A man who bought a four-pack box of a mixed cocktail at a liquor store, noting that the label said it contained tequila, and discerned that it contained none of that type of liquor, sued under a consumer protection statute and settled for $2,500, is entitled to an award of attorney fees, the Court of Appeal held yesterday, rejecting a judge’s theory that there is no “prevailing party” where a statutory offer of compromise is accepted.

(Subscription required) A unanimous 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a federal judge failed to adequately investigate an alternate juror who expressed apparent bias before trial and later joined deliberations, vacating a defendant's 44 convictions in a Paycheck Protection Program fraud case.

U.S. government lawyers have an ethical obligation to report violations of the law committed by fellow employees when those actions may cause “substantial injury” to government organizations, according to ​a new ethics advisory from the American Bar Association.

(Subscription required) The second Los Angeles social media addiction bellwether trial ended before jury selection after the Florida minor voluntarily dismissed his remaining claims against Meta.