcharged late fees. The complaint alleged that the defendant overcharged class members when assessing late fees on mortgage loans obtained through the FHA program administered by the United States Department […]
Big Pharma firm Gilead Sciences sent envelopes violating privacy of users of HIV medication
PHILADELPHIA (May 22, 2020) – An Alabama man was mortified when an envelope for him with the return address HIV Prevention Team in bold red lettering turned up in his workplace mail room. An Indiana man, who is so protective of his confidentiality that he fills his HIV-related prescriptions at a different pharmacy chain from […]
Langer, Grogan & Diver wins $26.8 million judgment in civil RICO case against Canadian fraudster
On December 19, 2018, a federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania entered a $26.8 million judgment against serial advance-fee fraudster Sandy Hutchens. This is in addition to the $9 million judgment against the front organization obtained in Pennsylvania state court in 2017.
Langer, Grogan & Diver mourns the loss of our colleague and friend, Geoffrey Hazard, Jr.
Please follow the link to the announcement from Penn Law that recalls his storied career: https://www.law.upenn.edu/live/news/7720-geoff-hazard
ACLU of Pennsylvania Announces Settlements in Philadelphia Lawsuits That Established a First Amendment Right to Record the Police
PHILADELPHIA (December 5) – The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania announced today that it has settled two lawsuits against the city of Philadelphia after police unlawfully retaliated against people who recorded them carrying out their duties. The litigation stemmed from two separate incidents in 2012 and 2013 but were argued together in federal court, leading to a landmark ruling in July from the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that there is a First Amendment right to record the police in public.
Langer, Grogan & Diver partner Peter Leckman elected to the American Law Institute
Langer, Grogan & Diver partner Peter Leckman has been elected as one of 45 new members to The American Law Institute (ALI). Peter joins other Langer, Grogan & Diver lawyers who are members of the ALI including Howard Langer, John J. Grogan, and Ned Diver. Peter’s work at Langer, Grogan & Diver focuses on antitrust and consumer class actions, and appellate work.
Langer Grogan & Diver honored with Antitrust Enforcement Award for Landmark Sports Broadcasting Actions against MLB and NHL
The American Antitrust Institute (AAI) announced today that Langer Grogan & Diver partners Edward Diver, Howard Langer and Peter Leckman have been honored for Outstanding Antitrust Litigation Achievement in Private Law Practice for their work on two major sports broadcasting cases: Garber v. Office of the Commissioner of Baseball and Laumann v. National Hockey League.
Zions First National Bank Agrees to Pay $37.5 Million to Settle RICO Claims
Langer Grogan & Diver, P.C. announced today that Magistrate Judge Timothy Rice of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania granted preliminary approval to a $37.5 million class action settlement with Zions First National Bank and two subsidiaries of claims brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (“RICO”) Act.
Law360: Langer Grogan & Diver Named as Co-Lead Counsel in NFL Broadcasting Antitrust Litigation
Law360’s Braden Campbell reports on the decision of U.S. District Court Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell to name Langer Grogan & Diver as co-lead counsel in a proposed class action lawsuit alleging that the NFL’s television broadcasting practices violate federal antitrust laws.
Law360: $200M MLB Antitrust Deal Cutting Cost of Web Streams OK’d
Law360’s Pete Brush reports on the $200M MLB Antitrust Deal Cutting Cost of Web Streams OK’d. Manhattan U.S. District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin gave final approval Monday for an antitrust class action deal worth $200 million that drops the price Major League Baseball junkies pay to watch online, awarding $16.5 million to plaintiffs’ counsel and turning aside an objector who said the settlement gives no relief for those who have stopped watching.
Law 360: MLB Fans Get Initial OK For TV Antitrust Settlement
Law360’s Jeff Zelesin reports that MLB Fans Get Initial OK for TV Antitrust Settlement. Major League Baseball fans who were taking the league to trial over its business model for out-of-market game broadcasts won a New York federal judge’s initial approval Friday to settle the antitrust class action in exchange for some new viewing options and discounts.
