Keep your finger on the legal world's pulse
4th December 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Instacart sues New York City
Grocery delivery company Instacart has sued New York City to block enforcement of numerous laws, including rules governing minimum pay for app-based workers and disclosures to customers about tipping. The complaint filed in Manhattan federal court claims Congress forbade state and local governments from regulating prices and services for customers who use platforms such as Instacart, while New York's state legislature "has long taken charge" of minimum pay standards. "This legal challenge is about standing up for fairness, for the independence that tens of thousands of New York grocery delivery workers rely on, and for affordable access to groceries for the people who need it most," Instacart said in a blog post.
LAWSUITS
Adidas defeats appeal of lawsuit regarding Ye collaboration
Adidas has defeated an appeal from shareholders who accused it of hiding misconduct by rapper-entrepreneur Kanye West, otherwise known as Ye, before their partnership broke down in 2022. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the German firm did not mislead shareholders in its annual reports by saying improper behavior by partners from the entertainment industry could have a negative spill-over effect on business. The shareholders said Adidas continued the partnership despite being "fully aware" since at least 2018 that Ye routinely made improper comments to its employees and employees at his Yeezy design shop.
UI Health Care to pay $4m in brain injury lawsuit
University of Iowa Health Care has agreed to pay $4.16m to settle a lawsuit filed by Victoria Villarreal, the mother and guardian of Conrad Colombo, who suffered a brain injury after being restrained during a psychiatric crisis in the UI Health Care emergency department. The incident occurred on April 10, 2022, when Colombo, who had a history of bipolar and schizoaffective disorder, became violent after being admitted. The Iowa Attorney General's office noted that "extensive discovery occurred" before the settlement was reached, which includes no admission of liability. The State Appeal Board approved the settlement on December 2, 2024 as UI Health Care opted to avoid the risks associated with a jury trial. Multiple staff members were injured during the altercation. 
EMPLOYMENT LAW
NJ Transit HR chief suspended without pay
Joel Gokool, NJ Transit's chief of human resources, was suspended without pay last week amid allegations of inappropriate relationships with employees. NJ Transit spokesman John Chartier said: “Within hours of NJ Transit being informed of additional complaints, the employee who was hired in 2024 was suspended without pay pending the conclusion of that review.” The agency has engaged independent counsel to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. Gokool, who took on the HR chief role in August 2024, has denied the allegations, calling them “patently false.” Chartier emphasized the agency's commitment to integrity and the safety of its 12,000 employees, saying: “NJ Transit treats allegations of this nature with the utmost seriousness.”
TAX
New York court rules on church tax exemption
New York's highest court has revisited a complex property tax charitable exemption case, highlighting the challenges in determining eligibility. In the Matter of First United Methodist Church in Flushing v. Assessor of Callicoon, the court ruled in favor of the church, which argued that its activities, primarily farming for low-income residents, did not violate local zoning laws. Justice Jenny Rivera, who previously denied an exemption in a different case, dissented, emphasizing the importance of the church's intended use versus actual use. The court noted, “occasional retreats may have been held at which people engaged in organized prayer, this does not constitute regular organized services as required under the code to constitute a church.” The ruling adds complexity to future exemption applications, as unique circumstances may influence court interpretations.
TECHNOLOGY
AI companies' safety practices 'fail to meet global standards'
A new edition of the Future of Life Institute's AI safety index says the safety practices of artificial intelligence companies including Anthropic, OpenAI, xAI and Meta are "far short of emerging global standards." Max Tegmark, MIT professor and Future of Life president, observed: "Despite recent uproar over AI-powered hacking and AI driving people to psychosis and self-harm, US AI companies remain less regulated than restaurants and continue lobbying against binding safety standards."
FIRMS
Kibler Fowler & Cave expands Los Angeles headquarters
JLL has facilitated a new 16,811 sq ft office lease for Kibler Fowler & Cave at 11100 Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles - a significant expansion from the firm's current 5,630 sq ft headquarters in the same building. “Our firm has experienced sustained growth on both coasts since inception – expanding our team and deepening our bench across key practice areas, said managing partner Mike Kibler. “Now that lawyers increasingly have returned to the office to support this trajectory we needed larger, modern office space in a prime Los Angeles location to enhance professional collaboration on our team, help us attract and retain top legal talent, and deliver a first-class client experience.”
APPOINTMENTS
Squire Patton Boggs adds Foley & Lardner partner
Katie Catanese has joined Squire Patton Boggs as a partner in its restructuring and insolvency practice in New York, focusing on assisting financially distressed companies and representing creditors, investors, and funds in complex proceedings. Her expertise includes fraud-related litigation, Chapter 15 and cross-border proceedings, distressed asset sales, and the representation of various stakeholders across industries. Catanese previously worked at Foley & Lardner.
INTERNATIONAL
Law firm settles long-running lawsuit with sacked HR executive
Alicia Gleeson, the former chief people officer at Slater & Gordon, has reached a settlement with the private equity-owned law firm after alleging that it underpaid employees and wrongfully terminated her. The lawsuit was filed in Australia's Federal Court last year, and the settlement was finalized last week, with both parties agreeing to cover their own legal costs. 
Unification Church leader on trial
The trial of Han Hak-ja, leader of the Unification Church, has commenced in South Korea. She faces allegations of bribing former First Lady Kim Keon Hee with luxury items, including Chanel handbags and a diamond necklace. Prosecutors claim Han sought political favors in exchange for gifts. Han, who attended the hearing in a wheelchair, has denied the accusations, labeling them as "false information." Her legal team argues that a church official acted independently. The church has faced scrutiny for its practices and finances; critics brand it a dangerous cult.
OTHER
U.S. private employers shed 32,000 jobs in November
Private employers in the U.S. shed 32,000 jobs in November, according to the latest data from payroll processor ADP, published in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists called for a 10,000 gain. Education and health services led gainers with 33,000 hires, while leisure and hospitality added 13,000. The biggest loss was seen in professional and business services, with a decline of 26,000. Information services lost 20,000 roles, manufacturing 18,000, and financial activities and construction 9,000 each. Larger businesses, those with more than 50 employees, reported a net gain of 90,000 workers, while smaller firms lost 120,000.

 

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