Litigation Updates:

  • Sorrell v. IMS Health Inc.
    On March 31, 2011, WLF filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, urging it to protect First Amendment rights by striking down a Vermont law that blocks access to critical healthcare information. The law criminalizes the collection and disclosure of information about the prescribing practices of physicians. WLF argued that the law violates the First Amendment…
  • Erica P. John Fund, Inc. v. Halliburton Co.
    On March 31, 2011, WLF filed a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court, urging it to crack down on abusive class action suits filed under the securities laws, by refusing to certify plaintiff classes under a fraud-on-the-market theory when there is no evidence that the market was ever misled. WLF argued that federal courts are often too willing to certify inappropriate and unwieldy classes in cases alleging…
  • In re Securities & Exchange Commission Proposed Conflict Minerals Rules
    On March 30, 2011, WLF urged the SEC to revise its proposed rules for implementing the Conflict Minerals Reporting Requirements of Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”), before issuing them in final form. In formal comments filed with the SEC, WLF expressed a longstanding interest in the work of the SEC, especially as it pertains to protecting employees, consumers, pensioners, and investors from stock losses caused by abusive securities and class action litigation. But WLF took issue with the SEC’s proposed reporting requirements…
  • Astra USA, Inc. v. County of Santa Clara
    On March 29, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned an appeals court decision that created a federal common law rule whereby thousands of public health care providers around the country would have been permitted to sue drug companies for alleged overcharges. The decision was a victory for WLF, which filed a brief urging reversal…

From The Legal Pulse: