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Despite its popularity with viewers, the television series This Is Us, which aired between 2016 and 2022, has received relatively little scholarly attention. Yet there is an emerging critical consensus that viewers’ self-image and behaviour is informed by the lessons they learn from the series. This article explores the series’ representation of gender as ideological precept, analysing the ways characters modify their behaviour to conform to gendered expectations at the same time as those ideological behaviours lead to relationship conflict. I argue that This Is Ussells viewers the fantasy of good intention and performative affection, whilst implicitly normalizing unhealthy behaviours: poor communication, impulsiveness and self-centred decision-making. That the characters in the show exhibit these traits – these pathologies – is justified in the logic of the show, which paints them as righteous protagonists. Reading the series against the grain reveals that these individual shortcomings can only be understood as pathologies, presented as they are in the series with no material base.

A lawsuit has been filed in Los Angeles state court by James Kohlberg, son of Jerome Kohlberg, co-founder of KKR & Co., against Mark Attanasio, principal owner of the Milwaukee Brewers. Kohlberg alleges that Attanasio is using heavy machinery to take sand from the public beach for a construction project on his property. Attanasio's attorney claims that his client has complied with the requirements of the construction permit. The lawsuit cites violations of the California Coastal Act and nuisance claims, and Kohlberg is seeking a court order to replace the sand and prevent further removal, as well as monetary fines. [Extracted from the article]

The family of Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a renowned French diver and Titanic expert, is seeking $50 million in a wrongful death lawsuit after he was killed in the implosion of OceanGate's Titan submersible. The lawsuit accuses OceanGate of "gross negligence" in the design of the submersible and alleges a disregard for safety. The family is also suing the estate of OceanGate co-founder Stockton Rush, who died in the implosion. Nargeolet was considered the world's leading expert on the Titanic wreckage and had completed numerous dives to the crash site. OceanGate suspended all operations after the incident. [Extracted from the article]

HSBC Holdings has successfully had most of the claims brought against it by First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. dismissed in a trade secrets lawsuit. US Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler granted HSBC's request to dismiss the majority of the allegations, but some claims of trade secret theft remain. The judge expressed skepticism about these remaining claims, stating that they currently only show a failed bank and employees moving to better opportunities. First Citizens will need to provide evidence during the discovery phase to support their claims of stolen secrets. [Extracted from the article]

A federal judge in San Francisco has dismissed most of the allegations in a $1 billion lawsuit filed by First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. against HSBC Holdings Plc. The lawsuit accused HSBC of stealing trade secrets when it recruited dozens of bankers who had recently joined First Citizens after it acquired failed Silicon Valley Bank. The judge expressed doubt about the merits of the lawsuit, stating that the allegations only showed a failed bank and employees seeking better opportunities. However, certain claims of trade secret theft and breach of contract were allowed to proceed. First Citizens will need to provide evidence during the discovery phase to support its claims. HSBC welcomed the ruling, stating that it lawfully extended job offers to former Silicon Valley Bank workers. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- HSBC Holdings Plc won the dismissal of most claims brought by First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. over the hiring of dozens of Silicon Valley Bank employees following the lender's collapse last year.Read the court's order here.©2024 Bloomberg L.P.By Rachel GrafReported by Author [Extracted from the article]

A federal judge in Dallas has delayed the implementation of the US Federal Trade Commission's ban on noncompete agreements, which was set to take effect nationwide on September 4. The judge sided with the US Chamber of Commerce and a Texas-based tax firm that argued the agency lacks the authority to define unfair methods of competition. The ban, which is supported by labor organizations and Democratic senators, aims to prevent noncompete agreements from blocking workers from switching jobs and undermining labor competition. Business groups argue that the ban is overly broad and limits companies' ability to protect confidential information. [Extracted from the article]

The National Football League (NFL) has been ordered to pay approximately $4.7 billion in damages, which could potentially be tripled to $14 billion, after losing a jury trial over anticompetitive practices related to its Sunday Ticket broadcast package. The lawsuit alleged that the NFL conspired with DirecTV to raise subscription prices for out-of-market games, even when viewers' teams were not playing. The jury awarded $96.9 million in damages to commercial subscribers and $4.61 billion to residential customers. The NFL plans to appeal the verdict. [Extracted from the article]

A federal judge in Fort Worth, Texas, has dismissed a lawsuit by Exxon Mobil against activist investor group Arjuna Capital. The lawsuit was part of a broader pushback by corporations against the power of the US Securities and Exchange Commission in vetting shareholder proposals. The judge's decision came after Arjuna Capital pledged not to submit similar proposals in the future. Exxon's decision to seek legal judgment rather than going through the SEC was seen as a test of corporations' ability to shut down activist investor proposals they disagree with. [Extracted from the article]

