Health

  • August 05, 2024

    Insurer Must Face Pa. Trans Firefighter's Surgery Claim

    A Pennsylvania federal judge has refused to toss a suit from a transgender Philadelphia firefighter suing Independence Blue Cross for discrimination over the insurer's denial of coverage for facial feminization surgery, finding that claims under federal healthcare law could proceed, but not the Title VII claims.

  • August 05, 2024

    Ohio To Launch Legal Recreational Marijuana Sales

    Ohio is set to see its first legal recreational marijuana sales on Tuesday after the state's cannabis regulator announced that close to 100 locations were about to be qualified to sell products to customers 21 and over.

  • August 05, 2024

    Nursing Home Flubs Make Reports Fair Game, NJ Justices Say

    Two Garden State healthcare facilities failed to follow state regulations in after-incident reviews, making the normally privileged reports accessible to plaintiffs, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Monday.

  • August 05, 2024

    Hillrom's 'Intrusive' Funding Probe Needs To Stop, Rival Says

    Hospital bed maker Linet has urged an Illinois federal court to block Hill-Rom Holdings Inc.'s "increasingly intrusive" bid for litigation funding documents in its antitrust suit targeting allegedly anticompetitive supply agreements, arguing that the records are off limits because they're irrelevant and legally protected.  

  • August 05, 2024

    7th Circ. Backs Insurer's Win In Family's Autism Claims Fight

    The Seventh Circuit on Monday affirmed a win for a Wisconsin health insurer in a family's dispute over coverage for autism therapies, finding that the insurer's denials of speech therapy to treat autism for a minor child were valid under a policy exclusion for treatments that weren't evidence-based.

  • August 05, 2024

    Black Ice Assumption Can't Save Hospital Slip-And-Fall Suit

    A Pennsylvania appeals panel on Monday threw out a woman's suit against a Conemaugh hospital over her slip and fall in the parking lot, saying her own presumption that she must have slipped on black ice is not enough to show that the hospital knew or should have known about it.

  • August 05, 2024

    Fla. Man Gets 44 Months For $5M MilliporeSigma Export Scam

    A Florida federal judge sentenced a Taiwanese citizen who lives in the Sunshine State to three years and eight months in prison for his role in a $5 million scheme to defraud life sciences company MilliporeSigma and the U.S. government by illegally exporting MilliporeSigma products to China.

  • August 05, 2024

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    Sunken treasure, rock band discord, a wrestling competition, and more news about Elon Musk — all in all, a colorful week in Delaware's Court of Chancery. The First State's famous court of equity also pushed forward on disputes involving a famous social media app, Delaware's largest hospital system, an artificial intelligence company and a budding commodity futures exchange.

  • August 05, 2024

    CooperSurgical Says Lab Hid Flawed IVF Product Tests

    Fertility technology company CooperSurgical Inc. has accused a Massachusetts testing lab of failing to follow proper procedures and misrepresenting the results of quality assurance testing on a product used in the in vitro fertilization process, leading to a recall.

  • August 05, 2024

    Ga. Panel Affirms Docs' Trial Win In Fatal Stroke Suit

    The Georgia Court of Appeals has upheld a verdict in favor of two medical practices and several physicians accused of malpractice in the death of a stroke patient, ruling that grievances raised by the patient's family over expert witness qualifications and jury instructions didn't merit a new trial.

  • August 05, 2024

    Pennsylvania Legislation To Watch In 2024: A Midyear Report

    The Pennsylvania Legislature is following other jurisdictions striving to make social media safer while preserving free speech, and putting stricter limits on "forever chemicals" that had been widely used in firefighting applications and products for resisting stains and stickiness. Here, Law360 looks at some of the Pennsylvania bills attorneys are watching in 2024.

  • August 02, 2024

    5th Circ. Upholds Challenge To Surprise Medical Billing Rule

    The Fifth Circuit on Friday affirmed wins for plaintiffs challenging provisions of a federal surprise medical billing rule that relate to payment fights between out-of-network providers and health insurers, agreeing with a Texas federal judge that the rule places "a thumb on the scale" in insurers' favor.

