𧩠NYC sues slip-and-fall lawyers
PLUS: SpaceX's reported $40 billion chip tab; a $600 million patent peace
October 7, 2026
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Welcome to Lookzy. In today's Lookzy:
NYC says 15 injury suits were fraudulent
An unsealed order reveals a new venue for Newman's conduct case
Micron agrees to $600 million in patent payments
SpaceX reportedly seeks $40 billion to buy Nvidia chips
THE VERDICT
Arguing today's litigation news
Slip, fall, RICO. New York City sued Asher & Associates and attorneys Ryan and Roberta Asher over 15 allegedly fraudulent slip-and-fall suits, saying the claimed roadway crashes were actually fights, hit-and-runs and other incidents. The defendants had not responded to Reuters. The city calls the cases the âtip of the icebergâ and is suing under civil RICO and city and state false-claims laws; a RICO win could triple its damages.
Newman's transfer unsealed. An order unsealed October 6 revealed that Chief Justice John Roberts transferred the Judicial Conduct and Disability Act complaint against Federal Circuit Judge Pauline Newman to the Eleventh Circuit Judicial Council on August 19. Newman, 99, had sought a transfer for more than three years. The order concerns the judicial-conduct proceeding, not her separate reinstatement lawsuit, and she remains suspended.
BigLaw records under wraps. The EEOC says it cannot even confirm which of 20 major law firms faced formal charges in its DEI inquiries. In a pending FOIA motion, the administration asked a judge to permit extensive withholding, invoking presidential communications privilege for White House emails and confidentiality for tip-line identities and workforce data. Four firms previously reached EEOC agreements whose terms remain undisclosed.
Patent peace, quarterly payments. Micron will pay Netlist $600 million under a five-year patent license settling all pending proceedings between the companies, Netlist announced. Micron did not comment to Reuters. The deal ends a fight that produced a $445 million Texas verdict and a September bid at the International Trade Commission to block Micron chips used in Google, Nvidia and Broadcom AI products. Payments come in $30 million quarterly installments from Q4 2026 through Q3 2031.
THE DEAL
Wheelin' and dealin' today's corporate news
Forty billion for chips. SpaceX is seeking roughly $40 billion in financingâ$10 billion in bank loans and $30 billion in investment-grade debtâaccording to a Financial Times report cited by Reuters. SpaceX, Apollo and Nvidia did not respond; Pimco declined to comment. The reported Apollo-led talks, not a signed financing, envision a 2027 close to fund purchases of Nvidia chips.
McKesson's buyout option. CD&R and McKesson agreed to buy Option Care Health, the largest independent U.S. infusion provider, for roughly $5.8 billion in enterprise value. CD&R will own about 51%; McKesson will invest about $1.4 billion for 49%, with a future right to buy the rest. Subject to closing conditions, the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2027 at $32.05 a share, a 37% premium to the October 5 close.
Vaquero's pipeline deal. Energy Transfer agreed to buy Vaquero Midstream for about $2.625 billion. Vaquero brings 300 miles of pipeline and three Delaware Basin gas-processing trains already connected to Energy Transfer's system; two more could nearly double capacity. J.P. Morgan and Sidley advised Energy Transfer, and Houlihan Lokey and Willkie advised Vaquero. The deal, expected to close in Q4 2026 subject to regulatory approval and customary conditions, calls for $1.95 billion in cash and roughly 33.3 million new units.
BOILERPLATE
Yates reviews Cornell. Cornell hired King & Spalding partner and former deputy attorney general Sally Yates to review its sexual-misconduct response amid protests and a reopened state investigation. The board says her review is fully independent, covering Title IX, campus policing and prosecutor coordination, discipline and Greek-life oversight. It includes Cornell's handling of a former student's 2024 allegations; several former students deny assault, and no criminal charges have been filed. Cornell says it closed the fraternity chapter and imposed expulsions and other sanctions.
Alright, back to billing. That's all, folks!
