Like other big accounting firms facing allegations that they duped investors about the health of financial institutions caught up on the subprime meltdown, Deloitte & Touche has been keeping its lawyers awfully busy over the last four years. Those efforts came to a head in two different cases over the past fews days, with a victory in one case and a $20 million settlement in another.

EchoStar Communications has now used three different law firms in its epic IP struggle with TiVo Inc.--and each of them has failed to get the digital video recording company off the hook for infringing TiVo patents.

Tom, J.P., Friedman, Nardelli, Acosta, Abdus-Salaam, JJ. 2902 Index 601220/08 William I. Koch, Plaintiff-Respondent, v Acker, Merrall & Condit Company, D

It would have been a doozy. The research group, represented by Chu, claimed that Intel infringed patents at the heart of the processor company's business. Unfortunately, Lee still won't have time to catch his beloved Red Sox play the Angels this week. He's already started another trial. But rest assured: he's ready to work the DVR.

Four years ago, hoping to keep a trade secrets dispute brought by rival hard drive manufacturer Seagate Technology under wraps, Western Digital Corp. persuaded a state court judge in Minnesota to send the case to arbitration. On Monday Western Digital's shareholders finally discovered how high the stakes had been in the case.

The two companies have quite a history of IP fighting. But this time AT&T's ally against TiVo--Microsoft--doesn't seem to be in the picture.

General Electric and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are mired in at least a half-a-dozen patent and antitrust battles around the country. With another win for GE's lawyers at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in the wind power war, Mitsubishi seems to be stuck in the doldrums.