Articles by Bob Van Voris

Saudi Arabia Asks U.S. Judge to Throw Out 9/11 Lawsuits

Saudi Arabia asked a U.S. judge to throw out lawsuits claiming it helped al-Qaeda carry out the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, arguing the victims haven’t provided any evidence to back their cases. Michael Kellogg, a lawyer for the Kingdom, said …

Yankees Deflect Foul-Ball Case as Court Upholds Century-Old Rule

At least the Yankees won something. As the team prepares to watch the Astros play the Dodgers in the World Series, its ownership can take solace in winning a court challenge to a century-old legal doctrine that prevents fans from …

Injured New York Yankee Fan Takes a Swing at Century-Old Baseball Rule

Baseball is timeless. Is the Baseball Rule? The century-old legal doctrine blocks fans from suing a ball club if they get hurt by a foul ball or a shattered bat. The reason: Fans accept the risk of injury at a …

Defamation Suit Over Rolling Stone Article Is Revived on Appeal

A defamation lawsuit suit against Rolling Stone magazine over its retracted 2014 article about an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia was partially revived by a federal appeals court in New York. The lower-court judge was wrong to …

PwC’s Oscars Screw-Up Could Risk Defense at MF Global Malpractice Trial

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s epic screw-up at the Oscars could carry a high cost if jurors arrive at a malpractice trial next week suspecting the global accounting firm is error-prone. Until a PwC accountant handed Warren Beatty the wrong envelope for the …

Supreme Court ‘Easily’ Settles Insider Trading Liability Question

For two years, stock traders and the attorneys who represent them said insider-trading law was a muddle, with no one knowing exactly what was or wasn’t legal. On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court said it had “easily” settled the question. …

Judge Denies Uber Bid to Enforce Arbitration in Consumer Suit

Uber Technologies Inc. can’t require a Connecticut customer accusing the company of price-fixing to resolve the fight in arbitration, a federal judge ruled in one of several cases challenging the ride-hailing company’s efforts to steer disputes of all kinds away …

Appeals Court Rules Google Book Copying Is Legal ‘Fair Use’

Google Inc. can go ahead and create a digital library of millions of books without paying authors, a U.S. appeals court said, ruling the company’s plan is a “fair use” under copyright law. The company has called its Google Books …

GM Settles Shareholder Suit But Ignition Switch Exposure Not Over

General Motors Co.’s potential liability over flawed ignition switches isn’t over yet, and billions of dollars remain at stake. GM agreed Thursday to pay $575 million to end a shareholder suit tied to the defect and more than 1,380 civil …

Corruption Trial of Ex-N.Y. Senate Leader Skelos and Son Set for November

Former New York Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos pleaded not guilty to new charges that he demanded payments to his son Adam from the head of an insurance administrator seeking to push favorable legislation through Albany. Prosecutors claim Adam Skelos, …