In a case involving important preemption principles, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC represented the nationwide trade association of cargo air carriers as an amici curiae in the United States Supreme Court. The firm filed briefs on behalf of the association in support of a passenger airline, which argued that a customer’s claims based on revocation […]
Firm News
Spotswood Obtains Exclusion of Damages Experts & Partial Summary Judgment for Manufacturer
In an intellectual property case, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC was retained to represent a manufacturer accused of misappropriation of trade secrets, fraud, breach of contract, and unjust enrichment, among other business torts. The firm was retained for the liability and damages phase after an adverse, first-phase ruling regarding the existence of a trade secret. […]
SCOTUS Rules In Favor Of Positions Advocated by Spotswood Attorneys
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC filed amicus curiae briefs with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of a nationwide association of air carriers to vindicate an issue of great significance to both motor and air carriers—federal preemption of state laws relating to carriers’ prices, routes, and services. The firm filed briefs at both the […]
Spotswood Represents Bond Insurer In Landmark Municipal Bankruptcy
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC served as local counsel for one of the sewer bond insurers in the bankruptcy case filed by Jefferson County, Alabama, which at the time of its filing was the largest-ever municipal bankruptcy, involving nearly $4 billion in debt. The firm worked closely with national counsel based in New York in […]
5 of 6 Claims Dismissed After Spotswood Filed for Summary Judgment
After the close of discovery in a complex commercial dispute, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC was hired to develop summary judgment theories for a defendant. Spotswood attorneys developed a preemption theory, which had not been asserted in the defendant’s answer. Spotswood attorneys persuaded the court to allow the answer to be amended and, using an […]
SCOTUS Affirmed Spotswood’s Position Regarding the FAAAA
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC was hired to brief the First Circuit, on behalf of amicus curiae, on important issues of federal preemption under the Federal Aviation Authorization Administration Act (FAAAA). In its published decision, the First Circuit accepted the position advocated by Spotswood attorneys. In the Supreme Court, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC again […]
Spotswood Persuades Alabama Supreme Court for Writ of Mandamus
After its client was sued in a “judicial hellhole,” Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC developed novel jurisdiction and venue theories in an effort to transfer the case to a more favorable venue. Though the trial court denied the motion for transfer, Spotswood attorneys persuaded the Alabama Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus, forcing the trial […]
SSS Appeal Reduced Punitive Damages from $7 Million to $1.05 Million
After being hit with a $7 million punitive damages award in Oregon state court, a Fortune 500 company hired Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC to handle post-trial motions and the appeal. While the posture of the case made elimination of the punitive award virtually impossible, Spotswood attorneys used cutting-edge legal developments to persuade the appellate court to […]
Ninth Circuit Affirms Win by SSS Regarding Wage and Hour Class Action
A Fortune 500 company hired Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC to develop a national litigation strategy for a wave of wage-and-hour class and collective actions asserting joint-employment theories. Spotswood attorneys developed and executed a strategy that resulted in precedential opinions from several different venues and gutted the class theories. In the lead case, Spotswood attorneys won summary […]
Out-of-State Client Defended Against Preliminary Injunction
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC was hired to defend an out-of-state manufacturer of hybrid batteries in a preliminary injunction proceeding by an Alabama automobile manufacturer. The expedited discovery schedule resulted in the production of hundreds of thousands of documents and included depositions in Alabama, Michigan, Texas, and London. Following a two-day hearing, the court found […]
Federal Judge Agrees with SSS Interpretation of Motor Carrier Act
In a putative nationwide class action and collective wage-and-hour action involving temporary employees, Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC obtained summary judgment on federal overtime claims based on innovative arguments regarding the Motor Carrier Act exemption. Spotswood attorneys argued that prior decisions construing an amendment to the exemption were incorrect, and persuaded the federal judge that their interpretation […]
National Class Action Dismissed Pre-Certification Regarding ERISA Claims
Spotswood Sansom & Sansbury LLC, as national counsel, obtained pre-certification dismissal of a putative nationwide ERISA class action and putative New England state law class action alleging that a motor carrier jointly employed certain drivers who worked for independent transportation services contractors. In its decision, the district court ruled that the plaintiffs had failed to […]
