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Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice
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September 24, 2024
Calif. Panel Frees Insurer From $7.5M Dog Attack Judgment
A California appeals court panel affirmed an insurer didn't owe any part of a $7.5 million judgment for a dog attack, finding a homeowner's policy excluding coverage for injuries caused by a pit bull clearly applied to the homeowner's sister's dog, Bugzy.
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September 24, 2024
Insurer Beats Co.'s $5.5M Crash Settlement Coverage Suit
A contractor for a road repavement project can't secure additional insured coverage under a subcontractor's policy for a $5.5 million settlement stemming from two accidents that were caused in part by insufficient warning signs, a North Carolina federal court ruled, noting the subcontractor properly completed its own signage work.
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September 24, 2024
NJ Judge Leaves J&J Ch. 11 Venue Change To Texas Judge
A New Jersey bankruptcy judge on Tuesday declined the U.S. trustee's request to move Johnson & Johnson's latest talc-unit Chapter 11 from Texas to the Garden State, saying the issue could be as ably decided by a Texas court while avoiding a thorny issue of authority.
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September 23, 2024
J&J Talc Claims Paused In Latest Spinoff Ch. 11
A Texas bankruptcy judge Monday froze certain talc personal injury litigation against Johnson & Johnson, saying a three-week administrative stay will give the court time to decide key jurisdictional issues in the Chapter 11 case of Red River Talc LLC, a newly created J&J spinoff and the pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant's latest attempt to settle claims in bankruptcy that its baby powder caused cancer.
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September 23, 2024
FilmOn Founder's $900M Battery Trial Loss Slashed To $90M
A plaintiff who won a $900 million sexual battery verdict against her former employer, FilmOn founder and Coca-Cola bottling fortune heir Alki David, has agreed to accept a reduced $90 million verdict rather than face a new damages trial recently ordered by a California state court, according to her counsel.
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September 23, 2024
John Paul Mitchell Beats Dry Shampoo Benzene Suit, For Now
An Illinois federal judge ruled Monday a putative consumer class action claiming a Paul Mitchell dry shampoo contains cancer-causing benzene didn't sufficiently show an "injury-in-fact" to warrant damages or even that the product contained the carcinogen, but gave the consumers a chance to amend their complaint.
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September 23, 2024
Med Mal Case Is Settled After Scuttled $111M Verdict in Minn.
On the eve of a second trial, a Minnesota-based orthopedic center has settled a suit that previously ended in a $111 million verdict that was later vacated for being excessive, with federal court records indicating a deal has been reached in principle.
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September 23, 2024
Gordon Rees Gets Insurer's Wash. Malpractice Suit Trimmed
A Washington judge issued a mixed order in a lawsuit brought by the insurer for a climbing equipment manufacturer over allegations that misconduct by a Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP attorney — coupled with another insurer's decision to yank coverage — forced the manufacturer into a settlement over a climber's fall.
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September 23, 2024
Nonprofit, Union Say Janus Doesn't Apply To NYC Dues Fight
Two New York City public defenders cannot leverage the U.S. Supreme Court's Janus ruling to stop paying their union because the ruling only applies to public employees and they're technically employed by a nonprofit, argued their employer, union and the city in a motion to dismiss their lawsuit.
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September 23, 2024
Calif. Roller Rink Beats Suit Over Skater's Fall
A Los Angeles-area skating rink can't be held liable for a patron's fall, a Califorina appeals court ruled Monday, saying everyone agrees that skating is an inherently risky activity.
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September 23, 2024
Wash. Agency No Longer Seeking Names In 3M Earplug Case
The Washington state agency that handles child support claims seems no longer interested in seeking information on service members who are expected to receive payments from the 6 billion settlement from 3M Co. over injuries stemming from its Combat Arms Earplugs.
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September 23, 2024
Family Asks NC Justices To Keep $40M Drunk Driving Verdict
A family member of a woman killed by a drunken driver wants North Carolina's highest court to uphold a $40 million verdict, described as the largest amount for such a case in state history, asserting the driver isn't allowed to present arguments that the judgment was a result of an impassioned jury.
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September 23, 2024
NCAA Gets HBCU Race Bias Suit Tossed, For Now
An Indiana federal judge has granted the NCAA's motion to dismiss a lawsuit from a basketball player who claims the organization's academic program is discriminatory, but left the door open for an amended complaint.