  • August 02, 2024

    Fla.'s Trans Healthcare Ban Violates Title VII, Judge Says

    A Florida federal judge has ruled the state's Department of Management Services illegally excluded gender-affirming treatment for transgender employees under state-sponsored health benefits plans, finding the state's exclusion only applies to trans individuals and is facially discriminatory under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

  • August 02, 2024

    Hospital Says 'Maya' Case Shouldn't Have Gone To Jury

    Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital Inc. asked a Florida appeals court on Friday to undo a $208 million judgment for the family of Maya Kowalski, the girl at the heart of the Netflix documentary "Take Care of Maya," arguing that their claims that the hospital's treatment of Maya caused her mother's suicide should never have gone to a jury.

  • August 02, 2024

    Wheeling & Appealing: The Latest Must-Know Appellate Action

    In this inaugural edition of Wheeling & Appealing, Law360 recaps recent appellate opinions that made waves, quizzes readers about a new word for judicial grievances, and previews August arguments in circuit courts over controversial wage rules and a seven-figure attorney fee award after a digital age intellectual property trial.

  • August 02, 2024

    6th Circ. Upholds Federal Hospital's Win In Infant Death Suit

    The Sixth Circuit has affirmed a judgment in favor of a U.S. government-funded hospital in a suit by a woman alleging malpractice caused the death of her son shortly after birth, finding the evidence supported a Kentucky federal judge's conclusion that doctors did not neglect the woman or the infant during delivery.

  • August 02, 2024

    US Cannabis Policy Thwarts Research, Health Officials Say

    A recent report from federal health regulators confirms what cannabis reform advocates have long said, that placing marijuana in the most restrictive tier under the federal Controlled Substances Act has hindered researchers' ability to study the drug's potential benefits and risks.

  • August 02, 2024

    McKinsey's $78M Opioid Deal With Health Plans Gets OK

    A California federal judge said Friday he'll approve McKinsey & Co. Inc.'s $78 million deal to resolve claims on behalf of approximately 42,000 third-party payors, with class counsel receiving $15.1 million in fees, after the initial settlement was tweaked due to objections from some plaintiffs' attorneys.

  • August 02, 2024

    2nd Circ. Backs Conviction Over Fake-Therapy Scheme

    The Second Circuit on Friday refused to overturn the conviction of a therapist who was found guilty of bilking a New York state program for developmentally disabled children, saying the trial court didn't err in declining to excuse a juror who had loose ties to a government witness.

  • August 02, 2024

    Judge Rejects Intervenors In Religious Workers' Vax Deal Bid

    Women who opted out of or objected to a recently vacated $10.5 million deal between Ascension Health Alliance and workers who allege the company retaliated or fired them for seeking COVID-19 vaccine exemptions cannot now intervene in the renewed bid for settlement approval, a Michigan federal judge has ruled, finding their request untimely.

  • August 02, 2024

    Family Denied Quick Win In Insurer's $2M Nursing Home Suit

    An insurer for a now-bankrupt Georgia nursing home doesn't have to cover a $2.1 million judgment awarded to the family of a woman who died in the facility's care, a federal judge ruled Friday, finding an agreement between the facility and the family released the facility from all liability.

  • August 02, 2024

    Patients Ink $1M Deal To Settle Pharmacy Data-Breach Claims

    A home-delivery pharmacy service struck by a data breach in 2021 has agreed to pay $1 million to settle a class action brought by plaintiffs whose personal information was compromised, according to a Friday filing.

  • August 02, 2024

    3rd Circ. Backs Ex-NJ Firefighter's $50M Drug Fraud Sentence

    The Third Circuit backed the eight-year prison sentence handed to a former New Jersey firefighter convicted for his role in a $50 million healthcare fraud scheme, rejecting his argument he was wrongly punished for taking his case to trial.

  • August 02, 2024

    4 ERISA Excessive Health Fee Suits To Watch

    The Third Circuit will decide whether to revive a suit from MetLife workers alleging their pharmacy benefits were mismanaged, while suits proceed in district court against Wells Fargo and Johnson & Johnson alleging they violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act via high drug costs a pharmacy benefit manager charged workers. Here, Law360 looks at four cases involving claims that employers violated ERISA by charging high healthcare costs — including for prescription drugs — that attorneys are watching.

  • August 02, 2024

    Colo. Appeals Panel Rejects Lower Tax Rate For Hospital

    A Colorado rehabilitation hospital should be classified as a commercial property for tax purposes because it was predominantly designed for its services and not for residency, a state appeals court said, reversing a state assessment board.

