Inside these posts: Appeals court

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Abbott wins appeal of Humira patent enfringement

Abbott's Humira drug. (Handout)

Turning back a threat to sales of Abbott Laboratories’ most lucrative drug, a federal appeals court Wednesday overturned a lower court ruling that claimed the North Chicago drug giant used Johnson & Johnson’s technology to makeĀ  a blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis drug.

Humira is Abbott’s largest-selling product and one of the world’s top-selling drugs, generating more than $5 billion in annual sales as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease and psoriasis among other autoimmune disorders.

The ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Texas overturned a $1.67 billion verdict against Abbott from Marshall County. At the time of the lower court ruling last year, observers said it was known for being friendly to plaintiffs. Get the full story »

Black loses appeal on remaining convictions

Conrad Black has lost an appeal of his remaining convictions on fraud and obstruction of justice.

The federal appeals court in Chicago said Friday that it has rejected a request by the former media tycoon for a full-court review of his case.
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7th Circuit explains why it removed judge from trial

By Ameet Sachdev and Ray Gibson | A federal appeals court said it took the extraordinary step this week of removing a judge from the middle of a criminal trial because the judge’s conduct showed bias against the prosecutors.

A three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals explained Friday why three days earlier it ordered U.S. District Chief Judge James Holderman off the trial of a man facing drug charges. Their opinion blasted Holderman for his abuse of discretion and hostility toward prosecutors. Get the full story »

English muffin secrets safe at Thomas’ for now

Nooks and crannies and Twinkies don’t go together, at least not just yet.

A federal appeals court has upheld an injunction blocking one of only seven people who know the recipe for Thomas’ English Muffins from jumping to a rival.

Tuesday’s ruling by the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia lets Grupo Bimbo SAB, a Mexican food company that owns the Thomas’ brand, continue blocking Chris Botticella from jumping to rival Hostess Brands Inc. Get the full story »

Ruling sends new Bratz dolls to toy stores

New Bratz dolls (AP)

New Bratz dolls are heading to toy stores after a federal court overturned a ruling that their maker, MGA Entertainment, had to turn over the brand to Mattel Inc.

Two new lines of the doe-eyed dolls should hit stores such as Toys R Us, Target and Walmart by the end of August. Get the full story »