SportsBusiness Journal: MLB hails compromise on broadcast territories
Reporting from the Major League Baseball Owners Meetings in Coral Gables, Florida, SportsBusiness Journal reporter Eric Fisher writes that MLB hails compromise on broadcast territories.
Bloomberg View: Next Big Player in Digital Media – Baseball
“Major League Baseball fans will soon have more options for watching their favorite team. And non-sports fans yearning for a cordless future will have reason to cheer as well,” writes Kavitha Davidson in today’s Bloomberg View.
The Boston Globe: MLB settlement a big win for out-of-town fans
Sports media columnist Chad Finn writes the MLB settlement a big win for out-of-town fans in today’s Boston Globe.
The Philadelphia Inquirer: MLB agrees to concessions settling TV broadcasts antitrust suit
On the top of page one of the business section in today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, staff writer Bob Fernandez reports on MLB agrees to concessions settling TV broadcasts antitrust suit. He has covered this story in Philadelphia since 2013.
Proposed Settlement Reached in Major League Baseball Broadcasting Class Action
On the day trial was set to begin in a class action challenging Major League Baseball’s broadcast practices, the parties submitted a proposed settlement agreement to Judge Shira Scheindlin of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The Washington Post: MLB TV settlement is ‘big win for baseball fans’
Hours before a class-action lawsuit was set to begin between Major League Baseball and its fans, a settlement was reached Tuesday that will increase viewing options and reduce prices, reports Jacob Emert in today’s The Washington Post.
Law 360: MLB Ripped For Shot At ‘Antitrust Titan’ In Blackout Suit
Law 360’s Benjamin Horney reports in MLB Ripped For Shot At ‘Antitrust Titan’ In Blackout Suit that Pay-TV subscribers suing their providers and the MLB over blackout rules have urged a New York federal Judge to reject an attempt to block testimony from an expert witness hailed by other courts as an “antitrust titan,” claiming he serves to quantify the impact of the allegedly improper conduct.
Football Fans, Sports Bars File Antitrust Suit Challenging NFL Broadcasting Agreement
The 32 teams in the National Football League (NFL) have unlawfully agreed to eliminate competition among themselves in broadcasting NFL games, according to a class action lawsuit filed in federal court. Represented by Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, bar owners and football fans from around the country seek an injunction to put an end to this anticompetitive arrangement and damages to compensate for the overcharges they have paid in purchasing access to live NFL broadcasts.
Law 360: NFL Sunday Ticket Runs Afoul Of Antitrust Laws, Suit Says
The National Football League’s teams have conspired with DirecTV and television networks to inflate the cost of watching football games by selling broadcast rights collectively instead of on a team-by-team basis, sports bars and fans told a New York federal court Friday.
Law 360: NHL Settlement Approved In Broadcast Antitrust Case
A New York federal judge on Tuesday approved a nonmonetary settlement in a class action accusing the NHL of conspiring to inflate the price of broadcast rights for games, and awarded plaintiffs’ attorneys $6.5 million in fees and expenses, reports Law 360’s Max Stendahl in NHL Settlement Approved In Broadcast Antitrust Case.
Law 360: Apotex’s Claim Of Provigil Monopoly To Be Decided At Trial
A Pennsylvania federal judge on Tuesday refused to grant Apotex Inc. summary judgment that Cephalon Inc. had monopoly power over the market for modafinil, the active ingredient in the narcolepsy drug Provigil, saying that disputed issues exist that should be resolved at trial. Vin Gurrieri reported for Law 360 in Apotex’s Claim Of Provigil Monopoly To Be Decided At Trial.
Law 360: LexisNexis, Retail Workers Get Nod For $2.38M Settlement
A Pennsylvania federal judge has given preliminary approval to a $2.38 million settlement in a proposed class action claiming LexisNexis Risk Solutions Inc. illegally distributed damaging information about retail workers to current and potential employers. The plaintiffs are represented by Irv Ackelsberg.
Langer, Grogan & Diver Garners Preliminary Settlement in National Hockey League Class Action
With the Stanley Cup Playoffs concluded, all National Hockey League fans can now get excited about viewing next season’s games, thanks especially to a proposed settlement agreement granted preliminary approval by Honorable Shira A. Scheindlin in the United States District Court.