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September 23, 2024
Paxton Urges Firearms Ban Reversal Before State Fair Opens
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked a state appeals court Monday for emergency relief prohibiting the State Fair of Texas from enforcing its new policy banning firearms on fairgrounds, writing that the entity is "forcing thousands of law-abiding Texans to choose" between their constitutional rights and attendance at the state tradition, which opens Friday.
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September 23, 2024
Fired Sotera Exec's Vesting Suit Goes Forward In Del.
Delaware's Court of Chancery dismissed on Monday some claims in a former Sotera Health Co. executive's suit accusing the lab-testing and sterilization firm of wrongly refusing to grant him severance benefits and equity awards worth millions, while holding other claims for trial.
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September 23, 2024
Walmart Keeps Win In Fabric Softener Slip-And-Fall Suit
An Ohio state appeals court on Monday declined to revive a man's suit alleging he slipped and fell on fabric softener while shopping at Walmart, finding that he hadn't produced any evidence that Walmart or its employees created or were aware of the spill in that aisle.
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September 23, 2024
Brockovich, Attys Warn Of PFAS Dangers At Ga. Town Halls
More than 400 people gathered in northwest Georgia over the weekend to attend two town hall meetings hosted by a group of law firms and paralegal-turned-environmental advocate Erin Brockovich concerning claims of local water and environmental contamination allegedly caused by chemical giant 3M Co., as well as the potential health risks associated with so-called forever chemicals.
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September 23, 2024
Migrant Youth Facility Moves To Ax DOJ's Sex Abuse Suit
Southwest Key asked a Texas federal judge to end the government's suit alleging it failed to protect migrant children from sexual abuse by staffers in violation of the Fair Housing Act, arguing Monday there are different regulations addressing and preventing such misconduct in shelter care facilities that don't include the FHA.
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September 23, 2024
Security Co.'s Fatal Shooting Suits Not Covered, Insurer Says
An insurer has said it doesn't owe coverage to a security guard service company in underlying negligence lawsuits stemming from a fatal shooting that occurred at a North Carolina truck stop where the company staffed security guards, citing certain policy exclusions.
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September 23, 2024
New Managing Atty At Firm That Helped In George Floyd Case
A small Chicago law firm that helped win a $27 million settlement on behalf of the family of George Floyd has named a personal injury lawyer and former teacher as its new managing attorney.
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September 23, 2024
J&J Accuses Beasley Allen Of Casting Bogus Talc Ballots
Johnson & Johnson has accused the Beasley Allen Law Firm of casting about two dozen false ballots against the company's latest talc bankruptcy plan without voters' consent and urged a New Jersey federal court to remove the firm from the plaintiff's steering committee as a consequence.
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September 23, 2024
Pa. Judge Commended For Admitting Error In Med Mal Case
A Pennsylvania appeals court on Thursday signed off on a Philadelphia trial court judge's opinion acknowledging that his dismissal of two defendants from a medical malpractice suit used the wrong precedent. The appeals court also reversed the dismissal and praised the judge for recognizing his error.
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September 23, 2024
Insurer Can't Escape Toddler Injury Suit Over Dollar Tree Mints
A Missouri federal judge tossed an insurer's bid to escape coverage of underlying litigation alleging a toddler suffered severe esophageal injuries after swallowing freshening drops sold by Dollar Tree, writing that the carrier's "broad interpretation" of its total pollution exclusion "yields an absurd result."
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September 23, 2024
Conn. Judge Rips 'Odd Lawyering' In Referral Fee Feud
A Connecticut Superior Court judge on Monday slammed what he called "odd lawyering" at the summary judgment stage of an attorney fee feud in an underlying personal injury case, asking why affidavits failed to clarify the facts in dispute as the case heads toward trial.
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September 23, 2024
Legal Malpractice Suit Over Med Mal Case In Ga. Revived
A Georgia state appellate court on Monday revived a legal malpractice lawsuit over a former attorney's handling of a medical malpractice case, saying a trial court improperly granted a dismissal motion after disqualifying the lawyer who filed it.
Expert Analysis
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Opinion
NY Should Pass Litigation Funding Bill To Protect Plaintiffs
New York state should embrace the regulatory framework proposed in the Consumer Litigation Funding Act, which would suppress the unregulated predatory lenders that currently prey on vulnerable litigants but preserve a funding option that helps personal injury plaintiffs stand up to deep-pocketed corporate defendants, says Alan Ripka at Alan Ripka & Associates.
