In today’s Bulldog wrapup of technology and life science news:

  • AT&T takes a $40M hit in a lawsuit
  • GSK is cutting 150 jobs in Pa.
  • Amazon expands 1-hour delivery service
  • Salix handing out $78M in golden parachutes
  • GSK wins OK for inhaler
  • A China web freedom group is under attack

The details:

  • AT&T to pay $40M in court case error

AT&T has been told by a federal appeals court that it must pay $40 million in a patent-infringement case because its lawyers didn’t read a document and missed a deadline. The $40 million is a $27.5 million jury verdict and interest dating to a lawsuit victory by Two-Way Media over technology that tracks what users watch on streaming video devices.

“The problem started with a faulty court docket notice, which said the trial judge had granted AT&T’s request to seal some documents. A reading of the actual order showed the judge had denied AT&T’s request to overturn the jury verdict, setting the 30-day clock ticking for the time to appeal,” Bloomberg reports.

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-19/at-t-has-to-pay-40-million-because-it-didn-t-read-a-document.

  • GSK cutting 150 jobs in Pa.

Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline is cutting some 150 research and development jobs in Pennsylvania, according to a notice the company filed in the state, reports The Philadelphia Business Journal.

GSK is in the process of cutting several hundred jobs in North Carolina as well.

GSK spokesperson Melinda Stubbee told the newspaper:

“These are not new job reductions, but are the continuing implementation of the reductions we announced in early December 2014. Groups affected by the restructuring are making progress at different paces, and that will last at least through this quarter and possibly longer.”

Read more at: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/health-care/2015/03/glaxosmithkline-planning-to-layoff-about-150-in.html

  • Amazon.com introduces one-hour delivery to Baltimore, Miami

Amazon.com Inc. is expanding its one-hour delivery Prime Now service for household products to Baltimore and Miami.

The service, which includes products such as paper towels, shampoo, books, toys and batteries, works through a mobile app and is already available in sections of New York City. Starting Thursday, only certain zip codes within Baltimore and Miami will be included, but the company plans to further expand within each city soon.

The delivery service is available to customers enrolled in Amazon Prime, a membership service that costs $99 a year and includes free two-day shipping on a range of products and instant content streaming options. In Miami and Baltimore, Prime Now is available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. Two-hour delivery is free and one-hour delivery is available in select ZIP codes for $7.99.

The Seattle-based online retailer said it plans to roll out the Prime Now service in more cities this year.

  • Golden parachutes at Salix

The $11.1 billion acquisition of Raleigh-based Salix Pharmaceuticals by Valeant means big golden parachutes for seven Salix executives, including former CEO Carolyn Logan and former CFO Adam Derbyshire.

Seven execs will reach some $78 million.

The Triangle Business Journal has the details: http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2015/03/19/salix-golden-parachutes-valeant-logan-derbyshire.html

  • FDA panel backs Glaxo inhaler for adults, not adolescents

Government health advisers say a once-a-day respiratory inhaler from GlaxoSmithKline appears safe and effective for adults with asthma, but not for adolescents.

The Food and Drug Administration panel of experts voted 18-2 against using the British drugmaker’s Breo Ellipta in asthma patients ages 12 to 17. That followed a positive vote of 16-4 supporting the drug’s use in asthma patients 18 and up.

The FDA is not required to follow the recommendations of its experts, though it often does.

Breo Ellipta is already approved in the U.S. for a type of chronic lung disease, but Glaxo is hoping to expand the drug’s use to the much larger patient population of roughly 37 million Americans with asthma.

  • China web freedom group faces online disruption

A U.S.-subsidized advocacy group that helps Internet users inside China bypass blockages on censored content says it is suffering a mysterious denial-of-service attack disrupting its operations.

Greatfire.org says the attack started two days ago and Internet traffic is 2,500 times above normal. It says the attack has affected “mirror,” or duplicate, websites that it has set up via encrypted web services offered by companies like Amazon.

Greatfire.org said the attack has interfered with visitors to sites with material from news sites including Boxun.com, which publicizes allegations of corruption and human rights abuses inside China; German provider Deutsche Welle, and Google.

The statement from a co-founder of the group, who goes by the pseudonym Charlie Smith, said it’s not clear who is behind the attack, but it coincides with increased pressure on the organization over the last few months and public criticism from Chinese authorities.

Zhu Haiquan, spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said: “As we have always stated, Chinese laws prohibit cyber crimes of all forms. The Chinese government is making great efforts to combat cyber crimes and safeguard cybersecurity. Jumping to conclusions and making unfounded accusations is not responsible and is counterproductive.”