Law 360: MLB, NHL Viewers Press NY Judge To Certify Antitrust Class
“What we’re talking about here is a basic division of the market horizontally into exclusive territories,” Ned Diver tells Law 360 in MLB, NHL Viewers Press NY Judge To Certify Antitrust Class.
Law 360: MLB Strikes Out In Bid For 2nd Circ. To Hear Antitrust Row
Major League Baseball can’t escape an antitrust class action accusing it, the National Hockey League, Comcast Corp. and others of conspiring to thwart broadcasting competition, following the Second Circuit’s refusal to take up an appeal of an order requiring the league to participate in the suit.
Fox News: Attorney General Kane files lawsuit over alleged illegal payday loan scheme
Langer Grogan & Diver are serving as Special Counsel in assisting Deputy Attorney General Saverio P. Mirarchi of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection with a lawsuit filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. According to Fox News, Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane announced a consumer protection lawsuit against a Texas-based company for allegedly engineering an illegal payday loan scheme over the Internet. According to the lawsuit, the defendants allegedly targeted Pennsylvania consumers in violation of state law.
Philadelphia Magazine: ACLU Sues Police for Using Force to Stop Photos of Arrest
It’s been almost three years now since Commissioner Charles Ramsey issued a directive to Philly Police, letting them know that it’s entirely legal for the public to record officers doing their work and making arrests — as long as the photographer doesn’t interfere with that police work.
Courthouse News: Baseball Fights Against Federal Judge
Major League Baseball on Wednesday said it would appeal a federal judge’s ruling to permit two antitrust class actions brought by viewers who say the league and cable companies use “blackouts” to shut out competition, reported Nick Divito in Courthouse News’ coverage of Baseball Fights Against Federal Judge.
Law 360: MLB, NHL Fans’ Broadcast Antitrust Actions Headed For Trial
Putative class actions alleging Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and cable providers colluded to thwart competition in television and Internet sports broadcasting will go to trial after a New York federal judge refused to toss them, according to a filing made publicly available Friday. This was reported by Law 360’s Kurt Orzeck in MLB, NHL Fans’ Broadcast Antitrust Actions Headed For Trial.
Philadelphia Inquirer: Suit alleges illegal cartel on TV, Internet sports
In the October 19, 2013 edition of The Philadelphia Inquirer, business reporter Bob Fernandez writes on, Suit alleges illegal cartel on TV, Internet sports, discussing the consumer proposed-class-action lawsuit against Major League Baseball, the NHL, and regional sports networks, including those owned by Comcast and DirecTV.
Law 360: Rite Aid Job Applicants Win Round In Background-Check Suit
Job applicants to Rite Aid Corp. won a round in their fight over the company’s pre-employment background checks, when a Pennsylvania federal judge on Wednesday denied the company’s motion to strike the designation of the putative class action as related to a similar case, saying both suits share a central core of common facts.
ACLU-PA and Civil Rights Attorneys File First in Series of Lawsuits over Illegal Arrests for Observing and Recording Philadelphia Police
PHILADELPHIA – The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and co-counsel filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of Christopher Montgomery, a Philadelphia resident who was arrested for using his cellphone to record an arrest.
Thomson Reuters Legal News: Sports fans can pursue antitrust case over programs
In today’s Thomson Reuters legal news, Jonathan Stempel covers LGD’s class action lawsuit against Major League Baseball, the NHL and regional sports networks in Sports fans can pursue antitrust case over programs.
The Toronto Star: Disgruntled fans sue NHL over broadcast access
A group of disgruntled U.S. hockey fans is going to war against the National Hockey League, accusing the league of conspiring to overcharge customers for its game broadcasts in an antitrust lawsuit.
The Legal Intelligencer: No Wedding Bell Blues
Shannon Duffy covers LGD’s successful representation in Buck v. Stankovic, in a page one article entitled No Wedding Bell Blues in The Legal Intelligencer. A federal judge ruled that a county official cannot deny a marriage license to a couple simply because an applicant does not have a current visa or green card.