A federal judge in Texas has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Exxon Mobil Corp. against activist investor group Arjuna Capital. The lawsuit was related to a shareholder policy opposed by Exxon. The judge's decision came after a hearing in which Arjuna Capital's lawyer promised not to revive the policy. This case is part of a larger trend of corporations pushing back against the power of the US Securities and Exchange Commission in vetting shareholder proposals. [Extracted from the article]

Apple Inc. is facing a lawsuit from two female employees who allege that the company systematically pays women less than men for similar work. The employees claim that Apple used employees' compensation history to determine starting salaries before 2018, perpetuating historic pay disparities. After California outlawed this practice, Apple began asking for salary expectations, further entrenching the disparity. The employees also allege that men at Apple receive higher scores on performance reviews, resulting in lower bonuses and pay for women. The lawsuit seeks to represent over 12,000 current and former female employees in Apple's engineering, marketing, and AppleCare divisions in California. [Extracted from the article]

Tesla Inc. has been unsuccessful in its attempt to dismiss claims made by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that the company exaggerated the capabilities of its self-driving features. The DMV alleges that Tesla made false statements about its "Autopilot" and "Full Self-Driving" features, leading customers to believe they were more advanced than they actually are. This ruling follows a recent decision by a federal judge in San Francisco that Tesla must face a proposed class-action lawsuit with similar claims. These setbacks come at a crucial time for Tesla as CEO Elon Musk has emphasized the company's future reliance on autonomy. Tesla is also facing federal investigations into whether Autopilot defects have contributed to fatal crashes, as well as inquiries into whether the company made misleading claims about the feature to the public. In the DMV case, Tesla argued that its statements were not misleading and that the "Full Self-Driving" capabilities referred to future potential rather than current autonomy. However, the administrative judge sided with the DMV, stating that the case should proceed to a hearing later this year. [Extracted from the article]

Elon Musk and his companies are currently involved in numerous legal battles. Tesla Inc. is facing wrongful death claims related to crashes involving its Autopilot system, as well as lawsuits alleging race discrimination and false advertising. Musk himself is facing lawsuits over his $55.8 billion pay package, an anti-union tweet, and allegations of drug use. Additionally, Musk's other companies, X Corp. (formerly Twitter) and SpaceX Corp., are also facing lawsuits and government investigations. These legal battles have significant implications for Musk, his companies, and their reputations. [Extracted from the article]

Elon Musk has dropped a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, in which he accused the company of prioritizing profits over humanity. Musk had claimed that OpenAI had violated its founding agreement to be a non-profit organization focused on developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. OpenAI denied these allegations and argued that Musk had previously supported the company's plans to become a for-profit business. Musk recently raised $6 billion for his own AI company as an alternative to OpenAI. [Extracted from the article]

Meta Platforms Inc. and other social media companies have successfully had novel claims dismissed in hundreds of lawsuits brought by school districts. The districts alleged that social media platforms are addictive and harmful to youths, increasing the cost of education due to distractions and disruptions caused by students' social media use. However, a California state judge ruled in favor of the social media companies, stating that there must be limits on liability and that the companies cannot be held responsible for content posted by third parties. The judge also cited the powerful federal liability shield, Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act, as a reason for dismissing the claims. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses the increasing number of corporate battles in the US as companies try to prevent talented workers from leaving for competitors. In the past, employers could use non-compete agreements to block workers from defecting, but many states have now banned or restricted these agreements. As a result, more employees are leaving in large groups, and companies are fighting back by accusing departing workers of taking trade secrets. However, proving these claims legally can be challenging. The article highlights several high-profile cases, including a lawsuit by First Citizens Bank against HSBC for an alleged illegal scheme to plunder Silicon Valley Bank's talent. [Extracted from the article]

UK tech mogul Mike Lynch has been found not guilty of criminal charges in a US court, where he was accused of orchestrating Silicon Valley's largest-ever fraud by deceiving Hewlett Packard into purchasing his software startup for $11 billion. This verdict comes after Lynch lost a civil trial in London in 2022 over similar allegations. Lynch, who has maintained his innocence, expressed relief and stated that he looks forward to returning to the UK and focusing on his family and innovation. The jury's decision marks a significant redemption for Lynch, who has long claimed that he was unfairly blamed for the failed acquisition of Autonomy by Hewlett Packard. [Extracted from the article]

Berkshire Hathaway's PacifiCorp has agreed to pay $178 million to settle 403 claims from victims of Oregon's 2020 Labor Day wildfires. This settlement comes after attorneys for the victims demanded $30 billion for outstanding claims. PacifiCorp has now settled almost 1,500 claims related to the wildfires, which destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres in central and western Oregon. The company's chairman, Warren Buffett, has warned that wildfires have made utilities in the western US risky investments. [Extracted from the article]

UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch has been found not guilty of criminal charges in the US that he committed fraud by deceiving Hewlett Packard into buying his software startup for $11 billion. This verdict comes after Lynch lost a civil trial in the UK in 2022 over similar allegations. Lynch has maintained that he has been unfairly blamed for the failed acquisition of Autonomy, and the jury's decision offers a significant redemption for him. The case in the UK seeking damages of $4 billion is still ongoing. [Extracted from the article]

UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch has been cleared of fraud charges in a US trial. Lynch was accused of deceiving Hewlett Packard into purchasing his software startup for $11 billion in 2011. This verdict is seen as a redemption for Lynch, who has maintained his innocence and claimed to be a scapegoat. It is worth noting that Lynch previously lost a civil trial in the UK over similar allegations. [Extracted from the article]

UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch has been found not guilty of fraud charges in a US trial. Lynch was accused of orchestrating Silicon Valley's largest-ever fraud by deceiving Hewlett Packard into purchasing his software startup for $11 billion. This verdict marks a significant redemption for Lynch, who previously lost a civil trial in the UK over similar allegations. The jury's decision comes after a three-month trial in which Lynch and other witnesses testified about the deal. Lynch denied the allegations and claimed ignorance of the wrongdoing attributed to him. [Extracted from the article]

The National Football League (NFL) is facing a multibillion-dollar antitrust case over its Sunday Ticket broadcast package, which allows fans to watch out-of-market games. Fans who sued nine years ago claim that the NFL and DirecTV conspired to maintain an illegal monopoly on these games, resulting in higher prices and forcing viewers to pay for games even when their team wasn't playing. The fans are seeking a court order to end these agreements and revise the NFL's broadcast policies. The case is going to trial, and if the NFL and DirecTV lose, they could be liable for damages estimated at $18 billion. [Extracted from the article]

A federal appeals court has struck down the US Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) rules that required hedge funds and private equity firms to disclose quarterly fees and expenses to investors. The court sided with industry groups who argued that the SEC exceeded its authority and that the rules were unnecessary for sophisticated investors. The SEC has been seeking to impose regulations on the private-funds industry to increase transparency and mitigate financial stability risks. The decision is seen as a victory for industry groups, who argue that private funds are already well-regulated and do not require further government oversight. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- A federal appeals court struck down the US Securities and Exchange Commission's rules requiring hedge funds and private equity firms to detail quarterly fees and expenses to investors, a significant setback for the regulator.The US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans on Wednesday sided with the private funds industry, which argued that the agency overstepped its authority and that rules weren't necessary for the "highly sophisticated" investors that pour money into private funds.©2024 Bloomberg L.P.By Madlin Mekelburg and Rachel GrafReported by Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

Mike Lynch, a UK tech tycoon, is currently on trial in the US for allegedly deceiving Hewlett Packard into purchasing his software startup for $11 billion. Lynch downplayed concerns raised by the former CFO of Autonomy Corp, Sushovan Hussain, who was convicted of fraud in 2018. Lynch dismissed the CFO's comments as typical hand-wringing and testified that Autonomy was highly profitable before the acquisition. The trial is nearing its end, with closing arguments and jury deliberations expected next week. [Extracted from the article]

Mike Lynch, a UK tech tycoon, is currently on trial in the US for allegedly deceiving Hewlett Packard into purchasing his software startup for $11 billion. Lynch downplayed concerns raised by the former CFO of his company, Autonomy Corp., in emails from 2009 to 2011. He dismissed the CFO's comments as typical and testified that the CFO tends to use lively language. Lynch lost a civil trial in London in 2022 and is now facing a criminal case in the US, with a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. The trial is nearing its end, with closing arguments and jury deliberations expected next week. [Extracted from the article]

Tesla Inc. has settled a lawsuit over the death of a passenger in a 2016 crash, avoiding a jury trial in California for the second time in two months. The details of the settlement were not disclosed. Previously, the family of the driver, who also died in the accident, settled with Tesla under undisclosed terms. In April, Tesla reached a confidential settlement in another high-profile lawsuit involving a crash with Autopilot. [Extracted from the article]

Tesla Inc. has settled a lawsuit over the death of a passenger in a 2016 crash, avoiding a jury trial for the second time in two months. The settlement comes after the automaker reached a confidential agreement in April regarding a crash involving Autopilot. In this particular case, the plaintiffs claimed that the driver lost control of the Model S when the car suddenly accelerated, hitting a tree and bursting into flames. Tesla maintains that there was nothing wrong with the car and that the driver had a blood-alcohol level more than twice the legal limit. The settlement in the McCarthy family's case is described as "conditional," but no details were provided. [Extracted from the article]

