The Second Circuit issued a sweeping rejection of Chevron's attempt to use a New York federal court to halt worldwide enforcement of an $18 billion Ecuadorian judgment on Thursday, just as international arbitrators backed Chevron in its efforts to block the Ecuadorian government from acting to enforce the award. The Second Circuit's ruling places the arbitrators center stage--and raises questions about the limits of arbitral power.

One of Steven Donziger's own former consultants joined a Chevron scientist in testifying for the oil giant. Plus: Thoughts on the first week of trial, including the legal points scored and learning to read Judge Kaplan's body language.

Cite as: ABC, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, 08-0841-ag (Lead), NYLJ 1202477104261, at *1 (2d Cir., Decided January 4, 2011) Before: Richard C. Wesl

"We were dealing with people at DOJ that were, in fact, very smart and, in fact, very fair and open-minded," said Brodsky, who represented AIG executive Andrew Forster.

One of the Federal Trade Commission's own commissioners says he "went ballistic" when the FTC allowed both Google and Facebook to settle claims that they violated consumer privacy laws while flat-out denying the agency's allegations.

Women who worked for Wal-Mart waited 11 years for their discrimination case to wind its way through our legal system, winning rulings on class certification the entire way until the Supreme Court reversed. Now, the plaintiffs in Texas are told that they waited too long to bring a smaller class action. Gotcha!

As apparent evidence of fraud by the plaintiffs continues to mount, at least one observer is ready to draw conclusions.