Expert Analysis

  • Series

    Boxing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Boxing has influenced my legal work by enabling me to confidently hone the skills I've learned from the sport, like the ability to remain calm under pressure, evaluate an opponent's weaknesses and recognize when to seize an important opportunity, says Kirsten Soto at Clyde & Co.

  • Opinion

    Industry Self-Regulation Will Shine Post-Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's Loper decision will shape the contours of industry self-regulation in the years to come, providing opportunities for this often-misunderstood practice, says Eric Reicin at BBB National Programs.

  • 3 Ways Agencies Will Keep Making Law After Chevron

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    The U.S. Supreme Court clearly thinks it has done something big in overturning the Chevron precedent that had given deference to agencies' statutory interpretations, but regulated parties have to consider how agencies retain significant power to shape the law and its meaning, say attorneys at K&L Gates.

  • Roundup

    After Chevron

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    In the month since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Chevron deference standard, this Expert Analysis series has featured attorneys discussing the potential impact across 26 different rulemaking and litigation areas.

  • Navigating Scrutiny Of Friendly Professional Corps. In Calif.

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    In light of ongoing scrutiny and challenges to private equity participation in the California healthcare marketplace, particularly surrounding the use of the friendly professional corporation model, management services organizations should consider implementing four best practices, say attorneys at Holland & Knight.

  • Takeaways From New HHS Substance Use Disorder Info Rules

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    A new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule continues the agency's efforts to harmonize complex rules surrounding confidentiality provisions for substance use disorder patient records, though healthcare providers will need to remain mindful of different potentially applicable requirements and changes that their compliance structures may require, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • Series

    After Chevron: Expect Few Changes In ITC Rulemaking

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's opinion overruling the Chevron doctrine will have less impact on the U.S. International Trade Commission than other agencies administering trade statutes, given that the commission exercises its congressionally granted authority in a manner that allows for consistent decision making at both agency and judicial levels, say attorneys at Polsinelli.

  • Series

    Calif. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2

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    The second quarter of 2024 in California, which saw efforts to expand consumer protection legislation and enforcement actions in areas of federal focus like medical debt and student loans, demonstrated that the state's role as a trendsetter in consumer financial protection will continue for the foreseeable future, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Opinion

    Atty Well-Being Efforts Ignore Root Causes Of The Problem

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    The legal industry is engaged in a critical conversation about lawyers' mental health, but current attorney well-being programs primarily focus on helping lawyers cope with the stress of excessive workloads, instead of examining whether this work culture is even fundamentally compatible with lawyer well-being, says Jonathan Baum at Avenir Guild.

  • How Cannabis Rescheduling May Affect Current Operators

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    The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency's proposal to reschedule marijuana to Schedule III provides relief in the form of federal policy from the stigma and burdens of Schedule I, but commercial cannabis operations will remain unchanged until the federal-state cannabis policy gap is remedied by Congress, say Meital Manzuri and Alexis Lazzeri at Manzuri Law.

  • Series

    Skiing And Surfing Make Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I’ve learned while riding waves in the ocean and slopes in the mountains have translated to my legal career — developing strong mentor relationships, remaining calm in difficult situations, and being prepared and able to move to a backup plan when needed, says Brian Claassen at Knobbe Martens.

  • Air Ambulance Ruling Severely Undermines No Surprises Act

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    A Texas federal court's recent decision in Guardian Flight v. Health Care Service — that the No Surprises Act lacks a judicial remedy when a health insurer refuses to pay the amount established through an independent review — likely throws a huge monkey wrench into the elaborate protections the NSA was enacted to provide, says Mark DeBofsky at DeBofsky Law.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: June Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy considers two recent decisions from the Third and Tenth Circuits, and identifies practice tips around class action settlements and standing in securities litigation.

  • Unpacking The Circuit Split Over A Federal Atty Fee Rule

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    Federal circuit courts that have addressed Rule 41(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are split as to whether attorney fees are included as part of the costs of a previously dismissed action, so practitioners aiming to recover or avoid fees should tailor arguments to the appropriate court, says Joseph Myles and Lionel Lavenue at Finnegan.

  • Del. Bankruptcy Ruling Will Give D&O Insureds Nightmares

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    In Henrich v. XL Specialty Insurance, the Delaware Bankruptcy Court recently found that a never-served qui tam claim had been "brought" before a D&O policy's retroactive date, thereby eliminating coverage, and creating a nightmare scenario for directors and officers policyholders facing whistleblower claims, says David Klein at Pillsbury.

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