Mike Lynch, a UK tech tycoon, has testified in a San Francisco federal court, denying responsibility for an alleged Silicon Valley fraud involving the $11 billion sale of his software startup, Autonomy Corp., to Hewlett Packard. Lynch, who lost a civil trial in London in 2022 over the acquisition, is now facing criminal charges of duping Hewlett Packard into overpaying. Prosecutors claim that Autonomy used accounting tricks to inflate its revenue growth. Lynch, facing up to 25 years in prison if convicted, has distanced himself from the former finance chief of Autonomy, who was previously convicted of fraud. The trial is expected to conclude next week. [Extracted from the article]

Exxon Mobil Corp. has been granted permission to proceed with its lawsuit against activist investor group Arjuna Capital, even after the group withdrew a shareholder proposal that Exxon opposed. The lawsuit is part of a broader pushback by corporations against the power of the US Securities & Exchange Commission in vetting shareholder proposals. The judge ruled that Arjuna abused the shareholder vote process by buying minimal shares to campaign for proposals that would harm Exxon's business. The ruling allows Exxon to pursue claims against Arjuna, even though the proposal in question has been withdrawn. [Extracted from the article]

Mike Lynch, a UK tech tycoon, is set to testify in his own defense against charges that he deceived Hewlett Packard into purchasing his software startup for $11 billion in 2011. Lynch is accused of inflating the value of his company, Autonomy Corp., which led to an $8.8 billion write-down by Hewlett Packard less than a year after the acquisition. This is not Lynch's first time testifying about the deal, as he previously took the stand in a civil trial in London in 2019. If convicted, Lynch could face up to 25 years in prison. The trial is nearing its end, with closing arguments and jury deliberation expected to follow. [Extracted from the article]

Exxon Mobil Corp. has been given permission by a federal judge to proceed with its lawsuit against activist investor group Arjuna Capital, even though the group withdrew a shareholder proposal that Exxon opposed. The lawsuit is part of a larger effort by corporations to challenge the power of the US Securities & Exchange Commission in vetting shareholder proposals. Exxon claims that Arjuna Capital abused the shareholder vote process by purchasing minimal shares in order to push for proposals that would harm the company's business. [Extracted from the article]

Dolce & Gabbana USA Inc. is facing a lawsuit from a customer who claims that the Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) he purchased for $6,000 lost 97% of their value due to delivery issues. The NFTs were advertised as offering digital, physical, and experiential benefits and could be bought and sold on the Ethereum cryptocurrency blockchain. However, the delivery of the NFTs was delayed, and the digital outfits that came with them could only be used on a metaverse platform with few users. The customer is seeking compensation for his losses and has filed the lawsuit on behalf of others who bought digital assets from the NFT project. Dolce & Gabbana and the NFT marketplace UNXD, which facilitated the sale, have not yet responded to the allegations. [Extracted from the article]

Tesla Inc. is facing a proposed class-action lawsuit alleging that it misled consumers about the self-driving capabilities of its cars. The lawsuit claims that Tesla overstated in 2016 that all its upcoming cars would have the necessary hardware for full self-driving capability and would be able to drive themselves from Los Angeles to New York City by the end of 2017. The judge ruled that the complaint sufficiently alleged falsity in Tesla's statements. This setback comes as Tesla's CEO, Elon Musk, has emphasized the company's future reliance on autonomy. Tesla is also facing federal probes into potential defects in its Autopilot feature and regulatory investigations and lawsuits over claims of over-hyped progress towards hands-free driving. [Extracted from the article]

A federal judge in California has ruled that Tesla must face a lawsuit alleging that the company misled consumers about the self-driving capabilities of its cars. Tesla is accused of overstating in 2016 that all its upcoming cars would have the necessary hardware for full self-driving capability and could drive themselves from Los Angeles to New York City by the end of 2017. The judge allowed some negligence and fraud claims to proceed while dismissing other claims from the proposed class-action. Tesla has not yet responded to the ruling. [Extracted from the article]

Elon Musk has been ordered by a federal judge to undergo further questioning in the US Securities and Exchange Commission's investigation into his acquisition of Twitter Inc. in 2022. The judge upheld a previous ruling that Musk must comply with the agency's subpoena, limiting the questioning to five hours within 60 days. The SEC is seeking information about Musk's purchases of Twitter stock and his statements about his investments prior to the acquisition. Musk, who has accused the SEC of overzealous enforcement in the past, previously testified twice but failed to appear for follow-up questioning. [Extracted from the article]