A panel of arbitrators, ignoring previous guidance from the court, disregarded the law that FINRA rules provide no private right of action. The court remanded with specific instructions that a broker’s counterclaims be considered by a different FINRA arbitration panel. ...

Tagged with: Arbitration Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Following the jury trial in a dispute between a doorskin manufacturer and purchaser, there continued to be disputes between the parties over the terms of their supply agreement, requiring the court to issue declaratory relief. Background This matter is before ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The court rejected defendant’s objection to his sentence, finding prior Virginia convictions for possessing heroin with intent to distribute fell within the definition of crimes involving “controlled substances,” thus implicating the career-offender provision of the sentencing guidelines. Background Timothy A. ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The court refused to enter a permanent injunction, despite the jury’s finding that eight trade secrets were misappropriated, because the moving party argued to the jury that a reasonable royalty would adequately compensate it for the theft, and the jury ...

Tagged with: Judge Robert E. Payne Tort U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The government cannot introduce evidence against a man charged with sex trafficking and child pornography regarding his alleged sexual abuse of a minor. Background By a superseding indictment filed on Dec. 19, 2017, Richard Todd Haas was charged with four ...

Tagged with: Criminal Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A company found liable for antitrust violations will be required to divest a doorskin manufacturing facility in order to restore competition to the industry. Background Steves and JELD-WEN both sell interior molded doors that include a product called “doorskins” JELD-WEN ...

Tagged with: Commercial Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Despite the fact the jury found that only eight of 67 alleged trade secrets were actually trade secrets, and only seven had been misappropriated, its resulting damages award was supported by the record. Background Steves is an independent manufacturer of ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A supplier’s motion to set aside a jury’s award to a door manufacturer was granted because the award was not supported by the record or was based on anerroneous damages argument. Background Steves & Sons is an independent manufacturer of ...

Tagged with: Contract Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A Title VII gender discrimination case with a tangled procedural history has led to a request for a judgment against the LeClairRyan law firm for more than $1 million in compensation, fees and costs. A three-member arbitration panel found disparate ...

Tagged with: Judge Robert E. Payne Judge Rosemarie Annunziata Magistrate Judge F. Bradford Stillman

Holding that “unclean hands” is not a defense to equitable relief in antitrust, the court excluded the defendant’s evidence that the plaintiff misappropriated its trade secrets, finding such evidence not probative under Federal Rule of Evidence 402. Background Plaintiff Steves ...

Tagged with: Evidence Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District