Lawsuit

A Shanghai court ruled in favor of Haidilao in a lawsuit against two minors, Tang and Wu, and their parents, over an incident where the minors urinated into a hot pot at a restaurant. The court ordered Tang and Wu (through their parents) to issue apologies and mandated the parents to pay RMB 2.2 million (approximately $300,000 USD) for damages, cleaning, operational losses, reputational damage, and legal fees. Haidilao’s claim for RMB 23.26 million was rejected, as the court deemed the 10x compensation to customers a business decision, not a legally claimable damage.

A lawsuit filed by a former executive accuses Alphabet’s Verily of HIPAA violations affecting over 25,000 patients in its Onduo diabetes program. The lawsuit alleges unauthorized use of protected health information for research and marketing, and claims Verily concealed the breaches and terminated employees who raised concerns. A judge denied Verily’s request for dismissal. The lawsuit details alleged breaches involving partners like Walgreens and Delta. Verily denies the allegations and will defend itself. It comes as Verily navigates strategic shifts and funding rounds.

A former Meta security head, Attaullah Baig, is suing the company, alleging WhatsApp has critical security flaws exposing user data. He claims 1,500 engineers had unrestricted data access and that Meta retaliated against him for raising concerns. Baig reported the issues to the SEC and OSHA. Meta denies the allegations, citing Baig’s poor performance and claiming his concerns misrepresent ongoing security efforts. The lawsuit raises questions about WhatsApp’s data security and whistleblower protection.

Two former SpaceX employees are suing the company, alleging safety concerns were ignored in favor of speed and cost, leading to their wrongful termination. One plaintiff, a former supervisor, claims he was fired after raising warnings about a potentially dangerous rocket recovery process. The lawsuit highlights instances of excessive work hours, unreported injuries, and a culture of prioritizing deadlines over safety. OSHA data reveals SpaceX’s Starbase facility has a higher injury rate than the aerospace manufacturing average. Another plaintiff alleges termination after workplace injuries.

China’s YMTC has sued Micron Technology in the US, alleging defamation and disinformation. The lawsuit stems from a long-standing rivalry in memory chip manufacturing, exacerbated by YMTC’s innovative “Xtacking” technology and Micron’s alleged attempts to hinder its growth. YMTC claims Micron infringed on its patents, while Micron denies the allegations and accuses YMTC of infringement. The legal battle highlights the intensifying competition and strategic maneuvers within the global semiconductor industry.

A social media influencer was ordered to pay RMB 300,000 (approximately $42,000 USD) to a smartphone manufacturer for defamation, a ruling upheld on appeal. The case involved unsubstantiated claims, forcing the influencer to retract statements, apologize publicly, and remove defamatory content. The manufacturer emphasized constructive criticism while warning against disparagement, highlighting the legal risks of spreading misinformation in the tech industry.

YMTC has filed a third lawsuit against Micron, alleging a smear campaign to damage its market position. Accusations include Micron funding efforts to discredit YMTC through false rumors, particularly regarding backdoors in YMTC chips. YMTC seeks corrective advertising, damages, and profit disgorgement. This lawsuit follows YMTC’s 2023 patent infringement suit and Micron’s counterclaims, with a court order for Micron to produce confidential documents adding further complexity.

Jack Greener, a 30-year-old, scaled Colorado’s Mount Bierstadt despite severe disabilities inflicted during a Jiu-Jitsu training incident. A black belt instructor’s maneuver caused a spinal cord injury and strokes, leading to near-death. After a long recovery, he sued and won a $56 million settlement. This story underscores Greener’s resilience in overcoming adversity despite permanent physical limitations.

Baidu is suing Xiaomi and Shanghai Yiyi Information Technology for unfair competition. The case, scheduled for June 13th in Shanghai, highlights the intensifying competition within China’s tech industry. Baidu, the core entity of Baidu Group, and Xiaomi, a major consumer tech innovator, haven’t issued public comments on the matter.

A Chinese lawyer is suing Nanjing Metro over a 2-yuan fee ($0.30 USD) charged for exiting a station shortly after entering. This sparked debate about fare policy fairness, as the exit occurred without a completed journey, unlike Shanghai’s grace period. The metro defends its policy as per regulations, while the public is divided, with some deeming it unfair and others supporting the need for minimum fees, raising questions on operational costs, public access, and city transit systems.