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Series
Playing Music Makes Me A Better Lawyer
My deep and passionate involvement in playing, writing and producing music equipped me with skills — like creativity, improvisation and problem-solving — that contribute to the success of my legal career, says attorney Kenneth Greene.
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Lessons In High-Profile Jury Selection Amid NY Trump Trial
Richard Gabriel and Michelle Rey LaRocca at Decision Analysis consider how media exposure can affect a prospective juror in a high-profile case, the misunderstood nature of bias, and recommendations for jury selection in these unique situations as the Trump hush money trial continues in New York.
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How Attys Can Avoid Pitfalls When Withdrawing From A Case
The Trump campaign's recent scuffle over its bid to replace its counsel in a pregnancy retaliation suit offers a chance to remind attorneys that many troubles inherent in withdrawing from a case can be mitigated or entirely avoided by communicating with clients openly and frequently, says Christopher Konneker at Orsinger Nelson.
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Using A Children's Book Approach In Firm Marketing Content
From “The Giving Tree” to “Where the Wild Things Are,” most children’s books are easy to remember because they use simple words and numbers to tell stories with a human impact — a formula law firms should emulate in their marketing content to stay front of mind for potential clients, says Seema Desai Maglio at The Found Word.
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Opioid Suits Offer Case Study In Abatement Expert Testimony
Settlements in the opioid multidistrict litigation provide useful insight into leveraging expert discovery on abatement in public nuisance cases, and would not have been successful without testimony on the costs necessary to lessen the harms of the opioid crisis, says David Burnett at DiCello Levitt.
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How To Use Exhibits Strategically Throughout Your Case
Exhibits, and documents in particular, are the lifeblood of legal advocacy, so attorneys must understand how to wield them effectively throughout different stages of a case to help build strategy, elevate witness preparation and effectively persuade the fact-finders, say Allison Rocker at Baker McKenzie and Colorado prosecutor Adam Kendall.
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Series
Being An EMT Makes Me A Better Lawyer
While some of my experiences as an emergency medical technician have been unusually painful and searing, the skills I’ve learned — such as triage, empathy and preparedness — are just as useful in my work as a restructuring lawyer, says Marshall Huebner at Davis Polk.
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15 Quick Tips For Uncovering And Mitigating Juror Biases
As highlighted by the recent jury selection process in the criminal hush money trial against former President Donald Trump, juror bias presents formidable challenges for defendants, and attorneys must employ proactive strategies — both new and old — to blunt its impact, say Monica Delgado and Jonathan Harris at Harris St. Laurent.
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Corporate Insurance Considerations For Trafficking Claims
With the surge in litigation over liability under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, corporate risk managers and in-house counsel need to ensure that appropriate insurance coverage is in place to provide for defense and indemnity against this liability, says Micah Skidmore at Haynes Boone.
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Insurance Types That May Help Cos. After Key Bridge Collapse
Following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, businesses that depend on the bridge, the Port of Baltimore and related infrastructure for shipment and distribution of cargo should understand which common types of first-party insurance coverage may provide recoveries for financial losses, say Bert Wells and Richard Lewis at Reed Smith.
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Exploring An Alternative Model Of Litigation Finance
A new model of litigation finance, most aptly described as insurance-backed litigation funding, differs from traditional funding in two key ways, and the process of securing it involves three primary steps, say Bob Koneck, Christopher Le Neve Foster and Richard Butters at Atlantic Global Risk LLC.
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Trump Hush Money Case Offers Master Class In Trial Strategy
The New York criminal hush money trial of former President Donald Trump typifies some of the greatest challenges that lawyers face in crafting persuasive presentations, providing lessons on how to handle bad facts, craft a simple story that withstands attack, and cross-examine with that story in mind, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.
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Series
Teaching Yoga Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Being a yoga instructor has helped me develop my confidence and authenticity, as well as stress management and people skills — all of which have crossed over into my career as an attorney, says Laura Gongaware at Clyde & Co.
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A Vision For Economic Clerkships In The Legal System
As courts handle increasingly complex damages analyses involving vast amounts of data, an economic clerkship program — integrating early-career economists into the judicial system — could improve legal outcomes and provide essential training to clerks, say Mona Birjandi at Data for Decisions and Matt Farber at Secretariat.