Turns out Vice-Chancellor Laster, who last month blocked a shareholder vote on Del Monte's LBO because of its financial adviser's conflict of interest, isn't the only Delaware jurist siding with shareholders. Vice-Chancellor Noble on Friday called a temporary halt to a shareholder vote on Qualcomm's acquisition of Atheros. And once again, the financial adviser's fee is at issue.

Kirby McInerney and shareholder activist Ted Frank continue to fight over the rate for contract attorneys who worked on on a securities class action against Citigroup. Kirby McInerney submitted a fee request for the suit's settlement that values the attorneys' time at up to $1,000 per hour; Frank says it should be around $50.

A bench trial begins on Monday in San Jose in a suit that accuses five major corporations of creating a public nuisance by manufacturing and promoting lead-based paint despite knowledge it was harmful. Ten cities and counties in California are demanding nearly $1 billion in cleanup costs.

When the American Tort Reform Association declares that it has "very good news" about a court it loves to loathe, it's sure to be bad news for the plaintiffs bar. Plaintiffs lawyers told us it's too early to gauge exactly how new changes will affect the mass torts docket at Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, but judges in New Jersey, New York, and Boston may want to clear some extra space on their calendars.