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Attorney: Steven A. Scoggan

June 8, 2021 Steven A. Scoggan
Posted in  Direct Unfairness Misrepresentations Substantial Aggravating Circumstances

Similar Theories Lead to Different Results (Including a $31.9 Million Judgment), Illustrating the Importance of Categorizing Section 75-1.1 Claims

As we’ve previously explained, section 75-1.1 claims for unfair or deceptive trade practices typically fall into five discrete categories. Categorizing claims is not always simple, but it can have colossal consequences. Today’s post examines two cases with three section 75-1.1 claims. Those claims share similar factual theories but resulted in […]

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November 24, 2020 Steven A. Scoggan
Posted in  Federal Preemption

FDCA Preemption: A Powerful Defense in Commercial Litigation, Too.

We’ve often discussed the power of preemption defenses to section 75-1.1 claims. Preemption is also a crucial issue in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, as the federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA) has been held to preempt a wide variety of products-liability and consumer-protection claims. Consumer-protection statutes like section […]

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September 1, 2020 Steven A. Scoggan
Posted in  Economic-Loss Rule Substantial Aggravating Circumstances

In a Contract Case, Stick to Contract-Based Claims

We’ve written often about two recurring issues in contract disputes that limit a party’s ability to bring a section 75-1.1 claim: the economic-loss rule and “substantial aggravating circumstances.” The economic-loss rule provides that, in most cases, a breach of contract does not give rise to tort claims between contracting parties. […]

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June 9, 2020 Steven A. Scoggan
Posted in  Per Se Violations

The Business Court Tells a Departing-Employee Case with No Trade-Secret Issues to Buzz Off

Departing-employee cases often involve claims for trade-secret misappropriation, breach of confidentiality and noncompetition agreements, and tortious interference with contractual or business relationships. Because these claims may also be per se violations of section 75-1.1, departing-employee cases between competitors almost always involve section 75-1.1 claims, as well. The North Carolina Business […]

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